With All Your Heart

Greetings!!!

Do you do some kind of exercise everyday? I try to get out every morning to run. When I went out this morning, it was cold, but I figured I would warm up once I got moving. Half way through my run, I was still quite cold, but I thought surely I would warm up soon. So I kept going expecting my hands to stop hurting from the cold, but it was not until I got back inside my house that I warmed up, and even now my hands and arms are tingling.  

As I ran, this Scripture was going through my head. Most people are familiar with Jeremiah 29:11 '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.' But are you familiar with what follows? Read verses 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, 'and 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.'

Like the warmth that never came, have you tried to meet with God only to feel alone? Then I would tell you to dig deeper, search harder, stay longer in your place of quiet rest. Keep searching with all your heart. God has something for you. Do not stop short of what He wants to do in your life because it gets hard and long and it feels like there is no point. Your answer could be in the next moment, or on the next page. Do not give up. Keep going.

The LORD bless you with perseverance in seeking Him no matter how long it takes.

I love you,

Ruth

Outward Sign

Greetings!!

Have you ever had a cold sore? A cold sore is an outward sign of an inward problem. A cold sore indicates that your body has been invaded by the Herpes Simplex Virus. Your first blister appears after you have been exposed to the virus three to ten days earlier. The blisters become swollen, are very tender and highly contagious. Once infected, the virus remains in your body waiting for some random stressor to allow the virus to show itself. One of the things necessary to do battle with the Herpes Simplex Virus is the amino acid Lysine. If taken as soon as you feel the tenderness on your lip, often a blister will not ever appear, but always it will help your body to fight it.

This brings to mind Galatians 5: 16-23 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts out anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

So many actions are outward signs of what is on the inside. Stress does not cause the behavior, it just reveals what is on the inside. What is inside you? What spills out when you are under stress. Do you need to get into the Word so you have the help to do battle against the flesh?

The LORD bless you with abundant fruit of the Spirit.

I love you,

Ruth

Cascade of Sounds

Greetings!!!

Do you enjoy high school football? We were watching our local high school football team this past Friday and having a blast. As the football teams struggled and pushed their way toward their respective goals, the fans screamed and cheered on their attempts. At just the right time, the East Juniata High School band played "Eye of the Tiger","Louie, Louie", "We Didn't Start the Fire", and "Ironman" with booming drums and blaring horns. Yet, all these sound were nearly drowned out by other sounds. From just on the other side of the field came another array of sounds .  At the  same time that we were enjoying the football game the Snyder County fair was taking place. There a tractor pull with roaring engines and cheering crowds,  a barber shop quartet, along with a variety of country singers crooning their tunes. Such variety! Such diversity! All in the same place at the same time!

It made me think of Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy art Thou (Jesus) to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." and Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having and eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgement has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of water." 

God loves diversity! He wants it to surround Him for all eternity. There is not one people group that Jesus did not love enough to die for. There is not one nation that will not have someone representing it. Every tribe will sing its song. Every language will have its song to praise to our Savior. How do you feel about diversity? Do you need to learn to enjoy the diversity that is here around you now? It will surround you for all eternity. Learn to love the people God has made.

The LORD bless you with a heart to love the people He loves.

I love you,

Ruth

Home Sickness

Greetings!!! I am sorry it has been so long.

Have you ever been homesick? Our daughter Sarah started college this fall. Although she does not seem to be missing home, I am missing her. She is excited about all that college life involves. She is busy studying, meeting new people, going to classes, studying, working out for track, did I mention studying, along with endless reading. On the other hand, we are still very busy with homeschooling, gardening and with it harvesting and canning the produce, and doing all the things that go along with having a house. All of this keeps us very busy... busy, but we do not get to see Sarah throughout the days. We miss having her here.

I wonder if God misses His children. Maybe God is missing you.  In Daniel 6 although it was decreed that anyone who prayed to any god or man, except for the king, for a given thirty days would be thrown into the lions' den. But Daniel showed his faithfulness and determination to continue to seek God. Daniel 6:10-11 "Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he has windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three time a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God."

When was the last time you spent time in the presence of the all-powerful, ever-living God making praying and seeking Him for your deepest needs and desires? Is God missing you? What busyness is keep you from His presence? It brings God joy to have you come near and spend time with Him. Take the time today.

The LORD bless you with a yearning for Him.

I love you,

Ruth

Stripped Bare

Greetings!!

Have you experienced the gypsy moth invasion? Gypsy moths were introduced to the United States because of a desire to start a silk worm industry here. It did not work and now we are left with the every growing infestation. The caterpillar can strip the foliage on a plant very quickly if left unchecked. I was not diligent in watching for them this year. By the time I realized they were here, the roses in my front yard were stripped bare. I usually use a rose food that not only feeds the roses but also protects the roses from insects and fungus. I could not find the product I usually use so I was late with the protection. My pitiful Meidiland Roses... there is not a leaf on them.

As I looked at those rose bushes, Ephesians 6:10-18 kept running through my mind. "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 the 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 FEET 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 times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints"

Does it feel like your life is being stripped like the gypsy moth caterpillars stripped my roses? Do you feel like the onslaught of the enemy is more than you can bear? Have you done what you need to do to be protected? All you need to do is be careful to put on the full armor, stand firm, and pray, then trust. Did I say all? It is a lot of work, but it is work well worth doing. As Petra put it in a song, "Get on your knees and fight like a man. You'll pull down strongholds if you just believe you can." Are you ready to join me in the fray? 

The LORD bless you with being strong in His mighty power.

I love you,

Ruth

Hide and Seek

Greetings!!!

Do you remember playing hide and seek as a child? Maybe you still play. I remember playing hide and seek with our children when they were very small. They would "hide" in an open place with their hands over their eyes. Since they could not see us, I guess they assumed we could not see them. One of our favorite hide and seek games was outside after dark. It was so much fun. We could hide right out in the open, in one of the contours of the yard and never be found. We hid, but were not really hiding. If we hide too long the children would get really discouraged and want to give up.

David felt like God was hiding from him. He got discouraged, but he refused to give up. "How Long, O LORD? Wilt Thou forget me forever? How long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Psalm 13:1-2 Then in verses 5-6 he says, But I have trusted in They lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Thy salvation. I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Do you feel like God is hiding from you, that He does not hear your cry for help, maybe that He does not even care? Maybe God is just playing hide and seek with you!  Jeremiah 29:11-14a  says, 'For I know the plans 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'

The point of hide and seek is to be found. God wants you to find Him. Do not be discouraged. Do not give up hope. Keep seeking His face. Do not stop. He is closer than you could ever dream, and He want to be found. Stop looking in the obvious places, and no matter what - do not give up the search.

The LORD bless you with excitement and anticipation as you seek to find Him.

I love you,

Ruth

Run the Race!

Greetings!!!

Are you a runner? Do you like to watch track and field events in the Summer Olympics? Walking and running is something that almost anyone can do. One thing about a runner is that he has to fix his gaze on what is ahead of him. If a runner looks back, it not only hinders his forward motion, but it can also stop his race. 

One place where Paul gives advise on running well is in Philippians 3:10-14: "that I my know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

You may never be an Olympic runner, but if you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, you are in a race. Does that surprise you? Your race is not a 100m dash. It is not a 400m, 800m run. You are not even a miler or a cross country runner. This race is not a 26.2  mile marathon. No, this race you are running is much longer. It takes stamina, endurance, and determination to make it to the finish line. The finish line, my friend, is when die, or when Jesus returns to usher you to heaven. Have you put on your running shoes? The best way to do that is to open your Bible. On your mark. Get set. Run! Run well, my friend. Run well, and do not look back!!

The LORD bless you with finishing your race well, and bringing glory to Him.

I love you,

Ruth