"I think I love you..."

" I think I love you....

I remember the first time my husband said he loved me as if it were yesterday, not decades ago.  We had been studying at the college librar, as usual, that evening and were headed for a soft drink before returning to the dorms in which I lived. (We studied a lot at the library that spring And got great grades!  It was a safe place  to spend time together...)

Anyway, we were talking as usual, and then He looked at me with wide eyes and said, "I think I love you." It was a revelation for us both to admit to being serious about one another...and within that year we were married...for a lifetime...

There are times in my spiritual life that have been those wake up moments of God's love as well...even though I know He loves me all the time and forever has loved me...there are just special times that I am overwhelmed by His love and I am wide eyed with astonishment and the security of it...

It may be a small voice....an all encompassing feeling of comfort....an idea....a circumstance that is beyond human explanation....goosebumps from a shared experience....a look from a stranger at a significant time...many, many ways....just knowing that I am personally loved beyond my imagination and earthly explanation...

thank YOU for those special times that I know that You love me beyond a shadow of a doubt....as well as all the times when I may not even be aware of your love...You are present and caring all the time...

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. 

Psalm 103:17-18, 22 But from everlasting to everlastingthe Lord’s love is with those who fear him,and his righteousness with their children’s children— with w those who keep his covenantand remember to obey his precepts. 

Praise the Lord, all his workseverywhere in his dominion.Praise the Lord, my soul. 

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

1 John 4:7-12, 16, 18-19 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.God is love. 

Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

We love because he first loved us. 

Fostering children....

Fostering children....

There was a time that we thought we couldn't have children, having suffered through several miscarriages...we finally were able to carry two to full term...and then decided to adopt.  Before adopting, we decided to care for children through the foster care program in the state in which we lived...I guess I thought we were great parents and could handle more children...that was a life lesson!!!

Our first was a brother/sister  pair which had been moved and moved and were moved from our home as well...they need so much more help than We could possibly give or even understand..they eventually were separated and adopted singly .  The older sister was so "mothering" that she wouldn't let her brother be cared for by anyone else to his and her detriment.  The survival instinct and care she had was amazing for a four year old.  It reminded me of my mother in law who at eight didn't want her siblings to be separated and was determined that she could take care of them by herself after all were put up for adoption...

Our next child was a baby that had been traded for a car, left to drink koolaid in her crib for her care...she was so hungry when they delivered her to our home one Rainy evening that she drank formula all night.   We all quickly were attached to this sweet little baby, everyone wanting turns to feed and care for her...she was eventually adopted by a wonderful couple who cherished her...

Over next several years, we had several more babies and children for various reasons, from malnutrition to custody suits.  All being resolved in some manner.  

I have to say, that each child was extremely hard to hand back over to child services..some were going back to bad family situations, while others were resolved...we, as a family got attached to each, some very deeply.  It was like losing a loved one when each left our home.  The older ones asking why they couldn't stay with us and be a part of our family.  Those were hard questions...

I often wonder what happened to them...as they are all adults now...I hope and pray that each took away an awareness of God into their lives as we told and prayed for them, sending each away with a scrapbook of their lives with us..we wanted them to have a history with memories....pictures of themselves....

Thank YOU for the opportunity to foster various children at crucial times of their lives.   You indeed made our lives richer with each one that came into our family even for short periods. Watch over them with Your pure love...wherever they are...

Psalm 27:10, 13-14 Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me. 

I remain confident of this:I will see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait for the Lord;be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. 

Psalm 113:9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.Praise the Lord. 

Faithful leaders....followers...

Faithful leaders..followers...

I receive about three to four political phone calls a day and I am on the "no call" list..each come from private callers. They start at 9 in the morning and are spaced out evenly through the day. I have tried getting them stopped to no avail, so just let them ring  again and again each day...when I see "private caller" on the caller ID, I just let it ring and go about my business....realizing that the campaign trail is hot right now and we have another year of this...these callers are faithful followers...

What I am looking for is faithful leaders....

We have slew of candidates from all backgrounds, different party affiliations, different experiences, different core values, different races, ....all trying valiantly to win our allegiance .....our vote in the next presidential election...

Who has God picked? Why? He raises up and tears down leaders of nations..

But He chooses the faithful to carry out His plans...in all areas of life...

Am I faithful in doing His bidding? Am I faithful in all I do? From the mundane to the spectacular?

Thank YOU  the reminder to be faithful, no matter what the  job is...help me to be faithful in all I do...

Psalm 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. 

Psalm 52:1-4, 8-9 Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero?Why do you boast all day long,you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. 

You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue! 

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.

 For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.And I will hope in your name, for your name is good. 

Are You Faithful?   A daily devotion for August 28th   From your friends at RayStedman.org     Read: Nehemiah 13:10-14       I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because these men were considered trustworthy (Nehemiah l3:13a).       Notice how representative this group is that he chooses. There is a priest, a scribe, a Levite, and a layman. All four represent various aspects of the life of Israel and share one great quality. He tells us, these men were considered trustworthy (Nehemiah 13:13b). They were faithful men. I have discovered that today faithfulness is a quality not highly esteemed, although we often pay lip service to it. It is disheartening to me at times to see how few people take seriously the responsibility to carry through faithfully what they have undertaken. Faithfulness is the quality that God admires. Paul says in 1 Corinthians of those who minister in the church: Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2). That is the primary thing God looks for: the ability to hang in with an assignment until you are through; the willingness to fulfill responsibility year after year, not needing to be praised or thanked or publicly encouraged in order to do so; to work unto the Lord; to show up on time and to not leave until the work is done. I have learned through the years to look for four qualities in leaders, whether they are men or women. I look first for a searching mind: a person who is mentally alert, who has curiosity about life, who wants to learn all the time. Such a person is always reading, always listening, always thinking about what he or she hears, and trying to reason out what is behind it. Second, I look for a humble heart--someone whose ego is not on the line all the time, who must be praised and honored and encouraged in order to get him to do anything at all; who gets disgruntled and turned off if she does not get recognized. I look for someone who understands that service is a privilege; that power is not conferred upon a person by an office but by serving people. Third, I look for an evident gift: God's people are gifted people. There is not one of the members of the body of Christ who has not been equipped by the Holy Spirit with a special ability to do something. When Christians know what it is, they always enjoy doing it. It is not a burden any more than wings are a burden to a bird. It is a delight to them. I look for people who have the gift for what we are asking them to do because they will stay with it and enjoy it to the end. And then, fourth, undergirding all the others and making them possible, is a faithful spirit--someone who will not quit; someone who sees her work as a ministry of service to the Lord Himself; who has undertaken it out of gratitude in his own life and heart, and no matter how tough it gets, will not quit. God looks for these kind of people to change the age in which they live. That is what we are called to do today. We are all included in this calling, not just the obvious, visible leaders. What is required are faithful men and women who are willing to carry this through to the end. Father, I ask that You would develop in me a spirit faithfulness. Help me to stick with the responsibilities You give to the end       Life Application   In a culture where unfaithfulness is rampant, are we thoughtfully alert, humbly motivated, and faithfully committed to be counter-cultural?   Related Message   For more on this portion of Scripture read the message: Looking for a Few Good Men or listen to the audio by clicking:   Listen to Ray     Previous Devotions for August Next       Want to Subscribe?   Subscribe / Unsubscribe to this Daily Devotion by Email   Copyright © 2014 Ray Stedman Ministries — This daily devotion is from the book The Power of His Presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman, compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet.

 

Aging gracefully ....

Aging gracefully...

Looking around, it seems like my friends are aging....and I am going with them...it doesn't seem possible that we are actually getting older..it is too soon...there is still things to do, places to go, people to see..

We are taking care of aging parents, sometimes babysitting grandchildren, advising children, doing volunteer work, taking care of loved ones with illnesses, running a household, keeping in touch with others and maybe retiring...but we can't be old enough to be "aging...."

I remember one time when my mother was seeing her doctor. She noticed notes on his pad saying, "small elderly white haired woman " written as a description of herself...she didn't think of herself as elderly...that was a shock at 80!

I have a friend, who at 94 is crocheting blankets as fast as she can for the needy ones around her..she has outlived three husbands, two children, lives alone, taking care of herself...she is aging gracefully in the Lord...

Another, at 80, is going through cancer gracefully until her last smile...

Others,  have daughters who could be their twins..smiling until their last breath, just as their daughters are doing...

Still others who don't remember the last time their children visited them, the day before...

Or the younger  ages, as on this video, giving advice to "younger" people...

We each have advice to give to those who are coming behind us...doing, listening, being...and we are given advice in the Bible as well...

Titus 2:2-8, 11-15 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 

Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. 

Thank YOU for the aging process...even when I don't want to admit it....help me to age gracefully, fruitfully....not angerly, or sadly...but with radiance from You...

http://www.coolestone.com/media/12990/How-to-Age-Gracefully/#.Vd7__IhHaK3

Messy days....

"Messy days."......

I have three friends undergoing some kind of cancer treatments at this point in time...two uprooted from their homes to live in temporary quarters for treatment..another at home facing cancer without any treatment at all..."messy days"... All of them have their trust in Christ, each working through the tangles of medicines, "new cancer language", tired, refreshed, holding on, stressed, at peace....all the emotions that each day brings from the highs to the lows...

Sometimes, no time to think, just do...just move one foot forward a step at a time....each will look back at this chapter and wonder how they wrote it...how they made it through the fog ....and realize that God held their hand so tightly, so comfortingly...he kept them from drowning in the flood waters surrounding them...He alone gave them solid ground on which to stand...withstood the currents so strong against them...

It is not an easy time...that goes without saying...but it will be a triumphant time...when viewed later...the lessons going deep within each soul, radiating God's sustainability, comfort, love, surprises, answers, and maybe no answers...

"Messy days" don't just stop....they continue...each for a different purpose, each drawing us closer, hopefully, to center ourselves in the eternal presence of our Creator, the One who knows us the best...He alone gives peace amidst the "messiness".

Thank YOU, even in the "messy days". Help us to seek Your face...You are with us...

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters,I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 

Jesus calls--August 26
Trust Me in the midst of a messy day. Your inner calm—your Peace in My Presence—need not be shaken by what is going on around you. Though you live in this temporal world, your innermost being is rooted and grounded in eternity. When you start to feel stressed, detach yourself from the disturbances around you. Instead of desperately striving to maintain order and control in your little world, relax and remember that circumstances cannot touch My Peace.
Seek My Face, and I will share My mind with you, opening your eyes to see things from My perspective. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid. The Peace I give is sufficient for you.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
—John 16:33
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.
—Psalm 105:4
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
—John 14:27

Joy...celebration...

Joy....celebration.... There are times for celebration and times for sorrow... When I read this devotional this morning, I just wanted to share it...many times I get caught in the mundane of life, the fearful news, the downturned economy, etc, etc,   And forget that God is the "Blessed Controller" of all...He, Himself is reason to celebrate... What can I do to radiate Him? Not a false smile or fake, pasted on look, but a real, down in the soul joy and celebration... These people in Nehemiah's time had gone through so much and persevered in the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem and now had paused to celebrate...amidst the trials they had been through to get there... just like the rebuilding or rekindling of our faith or love, there are trials we face everyday...but how can I turn that into a celebration of God's faithfulness? Look up, look to His Word, listen to that inner truth that He sends through the Holy Spirit...enjoy fellowship with others, encourage someone, give thanks in all things... Thank YOU for the celebration...help me to grasp it each day as I look to You as the Author and Finisher of my faith...       How To Celebrate   A daily devotion for August 25th   From your friends at RayStedman.org     Read: Nehemiah 12:27-43       At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres (Nehemiah 12:27).       It is proper to dedicate. And it is proper also to celebrate when God has brought us to a place of achievement. The Holy Spirit has been careful to include in this account the three aspects that make up true celebration. One of the primary elements of true celebration is the expression of joy. It is amazing to me how many Christians never appear to be joyful. They are always gloomy and grim. I am reminded of what a little girl said upon seeing a mule for the first time: I don't know what you are, but you must be a Christian because you look just like Grandpa! There are a lot of long-faced Christians around. There are times of sorrow and sadness, of course, but Christians ought frequently to exude a sense of joy because they have something to be joyful about. Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness is liking the present moment because it pleases us. But joy is much deeper and more long-range. Joy appreciates the past, the present, and the future, not because the circumstances are pleasing, but because the heart is right with God. These people were happy because the wall was finished. But they were joyful because God had helped them to finish it. Aware of God's love and acceptance, they therefore were joyful. There is another clue hidden in this paragraph that tells us what celebration should be based on. Verse 30 tells us that purification is necessary to celebrate. You cannot do it with a hypocritical heart. It becomes a festival of empty words. Many people seem to be afraid of this word purity. They think it describes a self-righteous kind of person. But purification in the Christian life stems from the same philosophy that motivates us when we wash dishes. You do not set your table with dirty dishes, do you? God does not do His work with dirty vessels! We need a periodic cleansing of our lives and hearts. In the New Testament, it is a simple process. It is not by ritual but by confessing our faults and believing that God has forgiven them. Confess your sins. Then believe that God cleanses you, that He forgives you, that He has restored you to His favor. This is what fills the heart with joy. There is still a third element in this that is found in verse 31. Thankfulness is always part of true celebration. These people were thankful. Are we properly thankful? Do we give thanks every day to God for the blessings we are enjoying at the moment? We are so trained by the media to grumble and complain, to insist on something we do not have, to focus on that instead of on all we do have. One of the first signs of a growing, maturing spirit in young Christians is that they begin to give thanks to God for what He has poured into their life; for the opportunities that are before them; and for the present blessings and liberties that they do enjoy. So there are the elements that make up celebration: joyfulness, purity, and thanksgiving. Lord, forgive me for so often forgetting all that I have to celebrate. Teach me to celebrate all You have done for me with joy, purity, and thanksgiving.       Life Application   How do we distinguish joy from happiness? What are three elements in celebrating life as God intended? Do our lives reflect these three elements?   Related Message   For more on this portion of Scripture read the message: The Sound of Rejoicing or listen to the audio by clicking:   Listen to Ray     Previous Devotions for August Next       Want to Subscribe?   Subscribe / Unsubscribe to this Daily Devotion by Email   Copyright © 2014 Ray Stedman Ministries — This daily devotion is from the book The Power of His Presence: a year of devotions from the writings of Ray Stedman, compiled by Mark Mitchell. It may be copied for personal non-commercial use only in its entirety free of charge. All copies must contain this copyright notice and a hyperlink to RayStedman.org if the copy is posted on the Internet.

 

Persevere.....

Persevere....

I was struck yesterday with the phrase, "faith perseveres" which was spoken of  by the pastor...he had a lot more points, but this was mine for the day...as he has been talking about the "Heroes of the Faith..."

So I looked up the use of persevere in the Bible and found these few verses in the New Testament. But they are powerful, reminding us to continue, stand strong, not grow weary, through the trials of life until the end....

I don't know about others, but I grow weary at times..."am I doing enough", the "whys" of life, the enemy is strong, the problems "insurmountable", etc., etc., etc.....but these passages encourage so much perseverance for the prize/life that awaits...after the struggles...

The heroes of the faith saw this, people down through ages saw this, people of this generation are experiencing this....love perseveres....God helps us persevere....through His strength...even when we are weary...when we hand over the burdens...Jeremiah 31: 25 promises "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint"...and for the "weeping" prophet, he knew firsthand what persevering cost...

Thank YOU for the call to persevere.  But, thank You also for Your strength to persevere in the face of weariness..

1 Corinthians 13:7 It (love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

2 Corinthians 12:12 I (Paul) persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 

 1 Timothy 4:16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 

Hebrews 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 

Hebrews 11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 

James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. 

James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 

A call to persevere-Jude 1:17-25 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. 

Revelation 2:3 You (the church at Ephesus) have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 

Entrust....

Entrust....

Okay, last year I wrote about my husband-"forever 67" and now another year has passed since he has died...this year seems to have  gone even more quickly than the years before...with so much activity. 

But even though he has died, there are still many times that I turn to share, to point out and realize that I can't. It is a rude awakening again and again. But, I continue to go on..the ache of aloneness is still there, maybe less than last year and the year before...the ambushes of emotion still hit without rhyme or reason at times....the wish for that partnership that we shared is still strong....especially when I am around others whose marriages are intact....

Reading this Jesus Calling this morning, I admit, was hard...I thought I had entrusted my husband to God....But, His decision was to take him home...not leave him with his family...that wasn't my Plan....I wanted to hold my husband's hand...not God's...

I remember the day of the diagnosis, the tear filled, stricken faces of my children, my father, myself, when the doctor told us the prognosis of my husband, their father, his son in law....it is engraved in my mind..."this can't be happening, not us, that only happens to someone else"...and then the resolution, "move forward, day by day...."  And we did, holding each other and holding on to God's mighty hand....entrusting ......

thank YOU for always being  there to hold us.  Help me to entrust You with each person in my family, knowing that You have the Best in mind for each of us. Help me not to hold them too tightly or too loosely, so that You have full reign in their lives. You work mightily on their behalf....

Jesus calling-August 23

Entrust your loved ones to Me; release them into My protective care. They are much safer with Me than in your clinging hands. If you let a loved one become an idol in your heart, you endanger that one—as well as yourself. Remember the extreme measures I used with Abraham and Isaac. I took Isaac to the very point of death to free Abraham from sonworship. Both Abraham and Isaac suffered terribly because of the father’s undisciplined emotions. I detest idolatry, even in the form of parental love.

When you release loved ones to Me, you are free to cling to My hand. As you entrust others into My care, I am free to shower blessings on them. My Presence will go with them wherever they go, and I will give them rest. This same Presence stays with you, as you relax and place your trust in Me. Watch to see what I will do.

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”
—Genesis 22:9–12

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…
—Ephesians 3:20

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
—Exodus 33:14