The Mountain List

Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:20-21 NKJV

When Jesus spoke these words, he was actually rebuking his disciples for their lack of faith in the healing of a man with seizures. When the disciples were alone with Jesus, they asked why their prayers were not answered. Jesus' answer came “because of your unbelief”. Oh my, how often I pray without faith that it will happen.

Then Jesus uses the mustard seed as an example of how much faith is needed to have our prayers answered. He went on to say that we can tell a mountain to move from here to there and it will happen if only we have faith.

Wow, I got excited and decided move the “mountains” on my prayer list to what I would call “The Mountain List”. First I thought of all those I pray for who are in need of salvation, as I did I remembered how, at times, I find myself doubting that they will ever find the Lord. So much time has passed, do I still believe that relationships can be mended? How about broken marriages? But Lord....they seem so far from one another! Do I have a “mustard seed” of faith to give? Healing? But Lord, they are so sick! Lord, forgive me, I am like the disciples?

As I began to scrawl those “mountain” sized needs on to my new list I found that nearly everything I pray for on a daily basis were too big! Too big for God I asked myself? Did Jesus not say that I could ask a mountain to move from here to there and it would happen if I had just a small amount of faith? Many times I, like the disciples, have not even the faith the size of a mustard seed!

Jesus did not leave the disciples or us without hope. He went on to say that with prayer and fasting we can see our prayers answered. What would happen to our world if only we had faith? Jesus didn't say we need faith as big as a mountain to move a mustard seed but the other way around.

Jesus help my unbelief! Please give me faith to move the “mountains” on my list!

To Bring Many To Christ!

With tears in his eyes and a quiver in his voice someone very familiar to Larry and I, John Wasem, spoke of his love for us, last Sunday morning. This man in his late eighties made his way over to us just to say he appreciated us. As we hugged, we assured him that if it hadn't been for him we might not be in church at all. Little did he know, that it was we who were indebted to him.

After Larry and I were married, this man of God was one of three men who visited us in our little apartment, weekly. They talked to my young husband, who like me had grown up without church, about everything but mostly their love for Jesus and us came through. They loved us into the church. We would start by going on Sunday mornings, then within months we accepted Christ as our Savior. Our life was changed that day. We made Christ and the Church the center of our lives.

These men of God, I believe, made such a difference in our life and in our family's life. Would we have found Christ without these three men taking an interest in us? I don't know, but I do know that John Wasem, Dwight Millikan, and Steve Ward loved us into the Kingdom in those early months of our married lives. Although the list is endless of all those who have touched me through the years I know that our lives changed in those early days because of God sending His people to love us.

Over forty years have passed since that day we went forward to accept Christ as our Savior and never has there been a day we ever regretted our decision. Praise be to God!

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:19

 

Lord, help me become a slave to all people to bring many to know Christ!

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

A Roll In The Dirt

One hot, summer day I watched our Blue Healer, Rocky, saunter across the field and walk into the neighbor's pond. With the sun behind him, he looked rather handsome as he emerged from the refreshing water and walked through the tall grass. As is typical of wet dogs, he shook himself, starting at his nose and ending at the very tip of his tail. Water danced in all directions with the sunlight reflecting on each drop. Then Rocky did something that ruined the serene scene. He trotted his wet self to the nearest dirt hole, lowered his shoulder, then his entire body into the dirt, and proceeded to roll from side to side not missing a square inch.

As I watched in amazement, I was reminded of myself. No, I don't roll in the dirt after a dip in the pool but there have been times I did something similar. Some of the most wonderful, refreshing times I have ever had with the Lord to my dismay have been followed with a good roll in the dirt.

I have praised God, enjoyed His presence, and found myself falling in love with Him all over again. I remember times I would come from these wonderful times only to find myself losing my temper, gossiping, or totally blowing it in some way or another. Unlike my furry friend, I didn't mean to roll in the dirt but I did. I could not understand how this could happen. But I know I am not the only one who has experienced this disappointment. Paul says in Romans that he wants to do good but he does what he hates.

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do.

Romans 7:15

I am not a theologian but I think “the enemy” the devil hates for us to enjoy the Lord's presence. He cringes as we praise Him and loves to see us innocently waltz out of the refreshing “Living Water” only to find ourselves rolling in the dirt.

I prayed with a young woman awhile back who cried as she told me how she had been so close to God but then she found herself doing what she did not want to do. My heart broke for her as well as for myself because I have been there many times in my sixty-five years.

How do we avoid the dreaded dirt hole? First, I find, I need to be ready for the attack and then remember the truth I learned. I also must remember that even though I have lowered my shoulder into the dirt I don't have to roll in it. Jesus still forgives us! He still wants to help us do what we want to do and not do what we hate! Praise God!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! Phil 4:13

Build An Ark!

One of my favorite Southern Gospel songs, is entitled “Build an Ark”. To summarize, the song is suggesting that we grab our families and hide from the “world” and its sinfulness. As I watch nonstop newscasts that spew nothing but bad news, school shootings and terrorist bombings, I wish that I could take my family and hide them in a safe place.

For the last ten days I have been blessed to have kids and grandkids in my home. We shared happy memories, hugs and kisses and many laughs but we also had serious discussions about the challenges that their families face today.

In Noah's day, he and his family faced more than challenges. The bible says, the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. God said in Genesis that He regretted that He made human beings. Can you imagine? I sometimes feel that there is so much bad in the world but then God sends someone or something into my life to remind me that there is still much good in the world. He reminds me to think on those things that are good, right and lovely. But as Noah built his ark, no such good was to be observed, he was reminded daily of the unyielding evil that plagued the earth that God had created.

I wondered about this character called Noah, how did he do it? How did he get up in the morning and face the world in which he lived? What kept him going when all the news was bad, when all was evil in his eyes, as well as God's eyes?

As I combed through the verses that made up the story of this man, Noah, who found favor with the Lord, I came across the answer.

This is the account of Noah and is family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. Genesis 6:9.

Noah was motivated by his desire to save his family and to please God. So Noah did the right things because he walked in close fellowship with God. Fellowship, according to the dictionary, means companionship. Noah knew God as his close companion. His close friend!

If we are to save our family we are called to live “righteous” lives before them as Noah did. The only way to live righteously, is to walk in close fellowship with God. Read scripture to get to know Him and pray to Him without ceasing. Walk with Him as a companion! Build an “ark” of love, soaked in prayer for your children and grandchildren.

“Build an Ark......Save your sons and your daughters!

A Hot Cup of Joe and a Pure Heart!

I love coffee, but only hot coffee. You won't see me dawdling over my “Joe” for hours because hot is the only way I like it. In fact I am not one who waves the waitress over to for a “warm up” because when she mixes the not-so-hot with hot, I still have not-so-hot! I have to remove everything from my cup so that what goes into my cup is “pure” hot coffee.

I thought of this today as I read from the Psalms.

Psalm 51:10 reads;

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

When we ask God to give us a “pure heart” we have to empty ourselves of all things that are not pure. We have to get rid of an unforgiving spirit, prejudice and anything not pleasing to God. Just like my coffee, the old has to be removed so that not even a loose “ground” of complacency can remain. Unless we are willing to get rid of the “lukewarm” our cup cannot be refreshed.

Now, how do we do that, you might ask? Not alone my friend, we need God to rid us of these things. Ask the creator of a pure heart to take them away to make room for His spirit. Do you need to forgive? Ask God! Are you struggling with prejudice or unholy thoughts or actions? Bring these to God! Without a pure heart He cannot renew in me a steadfast spirit of which we all desire as we walk through this life.

A pure heart is not a lukewarm heart but a steadfast heart! A heart filled up with all that is pure is the way that God intended, so pour out the “coffee grounds” of your heart and start afresh with an empty cup ready to be renewed.

I think a hot cup of Joe is calling my name!

The Road Home

What does “Home” mean to you? Does it mean the place where your family waits for you, or that familiar place that you long for, at days end? Does it mean that place where you grew up, that home where loved ones await your visit? Possibly it means “heaven” our ultimate destination at life's end. More than likely it means all of these things to most of us.

Did you ever think of home as the place you started out from and the person you started out as? How far some of us have come from where we started. Hopefully, most of us have matured as we have ventured from the threshold of our childhood home but have you ever longed to go back to the simplicity and innocence of home? How about going back to the real “you” not the “you”, you have groomed to please others?

Many times we to go back home spiritually? That place of awe and wonder, you had as a brand new believer, back before life had squeezed the joy from your soul. Maybe you need to go back to a place of trusting and hope. God wants you to come home!

I think God put the love of home in our heart for a reason. It was not an accident that when Jesus was about to leave this earth for heaven, he said “There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” Regardless of popular sayings, Jesus did not say “there is room for you on the Father's cloud” or “my Father's Universe”, He knew that just the word “home” strikes a chord in us all.

I thought of all these things as I hung a new picture that we bought from a local artist entitled “Road Home”. It is a scene that leads down a winding road, next to an old fence. At the end of this road there is a big welcoming house. I wonder who waits in the house for the weary traveler. Is there a grand meal prepared for this one who has come home? Is there a special room prepared for this one who has made it down that winding road?

I think of that special room that Jesus is preparing just for you and me in our Father's Home! I can almost see the light in the window that welcomes me home!

Loosen Your Grip!

I remember one summer afternoon painting the trim on our house and coming to a standstill because I came to a place that I couldn't reach. It was the last eighteen inches of the trim that went up to the peak of the roof. Being the bright woman that I am (?), I decided that the only way I was going to be able to finish my painting that day was to climb onto the roof. So up I went, confidently scaling the roof until I reached the peak of the house. I positioned myself right at the top so that I could dangle myself over to finish my painting. Feeling rather proud of myself, I lifted my head to check out the view. What I saw made my stomach do a flip-flop! It was the great distance between me and the ground! I had reached the peak alright but now I was paralyzed and hanging on with all my fingers and toes! I closed my eyes and tried to think what to do, since I was home alone. I could just imagine the fire department coming to fetch me, with sirens blaring! I knew that first they would have to pry my white knuckled fingers from the roof because at this point I was trusting no one.

Alas I heard voices! It was the neighbor boy going out to play but should I dare holler at him? I was so embarrassed by this time, but finally, I got the courage to call his name and ask him to get his mother. I have often wondered what she thought of me as I lay on the roof motionless, afraid to move and afraid to breathe! She wisely brought the ladder closer and climbed up so that she could talk to me. Her voice was reassuring but could I trust her? What experience had she had in getting people off of roofs....SAFELY? Then she said something that was absolutely crazy! “Let go, Jeanie! Trust me, you can do it!” I had no choice! Slowly, I began to relax my steel grip on the roof and crawled down from my perch, ever so cautiously. Besides thank you, I don't remember what all I said to my neighbor and I still get red in the face when I think of that awful experience. I do know that the neighbor moved shortly after that day.

I thought of this as I struggled to trust God with a situation that seemed impossible to me! I have encouraged people plenty of times to trust God but now,I was having difficulty trusting him myself.  I heard his encouraging voice through scripture and as I prayed but could I loosen my steal grip and trust him to handle it His way instead of mine?  Did I have the courage to say, "Okay, your will be done, Lord!  Finally, he whispered to my soul, “Let go and trust Me”! I did let go and again peace was mine.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

 

P.S. I have never been on a roof since that day!