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"Are we there yet?" by Patsy Clairmont

6/30/2014

 
"If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Thy hand will lead me, and Thy right hand will lay hold of me." (Psalm 139:9-10 NASB)

My thing is arrivals. Departures are fine, but I want to get where I'm going - now. Impatient? Uh-huh. And excited. Slowly I am learning that half the joy of arriving is in the planning and the journey. Yet, for me, the greatest kick in a venture is spotting my destination. Land ho!

When I was a child, I went on vacations with my family, and before my dad could even pull out of the driveway, I was stretched out in the backseat on a makeshift feather bed draped across the floorboard (no seat belts in those days). I buried my head inside a stack of comic books (Little Lulu, Archie, and Huey Duey, and Louie great literary mind I had) until I read myself asleep. I did this so I could shorten the transit and get right to the arrival. My mom would try coaxing me, "Patsy, you're missing everything staying down there. Look at the mountains, trees, lakes, people, and houses." But the only times I surfaced were to smell the gasoline (Is that legal?) as Dad pumped our tank full and to fill my tank with hamburgers, milk shakes, and potato chips (a true connoisseur).

What would I have done if I had been in Moses' caravan? Yikes! Forty years reading Beetle Bailey between the humps of a camel? Nah, it wouldn't have worked. Besided, camels spit. Yuck. they may be the ships of the desert, but let one glob of fluid from their loose lips land on me and I'd be sinking that craft.

If I had left Egypt when I was a kid and didn't arrive in the Promised Land until I was middle-aged, imagine how many times, with my hurry-up personality, I would have said, "Are we there yet?" I'm sure Moses would have relegated me to the back of the sandal parade to bleat with the sheep and therefore miss the first "Land ho!" sighting.

Promised Land - what a handle of hope. Perhaps that is why spotting our destination buoys our spirits. We think each new location may contain all that we've been waiting for, hoping for, and dreaming of - a land flowing with milk and honey.

The Isrealites didn't leave Egypt and instantly arrive in Canaan. In fact, the Lord sent them the scenic route. Scenic? Oh, I know it was the barren wilderness, but think of what they saw and heard along the way - the parting of the Red Sea, manna falling like rain, rock-gushing streams, victories against troubling factions, fire by night, the thunderous voice of God, and so on. They witnessed the miraculous. Who would have wanted to miss that?

Actually, even with all my attempts to arrive speedily, it has been the things I've seen, heard, and experienced along my life journey that have been faith producing. Why, it was in the wilderness years, when I was an agoraphobic, that I witnessed the Lord's deliverance up close and personal. During those years I was aware of his hand parting my fears, of his nurturing provision for my shriveled soul, of his refreshment for my parched existence, of his direction for my wayward feet, and of his voice counseling my confused heart. It was quite literally miraculous, and as long and as hard as those years were, I would not have wanted to miss what I experienced of God.

~ Jehovah God, how gracious of you to follow us down into the valley, up onto the precipice, through raging rivers, and across the desert floor. How divinely comforting to know that we cannot wander outside of your jurisdiction, that we cannot experience need beyond your ability to provide, and that you, a holy God, are on speaking terms with us. Help us not to be so focused on our plans that we miss your way or so distracted that we are unaware of the miraculous. Thank you for the promise that one blessed day we will arrive (Land ho!) in Glory, the forever land of milk and honey, where sin will no longer distort us or sully our view of you. Amen.

A new chapter in life

6/24/2014

 

I spent this past Saturday with a young girl, who is starting a new chapter in her life. I was her nanny when she was little and since then our lives have been intertwined through piano lessons, arts and crafts, Bible Studies and more. It is an exciting time for her to go to college, to start a new part of her life that is even more independent than before. New place to live, new friends to meet, new teachers, new classes and new sport team. Life is changing for her.

But life has new chapters all the time. We are in school, we get new jobs, we get married, become parents, we watch them grow up and then fly out of the nest. Sometimes we are on the mountaintops in life and we must remember: “Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights;” James 1:17

But sometimes we are in the valleys. We can lose our jobs, our homes, we can get sick, we can lose someone we love and we can be lonely. The possibilities and tragedies in life are endless. Jesus said to his disciples after talking about what will happen to Him and to the disciples: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

He told us we will have trouble because we are sinners who live in fallen world with other sinful people and we have a very real enemy who is here to steal, kill and destroy.

“A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.” John 10:10

Each time we are told in God’s Word that there is trouble in this life, we are also encouraged with the fact that Jesus took care of it. He says He has overcame the world. He says He came so that we can have life. No matter what the valley brings in life, He says: Take Heart!  I have overcome this fallen world! I have redeemed it! I have redeemed you! All you have to do is believe in me. Trust that what I said is true: “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 3:17

 “For this is the will of My Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40

 

So wherever you are in life right now, on the mountaintop or in the valley, life will change. It can change as fast as the weather in Florida. The question is, are you aware of Him wherever you are. Are you thankful for all the mountaintop experiences in your life? Are you aware that He loves you so much that He died for you? Is your eternity secured for the eternal life that will be full of mountaintop experiences and no more valleys?

 

If not, you might want to spend some time talking to Him. Jesus said: “I assure you: Anyone who believes has eternal life.” John 6:47

 

Krisztina White

With God, Every Day Is Our “Father’s Day”

6/16/2014

 
Another annual Father’s Day holiday came and went…and I wonder…how was that day spent by you? Was it just another Sunday of usual routine without much thought to the significance of the holiday? Was it a day of joyful celebration with your dad and/or your children’s dad? Was it a day marked with sadness as celebrating such a day was not possible due to loss? Was it a day that offered painful memories of what you had always
hoped for in a relationship with your dad, but hardly received? Regardless of what the day brought, I submit to you that with God, the Heavenly Father, every day can be a day to celebrate “Father’s Day.” 
 
The relationship you have shared or not shared with your earthly dad tends to positively or negatively affect how you respond to your husband and children, to your friends, and even to your Heavenly Father. But what if you did things differently? What if the
relationship that you share with your Heavenly Father was the priority starting point in affecting and influencing all other relationships you have on earth? What would those relationships look like? How would they function? Would they be an example of Christ’s love and grace? Could God display His work within your family and friendships and be glorified?
 
In a dysfunctional world of wounded hearts and broken relationships, we hardly understand how to embrace and trust a Father who is perfect and holy in all His ways. A Father who is always faithful, completely trustworthy, full of unfailing love and compassion, graciously forgiving, forever all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, and
all-sufficient, and entirely sovereign. To comprehend a Father who loves and gives flawlessly and unconditionally, who desires to be in a relationship with you strictly because He created you and you are valuable to Him. 
 
“Yet, O LORD, You are our Father. We are the clay, You are the Potter; we are all the
work of Your hand.”
(Isaiah 64:8)
 
If you cannot fathom a Father such as this, my encouragement to you is to just take some time and spend it with the Heavenly Father. Open up His Word and read what He has written for you to learn about the Father He is and His love for you. Study His truth, consider His promises, take Him at His word, and ultimately believe in His Son, the
Savior, and the Gospel. Discover who the Father is and who you are in Christ. Let the Father’s grace and mercy wash over you and penetrate your heart and soul. 
As that relationship develops and strengthens and you learn to trust the Father and place your faith in His Son, Jesus, I don’t think you will be able to hold on to that love for yourself, but it will naturally overflow into all your other relationships. Through time
each day with the Father, He will remind you of His consistent presence. He will guide you by the power of His Spirit in how to respond with His love and grace to your spouse and children, to your friends, and to your earthly dad. This practice may be difficult and take some time, but we were never meant to carry out our relationships on earth apart from the Father. 
  
Celebrate with thanksgiving God’s love for you and begin each day with the Father…after all, every day is our “Father’s Day.” 
 
“But You, O LORD, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in
love and faithfulness…You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Savior.” 
(Psalm 86:15;
89:26)
 
Tamar Miller

I have these bug bites...

6/9/2014

 
A couple  of weeks ago my family took a walk at Corkscrew Swamp and I came home with bug bites all over my legs. I don’t remember getting bit or even feeling bugs on my
legs but they were there. Before we started our walk my husband read a sign that
cautioned about horseflies and mosquitos. He asked if we should put on some
repellant. I told him no, we would be okay.  

God’s Word is full wisdom and knowledge.  To get that knowledge we have to first read His Word then we need to apply it to our lives. It is the only way to repel Satan’s attack. God is our repellant. 

Proverbs 23:12: “Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.” If
I had listened and applied the knowledge, I could have avoided the discomfort I now have.

Ruby Cripe

Listen with Understanding

6/2/2014

 
Pray that you might faithfully hear the Word and use the Word to glorify God in all
other things that you hear and say.
When listening to man, what you hear depends on how you hear. You should be quick to
listen, but slow to speak and even slower to become angry (James 1:19), for
anger does not bring about the Christian example that God desires. Listen with
understanding.

Be happy with those who are happy, and be sad with those who are sad.
- Romans 12:15
Everything that is hidden will become clear, and every secret thing will be made known. So be careful how you listen. Those who have understanding will be given more. But
those who do not have understanding, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.
 - Luke 8:17-18

And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a good
teacher, and patient. The Lord’s servant must gently teach those who disagree. Then maybe God will let them change their minds so they can accept the truth.

- 2 Timothy 2:24-25

My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not
become angry easily, because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants.
 - James 1:19-20

Beverly Chesnut - a devotional from FaithGateway.com

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