The worship pastor at my church recently interviewed me and produced a video. You can watch it on the church’s YouTube channel, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j76ri-FOu28
Living Right-Side Up in an Upside Down World
What I Want My Grandchildren to Know
BLESSED REST
In Hebrews 4 it speaks of the precious rest that God has provided for His children. Even though it was all lovingly prepared for them, Israel could not enter into the enjoyment of that gift God has provided because of their unbelief.
So what about us?
Hebrews also says that God’s “works were finished from the foundation of the world. And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”. (Emphasis mine)
I meditated on that, trying to determine what was included in ALL His works. I’m convinced that it was much more than the six days of creation. I believe that the history of His entire creation was determined in His planning “from the foundation of the world”. That included your life and every detail of what His plan was for your being on His earth at this particular time. In fact He had plans for you long before even that time, for in II Timothy it tells us God has saved you and called you with a holy calling, not according to your works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to you in Christ Jesus BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN. That’s how long He has known you!
So what does this have to do with a blessed rest?
When God completed any of His works, He “saw that it was good”. So His plans for your life, for our country, the nations of the world, and even for the universe are all good. They are in the process of being fulfilled this day. We look around us in dismay at things we see happening, but none of it is taking God by surprise. We are occupying our place in His plans for history, which He has in complete control, and we know from Scripture how it will all unfold.
So even though we take a stand against the evils around us, we are well able to enter into God’s rest for us if we believe God—that He has it all under perfect control for the completion of His work, and that it is all right on schedule. Israel couldn’t enter His rest because of their unbelief. We believe His wisdom and goodness, so let’s ask Him to help us occupy our little corner with faithfulness—and be at rest.
God’s blessed rest — what a soft pillow for a tired heart!
DIVINE PARADOXES
This is not originally mine, but was written in the 4th century A.D. by Gregory, and is certainly worthy of our consideration today:
“Christ hungered as a man, and fed the hungry as God.
He was hungry as a man and yet He is the Bread of Life.
He was athirst as man, and yet He says, ‘Let him that is athirst come unto Me and drink!’
He was weary and yet He is our Rest.
He pays tribute, and yet He is the King.
He prays, and yet He hears prayer.
He weeps, and dries our tears.
He is sold for thirty pieces of silver, and redeems the world.
He is led as a sheep to the slaughter, and is the Good Shepherd.
He is mute like a sheep, and yet He is the everlasting Word.”
HOPE
HOPE is faith holding your hand in the darkness.
Journey of Prayer Video
Please click this link to see Edith’s new video where she shares some stories from her own prayer journey and talks about the purpose of prayer. http://youtu.be/IxwsmPuJPlQ
Fear vs. Faith
A good word for today!
“Fear knocked at the door! Faith answered and nobody was there!
Moving Day
My special grandson, all unaware, has been a little preacher to his Grandma . It’s been as though he stands in my place, and his mother and daddy in God’s position…..
The move from the apartment was initially a time of great trauma for him. In his baby understanding, he couldn’t possibly see all that was involved in the decision to move. So because he couldn’t understand, he had great feelings of fear, uncertainty and insecurity. Every box that left the apartment was part of his life being torn away from him. If his daddy left the house or his mommy went out of his sight, would they stay away like the boxes that were never brought back inside? Such trauma! He didn’t have the capability of understanding that his mommy and daddy had made such special plans for his happiness, such special preparations for his comfort—because he was so greatly loved and such a special child—because he belonged uniquely to them. And then came that final closing of the door, that turning of the key when he had to venture forth into a new world.
Soon another key was turned—another door was opened, and his eyes expressed the words of the Psalmist, “Thou hast set my feet in a large room”! In spite of the clutter, he could see the possibilities. And there was room to run free even in the midst of the boxes. THE BOXES!!! Why his life hadn’t been taken away from him at all! Here it was—every little piece of it, but with so much more room to expand, and enjoy, and explore! Life preserved—but more abundant life!
So this was my little preacher’s sermon, because his Grandma doesn’t always understand either. But she’s a little up on that precious grandson because she knows her Father has only her good at heart, and she will hopefully live in patience, waiting for the “large room” that He has planned for her. Then she’ll know by experience what she knows now by faith—that all the insecurity and fears and hurts today are only the surface evidences of a lack of understanding. They’re all part of the necessary “boxes and clutter” for moving on to something so much finer.
Thank you, little preacher—and thank you, Lord!
Common Sense versus Wisdom
When the children of Israel were finally to occupy the land God had promised them, He also instructed them to totally destroy every inhabitant of that idolatrous and sinful land so that godliness would be the hallmark of those who would now dwell there.
And then the fear-filled Gibeonites plotted a scheme to preserve themselves from the annihilation that had come to their neighbors. They said they had come from a very far country, but had heard about God, and offered themselves and their countrymen to be servants to the Israelites They offered proof of being from a long distance by showing them the moldy bread, the broken wineskins and their tattered clothing that had all been new when they left on the journey.
Common sense told the men of Israel that the condition those men were in was surely proof that they were being truthful, so they believed them. They depended on their own observation and good reasoning that it was a good thing to accept what these men told them, and make an alliance with them.
However there was one important truth they missed; they didn’t pray about it to seek the counsel of the Lord—who knew the truth and would have given them warning!
As I meditated on this passage, I thought of times that I have depended on my own common sense. good reasoning and observations, and came up with my own decision without first asking my Father about it. It must grieve God’s heart when He knows every pitfall and yet sees us go blindly ahead on the path of our own choosing.
May God give me (and all of us) the sensitivity to seek His wisdom when decisions need to be made. He knows what’s best, and it must give Him a heart of joy when we trust Him to lead us on the right path.
JESUS BIRTHDAY
Christmas has become a time of such commercialism, and there is great anticipation in children’s hearts for the gifts that might have their name on them beneath the Christmas tree.
When my children were small, I wanted them to understand fully that Christmas was a day for us to celebrate the birthday of Jesus; so we had a special dessert for Christmas dinner to make them very aware of the real reason we celebrated that day.
I baked an angel food cake (angel food was appropriate) for the birthday cake, which was frosted with white divinity frosting. One thing that made this cake outstanding to the children was that I always baked a dime into the batter– carefully sterilized, of course. The cake had one tall white taper in the center hole and when it was lighted, we all held hands, bowed our heads, and softly sang happy birthday to Jesus. Then the cake was cut, each child choosing just the spot in the cake they wanted for their serving., hoping to be fortunate enough to get the piece with the dime in it.
As the years went by, my children decided on their own the dime was so special that they took it to Sunday School the following Sunday to put in the offering. And now that they are adults, most of them continue the Jesus-birthday-cake tradition in their own homes.
We never allowed our children to believe in Santa Claus either and they had great fun in greeting him as the storybook character he is. We wanted them always to know that we told them the truth. If we made them believe Santa was real, when they eventually found out it was untrue, would they believe what we told them about Jesus was also untrue? That was a risk we were unwilling to take.
Have a special “happy birthday Christmas” this year!!!
GOD’S TREASURE
This morning the skies were cloudy presenting a gloomy day. Suddenly the sun broke through with brilliance, flooding my house with such cheerful brightness it called forth my spontaneous burst of praise! “Oh God! Thank you for making the sun—thank you for making the moon—and thank you for making me!!”
In my spirit He whispered, “You are of more value to Me in My kingdom than the sun and the moon are in the universe.”
That was a staggering thought! I mulled that over in my mind and could well imagine a conversation in Heaven which may have been like this: “I want to make mankind so that there will be those with whom We can companion, but We need to prepare a place for them to dwell. They will be special, so the place we make for them will need to be special as well. Let’s make a sun to light their day and a moon and stars for the night. We’ll make trees and flowers and a beautiful garden because they are so loved!”
I can identify with that. When I created a gift for my child, I spent time and thought in its preparation, anticipating the joy on my child’s face when the package was opened. But to me, my child was so much more special than the gift I had created. I just wanted my creation to give my child joy.
…..and if you have opened your heart to Jesus and asked Him to forgive your sins, then you are one of His children for whom He has created the sun and the moon, and all His beautiful creation. You are His treasure and His creation is your gift.
“For you are all the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ” Galatians 3:26
IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL
Today as I was spending time with the Lord, and sharing some painful situations with Him, an old song we used to sing popped into my mind. I thought perhaps you, too, might be experiencing some difficulties, and that the words of this song might minister to you as well:
It will be worth it all
When we see Jesus.
Life’s trials will seem so small
When we see Him.
One look at His dear face,
All sorrows will erase.
So bravely run the race
“Til we see Christ!
IT’S ALL GOD
When things we are hoping to accomplish turn out well, we are tempted to feel quite elated and perhaps self-satisfied; but we need for that bubble to burst when the truth is injected into it.
Actually we are like a tool which sits on the workbench, a tool which just sits there unable to move through its own efforts. It is not until the Craftsman picks it up in His hand and begins wielding it with His skill that anything beautiful or useful can be fashioned. Can the tool assume credit for the beautiful product that has been created? Absolutely not! Only the Craftsman s to be praised!
But some would say, “But I am so willing to be used.” Good! But what is the source of that willingness? Does it arise from the ashes of our old nature? I think not! All the good roads we choose to travel are our choice because of the presence of our new nature. And who is responsible for giving us a new nature? It is the gift given to us by the presence of the Holy Spirit when we trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross to forgive our sins. Obviously our willingness is a gift that we have received from our dear Father. It is God who works within us both to WILL and to DO what pleases Him. (Phil. 2:13)
So all the glory goes to the Craftsman. It’s all GOD!!!
Does that mean He excludes us from the joy of what has been accomplished? Not a bit of it!! He has called us to be co-laborers with Him in the things He wishes to do. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which He planned for us to be involved in even before the world was created. That’s how long ago He made plans for using His special, chosen tools to use in accomplishing His good purposes. He uses us in fulfilling all that He has ordained.
So yes— He does it all—but allows us to enter into the holy work of producing beauty along with Him!
We are blest indeed!
TRUTH
We can speak truth into our children’s ears
but only God can put it in their hearts.
ABRAHAM
God told Abraham to leave Ur to go to a land that He would show him. I’ve often wondered if Abraham disobeyed God’s direction to him. God said he was to get out of his country, and from his kindred, and from his father’s house but when he left he took his father and Lot with him. Was that leaving his kindred and his father’s house? If Abraham had not taken Lot, his future seed would not have had the problems they did with the Moabites and the Ammonites, descendants of Lot’s sons, Moab and Ammon who were born through incest.
So at last they arrived in Canaan, the land God intended to give Abraham and his seed. One would think their arrival would have called for a big celebration, and that God would have “thrown a party” to welcome them. Just the opposite seems to be true:
They were now surrounded by the Canaanites, extremely wicked people who gave them no welcome.
Possibly some of the souls they had gained in Haran, where idolatry was no doubt common, were lured into the ways of the Canaanites which would have burdened Abraham.
He had probably had a solid, and perhaps luxurious house back in Ur while here he had no permanent place to live but had to camp in tents.
It wasn’t long before they were in the midst of a serious famine.
God had promised him a child, but that wasn’t happening.
He was constantly having to mediate and try to keep peace.
God had truly called him, and God loved him, but was allowing him to experience the hardships and trials of life. God seemed to have forgotten Abraham after his arrival there, because God would have him learn to live by faith!
How true in our lives! Often the way seems dark, troublesome, giving us a “where-are-you-God” feeling. Without faith it is impossible to please Him, and He is challenging us to trust Him even when the way is hard.
My Son (On His First Day of School)
He marched off today like a soldier,
But no soldier could look so grand.
His head was brushing the fluffy clouds;
His pencil was clutched in his hand.
A soldier with patriot ardor
In the battle or solemn parade
Could not know such pride as my five-year-old
As he joyfully entered first grade.
His first day of high school or college
Will be thrilling and challenging, too.
He will meet them with anticipation
For experiences which are new.
But the joy that he finds at those portals
Will be joy that is shopworn and frayed
Compared with the joy that he knew today
When he proudly set off for first grade.
I have seen a great queen’s coronation.
I have seen many rulers and kings.
They travel in pomp and in splendor
With the prestige their high estate brings.
But today there’s not one of those monarchs
Who could fill my son’s shoes as he’s made
This gigantic step over the threshold
Which has ushered him into first grade!
ABIDING IN CHRIST
Job 15:15,16 “Behold He putteth no trust in His saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in His sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water.”
The greatness of Almighty God! With Job I cry, “Behold I am vile.” My prayer is, “How can I please Thee? Behold I am vile. In my flesh dwelleth no good thing. I am undone! Oh God, finish my undoing completely so there will be nothing left of me, and so I will be conformed to the Image of Christ. Oh my Father, I want to please Thee.”
In a moment He responds, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am WELL- PLEASED! If you be in Christ in whom I am well-pleased, you are a new creature. Old things are passed away. Behold, all thing are become new.”
“Ah, yes Lord, but to dwell IN CHRIST! Teach me how.”
“Abide in Him,” comes the answer.
“And how does the abiding come about?”
“If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love.”
“What have you commanded, Lord?”
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn. 15:12)
“How do You love me, Lord?”
“As the Father loves Me, that’s how I love you.” (Jn. 15:9)
“You mean I’m to love others with the same love that Almighty God has for His only begotten Son? But that is impossible! Impossible! How could it be?”
“I am the true vine, My Father is the husbandman. I am the vine, you are the branches. Your life is coming from Me. Therefore your love is coming from Me; and the Father, the husbandman, is attending lovingly to His vineyard. When He sees the leaf drooping, and the leaf asks for water, He gives that water to the Vine which carries it to the leaf. “Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name will be given unto you.”
Asking in Jesus’ name is asking that God give us our requests through the Vine in whom we are abiding, and from whom comes all our life, strength, love and fruit. What a complete unbroken circle!
INASMUCH
My heart cries out in yearning love and tenderness, with deep desire to have stood by, in faithfulness and consolation, when Jesus was forsaken by those who were His friends and followers, so abused by the soldiers, accused by the religious leaders, delivered over by Pilate to be mercilessly nailed to the cross. I would want to stand, fully knowing all that I know now, and realizing that “these things must needs be,” though that knowledge would have torn my heart out; knowing that if I were able to speak the word of persuasion that would have set Him free, then God’s holy purpose for sending His dear Son would be aborted. But to just stand there and let it happen….Oh!….more than a human heart can bear!
But Oh! To have been there, that by the contact of our eyes across rebellious heads, the touch of a hand in tender understanding, the comfort of the presence of one who loves Him, that somehow His aloneness might have been alleviated!
Then He gently reminds me, if I could have been there and stood steadfastly with Hm, it would have hindered God’s purpose. Jesus had to go through Gethsemane and the crucifixion alone. He suffered the horrendous agony of being separated from God. If I could have comforted Him or eased His grief, then I would have become a contributing part in His act of redemption, when it had to be His work alone. The pain had to be His alone; the separation had to be His alone; the grief had to be His alone; the agony had to be His alone. And how could I possibly have given Him any comfort when it was my sin that put Him there? It was the work God had given Him alone to do, and He finished the work fully….alone.
Then He comforts me by letting me know that there is a way to project, even across the centuries of time, that ministry of love and faithfulness to Him. “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto Me.” There are so many opportunities surrounding me daily to minister love, compassion, understanding, and help to others in Jesus’ dear name. This by-passes the human recipient, leaving its sweet residue to minister to each one’s need, but ascends like a fragrant incense into the courts of Heaven where Jesus whispers, “Ye have done it unto Me.”
ABIDE IN ME
Colossians 2:9 tells us that in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. So God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all have residence in the body of Christ.
Colossians 3:3 says that our lives are hid with Christ in God. And in 1:27 it says “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Since Christ dwells within us, and He holds the Godhead in residence, would it not be feasible to believe that the Shekinah glory ought to be able to radiate through our lives? Why do we not see more evidence of His presence in the lives of believers? If we are in full communion with God, wouldn’t there be a “shine” to our lives, even as Moses’ face shone when he came down from the mountain? Are we so caught up in the struggle with just surviving from day to day that our lives have become tarnished, even as a piece of silver which has been left untended, and no longer reflects its beauty?
My heart cry is, “God, in every situation in life, help me to be aware of Your presence, permeating all. May I be more aware of Your presence than I am of the person next to me, so that as I inhale, I will be breathing You into my life; as I exhale, I will be breathing You out to those around me, issuing forth the sweet aroma of Your presence. May Your Shekinah glory radiate out through my life so that You may strengthen, encourage and bless those around me.
THE MOUSE
Again today let’s have a bit of tongue-in-cheek levity.
The first poem I ever wrote was for an assignment in my sophomore English class in high school. The teacher read it aloud to the class but had serious trouble doing it as she was laughing so hard. Well, she gave me an A so that was encouraging. Here it is:
In a dear little corner of her middle-sized house
Her smart little puppy discovered a mouse.
She picked up the sweeper, the mousie ran out.
Her puppy, he followed that mouse with a shout.
Then into the woodbox the mousie did jump,
But the missus and puppy dug in with a thump.
To catch that old mousie and make him repent
Was the missus’ and puppy dog’s full intent.
When he was discovered, he jumped out and ran
To the parlor so he’d not get knocked on the pan.
By this time the missus was near scared to death,
So she jumped on the table to catch her breath.
Her daughter who had not been feeling well
Thought she’d try to ring mousie’s tolling bell.
But under the piano ran that little scamp.
“Twas his intent that here he might camp.
But when the piano was moved, he came out
And ran to the bedroom with a weak, squeaky shout
Where the puppy found him, but lost him again,
So you see, poor puppy dog’s work was in vain.
By this time the daughter had fetched their big broom,
And mousie was found once more in the room.
Then down came the broom on that poor little mouse,
And the only stove poker they had in the house
Was jabbed in his ribs till out of his head,
And soon this poor little mousie was dead.
He was wrapped in newspaper, thrown out of the house,
And that was the last of this poor little mouse.
CHAINED TO MY DESK
A pastor commented to me with an inward groan that there were times when he felt like he was chained to his desk as the pastoral burdens weighed him down. These thoughts came to me:
“Chained to my desk!” moaned the Pastor.
“I’m chained! and I long to be free.
There are heights I am longing to conquer!
There are fields that are beckoning me.
The sheep in my flock, as I tend them
Are often so stiff-necked and slow.
They’re mired in a slough of lethargy
As I struggle to teach them to grow.”
But HE answered, “These sheep in My pasture
Are searching for comfort and peace;
And the chains that confine you so tightly
Are to them a sweet balm of release.
I know the discouraging trials,
The frustrating pathways you take.
I too, walked the road of a Shepherd.
But would you stay bound for their sake”
My station was high and exalted,
But I suffered infinite loss.
Instead of the glories of Heaven,
My life here was chained to a cross.
But there’s glory ahead for the faithful.
My glory with them I would share.
And a golden reward you may cast at My feet
When you’ve lost every heartache and care.”
“Chained to my desk,” said the Pastor,
But gone every trace of a frown,
For the chains had taken a golden hue—
“Chained to my desk—by a CROWN!”
THE CRUCIFIXION
Have you ever wondered about all that was involved in Christ’s death on the cross?
There was an unfathomable depth to his death which was not true of the other two who were crucified that day.
Scripture says that Jesus, who had no sin at all in His life, was made to be sin for us so that we might be made righteous. (II Cor. 5:21) It was as if He became an adulterer, murderer, a thief, covetous—the list of sins goes on and on—and every one of them, from the garden of Eden to the end of time, were heaped upon Him as He hung there.
The agony of the tearing of His flesh from the weight of His body pulling against the nails in His hands and feet was as nothing compared to the agony of the tearing of His soul as He carried the weight of our sins that day. He had never before been separated from His Father; but God had to desert Him in that hour, for a holy God cannot look upon sin. It called forth a soul-cry from Jesus, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”
When He was in the garden of Gethsemane earlier, it is no wonder He cried out in prayer to God with loud cries and tears asking that if it were possible, He might be delivered from having to go through this. He knew His relationship with His beloved Father would be severed in that hour, and it seemed more than He could bear. Nevertheless He submitted Himself to God’s will and purpose for it all.
Well what does that event which happened over 1900 years ago have to do with us in this twenty-first century?
The punishment which we deserve because of the sin in our lives has been fully met because Jesus bore those sins upon Himself when He died that day. Finished! But how do we appropriate that freedom from sin for ourselves? What are the requirements?
Let’s say you are given a gift. You admire the wrapping; you say the bow is so beautifully tied; since it looks so lovely you just put it on your closet shelf so you can aesthetically enjoy looking at it, and ignore the expensive gift that was waiting to be revealed if you opened the box. You don’t make that gift yours.
Perhaps we know all the teaching about Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and we agree with the facts, but have never owned them for ourselves. We store that “box” on the shelf and miss the treasure inside. Instead we need to thank Him for all He’s done, confess that we are sorry for our sin, and invite Him into our life, asking Him to help us live in a way that will bring Him joy .
The treasure inside is forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Heaven, given as a gift when Jesus took your sins upon Himself and paid the penalty for them so you won’t have to.
Is your box still on the shelf unopened?
Thought for the Day
The law of Moses DEMANDED love:
“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. I am the LORD.” Lev. 19:18
The law of Christ IS love:
“…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5
What a blessing to be born this side of the cross!!!!
PLANET OPERATING ROOM
This was written after a hospital stay:
I have just come home from an alien land.
It was quite the strangest of places,
Where the ghosts wore gowns that were crisp and white
and the goblins wore masks on their faces.
And one special goblin, so neatly disguised
Stabbed an ugly spear into my vein.
And the venomous poison that flowed through the tip
Sent a blackness that covered my brain.
More goblins descended with lances and knives,
And fire-laden needles and probes.
I was helpless to fight them or fend for myself
As I lay there encased in white robes.
The language they spoke was an alien tongue.
Their food came in bottles and vials.
But they never partook of the potions they served
To me, with deceptive sweet smiles.
Oh, I’m glad to be home from this alien land
Where the ogres so filled me with dread.
….But somehow I sense a new spring in my step!
Could it be they were friendly instead?
WORSHIP
WORSHIP
As I was praying I began to praise the Lord in worship, but suddenly stopped. I said, “Lord, I’m to praise you for all eternity, and I’ve run out of words in five minutes. How can that ever happen for eternity?”
When God speaks to us it is not in an audible voice, but His message is made so clear in our spirit.
And in my spirit God replied, “When you get to Heaven, I will share something with you about Myself that you have never known before, and you’ll praise Me for that; then I’ll share something else and you’ll praise Me; and I will never run out of things to share with you for all eternity”!!!!!
How unfathomable is our God!
FATHER SON and HOLY SPIRIT
It is a hard concept for our finite minds to comprehend the Trinity–Father, Son and Holy Spirit. How can “they” be “one” when there are three?
Then consider our own human make-up: We are created in the image of God, so we are a ‘trinity” of body, soul and spirit. Does that make us three different people? Of course not. Each of these components has very specific characteristics. Our body is the visible element; our soul is full of our personality; our spirit is the part that responds to our Father. But we are one person.
If I give someone an egg and ask them how many eggs I gave them, they will say, “One”. But that egg has three distinct parts—shell, egg white and yolk. Does that make it three eggs? No. Each component of that egg has its own particular characteristic either in its function in the nutrition chain or the purpose it serves in the life of the egg.
God’s three parts also have their individual characteristics: God, Loving Father (and so much more); Son–provider of our means of salvation, Bridegroom; Spirit–indwelling of God’s presence, teaching, convicting of sin.
Just as our three characteristics make us one person, so God’s three characteristics make Him one God. And He has created us in His image so that we can be in a loving relationship with Him.
Oh, how He loves us!!!
Even so we see in the Trinity’s three characteristics that each has its own role. They serve with totally different functions and characteristics, but it is all God.
FORGIVENESS
My childhood was pretty unhappy as my Mother was a difficult person to live with. As a little girl I remember sitting on the front steps of our porch, crying my eyes out because I wanted so much to love my Mother, and realized I hated her. At least in my hurting child-mind, that was the word I applied to the situation.
Years later as I was praying, the Lord burdened my heart with the need to forgive anyone who had ever wronged me—and of course the first person who came to mind was Mother. So I began listing everything I could think of that had ever happened, and after each one, told the Lord that I forgave her for that.
Then a sudden thought flashed through my mind, “Yes, I forgive her, but wait till God gets hold of her!” I was totally shocked at such a thought, and quickly asked God’s forgiveness for it; and in reaction to it prayed that God would utterly erase all the hurts I had brought to Him so that those things would never be brought up against her.
Such a sweet peace flooded through me, and I KNEW I had truly forgiven my Mother.
She and Daddy came to live with us for the last year of her life, and as her frail body was wasting away, I was able to care for her, bathing her and ministering to her needs with great love. I often wondered if I had not forgiven her, would I have been able to care for her as I did. It gave me such great joy to try and make her comfortable, and to realize how much I loved her.
And about a week before she passed away, as I brought her a cup of hot chocolate to try and coax sleep into her tired body, she looked up at me and said, “I love you”. That was the first time in all my life that she ever said those words and hearing them was almost my undoing—but what a blessing!
If I had never forgiven, would I ever have heard them?
Oh, forgiveness brings such a reward of joy and peace to one”s heart!
Prayer Journal
Many of you have asked about how I use my prayer journal. Hopefully this video will answer your questions and be an encouragement to you.
MIRACLE OF COMFORT
Several years after my husband passed away, I began to wonder if I should move closer to one of my children so that I would not be so isolated and alone. So I took a six-month hiatus to be with all five of them, spending approximately five weeks with each one. It became quite obvious during that time that God was not giving the green light for a move, so I flew back to Dallas and my home there.
As we were in the descent pattern for landing at DFW airport, I was looking out the window and praying, “God, how am I going to handle this? I’ve been with my precious family for six months, and now I’m coming home to be all alone again. How will I be able to make it?”
And out on the clouds there suddenly appeared a full, round rainbow…a complete circle. And in the center of that circle was the shadow of the plane I was flying in. It was like His promise to me that I was going to be surrounded by His loving presence; and in all the following nine years that I was living there alone, I never once felt lonely or unhappy, but had a life of great contentment and peace.
And then came a day when I heard a word in my spirit, “It’s time to go,” and I puzzled over that. Was it really God giving me a new direction? I told Him I wouldn’t have the first clue how to sell my house, where He wanted me to go, or how to handle any of the multitude of details that a move would entail. Then He gave me a Scripture which made its impact, “Behold I send an angel before you to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place that I have prepared for you.” Then a call came from one of my children saying, “Mom have you ever thought of moving to Denver?” I began yielding to God’s will and He opened doors before me that I didn’t even know were there. When a problem would arise and I didn’t know what to do next, suddenly someone would be there with God’s answer, often without that person even knowing of the problem. God is so creative!!
Finally He had all the pieces in place, furniture and car on the moving van, and I was in the plane headed for Denver. Again I was looking out the window and praying, committing this new situation into God’s hands, and my life to His use in a new location. And out on the clouds there appeared a round rainbow with the shadow of my plane in the center!!! I knew, beyond any doubt, that I was not moving do Denver alone…that I was in God’s will, and that His presence would continue to surround me.
“I will never leave you nor forsake you” is His promise. What a good Father!!!!
Mom's Musings 