Welcome Readers!


"Hello" to all my regular readers and those who are here for the first time!
I hope that this blog enlightens and encourages those who read it but I also hope that it will wake up those who have been asleep to the clock that is ticking within our beautiful nation and within the body of Christ. It is my goal to glorify our Lord and share the Truth with anyone who will listen!
I pray that the Lord will give you strength and courage each day to do His will and to glorify Him. It seems to be getting harder and harder these days to keep our heads above water, but He does promise us that He will not allow the waters to overtake us! Praise Him for that promise!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Passenger

   
If you have ever been a passenger on a motorcycle, you know how important it is to become "one" with the driver. As the bike leans to the right to take a sharp corner, the passenger needs to be leaning into the corner as well. Commonly the natural reaction is to sit up straight or maybe to lean a little bit to the right, but in order for the driver to have the most control, the one on the back needs to fight the urge to fight the bike and just "go with the flow"!

This summer I was able to go visit my family and I always enjoy going for a ride on the back of my brother's bike. He tends to take me on an exciting ride, to say the least and it usually takes a little while before I get relaxed enough to become "one" with him as he speeds down the road. The ride he took me on this summer was on a great little road that sways and swerves through some really pretty countryside, but the corners are sharp and numerous. As I was swaying and swerving with the bike I was thinking about how this illustration fits life when we are living our lives with God when He is the driver and we are passengers.

Life isn't a straight road. At times there are straight sections, but they are mixed in with a variety of curves, hills and bumps. As we travel this road called life the outcome really does depend on how well we become "one" with Jesus as we allow Him to take control and handle the less-than-straight sections! Do we fight the corners and try to keep the bike upright because it feels funny to lean into the curves? Do we try too hard to see over His shoulder so we know where we are headed? Or, do we relax and just enjoy the sways and swerves of the ride? If you are like me you probably don't enjoy the ride near as much as you should or could.

Joy amidst the circumstances of life is a commonly mentioned idea in the New Testament. The Apostles faced many trials and tribulations, yet through them they mention finding joy in them. James even considers it pure joy when you face trials. How could they maintain such positive outlooks? They became "one" with the Lord Jesus in the work that God had prepared for them to accomplish. They leaned into the direction of the curves and didn't worry or strain to see over God's shoulder. They never cared where God was taking them only that God would be there with them! If we can adopt this attitude God will be able to take us so much further in the work He has planned for us! Will you examine your "ride" with Jesus and see how well you are doing being the passenger?

Do a word search for "joy" to help you find more joy in your ride with Jesus! 



Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Summer Storms

I don't know about you, but I absolutely love a good summer storm. They have a certain smell and feel and they are so invigorating. If they include thunder and lightning, they are even better!
Recently, I took a trip and ended up in a big storm as I was traveling. I was by myself and was in unfamiliar territory. It was a little scary but exciting all at the same time. I knew the Lord was with me and that gave me the confidence I needed to keep going. The road I was headed down was a little two lane highway and I was climbing a nine-thousand foot mountain pass. As I drove, the thunder and lightning crashed above me and the rain came down in torrents. The road continued to climb as the storm intensified. It was amazing! I have been in some pretty good storms over the years, but this one was certainly in the top five. Just as I reached the top of the pass, the storm started to break. I pulled over for a little break myself and to take in the scenery and as I stood there a rainbow appeared. It was such a comfort as I remembered God's promise of His Covenant.

This summer has presented me with an opportunity to lean on the Lord in a way that I have never done before. The mountain storm I encountered was such an illustration of how God is with us through it all. The storm of my life has left me feeling alone and scared at times when I allow my flesh to overcome me. But as I drove this little mountain road, I realized that just as He was with me in this real storm, He is always with me in the storms of my life. The emotions I was experiencing as I traveled up that mountain were quite mixed but the overriding ones were excitement and joy. When I truly seek the Lord in prayer and through His Word, I experience those same emotions even in the midst of my "storm". What a comfort He is!

The apex of the mountain also brought a reminder that there will be a cresting of my storm as well and that He will see me through. As I stood on the mountain top watching the storm move away from me and the "bow" in the sky appearing, I was filled with an amazing amount of peace and awe at the mighty faithfulness of the Lord. Again, He comforted me with that thought knowing that He will do the same as I walk out of the valley of my life's current trial. God is the "All Knowing" and "Ever Present" God of Lights and He will carry us through day by day and moment by moment. In Him, we can trust.

This summer I have been reading through the Psalms and there are so many that comfort and exhort. Take time this fall to browse through them and to see God in a new way. Pray that He will reveal a new aspect of His character to you and believe that He will!