Protection

"The Lord is my protector; he is my strong fortress.  My God is my protection, and with him I am safe.  He protects me like a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe."  Psalm 18:2 (GNT)

The car thermostat read 101 degrees as my husband and I drove along today.  Under any conditions, dry heat or not, that is hot - especially in New England.  This girl likes it at a tepid 80, so this is WAY out of my comfort zone - literally!  As we drove along the cost, the beaches were packed with people, barely a slip of paper fitting between them.  While people watching I'm thinking - can you imagine how much sunscreen is on that beach?

Sunscreen does the job of protecting the skin against the harmful rays of the sun.  In essence, wherever you put the sunscreen, it is now a shield or barrier against a bad sunburn - keeping the person safe.  As I thought about sunscreen, it actually took me to our Lord, and this wonderful verse.  Some of you may be more familiar with the NIV version, "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and deliverer; . . ."  Often the NIV translation is what I use, but in this particular case, I love the word protector.

Life can be hard.  Maybe we aren't dealing with anything catastrophic (that is my prayer for all my readers).  Yet, the ins and outs of general life can take its toll.  Maybe the workload at our jobs has us feelimg as if we are climbing out of a barrel.  Maybe the pressures of children have us pulling our hair out.  Maybe the requests of friends and family seem to be pulling at your last nerve.  Where do you turn when those daily struggles seem to be getting the best of you?

When this world seems to be giving me more than my fair share of tough days, knowing that God is protecting me and keeping me safe brings me such comfort.  Life isn't always easy; sometimes it is just plain hard.  Yet, when those days arrive, I know that God is around me, like a force field, ensuring that the world doesn't bring me down.  This verse is my constant reminder that God is on MY side, protecting me, defending me, and bringing me peace.  How important is this verse?  I actually keep it in my day timer at work - letting me glimpse at it when the day may be getting the best of me.  Keeping this verse close is keeping God close - and when I have Him close to me, I can never get burned!!

Dearest Lord, thank you for being my protector.  As you well know, life here on Earth isn't always easy.  Yet, with you as my shield from all that is bad, I know that I am on the winning side.  With your protection, I'm not only safe from daily struggles, I'm also safe from the devil and all that he tries to do to bring me down.  May I be reminded every day of the protection and love you so willingly provide to me.  Thank you Jesus - Amen!

Healing Tears

"O Lord My God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me."  Psalm 30:2 (NIV)

It has happened to me before.  Events of my life take place.  The stress and anxiety is great.  I pray and pray, wondering if God has heard me.  I struggle and try to solve things myself.  Does any of this sound familiar to you?  Have you been stuck in a spot of your life where you are wondering if God is listening?

As I was going through the struggles of cancer treatment, I prayed.  I talked to God on such a different level than I ever had before.  I knew He knew what was going on in my heart, my head and my body.  Yet, it didn't seem as if things were getting better.  The chemo was creating havoc with my body.  The stress of cancer and having to be mom and wife was great.  I cried to my Lord almost every day.  Then, it happened.   On a rock on Jackson Falls.  The tears started.  They flowed as hard and long as the water on the falls.  Through the tears came the real healing, the feeling of peace I was yearning for.  Healing Tears.

Just last week, I was there again.  This time, it was in this beautiful chapel at a hospital where my mom had just come out of surgery.  The stress of the previous months had taken its toll.  The constant prayers for mom's healing were continuous throughout the day.  Bring in the constant pressures of work and, well, I'm sure you can figure out the rest.  Then, it happened again.  I am having a turkey sandwich in the cafeteria and I felt the same welling up of emotion.  I practically ran to this empty chapel and God and I talked, and once again, there were Healing Tears.

There is so much happening in our world today.  So much that we question God on why He would let these events occur.  Whether they are personal to us or our families or whether they span the world, the question of "why" remains.  Sometimes, God gives us glimpses of the answer.  Other times, we will wait until we see Him in heaven.  The best part, though, is that He does provide the healing when the tears are flowing.  He holds His loving arms around us, hugs us, and lets us know that peace is coming.  

As we all face these times in our lives, I encourage you to let the crying to begin.  God knows your heart, let Him see your tears.  In doing so, we pour out our emotional baggage and become filled with emotional peace.  I can't speak for you, but I'll take peace over baggage any day.  Find that special spot where it all makes sense.  It doesn't have to be a beautiful spot in nature or a chapel.  I've had such experiences in the shower in my home.  It's wherever we release and find relief.  

Dearest God, how I thank you that I can come to you with my tears and you provide the healing.  May I be confident in the knowing that you are a few tears away.  Take my baggage from me Jesus, and replace it with your precious peace.  In your gracious name I pray.  Amen!

Dearest Father

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."  2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17 (NIV)

Growing up in the '70s was an experience.  As with any generational decade, the '70s brought us so many epic trends - 8 track players, mood rings, pet rocks and the great disco music.  Parenting in any generation can prove difficult and the '70s did not disappoint.

Yet, there was my father.  He truly didn't care which decade it was, he was going to be the father that he believed he needed to be.  Growing up in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania, heading off as a Marine to the Korean War and attending William and Mary proved that he had many life experiences to share with his children.  He was many things for us:

A Disciplinarian:  We knew who ruled the roost at our home.  He had strong expectations and when we fell out of line, we knew it.  Although we may not have known it at the time, that discipline served us well growing up and ensured we received his strong values.

A Knowledge Provider:  Each day had a learning moment in it.  Whether it was a grammar lesson on a paper I had written or how to identify certain trees by their leaves, Daddy always exported knowledge.

A Problem Solver:  Nothing beat the way Daddy solved a problem.  Whether it was chewing gum to stop a leak in the bathroom or duct tape to fix ANYTHING, Daddy solved problems HIS way.

A Caring Soul:  He may have been a strong disciplinarian, but we always knew he cared.  There were moments where he listened and shared his feelings in such great letters we all keep today.

A Loving Heart:  We ALWAYS knew Daddy loved us.  Through each word, each hug, each phone call and especially through his wonderful smile, we knew that he always loved us.

I was fortunate to have such a great father.  Yet, as wonderful as my father was, he had flaws.  We all have flaws - mine show every day.  There is a Father, however, who doesn't have one flaw, Our Heavenly Father.

His is a disciplinarian, helping to guide us away from poor choices with the Holy Spirit.    He is a knowledge provider, giving us all the knowledge we need in The Bible.  It's just our job to go and get all the knowledge that He has given to us.  He is a problem solver -  the best I have encountered by far.  He knows each problem I have and always solves them, as long as I give them over to Him with a willing heart.   He is a caring soul, always listening to me.  There has yet to be a time when I have talked to my Heavenly Father when He wasn't willing to listen to me - no matter how many times I've turned my back on him.  Most of all my Heavenly Father has a loving heart - He is always there loving us.  We can feel His love through each word He speaks to us, each hug He gives us and even through the wonderful smile He shines down on us each and every day.  

My Dad, who has been in paradise now for 17 years, I miss so dearly but I am so grateful for all  he gave me.  For our Heavenly Father, help us to know that each day should be Father's Day.  May our praises, our worship and our love shine on Him always.

Dearest Father, thank you for helping us set aside a day to truly appreciate our earthly fathers and all that they give to us.  May we appreciate them and love them as they love us.  Help us to also remember that you are truly the Father who provides everything we could ever need -  including eternal salvation.  Let our joy surround both our earthly fathers as well as you, our Dearest Father.  In your loving name we pray, Amen!  

Waiting

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

Waiting has never been my strong point.  I believe that God has provided many wonderful gifts for me, but waiting is something I may be getting better at, but have always struggled with.  How have I gotten better?  Waiting in the grocery line when I have a time line used to put me over the edge.  Now, I force myself to find something positive.  Maybe it's smiling with the people in front of me.  Maybe i think about the meals I will make with the food.  Waiting in traffic?  Even that has me a bit more jovial.  I know I can't go anywhere so I think of a certain situation I might be able to problem solve or enjoy the music.  Overall waiting, yes, I'm getting better.

It's the "tough" waiting!  Waiting for my mom's surgery to be scheduled.  Waiting for certain things to happen at work.  It's the tougher waiting that I still struggle with.  I am a firm believer that God controls the time lines of our lives.  Yet, sometimes, it doesn't make the wait any easier.  I pray. I read my Bible.  I go to my devotions.  I try to do all the "right" things that I believe will influence God's timing.

Then it is a certain verse, like the one for today, that jolts me out of the "my time" thinking and into the "God time" thinking.  When I truly search these verses and personalize them, they become the peace and calm to the chaos and frustration. How do I do this?  For instance, I read today's verse saying:

   Wait for the Lord SUSAN, be strong SUSAN and take heart and wait for the Lord Susan.

When I put my name into the verse, I fully understand that the Lord is not sharing information, He is talking directly to me.  I know, then, that it is time to be Waiting on God - waiting for His very perfect time, not my time.  Often I remind others of this, and need to remind myself of that as well.  My dear husband is great at being that gentle reminder - sharing the frustration and the peace.

Our time lines are just that - OURS.  They are not the time lines that God always has for us.  When we start orchestrating our time lines into His journey, the peace turns to chaos.  May we all remember this as we have moments in our lives when we need to wait.  Although we may struggle, He is telling us that the time is not right now.  We need to be cognizant of that, so very aware, so that our chaos can turn to peace.  It's not easy - hey this is life.  Nobody said it was going to be a relaxed journey down the river.  When we rely on our Heavenly Father, though, we gain the strength, the courage, the patience and the love that only He can bring.  Take our waiting to God - He will provide!

"Dearest Jesus - help me!  I need you to help me see what I sometimes can't see myself - your perfect timing.  In moments when the wait is longer than "I" want, help me to be still and know that it is YOUR time that is truly perfect.  Bring peace to my chaotic waiting period.  Let me trust in you always.  Amen!"

One

"...one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."  Ephesians 4: 5-6 (NIV)

It's my Saturday morning ritual.  I get up (fairly early) and brew that one cup of coffee.  Just a single cup of coffee the way I like it.  As the coffee was brewing, it made me think of how much I enjoy that one cup.  The rest of the week I am "moving and shaking" to get chores completed before I head out the door for work or church.  On Saturday, it is my one time to take my time - and watch the coffee brew.

As I was anxiously awaiting my coffee, thoughts of "one" came through my mind.  I thought I would take today to share some of those thoughts with you.

I am God's chosen one - He made just one of me - for the purpose of fulfilling His path.

    "For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.  The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession."  Deuteronomy 7:6

God will always be with me - although I may stray from the rest - He will stay with the one, with me.

   "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?"  Luke 15:4

Jesus was the one, the ONLY one, to die and rise again for ALL of my sins, so I may be saved.

   "For Christ also suffered once for sins,the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit."  1 Peter 3:18

God knows me, one person, and I am worth everything to Him.

   "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."  Luke 12:6-7

As wonderful as my one cup of coffee is to my Saturday morning, I learned through all of these verses that I am that wonderful in God's eyes.  There are certainly times when I don't believe I am worthy of God's wonders and blessings.  Through grave sin, it is hard to believe that He would still love me.  Yet, through the verses of "one", I can see that I am precious in God's sight - ALL the time.  May we always remember that the One who created us, the One who sustains us, is the One who loved us enough to die on the cross for as little as One, but certainly for all mankind.  

"Dearest God, sometimes it is hard to digest the thought that you are with me, just one person. Yet, your heavenly word helps me to see that although I am one, you are with me always.  You will never leave me or fore sake me.  Help me to always remember that, especially during difficult times, so that I may always revel in your love.  Amen!"

Freedom

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."  Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

To me, Memorial Day is truly an important remembrance in the United States.  It is on this day that we remember those who gave unselfishly of themselves to gain and keep the freedoms we enjoy every day.  Holding close to our hearts ALL who have given of themselves is truly so important.  Growing up, it was very clear to our family that Daddy was a Marine Sergeant.  It wasn't as if he spoke in abundance about the Korean War.  In fact, he rarely discussed it.  Yet, we knew he was a Marine and he was very proud of that.

Fast forward a few years and our son is off to serve in the Navy.  We couldn't be more proud of him and all he has accomplished as he dedicates his life today to keeping our sacred freedoms.  As Christian searched for his journey after high school, many routes were sought.  Yet, his heart always told him to serve, and now he is doing just that.

Members of our Armed Forces have given, and continue to give, so much of themselves so that the rest of us can enjoy the freedoms that we have been given.  On this Memorial Day, it's our chance to remember those of the military that are gone as well as thank those who continue to serve.  These individuals sacrifice much for our freedom.

Certainly, the one that sacrificed everything for us is Jesus.  He entered this world knowing how He was going to leave it.  He walked through his 33 years on Earth knowing that His true mission was to die for our freedom.  Freedom from what?  Freedom from sin!!  By His death on the cross, he released the hold of sin on each of us.  Such a freedom could not have been won any other way.  No, He didn't die so that we wouldn't sin anymore.  We sin each and every day, by what we do and by what we don't do.

The freedom we have in Jesus is that our sin would not end in the despair of hell.  Our freedom means although we may sin, by believing that Jesus set us free from this sin, we will be with Him in paradise!  We need to do one thing - we need to believe - for this freedom.  We need to stand firm to the teachings of Jesus and not fall away.  When we do that, we have the many wonderful freedoms that faith gives us.  By far, the greatest being the freedom of living a life where our sin is not held against us.  We are free to be with Jesus in heaven!  

"Dearest Jesus, During this Memorial Day holiday, may we remember all who have given of their lives to protect the freedoms that we have.  You, Dear Lord, are at the top of that list.  We know that by your death and resurrection, we are free from the chains of sin to be able to live with you in paradise.  Help our thoughts to be drawn to this each and every day.  In your glorious name we pray, Amen!"

The Greatest Help

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."

"John 14:26   NASB

Every year, in our little farming town, we get to see this sight.  A number of the local farmers get together and plow one of the larger fields.  It's something to watch.  Almost a dozen farmers, on their plows, helping each other out.  No pride, no egos, just pure harmony.  Every time I see that vision, it reminds me of the importance of helping our neighbors, as well as asking for help, when the time arises.   It's humbling to see this sight.

Which leads us to today, Pentecost!  Today is the day where we celebrate the Holy Spirit.  As a Sunday School teacher of 2-3 year olds, we always found sharing the Trinity to be difficult - especially the Holy Spirit - not necessarily someone they can see pictures of.  As an adult, I'm not sure the understanding of the Holy Spirit can be any easier. 

Some say that the Holy Spirit is your Christian conscious.  He helps us to decide what is right and wrong and can be a counselor in these times of decision. Another reference shares that He teaches us, that He helps us to learn new and wonderful aspects of our faith.  This is shared above, "...He will teach you all things."   Also, it is said that the Holy Spirit helps us to recall all the wonderful things that Jesus taught.  Again this is referenced in our verse for today, "...and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."  

I believe that the Holy Spirit is all of this and so much more.  I like the definition of the Helper!  The Holy Spirit is actually referred to this in more than one place in the Bible.  In John 14:16, Jesus shares, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever."  When I see the Holy Spirit as a Helper, then it makes all of the other references come into focus.

• He is a helper that leads me in the right direction - a holy counselor
• He is a helper that teaches me when I don't know things - especially concerning my faith
• He is a helper to remind me of Jesus' love for me
• He is a helper to take me back to the scripture when I need strength and encouragement
• He is a helper - someone that is with me always

When I see the Holy Spirit as a helper, I know that there is ALWAYS someone there, someone within me, who can ALWAYS help me.  ALWAYS!!  I love my friends and family, but situations arise and they are not always be my side.  The Holy Spirit is always by my side, every moment of every day.  Understanding the power that this statement brings fills me with a sense of peace - knowing that whatever comes my way, my own personal helper, the Holy Spirit, will help me.  Thank you local farmers, for reminding me of the one that is always there to help - the Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving to us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  To be filled with you helps me to understand that I am never alone.  Whatever situations may come my way, may I be reminded that with you in me, I can come through it victorious in you.  May I realize the help the Holy Spirit provides to me and may I help others with that same conviction.  In your wondrous name I pray, Amen.