Think on how to help someone else.

Galatians 6:2

"...Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ..." 

A Very Busy Job

One of the busiest jobs must be home delivery.

If you have ever wondered what it would be like you may enjoy seeing how one company handles furry friends who love to greet them.

This may make your day and you just may become a regular visitor to their site!

Living in an Upside Down World

My Beloved used to have a Blog which was called "Sanity in an Upside Down World". The purpose was to open up our eyes to the craziness happening around us.

Eventually, our world became so upside down that he could spend forever writing about it.

It seems now-a-days that it is strange to have normal things happening.

2 Timothy 3

"But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.

For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.

For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.

Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High 
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

 

I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
 My God, in whom I trust!”

For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
 and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His pinions,
 and under His wings you may seek refuge;
 His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.

You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
 or of the arrow that flies by day;

of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
 or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

A thousand may fall at your side
 and ten thousand at your right hand,
 but it shall not approach you.

You will only look on with your eyes
 and see the recompense of the wicked.

For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
 even the Most High, your dwelling place.

No evil will befall you,
 nor will any plague come near your tent.

 

For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
 to guard you in all your ways.

 

They will bear you up in their hands,
 that you do not strike your foot against a stone.

 

You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
 the young lion and the serpent you will trample down.

 

“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
 I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.

“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
 I will be with him in trouble;
 I will rescue him and honor him.

“With a long life I will satisfy him
 and let him see My salvation.”

*

Homeward Bound

This last month our area of the midwest had Straight Line Winds as we have never seen before. There has been so much damage and the clean up and repairs seemingly without end.

At least once a week I am driving in the town where the highest winds hit. Even though so much clean up, clearing, and repairs have already been accomplished it still looks like it happened last week even though almost two months has gone by.

Driving through is extremely wearing on me. The sadness overwhelms me. 

Even though very few people were killed, many have been physically hurt in just the clean up. I haven't heard how many need a new roof- it must be astronomical. It has been estimated that the tree canopy is 70% gone. The town does not look like Itself.

I am grieving for the monetary amounts which will affect the people, the ones who have no home now, and the trauma we have been through and continually see.

This last week as I drove through I was praying with my thoughts turning Heavenward. What a change of perspective for me! Praise the LORD!

Although I can still grieve for the people I can remind myself that this damaged world - damaged in so many, too many ways - this damaged world is not my home. My eyes are heavenward!

Jesus died on the cross for me and all the people who acknowledge and know He is their Savior! We aren't staying in this failing world! We are Homeward Bound!

I'm Homeward Bound!

*

On Jordan's Stormy Banks

On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand,


And cast a wishful eye


To Canaan’s fair and happy land,


Where my possessions lie.

   Refrain:


  I am bound (I am bound)

  I am bound (I am bound)

  I am bound for promised land,

  I am bound (I am bound)

  I am bound (I am bound)

  I am bound for promised land.

Oh, the transporting, rapturous scene


That rises to my sight!


Sweet fields arrayed in living green,


And rivers of delight!

-

O’er all those wide, extended plains


Shines one eternal day;


There God the Son forever reigns,


And scatters night away.

-

No chilling winds or poisonous breath


Can reach that healthful shore;


Sickness and sorrow, pain and death,


Are felt and feared no more.

-

When I shall reach that happy place,


I’ll be forever blest,


For I shall see my Father’s face,


And in His bosom rest.

-

Filled with delight my raptured soul


Would here no longer stay;


Though Jordan’s waves around me roll,


Fearless, I’d launch away.

-

Samuel Stennett

*

Hebrews 11:16

"...But as it is, 

they desire a better country, 

that is, a heavenly one. 

Therefore God is not ashamed 

to be called their God; 

for He has prepared a city for them..."

The Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer Race

Today we drove up north for the Piper to play at a funeral.

What a lovely day it was. The landscapes were full of the trees subtly changing colors, the colorful fields of crops ready to be harvested with others already harvested, and the gentle breezes blowing. 

The LORD's beautiful creation lifted my head in His Glory.

So many difficult, sad things surround us, but we have a great God whose Son, Jesus Christ, came to save us.

One perfectly wonderful thing is that Jesus has already done it! He suffered, died, was buried, and then was raised from the grave to life again! He paid our huge debt with His own sinless life so that we could live forever with Him.

As our known world seemingly falls apart before our eyes we can know that Jesus will return His second time some day. We do not know the time or the day, but we sure know He will come. As a Christian this is our hope and our joy!

As we watch evil seemingly triumph we can continue to do what is before us, sharing with others who want to here the Truth, doing our next things in His strength, encouraging the Saints, and keeping our eyes on Jesus. He is the Perfecter of our Faith.

Hebrews 12:1-3

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

*

Get "running" in this race: the Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Summer Race! 

It is the Race of our lives! 

Glory to His Name!

Isolated

Always new, never acknowledged, easily forgotten. Wounded, broken, but never noticed.

Sadly, this is how I have seen and viewed most church Bodies over these many years when there are people who are hurting among them.

People attend church Bodies for many reasons.

Eventually, most people do have traumas in their lives. 

Sometimes other Believers notice, acknowledge, but with no further help, love or encouragements. 

I do not understand unless others are uncomfortable with pain. 

In other rare times someone else notices, acknowledges you, comes into your circle of sorrows, remembers you in prayers and in person. These Saints are a treasure, made of pure gold, close to the Father.

Many times these Saints understand sorrows and agonies. They have lived with pain and know the loneliness of traumas. The uncomfortableness is understood by them and so they can come alongside the wounded.

We were made and designed by God to have fellowship and relationships. Loneliness and isolation is not healthy for us and yet many Saints live their lives alone because no one "sees" them. 

Let each of us begin to "see" and realize who needs a smile, a touch, a hello, a "walk" with someone else.  We can't necessarily fix a person's problems, heal their wounds, bind up their agonies, but we can show compassion and love in ways which can help others continue and even be "better" even in their agonies.

If you are a wounded Child of God and no one seems to "notice" you, you can KNOW the LORD God Almighty notices you and He holds you.

Glory to God!

Psalms 25:16

"...Turn to me and be gracious to me,

For I am lonely and afflicted..."

Psalms 147:3

"...He heals the brokenhearted

And binds up their wounds..."

1 Peter 5:6-11

"...Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen..."

Isaiah 41:10

"...‘Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’..."

Deuteronomy 31:6

"...Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”..."

---------------------------------------

1 Corinthians 1

"...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort..."

James 2

"...If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, 

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.

But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted 

by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. 

For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not commit murder.” 

Now if you do not commit adultery, but do commit murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment..."

A Walk of Life: Gratitude

 

By Faith We See the Hand of God

By faith we see the hand of God

In the light of creation's grand design

In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness

Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth

With the power of His promise in their hearts

Of a holy city built by God's own hand

A place where peace and justice reign

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith the prophets saw a day

When the longed-for Messiah would appear

With the power to break the chains of sin and death

And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go

In the power of the Spirit to the lost

To deliver captives and to preach good news

In every corner of the earth

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

By faith this mountain shall be moved

And the power of the gospel shall prevail

For we know in Christ all things are possible

For all who call upon His name

We will stand as children of the promise

We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward

Till the race is finished and the work is done

We'll walk by faith and not by sight

-Townend, Getty

Hebrews 11

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 

the conviction of things not seen..."

 

Modesty

"It is because our sexuality is a gift from God that it must be protected with God’s own guidelines. This is precisely why modesty is important. We veil our sexuality behind modest attire and behavior, not because our sexuality is ugly but because it is beautiful."

--Robin Phillips, The Way of a Man With a Maid, pg.146

H/T Watchman's Bagpipes

Do not be taken captive in empty deceptions

-Schulz

Colossians 2:6-15
"...Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, 
so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being 
built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you 
were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy 
and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, 
according to the elementary principles of the world, 
rather than according to Christ. 

For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the 
head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also 
circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, 
in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision 
of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in 
which you were also raised up with Him through faith 
in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

When you were dead in your transgressions and the 
uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together 
with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 
having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of 
decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has 
taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He 
made a public display of them, having triumphed over 
them through Him..."

Psalms 118:5-9, 14, 22-29
"...From my distress I called upon the Lord;

The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.

The Lord is for me; I will not fear;

What can man do to me?

The Lord is for me among those who help me;

Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those 
who hate me.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord

Than to trust in princes...

...The Lord is my strength and song,

And He has become my salvation...

...The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief corner stone.

This is the Lord’s doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day which the Lord has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

O Lord, do save, we beseech You;

O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity!

Blessed is the one who comes in the 
name of the Lord;

We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.

The Lord is God, and He has given us light;

Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the 
horns of the altar.

You are my God, and I give thanks to You;

You are my God, I extol You.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness is everlasting."

Laughter as a medicine

Ecclesiastes 3:4
..."There is an appointed time for everything. 
And there is a time for every event under heaven...

...A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance..."

Psalms 126

"When the Lord brought back the captive ones of Zion,


We were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter


And our tongue with joyful shouting;


Then they said among the nations,


“The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us;
 

We are glad.

Restore our captivity, O Lord, 
As the streams in the South.

Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,


Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, 

bringing his sheaves with him."

Isaiah 61:1-6

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

Because the Lord has anointed me

To bring good news to the afflicted;

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

To proclaim liberty to captives

And freedom to prisoners;

To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord

And the day of vengeance of our God;

To comfort all who mourn,

To grant those who mourn in Zion,

Giving them a garland instead of ashes,

The oil of gladness instead of mourning,

The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.

So they will be called oaks of righteousness,

The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins,

They will raise up the former devastations;

And they will repair the ruined cities,

The desolations of many generations.

Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks,

And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.

But you will be called the priests of the Lord;

You will be spoken of as ministers of our God.

You will eat the wealth of nations,

And in their riches you will boast.

Matthew 12:18-21

...“Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen;

My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased;

I will put My Spirit upon Him,

And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

“He will not quarrel, nor cry out;

Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets.

“A battered reed He will not break off,

And a smoldering wick He will not put out,

Until He leads justice to victory.

“And in His name the Gentiles will hope.”...

Psalms 30:10-12

...“Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me;

O Lord, be my helper.”

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,

That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever...."

*

Being Genuinely Thankful

*

Psalm 30:10-12

“Hear, O Lord, 

and be gracious to me;

O Lord, be my helper.”

You have turned for me 

my mourning into dancing;

You have loosed my sackcloth 

and girded me with gladness,

That my soul may 

sing praise to You 

and not be silent.

O Lord my God,

I will give thanks to You 

forever.

*

Only the LORD can bear my awful load

Not what my hands have done

Can save my guilty soul;

Not what my toiling flesh has borne

Can make my spirit whole.

Not what I feel or do

Can give me peace with God;
Not all my prayers and sighs and tears

Can bear my awful load.

Thy work alone, O Christ,

Can ease this weight of sin

Thy blood alone O Lamb of God,

Can give me peace within.

Thy love to me, O God,

Not mine, O Lord, to Thee

Can rid me of
 this dark unrest,

And set my spirit free!

Thy grace alone, O God,

To me can pardon speak;

Thy power alone, O Son of God,

Can this sore bondage break.

No other work, save Thine,

No other blood will do,

No strength save that which is divine,

Can bear me safely through.

I bless the Christ of God;

I rest on love divine;

And with unfaltering lip and heart,

I call this Savior mine.
This cross dispels each doubt,

I bury in His tomb

Each thought of unbelief and fear,
Each lingering shade of gloom.

I praise the God of grace,

I trust His truth and might

He calls me His, I call Him mine,

My God, my joy, my light

Tis He Who saveth me,

And freely pardon gives

I love because
 He loveth me,

I live because He lives!

-Horatius Bonar
*

How Much I Owe

When This Passing World is Done

*

by Robert Murray M'Cheyne

"I am just a rebel"

One of my dearly loved ,godly, elderly women I know has often said to me, "I am just a rebel".

She is silly and sweet so when I first heard her say this years ago I thought she was being silly. Eventually, she said this again to me, and that was when I realized she was stating a truth to me. 

A real truth.

I began to understand this real truth. Yes, she is a sinner, saved by God's grace in Jesus Christ! but she is still a rebel, a sinner in her own life. She loves the LORD, but she acknowledges that she is still a rebel.

I began to look at myself in this way. Yes, I am a sinner, but now with more of a genuine understanding, I am a rebel. Somehow this gave me a deeper meaning of "sinner", a rebel really wants their own way!

And so in my life I have come to realize even more and more how much Jesus gave me when He died on that cross. I still commit sins, I am still a rebel, but thank God and praises to His Name that I am at His feet and saved by His marvelous grace!

Romans 5:6-8
"...For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us..."

Ephesians 1:7-8a
"...In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us..."

1 Timothy 1:15-17
"...It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen..."

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved..."
*

Losing heart

 "Let us not lose heart in doing good, 

for in due time we will reap 

if we do not grow weary."

Oh, dear...it is tough out there. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed and lose heart. I am only "me" so what can I do?

I have known many godly women who over stretch themselves with things to do. All of these things are good and right things to do, but no one can do all these things and keep the things in life going well very long before exhaustion rules or needed jobs are set aside. 

I have been like this off and on in my life. "Crashing and burning" always made me feel like a failure, but I wasn't a failure, I was just over stretched in my things to do!

It is always a good idea to think things through and decide what can and should be accomplished foremost in your little circle of life and then venture beyond that circle remembering you have your "foremost things" to do first.

We can't save the world even if we want to do so. That is the LORD's job! Check out your own circle of life and flourish! Be vibrant in your walk with the LORD and the things you can accomplish will shine, even if they are the things in your own circle like laundry, dishes, and your relationships in your family. 

Loving on our own people is where we begin!

Colossians 3:17
"...Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father..."

Galatians 6:9
"...The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith..."

Once a rebel now all I know is Grace!!

ALL I HAVE IS CHRIST

I once was lost in darkest night


Yet thought I knew the way


The sin that promised joy and life


Had led me to the grave


I had no hope that You would own


A rebel to Your will

And if You had not loved me first


I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race


Indifferent to the cost


You looked upon my helpless state


And led me to the cross


And I beheld God’s love displayed


You suffered in my place


You bore the wrath reserved for me


Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ


Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone


And live so all might see


The strength to follow Your commands


Could never come from me


O Father, use my ransomed life


In any way You choose


And let my song forever be


My only boast is You

-Jordon Kauflin

*

His Glory Among the Roses

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of His glory.”
Isaiah 6:3b

Psalm 108:1-6
My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.

Awake, harp and lyre;
I will awaken the dawn!

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples,
And I will sing praises to You among the nations.

For Your lovingkindness is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
And Your glory above all the earth.

That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and answer me!
*

He Lifts My Head

"A Heart can be Broken,

but it still keeps beating

just the same."

*

Psalm 34:18

"The Lord is near 

to the brokenhearted

And saves 

those who are crushed in spirit."

*

Psalm 3:3

"But You, O Lord, 
are a shield about me,

My glory, 
and the One who lifts my head."
*