EverGreen

” And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8: 28 NIV)

In the valleys where it’s touch and go

In the moments down in deep despair

In the tumult of our circumstances

That leads us to his throne of prayer

In the mountain tops of miracles

In the friendships that are formed right here

In the working of his purpose for us

It’s all good for those who love him dear.

This past Saturday evening, July 7th, 2012, I was returning home from a birthday party/Saturday Nite-Sunday School class that my daughter, Rachel and I had attended. In the eastern sky we both saw a huge mushroom-like cloud. We both thought the cloud,  similar to the one pictured here, resembled a colossal toadstool mushroom.

I thought about the parallel fo the reality of a mushroom. It is classified as a fungus. Mushrooms will mature and shoot out numerous spores that may turn into little mushrooms.  The number of spores in a mushroom  varies in relation to the type of mushroom considered.  Some mushrooms send out millions of spores!

We are living in the last days,  and it is crucial that we obey the  Great Commission  Jesus gave that is written in the Holy Scriptures. (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

If each  Christian actually were to go out and do just as Jesus commissioned us,  the number of us would be as numerous as the spores of a mushroom.

Let’s get ready for his coming and obey Jesus as he instructed in the scripture reference above.

I apologize to those of you who have been following my blog. There have been missing posts because of severe computer trouble. I hope to have the problem solved soon and without too much expense. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

I am reminded of a verse from the Bible when I look at photos like this of my daughter during her therapeutic horse-back riding session taken at Here’s Hope Horse Farm. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

I am amazed!  The Lord has brought her back from a near-death automobile accident to riding a horse almost to the level she was able to before her severe brain injury 12 years ago! In fact, Rachel remarked after riding this past week, “I feel normal again!” The possibility that she might have either died or been a vegetable after doctors performed a last-ditch effort surgery, has not hindered the Lord’s plans for her. God is great!

Mother’s day is  this Sunday May 13th, 2012. For those of you who can still cherish your mother with a visit or call, what a blessing. I hope you and your mother have a special Mother’s Day. 

For those of you whose mother has passed from this world, may your fond memories comfort you in her absence. It is also a blessing to know you will see your mother again when reunited in heaven.

We can thank Jesus for the hope of being reunited. It was his sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world that made it possible for all who have believed and received him,  to be included in the resurrection.

The picture of my mother’s magnolia was taken the year after she died. She would have loved to see the spectacular show of blooms. A close-up reveals how delicate  its flower is. Many associate the magnolia as a symbol of gentleness, nobility, strength, beauty and dignity.

I think my mother’s character  reflected these virtues as well. She was an amazing woman to raise 9 children. She was comforter, teacher, nurse, mediator, encourager, chauffeur, domestic engineer, and the many other roles she  fulfilled in her lifetime.

Thank you Lord, for blessing me with a wonderful mother.

There are some people who have spiritual, moral and character greatness. They are faithful to God in church attendance, they pay their tithe and give offerings above that, they serve in ministry, and volunteer for various noble causes.

But do you know many people who are willing to rise  before their sleep is finished just to pray?

This was the challenge Rachel Kuhn gave our congregation last night when talking about missions.

A Pastor in South America would thank God for the 30 people who were in the congregation, annually. The second year, someone died, so there were 29 people in the congregation. The next year, a baby was born so there were again 30 people. He asked God , why isn’t the church growing? God told him to pray. Ask other people of the congregation to pray. At 4:00 AM  every day!

So he did and a few people of the congregation also prayed at 4 AM.

Then the Lord began to do extreme things. The congregation grew in an amazing way, year after year.  A few decades later, there are  15, 000 people attending the many services scattered throughout the day and evening.

I like hearing stories  of God moving through lives because someone had a burning desire to do his will.. Stories that encourage others to seek fervently the face of God. Anyone want to join me ? Agreeing in prayer everyday at 4 AM  for the growth of the Christian church, for the revival we so desperately need in America, for our loved ones and neighbors to live in the abundance of Christ or to come to Christ.

Howard Russell was kind enough to take a picture of the candles that adorned the altar this past Sunday. Go Light the World. We are called to do just that.

” It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”(Lamentaions 3:22-23 KJV)

I am thankful for the Lord’s new mercies every morning, especially this morning.

I drove out of my driveway and stopped at the stop sign on our street before getting ready to turn; I was transporting  my daughter to her day program, Solid Rock.

I looked both ways and then looked left again. The traffic was clear. But, the sign on the left corner, “Calvary Bible Holiness Church”, blocked part of my view and I decided to pull up a little to have a complete look. I did not have to do that, I was in the proper place just behind the stop sign, however, I felt I needed to. 

I am thankful for God’s faithfulness and that his mercies are new every morning, and his mercies were apparent to me especially this morning.

I slowly pulled forward a ways, then, a motorcycle went by. It must have been a Honda or Yamaha, it was quiet. I didn’t hear it coming, nor did I see the motorcyle before I pulled forward to get a better look.

Whew! I know it was God who kept us safe as well as the man on the motorcycle.

As a thought about his mercies and began to write this blog, I wondered if there were any incidences in my life spiritually, that requires a closer look,  some extra caution to avoid a crash of conflict.

I thought about the tendencies that I have in regards to sensitivities to being the hurt by others and how I collide with the turmoil until I work it out in prayer and can get back on track in my walk with Christ.

I would be consumed by them, if not for his compassion

So help me, God, to be careful in both the physical and spiritual realms.

Do you have a praise for the Lord today about his new mercies to you?

No,  the unexpected Easter blessing wasn’t a hidden egg  that remained undiscovered after the Easter egg hunt was over.

It wasn’t the flowers bursting forth in a vibrant array of colors that I didn’t remember planting.

Of course,  Easter is the time when Jesus rose from the grave defeating death and giving victory to us all over sin and death.  Yes, it is a very special blessing to know this truth and be filled with the very Presence of God, but it is expected each year as we celebrate the Resurrection.

The Unexpected Easter Blessing was discovered when following up with a specialist after I  accidentally injured my eye over the weekend.  On the Saturday before the Resurrection Celebration,  I was dying my hair. I reached up over my head to apply the loaded paintbrush of color,  and the excess was flung into my right eye.

I rinsed my eye right under the faucet 3 different times, but it looked like I caused some damage to the lower lid, tear duct and  the inner corner of the cornea. The tissue was distorted. I called  the emergency care center for advice and headed there for treatment pronto.  While on my way, I asked my daughter to send  out a couple of quick texts for immediate prayer. I also called a friend that I often partner with in prayer. (Thank God for prayer warriors in the body of Christ that uphold you in prayer.)

An hour later, the doctor said he didn’t see anything wrong with the eye,  but looked at it under a black light after applying stain. I think that “treatment” helped the least. I was sent home with some eye flush and soothing ointment. The emergency room doctor’s instructions were to follow-up with my eye doctor as soon as possible.

In the Easter service the next day, the injured eye became more painful, so I removed one pair of dark sunglasses and donned a lighter pair. The pain continued, so I tried leaving that pair off and I discovered I didn’t have pain in that eye any longer. I continued the rest of the day without them and went to the ophthalmologist appointment on Monday afternoon. After the assistant examined me, she said my vision improved since 2009 in my right eye…the eye that I assaulted with dye!

The unexpected Easter blessing of healing and improved vision occurred during the church service! Jesus still heals miraculously. He is alive! Alleluia!

Do you have a special Easter blessing that could be shared? Leave a comment at the end of this post. May God continue to give unexpected blessings to us–everyday.

Great Peace!  Some may think this is a statement used in a similar way as, “Land Sake!”  I’ve never heard anyone say, “Great Peace!”  But God has said it and it is a true statement.

God’s Word is full of wonderful truths and he wants to reveal his truths to us,  if we would only spend time to look for them and allow his power to touch our lives.

Palm Sunday afternoon was one of those occasions. I must tell you I was feeling somewhat down, yet I couldn’t put my finger on why. I journaled a few lines about it and then added,  “I’ll just count my blessings”.  

I then felt compelled to open my Bible and read. I read a chapter from Isaiah, a chapter from Ezekiel, after which I flipped back through the pages of  the Prophets and over to Psalms 119.

If any of you read the Psalms, you know how long this particular chapter is. The page I was on was the latter part of 119. After a few verses, I came to verse 165. The heading over this section was “Sin and Shin”. I thought, “Maybe there is something here I might find to write about on the subject of peace.”  God is so good. He put it upon my heart to look for peace in his Word and I found it!

“Great Peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalms 119:165 NIV)

And you know what else? I noticed I wasn’t feeling down. I was feeling lifted up and full of joy. 

I not only had joy and peace, but later that evening,  I told others about what God had done for me. More joy was added! 

 I also found another truth in a song that the congregation sang in the evening service.  In the second verse of  Dwelling in Beulah Land, it says:

“Far  below the storm of doubt upon the world is beating;

Sons of men in battle long the enemy withstand.

Safe am I within the castle of God’s Word retreating;

Nothing then can reach me ’tis Beulah Land.”

I was safe as I retreated in the “Castle of God’s Word”.  I had found “Great Peace!”

Do you have “Great Peace”? In your quiet moments, what kind of thoughts are racing through your mind? Is there resentment or anger or maybe you carry a burden of too much work, too many responsibilities,  or too much stress? Why not open your Bible, breathe a prayer for help and retreat to God’s Castle. There you will find the Great Peace you need.