New Year's Resolutions

Greetings!!!

Are you one that makes a New Year resolution? How long into the year will it be before you give up on that resolution? Why do you think so many people make New Year resolutions? Having thought about this for a good part of this week, I believe that New Year resolutions are made because people hope to have a better year than the one that just past. Over and over again, God's word kept echoing the only solution to a better year.

Jeremiah 29:11-14 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will restore your fortunes and will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,' declares the LORD, 'and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.'

Have you felt like 2009 brought you to a place of exile? Are you in a place where things seem unreal, a place of loss, a place of sorrow, or a place of bondage? It does not really matter what God's plans are for you if you do not seek Him with all your heart. If you do not search desperately for Him to meet your need, you will only know your plans and not God's plans for you. You may have good and wonderful plans. You may even be asking God to bless your plans, but "Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep." Psalm 127:1-2 Are you tired of doing things your own way and not getting the results that you desire? Here is a New Year resolution that will give wonderful, successful results: spend time every day reading the Bible, praying, and then being quiet before the Lord. Start simply. Commit ten minutes to the Lord--five minutes of reading the Bible, three minutes of prayer, and two minutes of quiet listening. As the Lord prompts increase the time, but commit some time every day. I guarantee that if you do this, you will be pleased with the results by the end of 2010.

The LORD bless you with hunger and thirst to know Him, His word and His plans for your life.

I love you,

Ruth

Christmas Gifts

Greetings!!!

How many times did you hear, "What do you want for Christmas?" I must have driven my family crazy with my consistent answer of, "Nothing." I simply could not think of anything I really needed or wanted. After much thought, I decided that the thing I wanted most in all the world was to know that the most important people in my life (that would include you) would be with me when I stand with Jesus in heaven for all eternity. I can almost hear you say, "How self righteous!! What makes you think YOU will be in heaven?" or "Well!! If you are going to heaven, I certainly will make it."

But really, I do know that I will be in heaven when I die or Jesus returns.

Take a look at the reason the Apostle John wrote his gospel. John 20:30-31 "Many other signs therefore Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that by believing you may have life in His name."

Now, take a look at 1 John 5:1-12: "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness concerning His Son. The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life."

The believing that the Apostle John is talking about is more than just an intellectual belief. You see James tells us that "demons also believe, and shudder." Trust me, there will be no demons in heaven. The believing here is being willing to open your heart and receive all that God has for you by faith. John 1:12 states "But as many as received Him, (Jesus)to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name."

Were you given gifts for Christmas? Did you receive them and open them, or did you put them away unopened, or did you just outright refused them? I am sure that if you were given a gift, you received it, opened it and took it as your own to your own delight as well as the delight of the giver. Well, God has given you a gift--His one and only Son. Will you receive His gift and my greatest desire for you--eternal life through Jesus Christ God's Son? Do not leave this as a gift unopened.

The LORD bless you with receiving the true gift of Christmas.

I love you,

Ruth

Are You Well?

Greetings!!!

Have you ever had an injury? As I type, I can count six wounds on my fingers, and that is only on my right hand! All of them are in various stages of healing. Isn't it amazing that God built healing abilities into your body, often times without any scars? But when it comes to your spirit, there is nothing you can do on our own to heal yourself and make yourself free of the scars of sin and shame.

Although it is impossible for you find healing and freedom from sin on your own, you spirit can still be healed and cleansed and made alive. Take a look at John 3:16-21. Although it is a bit wordy, I am using The Amplified Bible. "For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world (that includes you) that He [even] gave up His only-begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish -- come to destruction, be lost -- but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge -- to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on -- the world; but that the world might find salvation and be made safe through Him. He who believes on Him -- who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him -- is not judged (he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation; he incurs no damnation). Be he who does not believe (not cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already; (he has already been convicted; has already received his sentence) because he has not believed on and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. -- He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name. The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: that the Light is come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the light and will not come out into the light, but shrinks from it, lest his works -- his deeds, his activities, his conduct -- be exposed and reproved. But he who practices truth -- who does what is right -- comes out into the light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are, wrought with God -- divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him."

Is your spirit alive and well? If you are unsure, then you need to come to the Lord and receive the wonderful gift of God--His One and only Son Jesus Christ--to heal your wounded and sin sick spirit, to help you come out of the darkness and into the light, and to help you to realize the true meaning and purpose of the Christmas season we are now celebrating.

The LORD bless you with the healing of your spirit, soul and body.

I love you,

Ruth

Will You Give Thanks?

Greetings!!!

What is your tendency when things in your life do not go as you expect or would like? Do you get anxious and fearful? Do you question why these things are happening to you? Perhaps you get frustrated or annoyed. It is possible that you resort to complaining? What should be done when life seems to be unraveling?

Let's take a stroll through the New Testament.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Paul also says in Ephesians 5:19-20 "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father"

James takes it a little further in James 1:2-4 "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Peter really explains why we can give thanks in and for any circumstance. 1 Peter 1:3-9 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ, and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining a the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."

Have you ever noticed that neither fear, anxiety, frustration, annoyance, nor complaining change your circumstance? Oh! But when you begin to praise God and give thanks to Him because He is worthy of your praise and thanksgiving, no matter what is going on in your life, things begin to change. This change may not be outward and may take some time, but the inward change will make you able to know and understand that your Father is good and has good planned for your life.

The LORD bless you with a heart willing to give Him thanks... no matter what.

I love you,

Ruth

Be Relentless

Greetings!!!

Do you use your computer a lot? I use my computer for so many things... mail, work, record keeping, writing, banking, and many other things. Usually, I can get things done very quickly using my computer, but one day last week when I was trying to do my online banking, I could have walked to the bank and back home in the time it took me to get into my account. Like most online accounts, I had to type in my user ID and password, but when I clicked Login, I got an error message. After three error messages, I had to contact my bank. The bank gave me a temporary passcode. I thought I was good to go, but the passcode did not work. I called the bank again and was directed to tech support. The person told me what to do, but as I listened I realized that the directions were for a PC. I have a Mac. When I explained this, the response was, "Oh..." The tech did not know what to tell me. After almost two hours of back and forth with the bank, I still was unable to log into my account! It was not until the next day that the tech realized that the web browser I was using was too new for the bank to support. Using a different browser, I was able to get in with the first try.

This reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11-14: 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you.' declares the LORD

and Jeremiah 33:3: 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Are you feeling like you are using the wrong web browser with God? Continue to be persistent. Do not give up. Keep calling on Him. Keep seeking Him. Seek Him with your whole heart. Get desperate in your search. You have no idea what God has in store for you, but do not give up. Do not stop short. There are so many things God want to reveal to you... great and wonderful things.

The LORD bless you with being relentless in your search for God's plans for you.

I love you,

Ruth

Are You Guilty?

Greetings!!!

Are you guilty of circumlocution? Everyone knows that politicians can be very circumlocutory, but how about you? Do you have a tendency to use many words where fewer would do, especially when you want to be vague or evasive? Are you guilty of speaking more than you listen, or before you understand? Maybe words are used to hide insecurities. Perhaps it is in the hope of impressing someone or to manipulate the conversation that so many unnecessary words are used.

The song "Final Word" by Michael Card initiated this writing.

You and me we use so very many clumsy words.

The noise of what we often say is not worth being heard.

When the Father's wisdom wanted to communicate His love,

He spoke it in one final perfect Word.

He spoke the incarnation, and then so was born the Son.

His final Word was Jesus, He needed no other one.

He spoke flesh and blood so He could bleed and make a way Divine.

And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine.

And so the Father's fondest thought took on flesh and bone.

He spoke the living luminous Word, at once His will was done.

And so the transformation that in man had been unheard,

Took place in God the Father as He spoke that final Word.

And so the Light became alive and manna became Man.

Eternity stepped into time so we could understand...

He spoke the incarnation, and then so was born the Son.

His final Word was Jesus, He needed no other one.

He spoke flesh and blood so He could bleed and make a way Divine.

And so was born the baby who would die to make it mine.

And this Jesus, who was He? Let's take a look at Philippians 2:3-11.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 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. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Since we are to be like our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, why is to so hard for us to humble ourselves and be obedient to God and serve Him? Maybe we have a wrong view of what being a servant really is. Maybe, just maybe, what we despise in this life - being a servant, slave, or of what appears to be a lowly status - is what it would take to change this world and usher in the Lord's return.

The LORD bless us with words and actions that will bless Him and glorify His kingdom.

I love you,

Ruth

Are Your Dreams Wild Enough?

Greetings!!!

Have you ever heard the song "The Promise" by Michael Card? God has been speaking to me through this song for a few days. Here are the words God has been quickening in my spirit:

The Lord God said when time was full

He would shine His light in the darkness

He said a virgin would conceive

And give birth to the promise

For a thousand years the dreamers dreamt

And hoped to see His love

But the promise showed their wildest dreams

Had simply not been wild enough

When I asked God what He was trying to say to me there were two Scriptures that came to mind.

The first is found in 1 Corinthians 2:9 and references Isaiah 64:4.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 "but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAS NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM." For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

The second is found at the closing of Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21.

"For this reason, I bow my knee before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God. Now to Hm who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." (emphasis mine)

I cannot help but wonder... if Israel's prophets caught a glimpse of God's plan and as a result had great expectation of what God promised, but as Michael Card says, "But the Promise showed their wildest dreams Had simply not been wild enough", couldn't it be that today, even with the power of the Holy Spirit upon us, that our wildest dreams of what is to come are simply not wild enough?

What are your expectations of God? If you are going to dream, dream big. If you are going to ask God to work, ask Him to work in a way that is bigger than yourself. If you are asking for the salvation of loved ones, expand your vision. Do not stop with your family. Ask for tribes, languages, peoples, and nations. We are told "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:10-11 How much better will it be to bow and confess now, freely choosing to serve Him, than at the point when you have no choice!! I tell you, "now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."

The LORD bless you with realizing His dreams for your life... whatever they are.

I love you,

Ruth

Are You Prepared For An Intruder?

Greetings!!!

What do you do when you get a mouse in your house? It is that time of year when the little critters who are outside are looking for a warmer place to stay inside. It does not take much of an opening for them to come in and set up house. So, what do you do when one of those little critters invades your house? Do you ignore it and hope it will go away, or pretend it is not there? If you are like me, at the first sign of intrusion, you set a trap or put out bait to kill the unwanted pest. Why are we less vigilant in our spiritual life?

Jesus gave us the perfect example of how to deal with an onslaught of the devil in Matthew 4:1-11. Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.' " Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, 'HE WILL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING YOU; And ON THEIR HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, LEST YOU STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.' " Jesus said to him, " On the other hand, it is written, 'YOU SHALL NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.' " Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things will I give to You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.' " Then the devil left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

Have you left your life unguarded and open to attacks from the enemy? The only offensive weapons the Lord gave us in the full armor of God are the "sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" and prayer. It is not enough to just have a sword when an enemy comes, you must know how to wield it. If Jesus needed the Word of God to defeat Satan, how much more do you and I need to know the Word of God in order to stand firm against the devil!! Do not take your Bible for granted. You have the freedom to have one. You have the blessing of being able to read and understand it. Do not put it off. Start today. Begin in Genesis and read through the last word of Revelation, or read the New Testament, Psalms or Proverbs. Whatever you do, pick up the Bible, read it and learn it.

The LORD bless you with hunger and thirst to read and know His Word.

I love you,

Ruth

God's Provision

Greetings!!!

Have you ever watched sanderlings at the beach? They look like little children playing tag with the waves not wanting to get their feet wet. Actually, the little sanderlings are in a race with the waves. They are trying to catch and eat as many tiny ocean critters as they can before the next wave crashes onto the shore. As long as the beach is not too crowded with people, the sanderlings can be seen almost any time of the day enjoying their feast without a care, trusting the provision of their heavenly Father. How about you... are you trusting your heavenly Father's provision or are you feeling anxious and uncertain today.

Take a look at Matthew 6:26-34. Jesus said, "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span? And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these. But if God so arrays the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more do so for you, O men of little faith? Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father know that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Are you feeling anxious about your future? Then start seeking out what you can do for the kingdom of God. Ask God what He wants you to do, what ministry He wants you to get involved with, who He wants you to get to know. Get your eyes off yourself and your situation and onto the Lover of your soul. Place your trust in Him and His plan for your life.

The LORD bless you with being released from the dungeon of anxiousness and with finding peace in trusting Him.

I love you,

Ruth

picture is by my daughter Sarah Brotzman

Nothing Is Going Right

Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!

Have you ever had a day that seemed like nothing was going right? Yesterday was one of those days. After working on this writing for two hours and having nothing fall into place, I had to walk away from it for a while.

What is your response when it seems like everything and everyone is working against you? Do you get angry and become quick to blame someone else or make excuses for your mistakes? Is it hard for you to look at yourself and say, "I was wrong, I need to change"? Is it even harder go to someone else and say these things? You might ask why does it matter, or what difference does it make?

Jesus said in Matthew 5: 21-24, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."

We were created for relationship - relationship with each other and with God our Father, the Creator of all things. When we have broken or strained relationships with each other, we cannot be where God wants us to be. What relationship in your life needs mended? Go to that person and say something like, "I was wrong in doing______________. I am sorry. Please forgive me." Following up with a caring touch, or a hug if it is a friend or family member, can go a long way in relieving the tension in the relationship and opening up that person's spirit to your apology.

The LORD bless you with the heart of a child who is quick to be sorry for the wrongs done to you and with a readiness to seek forgiveness when you are wrong.

I love you,

Ruth

Are You a Child Yet?

Greetings!!!

Are little children welcome in your church services? Do you enjoy their presence? Do you feel the children there for you to teach, or to teach you? One of the Scripture verses God gave me when we first started homeschooling was "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 I took that as a goal. At first I did not realize it was God's plan to use my children to make me into what God wanted me to be as much as, maybe even more than, He wanted me to help my children become what He wanted them to be.

If you are blessed to have little children in your church services, I suggest that you watch them very closely, and embrace the opportunity before you with sober judgment. Consider Matthew 18:1-6. At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And He called a child to Himself and stood him in their midst, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me; but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it is better for him that a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Do not feel bad if you have a hard time getting this. You are in good company. It was only one chapter in Matthew 19:13-15 that we find that the disciples did not get it either. Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there.

Watch the children your church services. Children are carefree. They do not question whether or not they are loved, but are assured of it. They are convinced that they can have anything that they want and that it is right for them to want it. I love to watch them worship. In freedom and in sheer delight, they abandon themselves to God. At your age, have you become a child yet?

The LORD bless you with delighting in the little child inside you.

I love you,

Ruth

Wisdom-Knowledge-Discernment

Greetings!!!

Are you sagacious? Maybe I need to give you the definition: wise, foreseeing, to perceive acutely; having or showing keen perception or discernment and sound judgment. (New World Dictionary of American English Third College Edition) The Thesaurus might give you a broader understanding: wise, clever, intelligent, knowledgeable, sensible, sage discerning, judicious... are you getting the picture? (Funny... I could not come up with a picture.)

According to 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, becoming truly sagacious is a spiritual gift. "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith be the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." NKJV

Isn't it interesting that wisdom, knowledge, and discernment are all spiritual gifts? These gifts go beyond the wisdom, knowledge and discernment of this world. These gifts along with all the other gifts of the Spirit are given to God's children to make the church, the bride of Christ, everything God wants it to be... spotless, whole, without blemish, full of faith and power to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Again I ask, are you sagacious? If you are not, you can be. I you are not, why not. If you are not, you need to seek God until you are. When you receive spiritual gifts, you can begin to change your world, but do not stop with seeking only wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. All the gifts of the Spirit are available to you. Seek the Lord on what gifts He wants to have operating in you, and then do not be afraid to use them.

The LORD bless you with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit working in you and through you.

I love you,

Ruth

Are You In Prison?

Greetings!!!

Have you ever been in prison? Have you ever held onto unforgiveness against someone? Then I would venture to say that you have been or perhaps are in prison. I can almost hear you say, "But, Ruth, you do not understand what that person did to me!! The offense was too great. The wound is too deep. The scars are too ugly." Let me tell you that you are believing a lie. In your attempt to keep that person in prison because of their offense against you, you yourself are held in bondage by the devil, and he does not want to give up his prisoner.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgywbu1Z2D1TIR_5OTBaAFgGAcTgzhUjhMaPQxY9bw5Ld6-pe8pWruqkKYk08GUk0uBCJ7eRF2LLAlJZggylOINzfu1DBGj1Cs_O9q2lZogapOjqDfmWqAl_X3WBjiz13sLArx54aTn-I/s1600-h/prison.

I have two Scriptures to share with you. The first I want you to see is Ephesians 4: 26. "In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foot hold." Being angry is not right or wrong. What you do with your anger can be. By allowing your anger to fester, you give the devil an opportunity to take over this area of your life. He keeps you thinking about the wrong committed against you. This causes animosity to build. Resentment, bitterness, anger, and rage increase. When you think of this person, you replay the injustice, and the cycle starts over. You are in prison, and you want to keep the person who hurt you in prison too. The only way to break the cycle is to forgive.

The second Scripture is part of "The Lord's Prayer". Matthew 6:12-15 "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Wow! Did you get that? You are asking God to forgive you in the same way that you forgive other!! Think about that and let it sink into your spirit.

Are you tired of being help captive to a wrong committed against you? Make the choice to forgive. Choosing to forgive does not mean that you condone what that person did. Forgiveness does not mean that you have to trust that person. Extending forgiveness opens the prison door not only for the person who hurt you, but also, and more importantly, it opens the doors for your freedom. Do not continue to choose bondage and imprisonment. Do not continue to believe the lies of the devil. Choose freedom and forgiveness.

The LORD bless you with freedom from the bondage of unforgiveness.

I love you,

Ruth

Grief

Greetings!!!

Have you ever suffered a loss and struggled with the grief? There are all kinds of losses. Most people recognize and accept the grief associated with the death of a loved one, but there are many losses that can cause varying degrees of grief. Other things that can cause a person to grieve are job loss, failed marriage, a child leaving home-even for a good reason, a miscarriage, plus many other things I have not mentioned.

The ocean at Asseteague, Virginia, was a great example of how grief can suddenly overwhelm and crash in on life. Hurricane Bill was out in the Atlantic pushing its way up the coast making the waves at Asseteague, Virginia, almost large enough to surf. Although the waves were larger, they were mostly manageable and a lot of fun, but at times a wave would land that was so violent in its size and strength that we had no control and had to give ourselves over to the wave until we could get back to our feet on shore.

Are you struggling in the waves of grief feeling like you are about to drown? Ponder these words from Isaiah 43:1-3 "But now, thus says the LORD your creator, And He who formed you, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;"

Grief will come. It may feel like you will be overwhelmed by your grief. You may never be the same because of the grief you bear. But never forget that you are not alone. You are not unloved by the Father. He still has you in His hand. He still loves you with an everlasting love. You are still the apple of His eye. He still wants to hear all about what you are experiencing. He still wants to hold you and comfort you through your grief... even if you are angry with Him because He did not keep you from this grief. Do not hold back. Do not hesitate. Go to Him.

The LORD bless you with His comfort in your grief.

I love you,

Ruth

Roots

Greetings!!!

Do you have trees in your yard with roots that have become a problem? The roots of two maple trees in our front yard have gotten so big that it is difficult to mow around the trees. So I took on the task of digging out the grass around them and mulching that area. As intertwined as the as the branches are, the roots were even more entangled. It amazed me how many really large roots there are under these trees. I could not see how big the problem was as long as the grass covered the roots.

As I looked at the roots of these trees, Hebrews 12:14-15 kept coming to mind. "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God (in the footnote : "Falls short of" or "fails to lay hold of" God's grace) and that no bitter root (in the footnote: Pride, animosity, rivalry or anything else harmful to others.) grows up to cause trouble and defile many."

What is your struggle? With whom are you struggling? It is up to you to bring peace to the situation. It is up to you to seek peace and pursue it. Cry out to God for His grace in the time of your need. Do not allow envy and pride lead to animosity and resentfulness. If you leave this unchecked, it will lead to bitterness. Bitterness is a deadly poison. Like the roots of our trees, it will entangle and disrupt everything near it and choke the life out of you and everyone around you.

The LORD bless you with doing what you need to do to rid your life of all resentfulness and bitterness and anything else that would keep you from the presence of God.

I love you,

Ruth

Are You Free

Greetings!!!

Did you do anything special on the Forth of July to celebrate your freedom? Our family went to see the fireworks display set off by Beaver Stadium at Penn State University. It made me think of all the battles fought, all the blood spilled, and all the lives lost to win my freedom. Have you ever thought about what it cost for you to be free? It was a high price.

Do you know that there is another kind of freedom? This freedom was even more costly. Here is what Romans 6:16-23 says: "Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one who you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Have you been set free? How do you celebrate your freedom? If you have been set free from your past, you must choose to become a slave to the One who paid the price for your freedom - Jesus Christ. You see, when you have been set free, you become free to serve the One who can give your life meaning and purpose, and fill you with love, joy, and peace, and give you a future and a hope. It is worth giving up all that has you bound and keeps you from Him.

The LORD bless you with choosing to be His servant.

I love you,

Ruth

All Consuming Fire

Greetings!!!

Have you ever sung these words and meant them? "All Consuming Fire, Your my heart's desire, and I love You dearly, dearly Lord." When you think of that All-Consuming Fire, what comes to your mind? Is it a flickering flame like a candle? Perhaps a campfire or bonfire is more like the fire that comes to you mind. Or perhaps, just maybe, something like this Alaska wild fire is more like the image inside your head and heart. As I thought about God's all-consuming fire in church on Sunday, God spoke these words to my heart, "My fire is not one that can be controlled. It is bigger than even the largest wild fire that has been on the Earth. It cannot be controlled by man."

(Picture taken from http://tiee.ecoed.net/vol/v3/issues/frontier_sets.yellowstone/img/forest_fire%5BHR%5D.jpg)

There are two accounts of God and fire that immediately come to mind. The first is Exodus 3:1-4. "Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, "I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, " Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."

The second passage is Exodus 20:18-20. "And all the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen, but let not God speak to us, lest we die." And Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."

When you consider God's all-consuming fire, what will you do? Will you shrink back in fear like the Israelites, or will you, like Moses, press in and get as close as you can to it so that God can have His way with your life? It is God's desire that you draw near and press in, never forgetting that this fire is not a fire that you can control. You must allow God to consume everything that needs to be consumed in your life. You must give Him free reign. You will not regret it.

The LORD bless you with willingly stepping into His fire.

I love you,

Ruth

Protection

Greetings!!!

Are you enjoying these beautiful, sunny, summer days? Along with the sun comes sunburn, unless you use some kind of protection. Most people use sun block with and SPF rating of 35-50, but I cannot use sun block because it makes me ill. Usually, I use a lightweight, long sleeve shirt to keep the sun off my arms and neck. But last week the temperature climbed so high that the long sleeve shirt was too warm to wear while I was working. I had no protection from the sun and places that are not usually touched by the sun, like the back of my arms and shoulders, were burned and are still tender. As I pondered this while I continued to work, I kept hearing, "You have no protection." I finally put on my protection. But it made me wonder if you are walking around with no protection.

Consider Ephesians 6:10-18. "Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FFEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all time in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints."

God has provided everything you need to be all you have been called by Him to be for the Kingdom of God. Do not go out into your day without God's protection on your life. Oh, there is more. In Isaiah 52:12 we are told, "But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard." Soldier of the Cross do not enter into another day without being dressed and ready for all that the Spirit of the living God has for your day.

God bless you with realizing the power that is your through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

I love you,

Ruth

Shattered Dreams

Greetings!!!

Have you ever prayed for God's direction in your life and felt like God gave you a dream? God not only gave you a dream, but also showed you how to lay out your goals to meet that dream, but now, for  some reason, that dream is shattered? Now you feel betrayed, confused, hurt, and wondering what is next and how you can ever trust what you think you are hearing from God. I cannot tell you the number of times that I have had to lay down dreams and plans that I was sure were birthed by prayer and petition to God and directed by God. Though all the shards of my dreams and through having to lay dreams down over and over again, Jeremiah 29:11 always comes to mind. 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

As much as I love that verse of Scripture, God always points out that what He says next is what is most important to Him. Jeremiah 29:12-14 'Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you declares the LORD.'

What dreams have you had to lay down lately? What in your life has left you hurt and confused? Run to the Father. Do not draw away. God's greatest dream, His greatest desire is for you to want to be with Him where He is. He wants to walk with you. He wants to talk with you. He wants to comfort you. He wants to laugh with you and cry with you. He wants you to want Him and His company as much as He wants yours. 

Are you holding shattered dreams? Pick up the pieces of your dreams and take them to the Father. Crawl up on His lap and tell Him all about what has happened. Tell Him everything you are feeling. Cry if you need to. Scream and wail if that will help you. If you are angry, be angry, but do not draw away from God. Do not stop spending time with Him because you are confused and hurt. Whatever has happened, God is working. You just may not understand His workings right now. You must trust Him and return to Him. Do not delay.

The LORD bless  you with taking the steps back to Him to receive His comfort in your pain.

I love you,

Ruth

In the Garden

Greetings!!!

Are you a birdwatcher? I am fascinated when I watch birds. Each one is so different from all the rest. The coloring and field marks of each one  are  unique and help in identifying each species. The song and the call help to distinguish one bird from another. It was the song that helped me to realize we had a new bird in our yard. It took quite a while to find the illusive bird, but finally I was able to put the voice with the bird!! It was a Baltimore Oriole. My heart leaped for joy! 

Do you like to listen to the to the voices of the birds? There is another voice that in even more delightful to hear. It is quiet and sweet. John 10:2-5,14-16 puts it this way: "The man who enter by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. And a stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers. I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd."

I love to hear the birds wake me in the morning. I am intrigued by their voices, but even more than the voices of the birds, I long to hear the voice of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When was the last time you heard His voice? Take time to stop and listen to Him today.

The LORD bless you with hearing His sweet voice.

I love you,

Ruth

This song always comes to mind while I am alone in my garden.

In the Garden by C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

Se speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

I'd stay in the garden with Him

Tho the night around me be falling;

But He bids me go thru a voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own, 

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

Who Would Think?

Greetings!!!

Have you seen the live stream of the Red Tailed Hawks on a window ledge of The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? Our good friend Captain Ken of Captain Ken's Marionette Ministries set us a website that is broadcasting a live video of the nest. I am watching the mother feeding her babies even as I type!! If you would like to watch also, go to: http:www2.fi.edu/hawknest.php. 

Who would ever think that there would be a hawk nest in the middle of the city? What could have drawn the hawks to the city?

As I ponder that thought, John 1:1-14 came to mind. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend (overpower) it. There came a man, sent from God whose name was John. He came for a witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

What could have drawn the Creator of the universe, the all powerful, ever-living God, to come to earth and dwell among men? Although I have no idea what would draw a hawk to the city, I do know that it was for you that Jesus came to earth and died and rose again from the dead. It was to make a way for you to be forever with Him in heaven. Have you made the choice establish a relationship with Him yet? What is holding you back?

The LORD bless you with a desire to know Him.

I love you,

Ruth