Forgiveness

Greetings!!!

Have you ever cleared an area for a new garden? As I was expanding my garden recently, it seemed like I was hitting more rocks than soil. I had to get a pick in order to get under the rocks and pry them up out of the dirt. It was a lot of work that have not yet completed. As I was digging I remembered an object lesson on unforgiveness from my "Journey to Joy" Bible study. The class had to think of past hurts and pick rocks for each hurt, and wrap them in a cloth. Afterwards, we had to carry our rocks with us all the time until we were able to forgive the people who caused the hurts.

The Scripture has much to say about the importance of forgiveness. One that you will probably recognize is found in Matthew 6:9-16. Jesus said,

"Pray, then, in this way:

'Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen].'

"For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, them your Father will not forgive your transgressions."

Wow! Holding onto unforgiveness is a costly thing! As I dug in my garden thinking about not forgiving past hurts, these thought came to mind:

Unforgiveness is a heavy load, greater than you were meant to bear.

When unforgiveness is held onto, hardness will develop in your heart.

That hardness effects not only your relationship with people, but also your relationship with God.

Sometimes it is a lot of work to make the choice to forgive.

Unlike the rocks in my garden, the rocks of unforgiveness will grow harder and larger with time if left alone.

Just like the rocks in my garden, some of which were very large, there seldom is just one. When you hold onto unforgiveness as if it were your right, there is usually more than one person you need to forgive and more than one person affected by your unforgiveness.

The most astonishing thought that came was that unforgiveness puts a barrier between you and God.

What hurts are locked up in your heart? Who do you need to forgive? Do not wait. Make the choice to forgive today.

The LORD bless you with choosing to forgive.

Love,

Ruth

Run the Race (part 2)

Greetings!!!

Are you a runner? As I observe more and more races as an official, I see more and more lessons to learn and apply to the marathon of life as a child of God.

Runners have to be prepared. In the same way that a person does not just show up at the starting line to run a race and expect to do well, you must prepare for this journey. Some necessities are reading the Bible, taking time to pray for yourself and others, spending time in worshipping the Lord and thank Him for what He has done, and joining in fellowship with other believers.

Runners must know the rules. When runners break the rules, they are disqualified from the race. Although you will not be disqualified when you break the rules (sin), you do need to know when you sin and confess and repent of that sin so you can have a clean slate with God. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleans us from all unrighteousness."

Runners have to stay in their lanes. When a runner gains the advantage by stepping out of the assigned lane, he or she is disqualified. Our heavenly Father graciously speaks to His children who desire to follow His plan in Isaiah 30:21, "And your ears will hear a word behind you, "This is the way, walk in it," whenever you turn to the right or to the left."

You cannot run well if you keep looking back. Just as a runner is more likely not to run well if he keeps looking backward, your focus needs to be forward. Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:13-14: "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."

Runners must be considerate of those competing with them. In the same way that runners in a race must be considerate of those running alongside them, you must not only consider others, but also go a step further in your consideration of those who are in life's journey with you. Philippians 2:3 puts it this way: "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 other."

Always remember that this journey is not a sprint but a marathon. Train well and you will make it to the very end. The completion of this journey does not offer a prize to only the strongest runners. No, in this journey, it is God's desire that you help as many people as you can to finish with you. I pray that you will not only join me in this journey, but also that you will cross the finish line with me into eternity.

The LORD bless you with joy and strength on your journey, and with bringing many along with you on the way.

I love you,

Ruth

Run the Race

Greetings!!!

Do you enjoy athletic competitions? Perhaps you prefer to watch instead of compete. As a track and field official, much of my time this year has been spent being an umpire on the turns at the track. Part of my job is to make sure the runners run their races fairly and safely. It has been fun to watch the strength and speed of the faster runners, as well as the determination to finish by those who are not as fast.

Did you know that Paul compares your journey through this life to an athlete who must compete well for the King? In 1 Corinthians 9:24-10:6 Paul says, "Do you not know that those in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food; and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not well-pleased; for they were laid low in the wilderness. Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved."

Have you chosen to live your life for the King and enter the race to glorify Him? I will be honest with you. It will not be easy. This journey will be hard work. There may be times when you may feel like it is too hard. At those times, you need to ask someone to come along side you and help you to keep going. If you do not enter the race and stay the course, you will never fulfill God's plans and purposes for your life. Enter the race! Whether you fly like the wind or plod along at a slow steady speed, I encourage you join me in this race. Run and be there with me at the finish line.

The LORD bless you with choosing to enter this race for the King and with having the endurance to run into eternity to be with Him.

I love you,

Ruth

Rainbows

Greetings!!!

Do you watch for rainbows? I cannot tell you why, but for as long as I can remember since I became a child of God, rainbows hold a special place in my heart. Maybe it has something to do with the very first rainbow found in Genesis 9:12-16: And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all successive generations; I set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come about, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud, and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." God was remembering us last week when He placed this rainbow in the clouds about our house after a very intense storm.

What storms are raging in your life? Are the clouds so black and the rain pounding so hard that you can hardly hear yourself think, let alone hear the whispers of God. Is the lightning so bright and the thunder so close and so loud that it takes your breath away? Here are some thoughts to remember in the middle of your storms. Jesus said there would be storms. John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

The storms are not meant for your destruction. Isaiah 43:1-3, "But now, thus says the LORD, your creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "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;"

You will not be abandoned in any of the storms of life. Romans 8:35-39, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, "FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED." But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

What storms are raging in your life? Start watching for the rainbow, for a rainbow can only be seen during a storm. Take hold of God's abundant grace. He will see you through whatever the storms bring.

The LORD bless you with resting in His grace and peace in the middle of your storms.

I love you,

Ruth

Dry, Dusty Days

Greetings!!!

Has your weather been dry? Our weather has been so dry that when I cut my grass yesterday I resembled Charles M. Schulz's character "Pig Pen" from the Peanuts comic strip. You know "Pig Pen"!! He is the one who is known for the cloud of dust and dirt that goes wherever he does. I was covered in dirt and had dirt in places dirt ought not to be. I am still getting dirt out of my eyes and nose this morning, but after the work of thatching, cutting and bagging grass and putting it on my garden, my lawn looks lush and green. It was a lot of hard work, but it was worth it.

Has the weather of your soul been dry, so dry that a dust cloud shrouds your life making it feel like you will suffocate? "You are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And My servant whom I have chosen, In order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, And there will be none after Me. "I, even I, am the LORD; And there is no savior besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; So you are My witnesses," declares the LORD, "And I am God. Even from eternity I am He; And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?"

Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, "Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. "Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will glorify Me; The jackals and the ostriches; Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people. "The people whom I formed for Myself, Will declare My praise." Isaiah 43:10-14,18-20

Dark, dry days of the soul can be long and hard to endure, but remember, dear child of God, He has not forgotten you. He has not abandoned you. You are precious to Him. He has you in His hands and you are safe, safe all the way to the end. Your desert days will not last forever, and the work in your soul that is done there, although it is hard, will be worth it.

The LORD bless you with His grace as you walk through your desert.

I love you,

Ruth

In the Fog

Greetings!!!

Have you ever traveled a routine route in the fog? It can be difficult to navigate when familiar landmarks become confusing, ghostly images that appear unlike the ones seen when it is bright and clear. It becomes even more mystifying when circumstances call for a detour onto unfamiliar roads. As I traveled through the fog last week experiencing the disorientation that fog can cause, several verses from the Psalms came to mind.

Psalm 119:105 "Thy word is a lamp to my feet, And a light to my path."

When I think of using a flashlight in the dark, even the brightest one does not pierce very far into the darkness. If the light is directed too far up the path, it is easy to miss what can cause a fall right at your feet. Also, if the light is not used at all, disaster is looming at every step. God's word is like that with life. It is important to keep it close and keep it in use. You have to read it and apply it today.

Psalm 43:3 "Send out Thy light and Thy truth, and let them lead me; Let them bring me to Thy holy hill, And to Thy dwelling places."

When traveling in unfamiliar territory or even in familiar territory in the darkness or dense fog, it is much easier if there is a guiding light to focus on that can guide you on your way. When you open the Bible, It will provide wisdom and insight for any and every situation.

Psalm 48:14 "For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death."

It is nice to have a light on your path, and a light up ahead to keep you going in the right direction. But, oh how wonderful it is to have a Guide who know every divot that can turn your ankle, every protruding rock or root that can catch your toe, and every branch that can slap you in the face. How reassuring it is when that Guide reaches out to take your hand to keep you steady when the path narrows or becomes too steep. And how blessed it is when that same Guide gives you words of encouragement to keep you going when if feels like you cannot go one step further.

Are you feeling like life has you in a fog or even in the dark? God's word, the Bible, will bring light to your path, give you a focal point to show you the way, and provide a Guide for every day for all of your days. Are you feeling confused and directionless? What are you waiting for? Open the Bible so you can be safely on your way.

The LORD bless you with wisdom and guidance to keep you on His path.

I love you,

Ruth

Shelter In the Storm

Greetings!!!

Are you enjoying a reprieve from the rain? I had to drive through a really intense storm this past Sunday to get to a meeting. As usual when I am driving alone, I was talking to my heavenly Father. Then I noticed my rear window. The rain was blasting the car so hard I could hardly hear anything else, but there was no rain hitting the rear window. I changed speeds and kept checking the rearview mirror to see if the rain really was not hitting the rear window. Sure enough, something was protecting it from the rain! As I talked to my Father about this, He brought Psalm 91 to mind.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

Will abide in the shadow if 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.

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,

Lest you strike your foot against a stone.

You will tread upon the lion and cobra,

The young lion and 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 behold My salvation."

What are you facing today? What are the lions and cobras, the young lions and serpents in front of you? What wells up in you when you come face to face with a lion or serpent? Fear. Terror. Dread. It does not matter what you are feeling. You have power! You have strength! Although the lion may be roaring and prowling about for someone to devour, and the serpent may be trying to bring fear and dread, God has given you the power and authority to trample them under your feet!! Yes, you might me afraid, but you are not alone. You are not resisting the enemy in your own strength. Now is the time to put on the full armor of God and stand. Stand face to face with full confidence in the One who stands with you. Stand firm and witness your deliverance.

The LORD bless you with confidence in the One who shoulder to shoulder with you as you face the lions and cobras in your life.

I love you,

Ruth

More Puzzles

Greetings!!!

Have you ever put a jigsaw puzzle together? What is the first part of the puzzle that you do? I always start by doing the border. It give a frame for the puzzle. As I was putting my last puzzle together, it struck me that as I got sections done and connected each section to the border the puzzle got stronger and it shifted less. The picture made more sense and it was easier to see where each piece belonged. As I struggled with the stripes on the zebra, the Lord spoke to my heart and said that this was a lot like the body of Christ. Immediately, 1 Corinthians 12: 11-21,27 came to mind.

But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because i am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

Is there something going on in your life that is making you feel like you do not belong, like there is no place for you? In the same way that it was difficult for me to see the zebra in the loose pieces of my puzzle, sometimes it is difficult to see where each of us fits into the body of Christ, but that does not mean that you are not a part of the body, or that that you do belong. Like trying to put puzzles pieces together, sometimes you just have to try to see if you fit in a particular place. If it does not work, just keep trying. If you have a relationship with Jesus, you are a part of the body of Christ, there is a place for you, and the body of Christ is not complete without you.

The LORD bless you with finding your place in the body of Christ and being persistent until you do.

I love you,

Ruth

Puzzles

Greetings!!!

Do you like to do puzzles? Jigsaw puzzles are my favorite kind of puzzle. As I sort the pieces I am force to think about what I see in each piece. Often times my sorting process is incorrect because I sort by what I see which is mostly the colors of each object or parts of the shapes. It is funny how far off I can be in the placing some of the pieces in the different piles.

As I was working a puzzle this morning, Isaiah 55: 6-11 kept coming to my mind. Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, An He will have compassion on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. "For My thought are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."

Do you realize that your life is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle? Do you think that you hold it in your hand? Are you trying to force your piece of the puzzle where you think it needs to be? Are you frustrated and stressed about the things going on in your life? Maybe it is time to hand over the puzzle of your life to the One who knows exactly how your piece fits with all the other puzzle pieces in your life. I know that it can be hard to let go. In letting go, there can be an overwhelming fear of falling uncontrollably. Let me remind you of Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." So, even if you do fall, you are safe for the LORD God will be there to catch you. Go ahead. Let's count to three and take a leap of faith.

The LORD bless you with giving Him total control of your life.

I love you,

Ruth

Those In Authority

Greetings!!!

What do you think about President Obama? How do you feel about his political agenda? Actually, these are rhetorical questions. My questions are not really about the individual so much as about the office. Did you know that you are commanded to support those who are in authority over you?

Take a look at 1 Timothy 2:1-6. "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time."

Whether or not you like the President of the United State is not important. Whether or not you agree with his policies really does not matter. You are commanded to support your leaders in government by praying for them. You should pray that they will come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because God our Savior desires that all men be saved and come to know Him personally. As government leaders get right in their relationship with God, they will have God's wisdom to use their authority in a way that pleases God and brings peace and joy to the people of their nation. So... supporting the governmental authorities by praying and fasting for them is ultimately in your best interest! When was the last time you fasted or prayed for your President? Today would be a good day to start. Skip a meal and spend the time praying that God would work in their hearts.

The LORD bless you with lifting all your words about those in authority to Him.

I love you,

Ruth

picture from www.barack-obama-timeline.com/

When Is Enough, Enough?

Greetings!!!

Are you pursuing a career? Are you a slave under the taskmaster of education or your work in this process? Have you fallen into the trap of believing that having more money and more stuff is equal to success? The United States culture and media has really pushed this idea so much that those who do not fall in line with it are considered rather odd. Are you among the people who have wondered when will enough be enough and would like change this in your life?

As I thought about this, the Holy Spirit brought Matthew 6: 24-34. "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 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 cloth ourselves?' For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows 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."

When is enough, enough? Enough is enough when what you have becomes your master, and what you want becomes your driving force. If you are not enjoying the abundance of provision from your Holy Father, if what you have only makes you want more, maybe it is time to downsize!

The LORD bless you with joy and peace in the place He has you.

I love you,

Ruth

Preparing For The Storm

Greetings!!!

What did you do to prepare for the blizzard across Pennsylvania this week? The news media made a lot of good suggestions like charge your cellphone, have plenty of batteries available, use flashlights instead of candles, do not use a gas stove as a source of heat, have food and water stored and ready, along with many others. All of these suggestions are things to do in preparation for a storm before it strikes.

Our family did not experience a power outage during this storm. We just had the joy of digging ourselves out of the piles of snow, but we were prepared. While preparing for the storm, I thought about preparing for the storms of life... the difficulties and challenges that catch us off guard and seem to leave us flat on our backs gasping for air.

Two things came to mind. First, all of Psalm 46, but I will only include 1-3, 10-11 here: "God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. 'Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.' The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold."

The second is an old song by Steve Camp called "Hiding Place".

In the distance I can see the storm clouds coming my way,

And I need to find a shelter before it starts to rain.

So I turn and run to You Lord, You're the only place to go

where unfailing love surrounds me when I need it most.

You're my hiding place.

Safe in Your embrace, I'm protected from the storm that rages.

When the water's high and I run to hide, In You I find my hiding place.

Once again, it is difficult to be ready for the storms of life if you do not prepare for them before they hit. Do you know how to prepare for the coming storms? Well, the most important thing is to have an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ. Without that, any difficulty in life can be tougher to bear. To maintain that relationship, as with any relationship, you must spend time getting to know Him. Take time to read His word-the Bible, and find out His plans and desires for your life. This might sound hard, but it does not have to be. Start off small. Everyday set aside fifteen minutes to be alone with Jesus. Spend five minutes reading in the Bible (the gospel of John is a good place to start), five minutes praying, and five minutes being still and listening. If you find that you need more time, increase the time. Whatever you do, start today. Do not wait for the storm to hit. If you do not have a flashlight ready and available with the electric goes out, you could be in the dark. It can be the same with the storms of life.

The LORD bless you with wonderful times of refreshing as you develop your relationship with Him.

I love you,

Ruth

Forgiveness And Cleansing

Greetings!!!

How hard were you hit by the storm yesterday? Here in McAlisterville, unofficially, we got a foot of snow!! Some of the drifts around my house are between three and four feet! The piles of snow are getting higher and higher! I love the snow and being out in it... whether it is to clean off my driveway or just walk in it and observe God's handiwork.

Why do I love the snow? I love the snow because it always reminds me of Isaiah 1:18:

"Come now, and let us reason together", Says the LORD,

"Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool."

Can you imagine it? It does not matter what sin you are trying to hide or justify. God sees it and already knows all the details about it. He says your sins are blood red... deep, dark, red!! Red is a hard color to hide, but God does not intend to hide the red of your sin or just cover it over like the snow is covering everything here in Central Pennsylvania. As soon as you admit your sin to God, He not only forgives your sin, but He also purifies you from your sin. He changes the red to white!!

The apostle John put it this way in 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." He provides forgiveness and cleansing... a clean slate everyday or, if you are like me, maybe every minute!! Are you holding onto your sin? Why? Confess it to God. Let Him wash you whiter than snow that you may experience a joy and freedom like no other!!

The LORD bless you with a willingness bring everything you have ever done... thought, word, and deed... to the Father.

I love you,

Ruth

Raging Storm

Greetings!!!

Have you ever been caught in an unexpected storm and feared for your life as you tried to scramble for shelter? Matthew 8:23-27, Luke 8: 22-25 and Mark 4:35-41 record such a situation.

Mark 4: 35-41 "And on that day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him. And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

Maybe you are in the midst of a storm that is making you feel like you are about to perish. You stepped out in faith and obedience to Jesus; and now it feels like the storm will overwhelm you. Oh, it may not be a severe weather pattern that has you trapped and feeling helpless, but nonetheless you are feeling like you have been back into a corner with no place to turn and Jesus... Where is Jesus? You are sure He is not with you, or if He is with you, as it was in the gospels, He is asleep on a cushion.

How can Jesus just sleep during your crisis? Doesn't He care? Doesn't He know your desperation? Oh, let me assure you that He cares. Rest assured that what He has called you to He will equip you to perform. He is with you because He is Emmanuel-God with us. If He is silent, it is because He can trust you with His silence. Just as Jesus knew that the disciples would get to the other side of the lake, Jesus knows that you will accomplish what you are called to do. Are you going to panic in the midst of your storm, or are you going to go into this day with confidence in and obedience to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?

The LORD bless you with peace and quiet confidence in the middle of your storm.

I love you,

Ruth

Crimson Sky

Greetings!!!

What was your sunrise like this morning? On our knoll the horizon was beautifully washed with crimson and vermillion. It only lasted a short time. Then all was gray.

The moment I saw the red sky, passages from Exodus 12 came to mind. "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers' household, a lamb for each household. Your lamb shall be an unblemished male a year old; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. And you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month, then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel is to kill it at twilight. Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall it in haste--it is the LORD's Passover. For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments--I am the LORD. And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. Exodus 12:3, 5-7, 11-13

Did you know that whether you are Jew or Gentile, Protestant, Catholic, Pentecostal, Atheist, or Agnostic, Jesus is your Passover Lamb? When God the Father sees the blood of Jesus applied to your life, His right and just judgments of sin in your life will not be ministered. Instead, as in Egypt, when God the Father sees the Blood of Jesus covering your life, He will pass over you and judgment will not fall upon you.

Have you believed and received the sacrifice that Jesus made to redeem your life from sin and death and provide your way to eternal life with Him in heaven? Just as in the Exodus from Egypt, there is no other way to be spared from the judgment of death. Only this death is not just the death of the body. It is eternal death--complete separation from the Father and His glory in heaven. Have you asked Jesus into your life to be your Lord and Savior? Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"

The LORD bless you with recognizing the Way to heaven.

I love you,

Ruth

A Reprieve

Greetings!!!

Isn't it wonderful to have a reprieve from the extreme winter weather? Even if it is only for today, it felt so good this morning to walk down to the bus stop with Thomas. The wind was still. The air was crisp but not bitter cold. The snow and ice was already melting at 7:40 A.M.. This break reassures that spring is not far off.

Are you facing struggles in your life that are causing you to wonder if there will ever be a reprieve? May I suggest that you change your focus? 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 as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."

Do you realize the value of your faith? It is more precious to God than highly refined gold!! Do you know how gold is refined? By fire. Do you know how the goldsmith knows when the refining process is finished? When he can see his reflection in the gold. Whatever you are facing, God wants to use it to refine your faith. He will not stop until He sees His reflection in you. Let God use the struggle you are facing today to make you more into the image of Christ.

The LORD bless you with resting in the Father's work through your struggles.

I love you,

Ruth

Extravagant Gift

Greetings!!!

Have you ever received an extravagant gift, something that may or may not have been expensive, but was extravagant because it was so lavished with love? The extravagance was in what it cost the giver. You alone may understand the value of that gift. It is very humbling to realize how much you are valued and loved when you receive a gift like that.

Do you know that God has an extravagant gift for you? Here is what John 3:16-21 says (I am making it a little more personal for you), "For God so loved the you, that He gave His only begotten Son, that if you believe in Him, you should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son to you to judge you, but that you should be save through Him. When you believe in Jesus, you will not be judged, but if you do not believe you are judged already, because you do not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come to you, and you loved darkness rather than light; for your deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But if you practice the truth, you will come into the light, that your deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

Do you realize how valuable you are to God? He has given you the most extravagant gift He could give. What are you going to do with it? Will you let go of everything you are clutching in your hands and receive God's gift of life? Will you step out of your darkness of sin and shame and step into the light of His forgiveness? Will you run to His arms of love, and allow Him to minister to your brokenness? If you choose His gift, there is a life of love, joy, and peace that awaits you, and you will be able to face every difficulty that arises knowing you are safe in His hands.

The LORD bless you with choosing His extravagant gift.

I love you,

Ruth