The Sweetest Water

I'm surely a coffee girl all the way.  I love the way it smells, I like the warmth It gives on a cold morning, and I delight in the taste.  When I eat at a restaurant, I love a tall glass of raspberry tea with my meal.  On a cold night, give me hot chocolate with marshmallows floating on top, slowly melting, as I enjoy the creamy beverage.  But when I am truly thirsty I crave a cold, clear, glass of water.

I could almost feel that thirst, as I read about the children of Israel today in Exodus.  The bible says, after the Israelites had crossed the Red Sea on dry land they were led by Moses into the Desert of Shur.  The scripture says they traveled three days without finding water. Most of us have never felt such thirst.  Can you imagine their relief when they came upon Marah, an oasis of water, but can you feel their disappointment when they found out this water was bitter and they were unable to drink it?  At this discovery, they began to grumble to Moses, as we all might do, "What are we to drink?"  Moses went to the Lord and was instructed to throw a certain piece of wood into that bitter pool.  The bitter water was instantly transformed into sweet, refreshing water and they were able to drink.

As I read today of this tree that was thrown into the bitter water, I found that many commentators suggest that this tree represented the cross of Jesus Christ.   Many times we grumble at our circumstances, at prayers not answered or hard times that seem to plague us, when it is the tree of Jesus we need to sweeten the waters of our bitterness and discontent.  

“who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed.”

‭‭I Peter‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭NKJV

I know, myself, I have felt the bitterness of unanswered prayer.  I have prayed for healing for loved ones and for impossible circumstances, but have yet to see those  prayers answered, at least in the way and the timing that I think they should be.  But today I pray for the sweetness of the cross to refresh, and give me new hope in Him.  May I be reminded of his unfailing love and may I be still and wait on Him who died on that tree for me.

Harper's Calm Assurance

Our granddaughter Harper was born a little over nine weeks ago and what a blessing she has been.   She is a perfect baby, eating, sleeping and being adorable right on schedule.  What joy she brings us all and most certainly, her older brother Kellan! 

 I read one time that a new baby's birth is a sign that the world should go on and indeed that's true.  We think of Harper's  future and what kind of life she might have, what kind of struggles and what kind of joys.  Mom and Dad dream of her first day of school, her college education and that bitter sweet walk down the isle.  On the way she will go through eye shadow, prom and boys,  she will bless her Mommy and steal her Daddy's heart.  

One of my favorite songs is "Because He Lives" by Bill Gather.  My favorite verse is:

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,

And feel the pride and joy she gives;

But greater still the calm assurance:

This child can face uncertain days because 

He lives!

Today she is content and happy, sleeping in her mothers arms, but as she grows up she will surely feel the uncertainty of this world.   But, happily, she can find calm assurance because Jesus lives.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone;

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living,

Just because He lives!

I love you, Harper, "little peanut butter queen"!

On Call

Awhile back I had a horrible, terrible throbbing toothache.  It felt like the roots of that thing was buried somewhere deep in my feet.  I felt twinges of slight pain all day but nothing I couldn't live with.  Unfortunately  after office hours, of course, the pain took a turn for the the worse.  In fact, if it hadn't been for the pain that just opening my mouth brought, I might have screamed!  I could barely concentrate on the phone book as I dialed the dentist's number.  As I expected, the answering service picked up the phone and asked, "what's you problem?"  Not being in the best frame of mind, I almost wanted to tell her my big toe ached, WHAT DID SHE THINK?  "I'll have someone call you right back," she said hurriedly, maybe noting the desperation in my voice.  As I waited "patiently" for the phone to ring, I thought probably that the dentist on call wouldn't even know me but surprisingly, my own dentist called back.  I was happy to hear a familiar voice, and especially of one who knew me.  Fortunately, he was not sleeping but was on call to hear my woes!

I thought of this today as I read one of my favorite passages.  Psalm 121 verses 3-4 reminds us that our God, the maker of heaven and earth, is always on call to hear about my fears, hurts and pain.  He never sleeps.  He knows me!  Jesus knows me this I love!

“He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:3-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Try to read Psalm 121 today, it will bless your heart.

Paradise

Though it is a long while until Easter, I thought today of the two men on either side of Jesus as he hung on the cross. Both were, as Jesus, sentenced to be crucified, but they, unlike Jesus, were guilty of a crime. As the three hung there in the throes of death, one mocked Jesus, while the other protested, "Don't you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die"? Then he said, "Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom." And Jesus replied, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:42


It has been almost two years since the passing of my brother, Jonny, but one of the last things he did before he died, still sticks in my mind. I am so grateful I was able to talk to him about his soul and one evening he asked Jesus into his heart. I will never forget the tears that ran down his cheeks as we prayed. Tears of regret for the years he had not served Jesus, but tears of joy because he was finally where he needed to be.

Jonny reminded me of the man on the cross next to Jesus. Jesus, seeing that the man believed, promised him a place in heaven. As the man on the cross, my brother did not have time to go to church, teach Sunday School or tithe on his income, but none the less, he would soon be ushered to heaven. 


As we gathered to be with him as he took his last breaths, his last words will always be with me. He looked up and asked, "Who are all these people?" Though his family was there I will always believe he also seen a multitude of angels gathered around, that had come to take him to paradise.

Just A Little Cloud?

As I prayed today about a situation that weighs heavy on my heart, Satan reminded me that there really was no hope on the horizon. Have you ever lost hope in your prayers and wanted to give up? This situation has brought me to my knees and most of the time I have faith that the Lord is able to do the impossible, but from time to time, fear that this particular prayer will not be answered has grabbed hold of my heart.


In 1 Kings, the bible says that Elijah climbed Mount Carmel to pray for the land, which was stricken with drought and famine. Scripture says he bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, "Go and look out toward the sea." The servant went and looked but reported back to Elijah that he had seen nothing. Seven times the servant went to look but on the seventh trip he reported back to his master that he had seen a little cloud the size of a man's hand rising up from the sea. At this, I'm sure hope filled Elijah, because he shouted to Ahab, the king, that he should go home because if he didn't hurry he would get wet from the rainstorm.


After praying for years, recently, a small cloud of hope appeared on the horizon. Some would say it was only the size of a man's hand but to me it was a miracle, and an answer to my prayers.


Excuse me, I must hurry home because I might get wet from the rainstorm of God's blessings. Praise your Holy Name, LORD!

　

The Weeping Prophet

When I was pregnant with one of my children, I was a crying, harmonal mess. I cried over everything , the wonders of pregnancy, a beautiful flower or "The Price is Right" a game show on TV at that time. Tears would flow over something bad as well as something good.


Back in those days people did not know if they were having a boy or girl but I was sure this one, after having all girls, would be a boy. Because of my "weeping", I had laughingly considered naming him Jeremiah after the Weeping Prophet. I don't think I even knew the story of this weepy man but I had heard him refered to as the "Weeping prophet". If you might wonder why Jeremiah was such a cryer, it was because of the destruction of Jerusalem. He cried as he walked through the ruins of that once great city of God. In The Book of Lamentations, we read Jeremiah's poetic account.


When I looked up lament in the dictionary, I found it meant "a passionate expression of grief or sorrow , wailing, moaning crying sobbing and weeping". If you are looking for something uplifting to read in the bible Lamentations would probably not be the one you should read. But buried in this book of poetic misery, is a three letter word that makes all the difference.....YET!


Yet...this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD'S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:21-24


I would not have found these beautiful verses in this very dark book, if it had not been for someone very dear to me, showing them to me after a very difficult time in her own life. Are you lamenting? Have you gotten to the end of yourself and feel there is no hope or that God does not care about your grief? Read these scriptures again and believe that even in the darkest of times, the LORD'S compassion is new everyday.


Yet, even our weeping prophet, Jeremiah, found hope!

By the way, I didn't have a boy it was another girl and I cried as I met my little sweetheart!

Up To My Hubcaps

　
Because my husband had taken the car that foggy winter morning, I decided I could drive the old truck to bible study, even though it was a stick shift. Getting there went fine because I took the highway but on the way home I decided to take the country roads, thinking the fog had lifted. As I cruised along, I began to hit patches of fog that would temporarily decrease my visibility. Though I was somewhat worried about the fog my mind went back to the bible study and all that we had discussed, the words of encouragement and the prayer requests. As I pondered these things, I shifted gears automatically but was unaware that my speed was increasing. Suddenly on the other side of a foggy patch stood the usually familiar crossroad sign. I clumsily put my foot on the clutch to gear down and brake, but there was no time. Off I went into a muddy field with six inches of standing water. The truck hit the field with enough force to splash my windshield with a thick covering of mud and there I sat mired in good Illinois dirt up to my hubcaps. I thanked God that a car was not coming or that I didn't hit the telephone pole that stood dangerously close, then I prayed, Lord, please get me out of this mess! I started the truck, put my foot on the clutch, geared down to reverse and drove the truck out of the field without even a tire spinning. Barely believing what had just happened, I praised God all the way home.


Why did God answer this prayer out of so many I had prayed? I don't know except that I needed my own personal miracle that day. Have you ever needed that? I had been mired in a pit of discouragement over many things and had felt that my prayers were not getting through to God. I had prayed many times, get me out of this pit but it seemed I was just spinning my wheels.


Today I read a scripture that hit home with me. Isaiah 7:11 says..."Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights".

 Although I didn't ask to run off into a cornfield, nor do I usually ask God for a sign, I received a sign that God was there.

After that day I began to slowly climb out of that pit and, as I did, I could see God more clearly. I began to feel more alive and I began to see prayers answered. I praise him for helping me out of that miry mess that day and for putting my feet firmly on the solid ground of his promises. Thank you, Heavenly Father for my own personal miracle.