Trust God In The Middle of Nowhere

        Do you live in a 'what if'' world?  Or does your faith overcome your fears?  When you say you trust God to provide, do your actions backup your words?  Your fears may revolve around your sense of not being in total control.  Guess what?  You never are, God is in control over all things at all times.  Even Satan is powerless, unless God allows it.

       God is our source to provide for all of our needs, care, and help.  Job 10:12 "You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit."  Psalm 65:9 "You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it."  Psalm 111:9  "He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever— holy and awesome is his name."

       "There are at least 169 verses in the Bible that refer to the ways God provides for us. Philippians 4:19 puts it simply: “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”  Like any good parent, God would never give us what He knows would harm us. His intent is to help us develop Christlikeness so that we become salt and light in the world.  God differentiates between our needs and our wants because He knows that where our treasure is our heart is also  He wants us to know that this world is not our home and that part of what we need is to shift our focus to the eternal life while still living this one.  God is concerned with every part of our being: spirit, soul, and body. As the facets of His character are infinite, so the ways God provides for us are beyond anything we can ask or imagine.  Psalm 84:11 states, “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” This verse carries a reminder that there is a part we play in God’s provision coming to fruition in our lives. We must walk uprightly.   In whatever physical state we find ourselves, we can be content in the Lord.  God’s love and direction began even before conception. What a gift to know that God has been involved in our lives from the very start! His love for us is encompassed in His desire for our highest good.  Often, we take for granted the rain that falls, the sun that comes up every morning, the refreshing winds that blow, and the tides that cleanse our shores and invigorate the life in our vast oceans. But all these things are watched over by our loving God in His provision for us."  [gotquestions.org]

        As for myself, I know many people who limit their activities because of 'what if'' scenarios in their mind.  Most of what we are scared of, never comes true but for those moments that do catch us off guard, we must trust God to provide and work things out for our good.
        Most people are either for or against going on a cruise, there's no in-between.  My first cruise was with my parents on a 7-day trip to the Caribbean islands.  It was perfect, flawless and so much fun, as a teenager.  My second cruise was with Charlene and some other people we knew to Cancun, Playa del Carmen and another place I can't recall on a 5 day trip.  Charlene and I did things on our own and at our own pace because we are night owls, not early birds.  We had such a great time and partied as much as anyone on the ship.  One night after going to the nightclub for 80's music, mudslides and dancing until 1am, we came back to our room that we shared with a friend that was sound asleep.  We tried to be quiet but my scooter ran into the bathroom wall.  LOL, that was the funny part.  Then, reality hit hard and it was no joke.  At this time in my life, I had to wear a big, bulky iron-lung like apparatus to sleep and breathe correctly at night.  After getting ready for bed, we discovered my breathing machine was broken, quit, died, whatever you want to call it.  So, it's the middle of the night and we are in the middle of the ocean and I can't safely go to sleep.  What do we do?  Panic, yes, Pray, yes, Call my parents in AR, yes.  Thankfully, we were to dock in Cancun the next morning.  So, my dad found another machine like mine [rare] and got an expensive airline ticket to meet us at the port in Cancun.  This wasn't our first time to stay up all night because of my machine breaking, but it was the scariest.  My dad made it safely to us with a new machine.  Did we sleep?  No way, we're on vacation time so we all went to this beach resort area for the day and had dinner in the port area.  My dad found a safe little motel for the night and flew home the next day.  We kept on cruising a few more days without any troubles, just fun times.

Where God guides, He provides. Where He leads, He supplies all needs!  Trust in Him always... on land, in sea or in air...He's got you!

Sharing The Experience

"Walk A Mile in His Mocassins"
by Mary T. Lathrap in 1895

"Pray, don’t find fault with the man that limps,
Or stumbles along the road.
Unless you have worn the moccasins he wears,
Or stumbled beneath the same load.

There may be tears in his soles that hurt
Though hidden away from view.
The burden he bears placed on your back
May cause you to stumble and fall, too.

Don’t sneer at the man who is down today
Unless you have felt the same blow
That caused his fall or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.

You may be strong, but still the blows
That were his, unknown to you in the same way,
May cause you to stagger and fall, too.

Don’t be too harsh with the man that sins.
Or pelt him with words, or stone, or disdain.
Unless you are sure you have no sins of your own,
And it’s only wisdom and love that your heart contains.

For you know if the tempter’s voice
Should whisper as soft to you,
As it did to him when he went astray,
It might cause you to falter, too.

Just walk a mile in his moccasins
Before you abuse, criticize and accuse.
If just for one hour, you could find a way
To see through his eyes, instead of your own muse.

I believe  you’d be surprised to see
That you’ve been blind and narrow minded, even unkind.
There are people on reservations and in the ghettos
Who have so little hope, and too much worry on their minds.

Brother, there but for the grace of God go you and I.
Just for a moment, slip into his mind and traditions
And see the world through his spirit and eyes
Before you cast a stone or falsely judge his conditions.

Remember to walk a mile in his moccasins
And remember the lessons of humanity taught to you by your elders.
We will be known forever by the tracks we leave
In other people’s lives, our kindnesses and generosity.

Take the time to walk a mile in his moccasins."

“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:16-18‬

         Have you ever felt like the odd man out?  Have you ever felt like an alien in this world we live in?  If so, it's not such a bad thing because this world is not our home.  Colossians 1:21 says "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior."  As believers, we are God's chosen children and friends of His.  He cares more about out character and us being Christ-like, than our appearance, our status, our achievements, or anything about us that only has earthly value.  1 Samuel 16:7 says "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  No matter what our cross is to bear in this life, God calls and commands us in Joshua 1:9 to  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

        Have you ever wished secretly in your heart and mind that others could get just a small dose of what you're going through, just for a brief moment?   I have, whether that's wrong or right, but it's probably my sinful nature within me.  So I would never wish on anyone what we are going through now with the Covid-19 virus, but I am feeling a bit more comfortable being out and about and not being the only one with a mask on.  

      Although my mask is more than essential, it is life-giving and required.  Like others masks, it is protective, awkward, uncomfortable, a nuisance, and necessary in today's world.  I've heard from new mask wearers..it's hot, suffocating, ugly, messes up my hair and makeup, and ugh, I can't wait to take it off.  To all of this, I say "Yes, I know. Welcome to my every day world."

       Someone else knows, hears and understands all of your sufferings, His name is Jesus. "Your pain won’t last forever, but you will. “Whatever we may have to go through now is less than nothing compared with the magnificent future God has in store for us” Romans 8:18 . What is coming will make sense of what is happening now. Let God finish his work.  Is it possible that some explanation for suffering exists of which we know nothing at all? What if God’s answer to the question of suffering requires more megabytes than our puny minds have been given? And is it possible that the wonder of heaven will make the most difficult life a good bargain? This was Paul’s opinion. “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” 2 Corinthians 4:17 "[Lucado, Max. You'll Get Through This]

       "At some point we all stand at this intersection. Is God good when the outcome is not? During the famine as well as the feast? The definitive answer comes in the person of Jesus Christ. He is the only picture of God ever taken. Do you want to know heaven’s clearest answer to the question of suffering? Look at Jesus. He pressed his fingers into the sore of the leper. He felt the tears of the sinful woman who wept. He inclined his ear to the cry of the hungry. He wept at the death of a friend. He stopped his work to tend to the needs of a grieving mother. He doesn’t recoil, run, or retreat at the sight of pain. Just the opposite. He didn’t walk the earth in an insulated bubble or preach from an isolated, germfree, pain-free island. He took his own medicine. He played by his own rules. Trivial irritations of family life? Jesus felt them. Cruel accusations of jealous men? Jesus knew their sting. A seemingly senseless death? Just look at the cross. He exacts nothing from us that he did not experience himself. Why? Because he is good. God owes us no more explanation than this." [Lucado, Max. You'll Get Through This]

A Giving Spirit

2 Corinthians 9:7 

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Proverbs 15:23

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!

Acts 20:35

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

        This has been a great Easter week for me by both giving to and receiving from others.  It makes my heart happy to give and expect nothing in return.  God has blessed me faithfully throughout my life and I have never been or gone without.  It blesses me in so many ways to pass on what God has abundantly given me.  Holidays emphasize us to give, but it should be a regular part of our lives throughout the year.  As Acts 20:35 tells us, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive',  but many need to work on receiving with grace and gratitude.  May we all accept God's gift of salvation. 

       "Our God is a giving God. He is a God of abundance, and He loves to give. He sacrificed willingly on the cross and then invited us into fullness of life. As His children, we are called to imitate Him. Our generosity in giving is a demonstration of God’s character and a response to what He has done for us.   Generosity not only points others to God, it is an appropriate response to what God has done for us.  Our response to God’s abundance with us is to share that abundance with others. When we appropriately receive God’s generosity, it humbles us. We recognize that we are not worthy of His gift. Out of gratefulness, we become more gracious with others. We begin to learn the heart of God and want to be more like Him.   When we give, we empty ourselves in order to be filled again by God. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38)."  [gotquestions.org]

        During this Covid-19 pandemic, I have been blessed with surprise gifts, by many different friends, at my door.  It reminds me of my 3rd year of college spent at the University of Texas at Arlington.  The campus was so large, I had to use my scooter for the first time in my schooling years.  The Church of Christ student center allowed me to store my scooter in their facility and park my car in their lot.  I was blessed to get to know people there and participate in a bible study with other women.   We decided to do a 'secret pal' time of giving during the last semester.  It was so fun to put my gifts in my pal's locker cubby and so fun to find gifts in my scooter basket.  Gifts weren't big or expensive but sure brought a smile. Gifts ranged from a candy bar, to a card, to flowers, to a stuffed animal, to a short note, and more.  It doesn't take much to be a light of Christ to someone and make their day a little more special.  It sure made a good and lasting memory in my life.

Matthew 5:15-16  "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

When I Thought It Was Over

Romans 15:4  "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope."

2 Corinthians 1:5-7  " For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."



           Today's blog is about enduring strife a little longer than expected.  Sometimes we think, I'll get through this first hurdle and then all will be okay.  Yet, the second and third hurdles are right there close behind for us to jump over.  While many of us wrongfully believed this coronavirus was going to be a 2 to 3 week inconvenience, it has skyrocketed into so much more.  It's affecting our plans, emotions, finances and the way we think.  "In this particular disorienting season, we may feel abandoned, alone, and forgotten by God. The pandemic feels too big. Even as we go through our own losses, anxiety, or pain, we lament the situations of people experiencing poverty or displacement.  As with all of the trials we walk through, He makes use of these experiences to sanctify and lead us closer to Himself. The desert will either draw us deeper into the story of a good God or cause us to turn our backs in favor of our own kingdoms of control.  Our temptation is always to bypass suffering, to get the good life without pain." [intouch.org]

         2 Timothy 4:5-8  " But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.  For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."

        "There was no better man than Paul to give advice about endurance under suffering for the Lord Jesus. Paul had been imprisoned, beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, hungry, cold, and destitute. In spite of all this and more, Paul managed to endure the suffering, finish the race, and keep the faith.  Hardships come in a variety of ways. Temptations, illnesses, lost jobs, broken relationships, and persecution for one’s faith are all forms of hardship. Christians should not be taken by surprise when hardships come: Jesus warned us, “In this world you will have trouble”. The good news is that Jesus followed up His warning with this word of encouragement: “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We can endure by His grace.  To endure is more than just continuing to exist; it is continuing to exist in the same manner as before the suffering began. To “endure” does not mean simply to grin and bear it. Christians will feel sad, betrayed, or even angry at times. These emotions in and of themselves are not bad; they only become sin when we allow them to take root in our lives and produce bitterness, evil thoughts of revenge, or unforgiveness. Believers must remember that everything that comes into our lives is under the control of a sovereign God who has promised He is working all things out for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."  [gotquestions.org]

       As for myself, I have endured hardship and been on death's doorstep [more thn once], but God has given me joy through it all, taught me so much about dependence on Christ alone, has continued to use me for His glory and not called me home yet.  In 2010, I was sick with a bad respiratory infection. It was a Monday afternoon, when I went to see my doctor.  He got me in for one of the last procedures of that day at the hospital for a bronchoscopy by him.  A bronchoscopy is where they go down into your lungs and suck stuff out.  I've had this before for inhaled food, fluid and infection.  This time, I had the procedure and after a short wait, I told my doctor I was okay and good to go home.  Are you sure?  Yes!  Well, on the ride home I started feeling the need to cough.  By the time, I got home I was doing all my cough methods to no avail.  I was trying to get okay quickly because we had bible study group led by Grace Mayo at 6pm.  As people started arriving, I was getting worse.  Lisa Gwin helped direct our traffic, as the ambulance came to get me.  The saline used to help flush out my lungs was now compromising my ability to breathe.  Even with my mask and sitting straight up, my parents and Charlene said I was gray-looking all night.  A family friend and pastor at the time, Mike Haigh, came to my bedside and read Scriptures of comfort to me.  Many thought, including me, that my time up might be nearer than we wanted.  Hearing the promises of God and what we, as believers, have to look forward to is a soothing way to remind one that God is right there with you.  God pulled me through it by giving my doctor wisdom, so much prednisone that I was awake for 5 days straight, and strength for 10 days in the hospital.

        I share this story to encourage each of you through the hardship you may feel from the coronavirus.  In your anious moments, remind yourself that God is with you always, turn to Scripture verses that comfort you, and trust in God's timing and control over it all.

Isaiah 40:29  "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."