joy – True Vine Living

“Highly Favored”

Read Time 5 Minutes

This past week, I had the privilege of speaking at our Ladies Christmas Fellowship. As I began to prepare, I wanted to choose a topic that would include an aspect of the true Christmas story. God brought the idea of blessings to my mind. I began to dig into the study of blessings. I gravitated to the definition for blessing that means God’s favor and protection. This led me to a special Bible passage and as I began to study it, I developed a deeper understanding of what it means to be “favored” by God. In this writing, I want to share my discovery with you and encourage you this Christmas season. Also, I want to remind you of how special you are to God when you are a Christ-follower because you are “highly favored” by Him!

Christmastime can seem like a magical time of year! For the Christian, that feeling you get comes from the glorious supernatural experience that took place over 2,000 years ago and involves the two young lives that were the first to experience God’s perfect plan. Let’s turn our thoughts to that very special time and the event leading up to the very first Christmas. Mary was about to find out that her life would dramatically change forever as an angel came and spoke precious words to her. Here are those words:

“And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” Luke 1:28-31

Think how Mary must have felt at this lifechanging moment! With the knowledge of God’s favor on her, she could more than handle the awesome responsibility she was given, and do it with joy. Further down in Luke 1, we read, “Mary’s Song of Praise” showing us how she reverently and joyfully praised God for this special gift and His will for her life!

I dug into this beautiful Bible passage and learned that when the angel said “Rejoice, highly favored one,” that the highly favored comes from the Greek word charitoo which translates as “full of grace” , “highly blessed”, and “accepted”. It is the past tense… meaning that the one who is favored has already received the grace (or blessing).

This particular Greek word is used only twice in the Bible. It is used in the passage above for Mary, and it is also used in Ephesians 1:6 to refer to ALL who have asked Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. Mary acknowledged her Savior in Luke 1:47. We, like Mary, are highly blessed by God…not because of our deserving it, but because He has given us His favor through the salvation found only in Jesus Christ. When we ask Jesus to be our savior, we are accepted and full of His grace. It is a turning point in our lives because we realize how loved we are and who we are in Jesus! While all Christians experience and share this same favor from God as His children, His blessings don’t end with this amazing spiritual blessing. We also receive many other collective spiritual blessings just by being Christ-followers.

Our God is a generous and personal God too! Beyond the spiritual blessings that we receive, He also pours out individual blessings on us. Mary, being highly favored or accepted by God, was then chosen by Him to bear His son, Jesus. Perhaps, He chose her because of her humble, devoted, and tender heart towards Him making her the one to be part of His perfect plan. When we are Christ followers, He delights to use us in special ways. We may not have been chosen to the same amazing assignment as Mary, but as accepted children of God, He uses us in very special ways as well to carry out His will. For example, in Luke 1:13, an angel told Zechariah that Elizabeth would bear a son because his prayer had been heard. God delights to bless us based on His plans for us and our prayers to Him.

There are a few closing points that I want to make based on the truths I have have shared from the scripture above. The first is that no matter what you may be going through this Christmas season, if you are a Christian, you can cling to this truth that you are highly favored by God meaning full of His grace and blessed. Hopefully things are well with you, but we know it is not always so for everyone during Christmastime. No matter what is going on in your life, you have this spiritual blessing that never changes and a multitude of other spiritual blessings to go with it!

The second point is that in addition to this, you are unique and special to God…you are not just a number to Him. He has designed special blessings for you based on His will for your life and based on your prayers to Him.

Finally, if you do not feel that you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, right now is the perfect time to choose Him, the greatest gift you can receive. Just believe that He alone can save you from your sins because He died for the forgiveness of sins. Ask Him to come live in your heart and be your Lord and Savior. Then you too can be accepted and full of His saving grace!

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

This Christmas, as you think about how favored you are by God, look expectantly for the special ways He blesses your life. Then realize that He also uses you in unique and special ways to be a blessing to others. Mary was chosen by Him to bear His Son who is the greatest blessing to all generations. When you meditate on who you are in Christ, you’ll be in a purposeful position to be used by Him to be a blessing to others this season…maybe even someone who is struggling to realize who they are in Christ or who they can be in Christ.

May your Christmas and New Year be very blessed!

Not Just a Number

I’m not just a number, for God has counted the hairs on my head. (Luke 12:7)

I am not invisible, for God is a seeing God and He knows my heart. (Genesis 16:13 and Samuel 16:7)

I am not misunderstood, for God understands my thoughts from afar. (Psalm 139:2)

I am not insignificant, for I am engraved on the palms of His hands. (Isaiah 49:16)

I am not ignored, for He hears my every prayer. (1 John 5:14)

I am not an accident, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

My hurts are known, for He counts my sorrows and holds my tears in His bottle. (Psalm 56:8)

I am not alone, for God is with me always. (Matthew 28:20)

I am unique and special to God, for He saw me before He formed me. (Psalm 139:16)

I am greatly loved, for He calls me His child. (1 John 3:1)

I am intimately known, for He calls me by name. (John 10:3)

I never have to fear, for God is with me and will uphold me with His righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

I have a bright future, because He has perfect plans for me. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I will live forever with Him in paradise, because He is preparing a place for me. (John 14:2)

I am “the apple of His eye”, and He will always love me and protect me. (Psalm 17:8)

I am not just a number to God!

The Sales Rep

Read Time 4 Minutes

Last night, I gave a presentation for our Ladies Bible Study group to kick-off our next study on “The Armor of God”. Part of my presentation was a bit of roleplaying as I became a sales rep for the Kingdom of God. I thought I would go ahead and put my “sales pitch” in my blog in hopes that even if you are not a part of this Bible study, you might want to read Ephesians 6:10-18 and ponder the meaning of this scripture as suggested in my presentation.

We all face battles in our personal lives that can include difficulties physically, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. As Christians, we have the additional battle of standing up for our beliefs in a country that seems to be moving closer and closer to a post-Christian nation!

The question to ask ourselves is…how can we remain VICTORIOUS over our personal struggles and over the tumultuous often anti-Christian times that we are living in as we face each new day?

The answer, of course, is found as we look to and cling to God. As we look to Him and study His word, we learn that He gives us everything we need for the battle before us. He gives us His armor!

Here is my “sales pitch” to ponder as I roleplayed last night:

“Instead of thinking of me as Robin, think of me as a representative for the Kingdom of God, and what I am selling today, is the Full Armor of God! Now, I’m not just wanting to sell you a piece of armor, or partial armor…no, I want to convince you to buy the whole suit of armor. One or two pieces of armor, while they may help you some, will not make you VICTORIOUS in the battle ahead. Further, it is not good enough to have the armor at your fingertips. In order to be effective, you absolutely MUST put on the armor.

Of course, I’m sure the big question on everyone’s mind is, “How much is this armor going to cost?” The good news is just as salvation was free to you paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ, as a Christian, God makes this armor completely free to you too! You just have to choose to take it!

There is a little catch though…while it is free for the taking when Jesus is your Savior, there is a big cost to PUT the FULL armor on!! But, I believe that I can convince you that this cost is well worth it! You see the armor is not meant to be separate pieces because when you put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD, you are actually putting on JESUS!

Romans 13:14 tells us…But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Other verses in the Bible tell us that Jesus is the TRUTH, is RIGHTEOUSNESS, is PEACE, is our FAITH, SALVATION, and THE WORD! These are the pieces that make up the full armor!

If you truly want to put on Jesus the way He means for you to, then it will COST you your LIFE! Matthew 16: 24-25 tells us, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.’”

I am convinced that if you will put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD no matter the cost, you will have a peace that surpasses comprehension and you will be battle ready. You will be VICTORIOUS!”

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32

God is ALL for us! Are you ready to be ALL IN for Him?

As you read Ephesians 6:10-18 below, think about being not just a Christian who is saved for eternity, but being a Christian who is an ALL-IN, SOLDOUT, not just sometimes follower of Christ!

As you read the scripture, take note of how many times the word “ALL” is used including the word “whole”. Let the impact of that word compel you to truly put on the FULL ARMOR OF GOD today and everyday! Let this scripture have a refreshed meaning and revive you today to live an “ALL IN” life for Christ!

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6: 10-18

May you be VICTORIOUS today and everyday!

Never at Home

What does the phrase “Home Sweet Home” evoke for you? Is it your childhood home that your parents still live in? Is it your present home? Is it just being in the presence of a certain family gathering? Maybe a town? Is it wherever you are as long as you are with your spouse or children? Maybe it is simply a meal that reminds you of your home or a loved one.

For me, it is hard to pinpoint a certain “home sweet home” because I have been through so many changes in life and even in and out of families throughout my childhood and into adulthood. I do feel a sense of home in the great state of Texas. Also, Estes Park, CO is a special place that gives a sense of “home sweet home” when I am there. My grandparents lived in Estes, and I have spent much time there in my life. My grandparents are no longer with us, but I always felt at home when I was with them, and now Estes Park feels that way for me.

I have to admit, however, that I truly never feel completely at home. In this world we’re living in today with so many family issues and divorce, and with much turmoil in our country and world, I am probably not alone in this feeling.

While some people may be blessed to have a more continual feeling of “home sweet home”, many of us just grasp moments or periods of it throughout our lives. I am pretty sure that all of us, even those that have a more consistent “home sweet home” situation, struggle with changes and issues at times that leave us feeling uncomfortable and discontented. For example, while your home may seem like an escape from the world, a little oasis of coziness, a place to be yourself and relax…sometimes that can even change with life stresses or quarrels. Also, comfortable friendships can come and go. Sometimes you might feel like you are jockeying for position in a group of “friends” to be noticed or liked. A good friend may move or go down another path. Another way our sense of home gets rocked is by moving to a new town, state, or job. These changes always keep us adjusting and trying to get comfortable again…trying to feel at home. Most of the time, there never seems to be a time of a perfect “at home” feeling. People go on vacations to try to get a temporary slice of perfection, but only to return again to the realities of daily life even in their “home sweet home”.

When we walk with God, we have access to everything we need to be content in this world. But contentment does not mean comfortable and contentment does not mean “home sweet home”. So the questions that I ponder in this article are “Why is walking with God never really comfortable if He is peace, joy, and love?” and “Why do I never feel quite at home no matter where I live and even though I have a wonderful husband to share life with?” And finally, “How can I adjust my expectations of comfort and peace to live in a world where I never feel quite at home as I begin the year 2024?”

As I ponder these questions, I remember that there is a very good explanation for this lack of complete comfortableness, a sense of never being quite at home. The reason is, this place on earth, even the place you think you are mostly at home is not really meant to be your home. While God loves to bless and delight us in various ways, being uncomfortable is also part of His plan for us in this life. It is part of His plan to grow us, shape us, and draw us closer to Him. It is part of His plan to focus us on our true home…our forever future home, Heaven.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” Philippians 3:20

Jesus, himself, who willingly left His perfect home in Heaven and came to our messed up sinful world, knows exactly what it feels like to be uncomfortable and not at home. He was born in a stable, not in a home. He was a sojourner while living in our world literally experiencing every kind of uncomfortable circumstance and every level of loneliness. He was homeless, he was misunderstood, he was mistreated, he was hungry at times, he was tortured, he was rejected, and he was murdered!

“And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” Matthew 8:20

Jesus can identify with us, and He has real compassion for what we are going through! But because he loves us so, He knows that we must experience some level of this uncomfortableness to achieve His greater purpose for each of us.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

You don’t have to have lived many years and grown in wisdom through life experiences to understand the concept of not being completely at home in this life on earth or to have the understanding of being a sojourner looking forward to your forever future home in Heaven. Kim Jones at age 23 understood this concept very well…

“We’re basically a bunch of backpackers. We are all just travelers. We are all just on a journey, and we’re heading for our Home.” – Kim Jones, July 1999

“Kim was only 23 years old when she went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 15, 1999, as a result of the shooting at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A. ” – www.thelightstillshines.org

As we begin this new year, we, like Kim can embrace this reality for as long as God gives us breath. We can look forward with hopefulness for a good year of health and prosperity with an adjustment in our expectations as to what that means. Expect to be delighted by the good things God gives you and allows in your life, but also expect to be uncomfortable at times. Remember that being uncomfortable does not have to equal discontentment because this is not our forever home.

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:11-13

When you feel that uncomfortableness and you don’t feel at home, count it a part of your joy in living for Him knowing He is working all things for your good!

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

May your 2024 be filled with God’s abundant blessings in everything He allows in your life! Happy New Year!

Good Tidings

“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2: 10-14

“Good tidings of great JOY”…the JOY of the birth of Jesus! The JOY that is ours because He was born in Bethlehem that night long ago! Isn’t this what Christmas is all about? The JOY set before us… Comfort and JOY…JOY to the world! For the Christian, this is the theme of Christmas, JOY because of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I hope this Christmas season (2023) finds you feeling the great JOY there is to be felt at this celebratory time of year. However, you might be one of many who are struggling to grasp that joy and even feel guilty that you are not feeling it! You might be experiencing a present hardship or tragedy, or maybe you are still unreconciled from past hurts. Maybe you are feeling depressed or just overwhelmed with life and can’t seem to feel the joy right now that this season reminds of us.

So, what can I offer in the way of encouragement that hasn’t already been talked about and written about concerning JOY? In this blog post, I hope to encourage you by sharing my own “Aha moments” through my life journey in discovering how to experience JOY in each and every circumstance. If you are on a mountain high right now and don’t need reminders of how to experience joy, then maybe you can store up new thoughts for the future when indeed you may find yourself struggling once again. If you need help right now, then I hope my thoughts might lift you up today.

It is almost a given that anyone reading this article has experienced hardships and hurts in their lives. I have too…some in early childhood and others as an adult. It was during a very tragic event in my life 16 years ago that I truly learned what it means to experience both sorrow and joy at the same time. Without going into much detail, I experienced the ultimate rejection a woman can experience (which ended my 19-year marriage)! It was then that I learned what it meant to not just say, “I have faith in God”…I learned how to actually cling to that faith, hold God’s hand, and actually live out my faith. I experienced great sorrow at what was a sudden and unexpected change in my life. All I could do was cry out to God for strength, comfort, wisdom, and love. When all I could do was count on Him, I learned the secret of JOY…simply discovering Him in His fullness! I learned that I can exist in a victorious state right along with the pain. When you realize that you are truly in a relationship that can NEVER disappoint because God keeps His promises and never changes His love for you, then you can find the greatest JOY available!

Now, you might think that after that experience, I would never have to struggle again to understand JOY, but sometimes I slide backwards. When I do, God gives me more big moments to remember again just how good He is!

While I have not experienced in recent years another tragedy on the level of the one I just shared about, I have experienced some other difficult circumstances. One of those times when God taught me something new was during the uncertainty and unsettled feelings that the Covid Pandemic brought on. In a blog post during that time a few years ago, I wrote about another discovery of joy. To understand this discovery, think about your heart (the emotional part of your heart) being like a bucket. You can pile it with all kinds of objects. You can fill it with unpleasantries, you can fill it with things that seem good but don’t really help you, or you can fill it with delightful things that lead to joy. Think of this bucket as your “joy bucket”. With that in mind, read the following excerpt from my post in 2020…

“I find it a daily struggle to stay positive and grab hold of all the peace and joy available to me through God in the midst of so many negative issues in our country. A couple of nights ago, God made it clear to me why I have been struggling with this matter of joy. I have the head knowledge and the experiential knowledge of joy, and I have been praying to feel God’s peace and joy during these tough times; however, I was forgetting a very important action on my part. I was forgetting to actually REJOICE! When I choose to rejoice, then the “joy bucket” in me begins to be filled up. Because each day seems to be filled with so much negativism in the media and in the conversations of so many, the negatives have been the focus and what I have been piling in my bucket. The negatives we are all facing were the big things in my mind that were depleting my “joy bucket”. I needed to adjust my thoughts by beginning with the action of rejoicing.

I am now consciously taking action each day. I am choosing to REJOICE in who I am in God. Just the simple fact that I am His puts me in an overriding victorious circumstance at all times no matter what is going on in this world. I am His, a child of the one true King. My life will always be abundant because He is always good to me. He promises to get me through anything I face in my life. I am secure in eternity because of my salvation through Jesus Christ. Because He lives, I can face each day with confidence. With this kind of security, why would I not choose to rejoice every day! I hope that you too can choose with full confidence and peace to REJOICE in knowing God, His goodness, and His Son, Jesus! Join me in filling our “joy buckets” with all the fullness of His goodness today!”

Our Christmas story is the perfect reminder of Rejoicing! You can find the Biblical evidence of how Mary rejoiced (Luke 1:47), the angels rejoiced (Luke 2: 10-14, the Shepherds rejoiced (Luke 2:20) , and the Wise Men rejoiced (Matthew 2:10) in very difficult circumstances.

If you are not sure how to have this ultimate JOY, you can choose to open the greatest gift right now and experience the true JOY of Christmas this year! JESUS is the everlasting Gift! He came as a baby so that He could die on the cross for our sins. You just have to ask Him into your heart and make Him your King by admitting that you are a sinner and there is nothing you can do to save yourself. Acknowledge that Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for your sin and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior this Christmas! Then you too can experience real JOY no matter your circumstances!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

May this Christmas find you RECJOICING no matter what because of the glorious gift of JESUS!

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12

The Greatest Provision

“And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.” Isaiah 58:11

It’s been a little over 7 months since I have written a blog post. There are several reasons for this gap in writing, one being that God blessed me with a thriving personal training business over the last couple of years as our country slowly made its way back to “normal” from the Covid Pandemic.

Another factor is that my husband, Michael, and I were seeking God for His will in making a move back to Texas. Over the three plus years that we had been serving in Washington, it began to stir on our hearts to be back in a region of the US where we could be closer to our three adult children and other family members. There was also the fact that Michael was working two jobs, and he had a desire to have one full-time job in ministry again.

As most Christians know well, when you begin seeking God’s will and praying for change, it pretty much never happens when and how you think it might…and that is a GOOD THING! While it’s not always easy, it takes patience and full trust in God for His perfect provision! When you wait and you trust and you don’t act on your own out of impatience, then the result is flawless because you are right where God wants you to be! And right where God wants you to be does not mean without difficulties and challenges. That’s part of the joy of being in His will…you get to be lifted up in His strength, supplied with His peace, and see His faithfulness in all circumstances!

When studying the Bible, we learn immediately that God is the perfect provider as He created the perfect environment for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve failed in their trust of God, just as we all do at times since that very first disobedience. A few chapters over from the Creation story, we learn again that we CAN and SHOULD trust God as our provider in Genesis 22:14:

“And Abraham named that place The Lord Will Provide, so today it is said: “It will be provided on the Lord’s mountain.”

It is in this dramatic story about Abraham and Isaac that we learn God’s name – YHWH Yireh translated Jehovah-Jireh meaning “The-LORD-Will-Provide”.

One of the blessings of living a number of years on this earth is that you get to see God display His faithfulness over and over again to where you begin to never doubt that HE WILL provide. Too bad we spend so much time worrying! Oh, if only it didn’t take so long for us to realize that God does not think and act like we do! His time table is not ours. He does not have responsive actions to circumstances because He already has His perfect plans laid out! Praise God! We just have to trust!

When the waiting and wondering gets hard; however, it helps me to remember some of the big moments in life when God provided for me in dramatic ways during dramatic trials!

One of those times in my life was when I had a major life threatening medical emergency. I sustained a major injury that began as a bruise to my right kidney much like some football players get during games. In my injury, a vein in my bruise ruptured and created major internal bleeding! Two weeks, two different hospitals, two operations, and two units of a blood transfusion later, I began a long road of recovery to gaining my strength back. When I think back to that time, it is the joy of God’s provisions that trump all other thoughts!

I remember a moment in the first hospital when I was so weak that I told God that I couldn’t even think to pray. His gently voice told me in the quiet of my heart, “It’s okay, Robin. There are so many praying for you right now. Just sleep.” I felt the prayers of many then, and I slept. I remember all the nurses and doctors and how much they truly cared for me and were so kind to me. I knew God provided all those special people to help me. And then, I remember when I was told that I would need a blood transfusion, family and friends were willing to get tested to see if they could give me blood. I ended up receiving a unit from my mother and a unit from my sister. When the transfusion was over, I truly felt revived and like I finally had life in me again!

When the waiting and wondering gets hard, it helps me to remember that God’s provisions have nothing to do with material things (although He does bless some of us in that way). I have had the privilege to visit Haiti, the western hemisphere’s poorest country, twice on short mission trips. The biggest thing I brought back with me from those trips was that Christian Haitians have something that the vast majority of American Christians do not. They wear carefree joyous smiles on their faces because rather than being concerned about what they don’t have, they soak up the best thing that God provides them…Himself!

When the waiting and wondering gets hard, and I am trying to grasp and understand my present circumstances, it helps me to remember how God has promised the provision of my future and forever home with Him! It helps me to remember that my citizenship is in Heaven (Philippians 3:20-21). This life is a journey to grow and know Him better, to bear His fruits, and to be a light to others, with the promise that one day there will be no more sorrow and only forever joy (Revelation 21:4-7)! Praise God!

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…” Hebrews 12:28

Recently, as I said above, Michael and I were seeking God’s will and His provision for our next steps in life. It is a blessing to be a part of how He has rolled out His plan for us over this past year! He provided on His time table in His perfection! We are now living in Floresville, Texas in full-time ministry, and within driving distance of many friends and family! Are there challenges? Yes, but we are excited to see how God provides all of our needs and how He blesses us, our children, our church family, and our community beyond all the we can imagine!

“Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

As we begin December, this time of the year is a reminder that THE GREATEST PROVISON of all is JESUS, God’s Son, who came in the form of a baby to be Immanuel, God with us! To be our Savior! To be our reason for all we do!

May your CHRISTmas be blessed with the abundance of His provisions for your life!

Hold Your Horses

Read Time 5 Minutes

“Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

Oh to wait…it’s one of the hardest things to do! I think it is often so hard because we think in our minds that we know just what we need and just what the answer should be in any particular moment or time period. We think we know because it is based on our extreme focus on our own emotion. We forget that our judgement might be clouded by emotion. We also do not have the bigger picture…we might think we do, but we only have what is visible right in front of our eyes. As a Christian, we can remember that we are blessed beyond measure to know the One who always has the big picture and who will always do what is the absolute best for us if we can just “hold our horses” and wait for Him!

There is mystery in the waiting when we rely on God. Mystery can be exciting! We don’t know how our events will unfold or when or what the end result will be, but when we are trusting Him, we can be confident that it is just that…mystery and not uncertainty. What you can be certain of is that God will reveal himself to you in special ways, He will bless you along the way, He will give you strength to endure, and He will grow you in ways that you do not anticipate. How He accomplishes this for each one of us is as unique to our lives as we are each perfectly and individually created by Him. Therefore, we can begin to find joy in the mystery of waiting and trusting God with our path and the outcome of our situation.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

While in a waiting period, there is much we can do to enhance our our lives and shift our focus from our uncomfortable situation to healthy productivity. Here are some suggestions:

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Let God know your heart and your petition. (Philippians 4: 6-7) Let your prayer life grow and blossom as you also read His word and listen for His voice.
Read God’s promises, memorize His promises, and trust in His promises.
Get creative and use the gifts and talents that you have been blessed with to make a difference in your time of waiting.
Be active and exercise. I’m not saying this simply because I am a personal trainer. It is true that exercise is healthy not just for your body, but for your mind and emotions too!

When I am getting weary and frustrated in the waiting, I sometimes think about some brave men who had to endure one of the toughest periods of waiting. These men were POWs during the Vietnam war. Read the following excerpts from a lecture given by Navy Captain Gerald Coffee (who lived in a 3 X 6.5 foot cell for 7 years), and see how even in the most extreme of circumstances there is much one can do to stay strong, have peace, and be victorious in perseverance:

“I prayed a lot,” Coffee said. “At first I expected God to do everything for me, but when I realized that this would be my life for a while, the nature of my prayers started to change. Instead of praying, ‘Why me?’ I started to pray, ‘How can I change?’”

“I used to walk miles inside my cell, just shuffling back and forth,” Coffee said. “I also used my bed for both push-ups and sit ups. It was important for me to continue exercising because I didn’t know when I was going to be released.”

“You would think that with nothing to do, your mind would become unused, but the opposite happened.” Coffee said. “The other prisoners and I found anything and everything to talk about. We picked each other’s brains for all our information, which included memorizing and composing poems.”

“There was this one guy who was chained to his bed and had his arms locked behind him,” he said. “Every night the other prisoners and I would tap on his walls ‘G B,’ which mainly meant ‘God bless,’ but also meant, ‘I’m praying for you. Hold on in there. We are with you.”

“All those years, the Vietnamese tried to rape our spirits and our faith, but they couldn’t do it,” he said. “I was never really alone in that cell. Not with Him by my side.”

Sometimes we have no choice but to wait. At other times, we may have the ability to make a decision to change our course. In those cases we must be careful not to act on impulse or out of frustration or another emotion. We must seek God and be willing to wait as He leads.

So remember, whatever you’re waiting circumstances are, when the waiting gets hard…hold your horses and wait patiently until the waiting time is lifted. Take action in the waiting by exercising your mind using the creative talents that God has blessed you with. Exercise your body physically which also helps your mental and emotional state. And pray, pray, pray! Trust God! Praise God in the waiting! Develop a closer walk with Him! Anticipate the growth and the blessings you will experience through the waiting and then when the waiting is over in His perfect timing!

“…but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Keep it Simple

“You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trialsso that the genuineness of your faith—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

Read Time 3 Minutes

How is your pain level today on a scale of 1 to 10?

Physical? (headaches, muscle aches, arthritis, disease, and disorders)

Mental? (work stress, financial stress, daily frustrations)

Emotional? (heartaches, relationships, rejection, confusion)

Most likely, you would answer these questions with your specific situation in mind whether it be physical, mental, or emotional distress…or all three!

What if you could place a stamp over each of your painful circumstances with the word…Joy Joy Joy?

There is an actual “Secret to Life”, and the Apostle Paul knew it well! He spent his later life; however, NOT trying to keep the secret. Instead, he spent his time proclaiming the secret of life, and more importantly by experientially living it…even to death!

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Here in this verse is the simple secret…the forever focus…Live for Christ!

Another example from Paul’s life that demonstrated his “forever focus” is found in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

If discouragement is clouding my mind and my pain level is rising, it can become tempting, even easy, to quickly get my mind off the forever focus…Christ! Yet, it is He that provides all the strength and even all the joy I need to live victoriously in whatever situation I find myself. It is He that provides the peace and contentment no matter what!

In these moments of struggling with circumstances that sometimes begin to overwhelm, I am learning to keep it simple. I can quickly redirect my mind by simply remembering the focus…Live for Christ! I can ask myself a simple question…What can I do for Him right now? Something about asking this question immediately makes the self-pity, self-absorption thinking take a 180 degree turn!

When asking, “What can I do for Christ right now?”, the answer can be as simple as described in Matthew 22: 37-39…

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

I can simply began praising God and rejoicing in my forever future with Him. I can think to myself, is there someone I can show love to…maybe a text or a phone call of encouragement. Loving God and loving others can certainly begin to cover the pain with joy!

Pain does not always go away, but when we live for Christ, we can conquer it with His strength, power, and love. Keeping it that simple and keeping the “forever focus” is a game changer!

The “Secret to Life” is available to all who want it, but not all will partake. It is free to everyone, but it will cost you everything! It will cost you yourself! You give up self and you live for Christ! Something amazing happens when you do this…you replace your selfishness, your self-pity, your worries and fears with the life-giving Life of Jesus Christ! Then, you can do all things through Him who strengthens you! (Philippians 4:13)

When you feel it is hard to let go of your pain, worries, and problems…just remember what Christ gave for each one of us. He gave Himself by dying on the cross for each of us. When you ask Jesus into your heart; then, your life truly begins! You don’t have to carry the burdens anymore!

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” John 3:16-17

Why is it so hard for even Christ followers to keep it simple and live life the way that Paul did? We get bogged down in our pain, losses, and confusion. When the the circumstances seem hard to bear, step back and remember to keep it simple. Live for Christ! Follow Paul’s example…

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8

And remember to…

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Lauren Had a Little Lamb

“Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

Read Time 4 Minutes

Some years ago my daughter, Lauren, raised lambs for FFA. During her high school years, she raised 4 lambs…one each year. Not only was the experience new and maturing for Lauren, it was for me as well!

There is something very special about lambs! They are very Biblical, and represent the great depth and meaning of our relationship with Jesus in various ways. Watching Lauren’s relationship with each lamb develop and culminate each year became a beautiful real life illustration to me of some very special Biblical truths. It didn’t take long to realize the importance of the shepherd to the lamb…in this case, the shepherdess.

The photograph above came to my attention recently and inspired this blog post. The lamb’s name in the picture is Tova which is the Hebrew name meaning “The Lord is Good”. I want to use the photographs I’ve shared of Lauren and her “little” lamb (120 lbs) to illustrate a few truths about lambs and their shepherd. Most importantly, I want to illustrate the beauty of our relationship with Jesus, our very own Good Shepherd!

First, unlike any other animal, sheep depend on their shepherd for every single thing! A dog or a cat or most other animals can fend for themselves and protect themselves to some degree when left in the wild. Sheep can do nothing apart from their shepherd! During Lauren’s high school experience, it quickly became evident that each lamb at the barn knew their shepherdess and grew extremely attached! Lauren fed, watered, bathed, comforted, supplied medical care, sheared, weighed, corrected behaviors, and exercised her lamb. One year, her lamb, Maverick, wanted to butt himself against the bars until he bloodied his head. Lauren stayed much longer with him and provided her body to be the barrier between him and the bars until he trusted her and changed his behavior. She provided everything for her lamb, and her lamb would bleat passionately for her as she would walk towards it’s pen. Her lamb would follow her wherever she would go in the barnyard!

In Psalm 23: 1-3, the Bible lets us know that Jesus is our Good Shepherd:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.”

In John 15:5, Jesus makes it clear that apart from Him, we can do nothing!

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.”

Lauren’s relationship with her lamb certainly demonstrated what it can be like when we let Jesus be our Shepherd. We will lack for nothing!

The second thing that the picture above illustrates for me is that when we are abiding in Jesus, we can run with Him and leap with Him and experience great joy with Him…even through the dark and difficult times, we can experience delight in Him! Look at the joy in both Lauren and Tova’s faces as they leap together over the ropes! This can be us with Jesus when we follow Him!

“I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” John 15:11

The next picture illustrates another depth of our relationship with Jesus. There are times when we face difficult circumstances and even with the joy in our hearts, we can experience sad emotions. Sometimes, we just want comfort and rest and to be held by Jesus. He is there for us then too! This picture of Lauren and Tova was taken on auction day. It was a stressful time for sheep. However, you can see that Tova was resting in perfect peace when Lauren was holding her. Tova DID make auction, and her future was certain slaughter, but still…she rested in Lauren’s loving arms.

“In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
*Psalm 4:8*

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Finally, Lauren’s shepherdess days reminded me of the most amazing thing in the Bible…Jesus switches roles. While still being the Good Shepherd for us; ultimately, He becomes The Lamb. He willingly goes to The Cross allowing Himself to be slaughtered for us…for our sins!

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Let us run, leap, and experience the joy of the Perfect Lamb! Let us rest in His arms when comfort is needed! Let us remember that without Him, we are nothing!

‘Tis the Season…a reflection

*Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.* ~
*1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18*

Read Time 2 Minutes

This time of year is filled with many emotions. Warmth, gladness, gratitude, excitement, sentimentalities, sadness from loss or what might be missing, and often life reflections. As I listened to people talk this Thanksgiving about what they are thankful for, I noticed that many people expressed their gratefulness in relation to the last 2 years. I heard, “The last two years have been tough…” expressed more than once. The pandemic seems to have left no one untouched, whether they have had the virus or not, by difficulties due to domino effects that have occurred. What made my heart glad though, was hearing the 2nd part to the statement above, “however, God has blessed me”.

I have my own story from the last two years…a story of challenges during this pandemic. Like many others, this historic time period has often led to a feeling of anxiety due to the uncertain times. Not only did I move across country far from my familiar surroundings 2 years ago, but the stress of a big move and the start of the pandemic certainly aided in emotional distress at times. Beginning a business as a personal trainer was very difficult as well with shut downs that particularly effected restaurants and gyms. There are a variety of circumstances I could continue to share that have provided a challenging past 2 years for myself, but like I heard other people express, I too can say, “however, God has blessed me.”

One of my blessings is being able to move into a new home after a year and a half of apartment living. The way God allowed this progress forward in a time when so much was at a standstill has been amazing! More blessings include having family finally make the trek to the PNW to visit us this past summer, a loving husband to share these times with, the beauty of Washington state that surrounds me, overall good health, and new friends and adventures.

However, the biggest blessing that stands out to me is that God never leaves me alone. Now while it is true that I am never alone because He is always with me, that is not what I’m talking about when I refer to Him not leaving me alone. What I mean is, no matter what hardships I have already been through in my life and overcome through clinging to my faith in Christ, He still does not stop challenging me to overcome more difficulties and grow deeper in my faith walk. So, I give thanks that He delights in me so much that He keeps on shaping me like pottery on the wheel. He is continuing a good work that He started in me. I am thankful for the trials God has allowed in my life these past 2 years because He has been and still is using them to grow me closer and closer to Him. I am thankful that when I ask God, “Why are you allowing this?”, that He gives me reminders of His perfect goodness and also pours out tender mercies and blessings through troubled waters.

As I now look towards Christmas, and think about the the perfect gift of Jesus in this imperfect world, I am thankful for something else too! Due to the past 2 years and all the uncertainty that it has held, I feel a heightened since of peace in the one thing that is always certain…Immanuel. God is always with me, He never changes, He is always good, He never breaks a promise, He will never leave me, and I will be with Him forever one day! Halleluiah!

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. ~ Hebrews 13:8

See, the virgin will become pregnant
and give birth to a son,
and they will name Him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us. ~ Matthew 1:23

May your Christmas be merry and may your new year be filled with many blessings from above!