Another Year Ends

Greetings!!!

As you look back on 2008, how do you feel about it? Is it a year that you are glad to see completed or would you like to live it over again? As you step into a new year, are you filled with anxiety, dread, excitement or anticipation? Has 2008 been a good year for you or bad? What are your expectations for 2009?

Whether your year has been the greatest in your life or the most dreaded, as the year 2008 closes and 2009 begins meditate on the words of Paul in Philippians 3:7-14. 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 in order 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 come 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. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Again, I ask, as you look back on 2008, what was it like for you? Was it a good year or a bad one? A year of great sorrow or great rejoicing? A year of loss or gain? Whatever 2008 held for you is now past. Nothing can be added to it and nothing can be taken away. It came to pass. Whatever 2008 was, it is time to put it behind and push forward with expectancy in what God will do in your life in 2009. Good or bad, forget the past and press into what the Lord has in store for you. He loves you. His desire is for you. It is amazing what He will do to get your attention to draw you near to Himself. Do not fight Him. Fall into His love! Throw yourself and all your cares into His arms. He is a big God. He can take care of all your past and every day you have yet to come.

The LORD bless you with forgetting what lies behind and reaching for what lies ahead in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I love you,

Ruth

Merry Christmas

Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!

Isn't it amazing that God would send His Son as a baby? Isn't it amazing that He was born in a stable? Isn't it amazing that the ones first told about His birth were shepherds? At least they realized that this was no ordinary child. Do you?

Isaiah 9:6

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; 

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called 

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Eternal Father,

Prince of Peace.

May you experience our amazing God in a deep personal way this Christmas, and may your eyes and heart be opened to His wonders and glory throughout the 2009.

I love you,

Ruth

Suddenly, All Is Changed

Greetings!!!

Isn't it amazing that in the blink of an eye all of our best plans can be thrown to the wind?  It is that way in all areas of life. An accident can change the whole course of a life. The wrong word or lack of one can ruin a relationship. Poor business practices can leave a successful career crumpled in a heap at the bottom of the ladder. The economy can cause a handsome investment portfolio to become worthless.  So what are we to do? Not plan?

James 4:13-16 tells us, 'Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.'

Even with doing this, sometime it seems everything falls apart. What then? Turn to the Scripture again. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight." Sometimes, maybe that is now for you, it feels like you are walking blindly with no idea in what direction to turn, but even then God is in control. He loves you with an everlasting love. His arms are beneath you ever ready to catch you when you fall or to pick you up after you hit the ground. He will use either one to complete His purpose in your life. He loves you. You are a special treasure to Him. He delights in you. So, no matter what is going on in your life, rest. Stop fretting and rest in His great love. 

The LORD bless you with thrusting the full weight of your situation into His hands.

I love you,

Ruth

No Place to Hide

Greetings!!!

Have you seen the breathtaking beauty of sunrises and sunsets lately? If you have not, you really need to take the time and go somewhere so you can sit and watch a remarkable masterpiece unfold. I have been told that the Chaiten Volcano in Chile, the Dalaffilla Volcano in Ethiopia, the Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii, as well as many others, are responsible for spewing dust, ash, smoke and gases miles into the air resulting in our spectacular and vibrant morning and evening displays. Isn't it amazing that something so far away can have such an effect here?

As I thought of those volcanoes blanketing the earth's atmosphere with dust and ash, Psalm 139:1-12 came to mind.

O LORD, Thou hast searched me and known me. 

Thou dost understand my thoughts from afar. 

Thou dost scrutinize my path and my lying down,

And art intimately acquainted with all my ways. 

Even before there is a word on my tongue, 

Behold, O LORD, Thou dost know it all. 

Thou hast enclosed me behind and before,  

And laid Thy hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. 

It is too high, I cannot attain to it.

Where can I go from Thy Spirit? 

Or where can I flee from Thy presence: 

If I ascend to heaven, Thou are there; 

If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. 

If I take the wings of the dawn, 

If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 

Even there Thy hand will lead me, 

And Thy right hand will lay hold of me. 

If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, 

And the light around me will be night," 

Even the darkness is not dark to Thee,

And the night is as bright as the day. 

Darkness and light are alike to Thee. 

Maybe you feel like God is as far away as those volcanoes, maybe even farther. Perhaps you feel that He is unaware of the details of your life, or that if He is aware, He surely does not care? Let me reassure you that as surely as the earth cannot get away from the dust and ash of those volcanoes, you cannot get away from the ever loving arms of God, and He is not far from you. He loves you. He has you in His hands, and you are safe. Rest child of God. Rest.

The LORD bless you with allowing yourself to rest in His arms and allowing Him to comfort you.

I love you,

Ruth

Are You Heavy Laden?

Greetings!!!

As I walked my route one morning last week, everything was covered with snow. Our area had an unexpected snowstorm through the night. Everything looked so beautiful covered with snow. When I got to the place with a bamboo grove, I was surprised. The bamboo was hanging close to the ground from the burden of snow. It reminded me of so many people who are struggling to get through the holidays.  

I can almost hear Jesus say, "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 an humble in heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light." Matthew 11:28-30

How are you feeling this holiday season? When you look around can you see no brightness or joy, but only shades of gray and sorrow.  Do you feel you will soon break under of the enormous load that you bear?  And do you believe that you have nowhere to turn? Again, I direct you to Scripture. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

Do not beat yourself up because of your feelings. Feelings come and go. They go up. They go down. Sometimes feelings are dark and foreboding, while other times they are merry and light. You are feeling what you are feeling, but do not press into them. Press into the One who loves you so much that He made every provision for you through Jesus Christ. What are you waiting for? Go! Run to the Lover of your soul and give all this to Him.

The LORD bless you with soul rest in Him.

I love you,

Ruth