Friday, January 29, 2021

How Did We Get Here?

I find myself looking at the date and wondering how we got here so fast...    2021

It doesn't seem possible. It seemed that 2020 would never end and yet here we are in the new year... and already it seems like it may be longer than the previous year. I started this blog years ago as a haven on the internet of charm, beauty, and the graceful things of life. My ideas of what those things actually are have evolved over the years, but my trust in the Giver of those things has not. When all around us is chaos and confusion, there is still one place to look for true Beauty and that is to the One who IS beauty: Jesus Christ. I think our desire to surround ourselves with beautiful things comes from a DEEP, DEEP longing for the One who makes all things beautiful. 

 "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." - Ecclesiastes 3:11

 It has been a long year of uncertainty, unrest, and unrepentance. Despite the wake up call that Covid should have given to us, the world and its evils continue to spin out of control. We look around at the values we have long held dear -- truth, beauty, goodness, purity, integrity, freedom -- and see that they are slipping away like sand through our fingers. Yet, if we truly know the One who IS beauty, we cannot be shaken because we are securely a part of His kingdom that cannot be shaken.

 "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire." - Hebrews 12:28

No matter if all the ground around me crumbles away, He will continue to be the firm foundation even if just underneath my feet. I have no need to fear...

"Why should I fear in days of adversity,
When the iniquity of my foes surrounds me,
Even those who trust in their wealth
And boast in the abundance of their riches?
No man can by any means redeem his brother
Or give to God a ransom for him—
For the redemption of his soul is costly,
And he should cease trying forever—
That he should live on eternally,
That he should not undergo decay. 

For he sees that even wise men die;
The stupid and the senseless alike perish
And leave their wealth to others.
Their inner thought is that their houses are forever
And their dwelling places to all generations;
They have called their lands after their own names.
But man in his pomp will not endure;
He is like the beasts that perish."

Psalm 49:5-12

Whatever this world throws at me, my life is in His hands. I pray that you, too, would have this assurance. For all my life, I have lived in one of the richest and most blessed nations in the history of the world. While this is true for those who have lived here, this has not exempted us from the struggles and challenges of life. This world, and specifically this nation, is filled with sin and those who give themselves to sin. I lived as a slave to sin for the first 18 years of my life and because of that inflicted the pain of that sinful, selfish life on others.  But, at age 18 I discovered the great love of Jesus, that He had paid the penalty for that sin in order to bring forgiveness into my life and restore His relationship with me.  This was the greatest gift of my life. Knowing Him (not just knowing about Him, but really KNOWING HIM) these past 38 years has been the ultimate freedom and joy. He has enabled me to live in ways I could never have lived, to love in ways I never imagined possible, to serve Him in ways that bring me true joy and fulfillment because it is filled with His purposes and not my own selfish desires. I can say with the apostle Paul...

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,  

that I may know Him

and the power of His resurrection 

and the fellowship of His sufferings, 

being conformed to His death; 

 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

Philippians 3:7-11

If this past year has taught us anything, it has taught us that ultimately we are not in control... we cannot control disease, the weather, the government, other nations, even the actions of those around us. If you think you are in control, then you might be delusional. The one guarantee we do have on this earth is that death will come for us, as it comes for all. Whether it comes sooner or later, it will surely come. And yet even with this death sentence... if we put our trust in Christ, the One who ultimately holds it all in His powerful hands, whether we live or whether we die we will be with Him forever. The One who knows us best loves us the most, and He provided the payment for our sin (the thing that causes separation from Him) by coming to earth and dying on a cross. He showed us His mighty power through His resurrection, and He freely offers us this power when we put our trust in Him. So, whether we live or die is of no consequence. If I live I am His. If I die I am His. 

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again." - Philippians 1:21-26



Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 54 (Tuesday)

Encouragement Post #54 (Tuesday) - "Who would've thought that a Lamb could rescue the souls of men? Oh, You rescue the souls of men."

1 Peter 1:17-19 "If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ."

Monday, May 11, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 53 (Monday)

Encouragement Post Day #53 (Monday) - Psalm 79:8-9 "Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us; Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us, For we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake."

The Glory of Your Name
by Watermark

It was in the way You came
As a lowly babe
That Your glory was displayed
And it was in the sacrifice
Of the purest life
It was in Your Father's will obeyed

[Chorus]
The perfect Lamb that was slain
And there's the glory of Your name
No other one, no other way for me to see
You took my place, You are the way
And there's the glory of Your name
Yes, there's the glory of Your name

It was in Your victory, risen for the world to see
That all who would believe could enter in
And it is in the passionate price
Now demanding all my life
And beating in the chambers of my heart
[Chorus]

And there is nothing in this world
That could take the place of You
That could take the place of You my Jesus
And there is nothing in this life
That could take the place of
One life, one love
One power to save us all
One hope, one truth
And one glory in it all
One glory in it all
[Chorus]

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Mother's Day - So Blessed!

I am so amazingly blessed to have been cared for, taught, nurtured, encouraged, and loved by this amazing lady for my whole life. I don't really have the words to describe how much her unconditional love has meant to me. I grieve for those who have not had that kind of a mother's love in their life. I am thankful to the Lord every day that He chose to give me a mother like her. And now we are much more than mother and daughter; we are best friends and sisters in the Lord. I love you, Mama!

Granmama and Mama

Aunt Janet, Granmama, and Mama

Mama and Me
Mama, Mary Kat, and Me

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 52 (Saturday)

Encouragement Post – Day #52 (Saturday) We know God as our Father, but He also has motherly characteristics. Here is how the prophet Isaiah (49:15-16) describes His love for us, “Can a woman forget her nursing child and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” His care and love for us extend farther than a mother’s for her nursing child. Amazing! And my experience with my own mother includes buckets full of unconditional love. I am truly blessed. Which brings to mind a very mother-like characteristic of our God in this familiar scripture from Lamentations 3:21-23, “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

Friday, May 8, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 51 (Friday)

Encouragement Post – Day #51 (Friday) - I can hardly believe that my song list now has over 50 songs!! We have heard an awful lot of talk about freedom lately. And while it has long been a value in our country, we get it wrong so often. What is real freedom? Is it having no boundaries at all and being allowed to do whatever you want to… any whim at any moment? If that were freedom, then the people who go around killing people would ostensibly be living in freedom. In actuality, being subject to the whims of our sinful fleshly desires is utter bondage. We see that bondage played out on a large scale daily as people give in to those desire and wreck their own lives or the lives of others.
Jesus knew what true freedom would mean to us. While here on earth, He lived in total submission to the Father, while being entirely free to do what He desired. These two were one and the same. He desired to do the Father’s will so much that He CHOSE the cross. He was free not to, but He chose it for us because He KNEW it would set us free. Now, because of the cross, as we surrender to Him we find out what true freedom really is. It is abundant life, peace that passes understanding, victory over the bondage of sin, and joy that is unspeakable.

“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

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18

Update – again thanks SO very much to all who prayed for me. I am significantly better, with just a little twinge of discomfort here and there… day 4 of antibiotics and VERY thankful!!

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 50 (Thursday)

Encouragement Post – Day #50 (Thursday) Today is the National Day of Prayer in our nation. In my lifetime, at least that I can recall, there has never been a more desperate time in our nation for the need of God’s hand to move. Amazingly, God has given us a formula for praying for our nation even in our current situation right in His Word. We are pointed once again to the verses in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” As His people, these are conditions that we must meet for the healing of our land: humility, prayer, seeking His face, and turning from our wicked ways. 

Jesus echoed this by His example (Philippians 2:5-11), “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Lord, please heal our land.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 48 (Wednesday)

Encouragement Post #49 - First of all, thank you all for your prayers! I am definitely better today. I love this Psalm and it has really been on my mind today for some reason... maybe it's for you.

Psalm 63
1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4 So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5 My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches,
7 For You have been my help,
And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
8 My soul clings to You;
Your right hand upholds me.
9 But those who seek my life to destroy it,
Will go into the depths of the earth.
10 They will be delivered over to the power of the sword;
They will be a prey for foxes.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;
Everyone who swears by Him will glory,
For the mouths of those who speak lies will be stopped.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 48 (Tuesday)

My soul waits for the Lord... If you were wondering where the encouragement posts went these past few days, I have been battling a pretty nasty diverticulitis attack with a tremendous amount of pain and honestly just haven't felt much like looking at a computer. But God is faithful, whether I feel like it or not. I am so grateful for His love and His word. I am hoping to feel better soon, but He SO ministered to my heart through Psalm 130 this morning. When I opened my YouVersion Bible app, I discovered it was today's reading. It was as if He were speaking the words directly to me. And the marvelous thing about Him and His word is that He can speak to you just as personally through the same words.

Psalm 130
1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord.
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

Friday, May 1, 2020

Encouragement Post - Coronavirus Distancing Day 47 (Friday)

2 Corinthians 4:6 "For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."

Romans 5:1-2 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God."

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Captivate Us
by Watermark

Your face is beautiful
And Your eyes are like the stars
Your gentle hands have healing
There inside the scars
Your loving arms they draw me near
And Your smile it brings me peace
Draw me closer oh my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to Thee

Captivate us Lord Jesus set our eyes on You
Devastate us with your presence falling down
And rushing river draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus with You

Your voice is powerful
And Your words are radiant bright
In Your breath and shadow
I will come close and abide
You whisper love and life divine
And Your fellowship is free
Draw us closer oh my Lord
Draw me closer Lord to thee

Captivate us Lord Jesus set our eyes on You
Devastate us with Your presence falling down
And rushing river draw us nearer
Holy fountain consume us with You
Captivate us Lord Jesus with You

And let everything be lost in the shadows
Of the light of your face
And let every chain be broken from me
As I'm bound in Your grace
For Your yoke is easy Your burden is light
You're full of wisdom power and might
And every eye will see You
And captivate us Lord Jesus with You
Captivate us