Category Archives: Fellowship with God

Personally His

Posted on by

 As humans we tend to be groupies.  Everything is more acceptable in a group.  Conformity is part of the human condition.  Our thoughts begin to change when we come to the realization that we are personally acceptable and accountable to God.  We worship in groups but often find it difficult to worship alone.  We pray in groups but may experience some anxiety when asked to be the leading voice.  We believe that Jesus died for us as a group of sinners but find it difficult to believe that we sin personally.  I believe if I were the only person on earth Jesus would have still died for just me.

When we read John 3:16-17 we group ourselves as part of the world (and we are).  Look at John 3:18.  The ‘voice’ changes and becomes more personal, saying  ‘whoever…’  At this point it becomes a very personal choice.  Either I believe and reap the blessings of personal belief or I deny and am condemned.

David, a man after God’s own heart, had more than a bit to say in his writings about a personal relationship with God. Look at Psalm 40:1-3. 

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry.     David had it figured out.  He knew the Lord personally and with that knew He would answer.   Verses 2 and 3 tell us what God did for him.  The end of verse 3 gives us reason to rejoice.  David knew he wasn’t the only one but many more individual believers would see that God insures our safety personally.  The Message says this so well.  More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.

Oh, how He loves you and me!

Heavenly Father, give us the desire and courage to abandon ourselves personally to You.  Help us know and understand Your personal love for each of us.  Let us go and tell others they can have the same thing.  Send Your blessing on us.  I lift this prayer in the Precious Name of Jesus.  Make it so!

Keep Your Lamps Burning

Posted on by

Mother Theresa once said, “To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it.”  The same applies to life.  Unless we continue to learn, to grow, to excel, to know, we will stagnate and become just an empty lamp waiting …

There are several Bible verses that refer to lamps.  Proverbs 31:18b tells us ‘her lamp does not go out at night’.  This is not a reference to the night-light we use to get us to the bathroom in the middle of the night because our bladders are shot from childbirth or our bodies are aging.  The night lights of ancient times were kept lit so a weary traveler would know a welcoming home.  The use of lamps in this verse suggests we are not only to be hospitable but ready to be hospitable.

Psalm 18:28 tells us we do not keep our own lamps burning.  God does.  That is a truly interesting statement.  When we have reached some maturity in our life walk with Jesus, we start to learn that our lives are all about Him.  He is not only the Light of the World but the individual Light of our lives.  As we grow, more wicks are added to our lamps making us a brighter and brighter light.  (Ancient people added more wicks to their lamps to create a brighter glow.)

The Parable of the Ten Virgins is another well-known lamp story (Matthew 25:1-13).  The point of this parable is obedience.  The virgins who were not prepared, had to go and get more oil.  When they returned they could not enter the feast because the doors to the banquet were closed. (I really doubt anyone could have heard them knocking with the celebration that was going on.) Had they followed the instructions to keep their lamps trimmed and full they would have been attending the feast of a lifetime.  So will we, if we continue filling our minds with His Words and Ways.

Heavenly Father, how humbled I am when I realize You are the One filling the lamps.  Oh Lord, fill mine to overflowing with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.  Let my lamp continue burning brightly until I am finally admitted to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  In His perfect Name make it so.

WAVES OF THANKS

Posted on by

Giving thanks for what God is, has, and will do for us should be as natural as breathing.  Yet, we often have to be reminded to do just that.  In every book I’ve read on prayer the author makes a point of suggesting thanksgiving be part of every prayer.  That includes the Bible.  Such verses as Colossians 2:6-7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18 remind us to give thanks for everything.

In our worship service this week we did a ‘Wave of Thanks’.  Wave offerings are mentioned in Ex. 29:23.  Although not the same concept as an arena ‘wave’, we were still giving thanks for what He had done and given us and ‘waved’ them with our words before the altar.  The usual thanks were given like family, new babies, new homes, Jesus and salvation (in no way usual), friends, the church, and more.  We have faced cancer in some of its ugliest forms and God has intervened with His healing touch. One offering of thanks stands out – – The Miracle of Life.  We have had life threatening Traumatic Brain Injuries, one resulting in a coma, and both men not only survived but are living life to the fullest. 

On this special day, set aside to give thanks, let’s not forget to give thanks for life. 

Let all things now living a song of thanksgiving  To God the Creator triumphantly raise, Who fashioned and made us, protected and stayed us, Who guideth us on to the end of our days.  *

Ah, Lord God, Creator of Life, you have not only caused us to live and breathe but have also given us the choice of eternal life.  Thank YOU!  Give us all the desire  and courage to live our lives to the fullest, totally for You.  Don’t let us forget the greatest LIFE of all.  Thank YOU for Jesus in whose name I lift this prayer.  Make it so!

*(Katherine K. Davis set these words to the melody Ash Grove in the early 1900’s.)

MIRACLES AND MERCIES

Posted on by

It hardly seems like a year has passed since our Great Miracle, yet it has.  On October 30, 2010 Ray fell over the cat gate causing a Traumatic Brain Injury w/ Subdural Hematoma.  He was taken to Bryan Hospital Emergency who diagnosed the situation, then was life-flighted to University of Toledo Medical Center (formerly MCO), where surgery was performed to remove the blood that had gathered.  After 5+ hours of surgery the surgeon met with me and told me that he was in very critical condition, his brain had shifted right of center, and had only a 50% chance of survival.  He was in a drug induced coma, with feeding tubes and respirator for 20 days.  When he awoke he knew me and others as they came to visit.  (Please realize there was a very real possibility he would know no one.)  As days passed after that more and more of his memory was regained and he was sent to UTMC Boot Camp Therapy.  He learned to walk, talk, think, and go about the business of life.  On day 39 he was released from the Hospital TO COME HOME.  He had several months of rehabilition ahead but he was home.  (The original prognosis had been 6 months in the hospital and a year or more of intensive rehabilitation.)

I can’t even describe how thankful I am for this great miracle.  Everyday, as I sent out emails to let family, friends, and colleagues know what was going on I ended the post with, ‘GOD IS IN CONTROL’.  And He is.  Every part of the care Ray received was exactly what he needed.  From his brain surgeon, Dr. Guidon, to his ICU nurses, to the many other doctors, technicians, etc., who gave his care, were in God’s control.  How do I know this?  I put it there.  I told God I had no idea what decisions to make and needed His help when I was told in the initial diagnosis at Bryan that Ray was in Serious Critical condition and would need to be life flighted.  HE clearly told me HE was in control and would help me in every way.  HE DID. 

There was one other thing that was happening too.  That was the prayers of the Faithful.  Hundreds of old and new friends and family were alerted to the situation in many churches across the country and our Glorious God heard them.  He not only is incredibly merciful in His actions but we have been told of many who now believed that God still does miracles.  We do not always know what His definitive plan is but we do know that we were in His arms every minute of the situation.  I was able to rest in the comfort of His love constantly without fear and with the knowledge that he was there with me, again.  “Oh, How He Loves You and Me!”

Many who love us, more than I ever thought possible, were with us that day and for the many that followed.  They were there because they knew how much I needed their physical comfort.  They were there because the Spirit was saying Ray and Marie need you.  I am so blessed by all of you.  I can’t say thank you enough.

Shortly before Ray told me he had a serious problem, several hours after the fall, I had been dreaming.  I drempt that I was quietly walking, in a soothing garden, with Jesus.  We were not talking, we were just enjoying one another’s company.  I know without doubt that, as I look back on it, He was saying I am here, let Me lead.  Whether one believes in dreams or not the memory of that was enough to get me through and remind me HE IS HERE for us.

God’s Word is true.  When He says in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has a plan for us HE MEANS IT.  When He says in Jeremiah 29:12-13 that He will hear the prayers of His people HE MEANS IT.  When He says He will answer in the same verses HE MEANS IT!

Ah, Lord, God, Creator of all that was, is, and is to come, You are all we need in the overwhelming trouble that surrounds us.  You are more merciful and loving than we deserve.  You hear me and answer me.  You still perform miracles.  You are the One and Only,  Awesome God and Jehovah Jirah (my provider).  Continue Your healing and giving us strength and forgive us when we forget that You are the One in control.  I lift this prayer to the throne in the Precious Name of Jesus.

NINEVAH OR BUST

Posted on by

Jonah  1:1-3  Where or what is your Ninevah?  Where or to what has God called you?  Are you deliberately saying no to God?  Is your allegiance or agenda focused on something or someone else?

Jonah was a true believer.  Until the point of being told to go to Ninevah he had followed God in his life, career, and actions.  But this was just too much.  Jonah was loyally attached to his country and was more than willing to do and say whatever God wanted as long as it related to his own thoughts.   God was saying, look, Jonah, Amos and Hosea are already doing a really good job of getting the job done in Jerusalem, I need you to go to Ninevah and get the job done there.  Of course the rest of the story is really well-known.  But…

What is our story?  What is God calling/telling us to do that we are saying, look God, am I the only one who can do this particular thing right now, find someone else?  Not to sound defeatist, but He does get what He wants.  Will we be one of those who misses the blessings of obedience because the call is more than we can handle?

Look at Proverbs 3:5-6.  When we take the time to honor God and His Word, He directs us in the way we should go.  He does not give us directions to do things He can’t handle, but He wants us to know Him and follow through on what He wants of us. 

Proverbs 35-6

Father in Heaven, Creator of all that was is and is to come, give me an all-consuming desire to know Your Word so well that in any life situation I know the path to take.  I lift this prayer in the precious name of Jesus – make it so.