Tag: Jesus

There is always Hope!

I don’t know if this is a late Christmas post or an early New Year’s post – you know, the kind we read as we’re getting our plans and goals set for the new year?  No matter the category, I want to share a huge bunch of encouragement with you as you’re making all the plans and preparations!  Christmas is a few days behind us and while it’s still fresh in our mind, let’s look at the greatest promise ever given in the Bible: please grab your Bible and turn to Isaiah 7.

 

If you know me, we’ve got to start with a bit of history!  We need to know what was going on at the time of this account in Bible history, so we can see everything that is unfolding in proper context.  The nation of Israel had split in two by this time and neither the northern kingdom of Israel nor the southern kingdom of Judah were headed in a good direction.  Both were under the rule of wayward kings and the worship of the One, True God, Jehovah was either just one of many or non-existent all together.  Both nations were nearer captivity than they realized.

 

Isaiah 7:1-14 NLT:

“When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan.

The news had come to the royal court of Judah: “Syria is allied with Israel against us!”

 

So the hearts of the king and his people trembled with fear, like trees shaking in a storm.

 

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub and go out to meet King Ahaz. You will find him at the end of the aqueduct that feeds water into the upper pool, near the road leading to the field where cloth is washed.  Tell him to stop worrying. Tell him he doesn’t need to fear the fierce anger of those two burned-out embers, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah.

Yes, the kings of Syria and Israel are plotting against him, saying, ‘We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah’s king.’ But this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “This invasion will never happen; it will never take place; for Syria is no stronger than its capital, Damascus, and Damascus is no stronger than its king, Rezin. As for Israel, within sixty-five years it will be crushed and completely destroyed. Israel is no stronger than its capital, Samaria, and Samaria is no stronger than its king, Pekah son of Remaliah.

 

Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”

 

Later, the Lord sent this message to King Ahaz: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign of confirmation, Ahaz. Make it as difficult as you want—as high as heaven or as deep as the place of the dead. ”

But the king refused. “No,” he said, “I will not test the Lord like that.”

Then Isaiah said, “Listen well, you royal family of David! Isn’t it enough to exhaust human patience? Must you exhaust the patience of my God as well? All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin shall be with child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).”

 

Did you catch that?

 

Confession: the first time I read this, I was thinking they were about to get it!  God was saying, “You won’t even ask Me for a sign!?  I’ll give you a sign!!!” and I was thinking they were really in trouble.  And then…

 

And then, right there amid their disgusting disobedience, their blatant idolatry, their hatred toward God who loved them so much… He gave the greatest promise humanity has ever known.

 

The Virgin shall be with Child.

And He will be called, “God With Us”, Immanuel.

 

Sweet Friend, did you catch that?  God With You!

 

Don’t let guilt and shame shout that you’re unworthy.  No! The Virgin shall be with Child. God with you.

 

Maybe you’re so far from where you should be that it doesn’t seem like you can ever make it back.  It couldn’t even be a possibility… or could it?  The Virgin shall be with Child.  God WITH you.

 

You’ve walked away.  You’ve messed up one too many times.  How could God ever want anything to do with you again?  The Virgin shall be with Child.  God with YOU!

 

Please hear those Words deep in your heart.

The Virgin was with Child over 2000 years ago and bore our Savior and King, the Christ, Jesus!  He suffered and died to pay a bill we could never pay ourselves.  He made a way for you and for me.  He offers us this gift so that we can be One with Him, no longer separated from The Father, but to live a victorious life and proclaim the Gospel to others who need freedom, too!  Receive this gift today!

 

Jesus wants to be with You!  He is offering you this crazy love – like nothing you’ve ever experienced before – and redemption from sin. No longer will your trespasses hang over your head like a flashing neon sign to your heart and mind.

 

He is offering you LIFE and escape from death!  Just say yes!

 

Think about the king in Isaiah 7.  My gosh!  He couldn’t get much worse!  If amid leading God’s people astray and basically spitting in the face of the LORD, the king of Judah can be given such a great promise, then Friend, God’s got you, too!

 

Stop running, cry out to Jesus, and surrender!  It’s not as hard as you’re imagining, and God loves you and chooses you!  Now, THAT’S the best start to any New Year ever!

 

Happy 2018, Friends!

For the joy set before Him…

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I love how our Lord is always there with us, even during a middle-of-the-night bathroom trip!

I woke up a bit sore and stiff. Maybe I AM getting a bit older, ha!  Maybe I was lying in an odd position for too long. Maybe a change in the weather was on the horizon… who knows?!  I got up and did the “my legs and hips hurt” shuffle all the way to the bathroom.

Confession time:  moments like these make me angry!  I could list a myriad of reasons all the way from self-pity to hatred of the devil. I was not about to accept this pain this night!!  I literally wanted to swing my fists at something, as if connecting with a physical enemy might fix a possible spiritual problem.

On my way back to the warmth and comfort of my bed, I asked Jesus how He didn’t get mad as He was carrying the tree He was about to be crucified on up the steep hill of Golgotha.  After all He had recently endured, how did He not lash out and begin swinging His fists and screaming at those watching and those causing Him pain? Continue reading “For the joy set before Him…” →

The Cost of Worship

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Today, Monday,  in the holy week timeline we see Jesus clearing the temple in Jerusalem. What exactly was going on in the temple that stirred Him to this kind of outburst?

Remember, it was Passover for these Jewish people. Families had taken their best lamb from their flock, kept it in their home for 4 days as ordered by God, and now travelled to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the only town that they could sacrifice – that’s where the temple was. They needed to have their lamb offered for their sins, so they had to go to Jerusalem. Once they arrived at the temple, a priest would look at their lamb and say, “This one is unacceptable, it’s not good enough.”  The priest would then take their lamb around back, and bring out another lamb – probably from the person in line ahead of them – and say to them that they would gladly sell this lamb to them so they would have an “acceptable” sacrifice.  They were selling the lambs for an outrageous price. So, in all of this the family would end up out of money and sacrificing a lamb they didn’t even know!

Continue reading “The Cost of Worship” →

The Faith of a Prostitute!

I have a sticky note in my Bible with the names of all “my people”… family, friends, those near & dear to my heart.  One of my favorite promises from God is Acts 16:31. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Well I pray that verse very, very often and always feel like I am interceding or negotiating with God of who I can claim as “my household”.  I claim them all… everyone on my sticky note!  (And my sticky note is super full of tiny, tiny writing, front and back!) I’ve always questioned whether this was okay or not.  I remind God that He said it was His will that none shall perish, and ask Father God to draw their hearts to Him, and leave it at His feet.

This morning I was reading the story of Rahab the prostitute.  (Joshua 2, and 6). What a blessing it was!  It brought me to James 2:18-19 “But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’  Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do.  You believe there is one God.  Even the demons believe that — and shudder.” Continue reading “The Faith of a Prostitute!” →

It’s time to fly…

imagesThe last year has been a whirlwind for me. I have had more things shake my secure little life than I can ever remember in years past. “Wait a minute”, you might say, “I remember when this or that happened. Certainly THAT was more disturbing than anything that happened this year.”  Yes, yes the past always likes to rear it’s head and remind us of something we thought, at that time, we’d never get through. But I have survived all of that garbage and I am strong. I’m not afraid of satan’s reminders. He’s such a loser.

So why was this year different…. Even more difficult? I’m just learning myself. Let me share…

This was my oldest son’s senior year of high school. I honestly didn’t see it coming! Yes, I watched him grow everyday into this amazing young man, who I just can’t believe was given to me to raise. Certainly one of God’s greatest blessings on my life. It leaves me speechless. More than once in my life I’ve grabbed the hand of Denial and walked for miles and miles. This was one of those times…  Continue reading “It’s time to fly…” →

You are missing from me…

 

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Last Friday I spent an amazing day with my honey in Great Falls.  We were not there for any special occasion; we were not celebrating a certain anniversary, or birthday, or anything like that.  Honestly, we were in town to get groceries.  It was definitely not a “romantic” or celebratory trip at all, haha!  However, I had the best day!

Just after we arrived in Great Falls, I reached over and touched Lonnie’s arm as he was driving and said, “I’m so happy to be spending the day with you in Great Falls.  I’ve been lonely for you.”  Those words, as they were escaping my lips, struck my heart in a very unexpected way.  Continue reading “You are missing from me…” →

To Infinity and Beyond!!

infinityOne thing about our kids growing older is that as parents, we look a bit ridiculous going to the theater to watch cartoons without little kids. I’m not saying it has stopped me, I’m just sayin’… haha! However, I will admit that these trips are much less often than when the boys were younger. I remember well when they were still my “babies” and their room was all decorated with Woody and Buzz from Toy Story. My oldest son was a fan of Woody, my youngest of Buzz. We had the action figures, the VCR tapes (remember those?), the sheets and comforter sets, all of it! So, when Toy Story 3 came out in theaters, I was very excited. “The sequel!! Andy’s going to college…!” I announced, excitedly. My oldest son informed me that it was a little “creepy” how excited I was about this movie. Bah-humbug!! Or whatever you say when it’s not Christmas!! Anyway, we didn’t go. So, last spring during our month of rain, you can only imagine my excitement when Toy Story 3 was on TV! You can bet that movie was set up in our DVR schedule right away! I figured it would be a great movie for a rainy day, which we were having our share of, to say the least. I was planning a family evening with popcorn. What I got was a very good lesson from ol’ Woody and Buzz. For those of you that haven’t been fortunate enough to see this movie, let me give you a bit of a recap. Continue reading “To Infinity and Beyond!!” →

How Deep Are Your Roots?

Deep Roots

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This is an old story.  About new life.  About roots.  About false appearances.  About growth.
It’s almost Spring here in our part of the country.  We haven’t really had Winter, so there is an eerie feeling of what’s to come.  I am not sure if I should expect that we are going to have cold and snowy late-Winter, early-Spring storms or if this is “it”… all we’re going to see of this so-called Winter.  I am not really complaining; I’ve loved our mild winter with its Spring-like days of sunshine and mild temperatures.  But as I got up this morning and looked outside into my yard, I was reminded of how much moisture we need and are going to need when the hot, blistery days of summer arrive.
And that’s when I saw my trees.  Small shrubs, is more like it, I guess.  In my front yard are 4 trees.  They were planted by my mother-in-law years and years ago.  I am guessing close to 30 years for sure.  I have been a part of this family for nearly 25 years and they were here when I got here!  My husband and I moved back into this house where he was raised in 1995.  I had a brown thumb then, haha!  Or maybe no thumb!!  Ok, that’s not possible… so yeah, brown.  What I’m trying to say is that I didn’t have a gardening gene in my body, or so I thought. When I looked into what was then a field with 4 little bushes and a drive way, I didn’t care if things lived or died.  (Plant things I mean, that sounded harsh!)  I didn’t want flowers, I didn’t care about those little bushes; I figured the wild prairie-type grass that was growing on its own was good enough. And as far as the trees were concerned, I figured if they had the strength and willpower to live on their own, kudos to them.  They were welcomed to it.  As life continued on and I grew up a bit more, I realized that my love of gardening just hadn’t blossomed yet. (Pun intended, haha!)  And if I gave it an honest thought, I knew better.  My family could grow flowers and veggies out of a rock.  As a child, some of my best memories were about my grandpa’s garden.  Everyone I know in my family is some type of master gardener.  I was doomed!!  Haha!  … Continue reading “How Deep Are Your Roots?” →

Climb that mountain!!

This is an older post, but I had to share it anyway….

Well, my plan was workout on my elliptical today, but it was so beautiful outside, I just had to go for a walk. Who’d have thought it would be so nice and beautiful in the month of January where I live that I could go outside and walk… Thank YOU MY LORD!! I have this same walk that I do… it’s hard. We live right under a buffalo jump and everywhere behind our house up near the barn is uphill. But, once you get up there, there are the gorgeous Rocky Mtns so clear and awesome! How anyone canNOT see God in them I don’t know… Going up those hills is hard. There are a few that even my boys, who are in INCREDIBLE shape, can’t walk upright to get to the top. There are 3 that I have to stop at least once on each hill just to catch my breath. I noticed today that I always turn and face downhill when I do have these short rest periods… 1. because I’m looking down at our Ranch… the house, barns, shop, basketball court… horses… all of it! BUT 2. God reminded me that when we’re facing “mountains” in our life that we must look back on those times He’s already brought us thru. Continue reading “Climb that mountain!!” →