Hurting? Grieving? Struggling? God gives us the grace to continue on ...

I am currently reading through the book of Matthew. In chapter 14, I just read the account of John the Baptist, who spoke out against Herod and his lifestyle. Herod had John put in prison and ultimately had him beheaded. When Jesus heard about this terrible event, his heart and soul hurt. He tried to withdraw to a desolate place where He could spend time with God. But the crowds found out where Jesus was and followed him there. The Bible says Jesus cared for the people and ministered to their needs - healing and feeding them. Then, when evening came, Jesus sent the disciples back across the lake, and He went up into the mountains to pray. He went to spend time with His Father. All was good, and Jesus could get in a few hours of prayer with God. Then a terrible wind came up, endangering the disciple's lives out on the lake. Again, Jesus put his needs aside and went to rescue the disciples. 

As I read this, I felt badly for Jesus. He was hurting, grieving, and mourning the loss of John the Baptist. There was no time for Him to sit quietly, grieve, mourn, or talk with God. Life was screaming out at Him to minister and serve. 

Isn't that how life is often? We may be hurting from the loss of a loved one, a marriage gone wrong, a catastrophe with one of our children, a struggling business, or just the busyness of life. We may not have much time to sit and meditate and pray.  

The message is to seek 'windows' to meet with God. They may not be long, but those 'windows' will give you the strength to continue.  

Then, God will give you the grace you need to get through. One definition of grace I learned many years ago is the power and ability to carry out God's will. God gives us this power and ability when we look to Him.  

We know Jesus became flesh and was like us. He sought ways and places to spend with His father, God. We, too, must do this. Then, when tragedies and hard times arise, we can use God's grace to get through them. 

Mothers of young children, this is especially true for you. You have many demands on your life, and there is little time for your needs. Let me encourage you to find 'windows' where you can meet with God in prayer and reading His Word. This will fill you up and prepare you to serve. God will give you the grace you need to minister to your children.

Altars to remember.....

I started reading the Bible at the beginning of this year. As I read, I noticed how Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob set up altars. These altars served as reminders of times when God had met with man and made an agreement. Gotquestions.org says, "An altar was built to commemorate an encounter with God that had a profound impact upon someone." The altar was intended to serve as a reminder of the encounter with God for the person involved. It was also for the next generations to learn about God and His promises. 

I began asking myself what we do today to remind ourselves and future generations of the great things that God has done for us. We don't usually stack rocks on top of one another, but there are things we can do. We can write down in a notebook the miracles we have seen God do in our lives through the years. Then, from time to time, we can look back through these notes to remind us of God's faithfulness. These notebooks can be copied or adapted in a way that allows them to be passed down to future generations. We can also speak to others about our answered prayers and share the goodness of God. We can put pictures or plaques in our homes. We can wear articles of clothing proclaiming God's goodness. I recently purchased a shirt that said. "All my life, You have been faithful; all my life, You have been oh so good." This was 'an altar' - a way of acknowledging my encounter with God.

Or...you can write a book as Missy has done. We are so very thankful for Austin's miraculous recovery after his accident in November of 2024. The book Missy just wrote and available at Amazon is Missy and Austin's way of making an altar to tell of God's wonderous gift of restored life. A story that needs to be told and retold as a way to honor God, to remember His goodness, and to give Him glory! Thank you, Missy and Austin, for sharing your encounter with God with us!

The book titled Wonder & Be Astounded is available at https://urlgeni.us/amzn/Wonderandbe

FEAR....we must Not let it become our master

This message about fear came to me recently.  I want to share it with you. 

Most of you know that our son-in-law, Austin, was hurt very badly in a machinery accident in November of 2024.  It was a very serious accident.  I prayed, but I did have a lot of fear in my heart.  What if he didn't make it?  His wife and children needed him.  We needed and loved him.  To be honest, I was scared and felt like I was holding my breath.  Yes, I was very scared and found it hard to pray.  I am so very thankful for those who prayed hard for Austin's recovery.  We are so very grateful for Austin's recovery and health now!

I try to pray daily for our grandchildren.  I pray for each one on the day of their birthday.  So if we have two that have birthdays on the 6th of any month I pray for those two.  There are a few days each month that no one has a birthday.  On those days, I pray for the future spouses of our grandchildren and great-grandchildren not yet born.  As I was praying last week, I felt fear come over me again.  I thought, 'This world is a mess.  How can our grandchildren find Godly mates?  How will our great-grandchildren know Christ and how He wants them to live?" Again, fear was trying to stop me from praying.

And then I read in my Bible reading that day about Abraham and the faith he had in offering up Isaac as a sacrifice. He did not fear.  When God told him what to do, he obeyed.  He left right away to go as God told him to. He didn't procrastinate, complain, delay, or disobey.  He went.  And when he was asked by Isaac where the sacrifice was, he said that God would provide.  Abraham had faith in God.  My commentary said that either Abraham thought God would provide another sacrifice or that God would bring Isaac back from the dead if necessary.  

Abraham had not always proved to be faithful.  Twice, he let fear rule in his heart, and he spoke a half-lie/truth about his wife, Sarah, because he was fearful for his life. I think he must have learned from his failure and was now more faithful to God and obedient. 

This reading really spoke to me about faith and fear.  I realized I must have faith in God.  He is big and He is able to do anything and everything.  Fear comes from Satan, not from God.  I must guard my heart from letting fear creep in.  I must set my face toward our awesome and capable God to give Him my prayers and requests.  He does hear, and He is able to answer our prayers.   Keep on praying with strength in your heart and mind.  Be strong like Abraham.  Be known, as Abraham was, as a friend of God - a person who has faith and one who trusts and obeys God.

My Direction for This Christmas Season...

 

Every Christmas is different from the others. This is true again this year.  

Many of you know that our son-in-law, Austin, was hurt severely while feeding cattle with the loader in mid-November.  He was in the hospital for three weeks and then, much to our surprise, was discharged to come home earlier than expected. This is making for a wonderful, joyous Christmas!

We have a large family, twenty-four grandchildren, and many adults to shop for. Also, extra things must be done at our church and the ranch this time of year. Last year, I was a bit proud as I had presents all purchased and wrapped right after Thanksgiving. This is not so this year. I shop all year, so I have gifts but do not remember what I bought; I have nothing wrapped, no decorations up, and very little baking done. 

But it is all okay. I am learning this year to let the Holy Spirit fill and guide me. We have the best gifts—Austin is home and doing well, and we have the birth of the Savior to celebrate. If nothing gets done, it is okay.  

I went to our grandson's music concert last week.  They sang the song Christmas is a Time of  Love.  It really spoke to my heart.  Yes, Christmas is a time of love!  May we celebrate the birth of Jesus, let His love fill our hearts, let the Holy Spirit direct everything we do, and may we not worry about all the details.  

I was encouraged by Psalm 63:7, 8 as I read it yesterday.

 For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

God has a mighty and powerful right hand!  And being under His 'wings' is a joyous place to be! 

I am writing this to you to encourage you to hold tight to God's right hand, to rest under His wings

, and to let the love of Christ dwell in your heart!   Merry Christmas! 

Christmas is a Time to Love

Christmas is a time, Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love
Christmas is a time, Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love

We often start to worry and people get upset
If things don't all go right on Christmas Day
What we should remember in all the push and shove
Is Christmas is a time to love

Maybe things don't sound right or look the way they should
And maybe they're not perfectly in tune
It really doesn't matter, let's keep our eyes above
'Cause Christmas is a time to love

Christmas is a time, Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love
Christmas is a time, Christmas is a time
Christmas is a time to love

Uplifting benefits of listening to Christian instrumental music....

 Let me use this message today to encourage you to listen to good Christian music that will calm and quiet your soul.

Over the years our family has practiced this and found it healing and beneficial. Sometimes we have played just instrumental music, other times it has been hymns or praise music sung in a quiet, worshipful way. 

We used to have a few cassette tapes that we played repeatedly on our old cassette tape players.  Now we have many other options and ways to get the music to us. One of my favorites is to go to YouTube and find one of their options.

We have found this to be helpful when:
we have had members in the hospital or ill,
we are in distress,
we are having trouble trusting God,

we can't go to sleep,

we are wrestling with a decision,

we need peace in our souls,

we are in the office working,

we are driving,

many others!

There are just 'times' when this is really helpful and healing.  Hope it helps you, also.  

Trusting the Lord...I can lay down and sleep in peace

I was getting a little 'worried' and 'fretting' over our grandkids recently.  Whether we have one or many grandkids, we love them and want God's best for them.  Our grandchildren have many stages in life that we are concerned about.  As babies, we are concerned with their health and development.  Then they start school and we worry about who their friends and teachers will be.  Will they be able to learn well?  Will they be safe?  Then they become teenagers!  Will they keep the Godly values they have been taught from their study of the Bible and from their families?  Will they use good judgment?  Will they be able to discern what is true? Oh no, now they are off to college.  What classes will they need?  Where will they live?  Will they be safe? Will they stay on course? Now college is over and there are new decisions to be made.  Where will they work?  Will they be able to get a job?  Where will they go to church? Who will they marry? Will their mates love the Lord and be committed to doing His will?

We now have grandchildren in each of these 'walks of life'.  And I was worrying about them!

Gail has been preaching through the Psalms at Valley Cowboy Church.  Recently he spoke about Psalm 3.  In this Psalm, David was talking to God.  David was fleeing from Jerusalem because Absolom was trying to take over the throne from David.  It was a scary time for David and his kingdom as they left Jerusalem and went into the countryside. The battle was brewing and would soon ensue them.  Yet, David trusted God.

Psalm 3:3-6 But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

            I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.

            I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me. 

            I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.

This Psalm reminded me that God is with us and hears our cries for help from Him.  We, too, can trust Him with our lives and the lives of our families.  We too can lay down and sleep because we are trusting Him.

Just as our grandkids were trusting the rope as they were swinging in the picture above, we too can hold on to God, give Him our 'worries' and trust that He will carry us through life.  May we leave our cares with Him and sleep in peace. 

Learn to always 'think' the best of your spouse....

 Recently I heard a broadcast on the internet about marriage.  It talked about the different times we go through in our marriages.  The program talked about the four seasons we have in our marriages; likening times in our marriages to spring, summer, fall, and winter.  Some of the seasons are easy and wonderful.  Other times the seasons can be difficult.  They can be a struggle to get through and to keep going. 

I was reminded of our own marriage.  We have now been married for almost 52 years!!! It has definitely had its seasons!  Some of them have been easy and some of them have been difficult.  But we have hung in there with each other.  

I'd like to share with you one of the verses that really helped to carry me through. These verses are from the Amplified Bible. The verses from the Amplified Bible are generally wordier and more explicit about the ideas in the Bible. Let me share with you from Ephesians 5:33b

"and the wife [must see to it] that she respects and references her husband - that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, generates and esteems him, and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly."

I actually wrote these exact verses down in the back of my Bible so I could go to them and remind myself how I should be thinking/acting/ and responding to Gail.  Is he perfect?  Am I perfect?  Absolutely not!  But we have tried to seek God out and live as the Bible has asked.  When struggling with your spouse and marriage, remember these verses and check your thoughts and actions.  God will be glorified and can get you through the hard times.