Are You the One or the Nine?

Today, a daily devotional from Greg Lane's book, My Morning Walks With God, moved my heart. His story was about the ten lepers Jesus healed, and only one returned to say thank You. The word God put in his heart seven years ago ministered to my heart today. That's what God's Word does; time has no constraints on how His Spirit moves. Praise God!

As I read the article, the Holy Spirit reminded me of my prayer for traveling protection only days earlier. God was gracious and kept us safe (and others safe from us) on our way to and from our destination. But hours later, I repented for not remembering to thank Him earlier. Tears filled my eyes as I continued reading. That was not the first or only time that I neglected to let God know how grateful I am that He hears my requests and responds. I asked Him to forgive me for those times I had forgotten.

Have you ever experienced a similar situation after praying to God? Perhaps, like me, you've seen Him send a refreshing shower to water your plants, sparing you to stand for an hour with a hose. Or maybe He's helped you find misplaced keys or cell phones or even performed a miraculous healing or rescue of a loved one you've prayed for. In these moments, our heavenly Father longs for us to acknowledge Him. Even amid adversity, when we cry out to Him, He desires to hear from us that we love and trust Him and are grateful for His faithful, unwavering care regardless of the need's magnitude.

God lavishly pours His goodness, mercy, and grace on us. Let us strive to be like the healed leper, not the ungrateful nine. Our gratitude blesses God's heart; He longs to hear you, and I say, "Thank You, Father, for Your abundant blessings. I love You."

"In everything, give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Another Milestone, Fond Memories, More Spiritual Markers

I want to tell you about yesterday's celebration because it led to my devotional for today. I'll warn you now: It's lengthy, but please bear with me and read it through.

ANOTHER MILESTONE, FOND MEMORIES, MORE SPIRITUAL MARKERS

My husband and I had the privilege and honor of attending the Centennial Celebration of our hometown church, established in 1924. The handful of people who began the work named it the First Baptist Church of Basile because it was the first and only Baptist church in the small community. It still is.

My husband began attending the church nine months before his birth and continued until after we were married and moved away for college. His family has deep roots in the early beginning of God's work in Basile, which continues today. As a "home-grown" preacher of God's Word from the church, he was asked to deliver the second of the service's three messages on what we, as God's people, are to do today to continue carrying on the Lord's work. The main point of his sermon was for us to read, study, and memorize God's Word, let it sink deep into our hearts, and then faithfully teach our children and their children to do the same.

The morning was filled with fond memories of being back, where we had special moments, and our lives together had their beginning. As a teenager, my husband wasn't certain he was saved, so he met with the new pastor in his office and invited Jesus into his heart. As I looked at the third row of pews from the front, I fondly recalled sitting in the middle of the pew with a friend when God spoke to my heart, calling me to a ministry that would not unfold for sixteen years, one that I would not realize until another six years passed.

 In this little church, the pastor who led my husband to the Lord married us, later ordained my husband as a deacon, and much later ordained him to preach the Gospel. These are fond memories and milestones—spiritual markers.

The day's celebration brought joy to reconnect with some of the eighty and ninety-year-old remaining members, who were young adults when we were teenagers, and the young children then, who are now grandparents. We have sweet memories and know that we will one day see those who have gone home to the Lord again.

The guest speaker who had the first message for the church was my husband's preacher friend from the "old days." His sermon challenged us to remember those who sacrificed as they laid the foundation of the Lord's Gospel that started at First Baptist Church in Basile and faithfully do our part in carrying on the work wherever we are today. He and my husband had served as a revival team many times, the friend preaching and my husband leading the music. One of those revivals was around the mid-eighties at the first church my husband had pastored. The pastor/friend and his wife stayed with us at our house for the week.

The four of us sat for breakfast on the bench seats of the table in the kitchen's little breakfast nook one morning, discussing ministry. Sitting across from me, my sister-in-the-Lord spoke with passion and enthusiasm about the women's Bible class she taught, and it sparked my interest in pursuing that avenue for our church. But the more I thought of it later, the less qualified I felt; I didn't know the Bible well enough.

By the week after the revival services, I had prayed about the matter and concluded that if God had placed that desire in my heart to start the class, He would help me teach it. But before I left for the office that morning to talk with my husband/pastor to get his thoughts on the matter, my best friend called me, all bubbly, announcing that he had given her the "go-ahead" to start a women's Bible study class. Bummer!

Have you heard the expression, If you snooze, you lose? Well, I did, and I lost.

I had wasted so much time contemplating my desire for the new class yet lacking the qualifications, depending on my ability, rather than trusting God to equip me that the opportunity slipped past me. But God used that experience to position me for an amazing journey in my Christian walk. When asked if I would like to teach the women's Bible study class at the next church my husband pastored, I didn't hesitate. I knew what God wanted and responded with a no-doubt definite yes! My journey of teaching women God's Word lasted over thirty years. Then, God changed my teaching venue from a classroom to a laptop. I accepted the challenging opportunity and have taught through writing devotionals for five years, still depending on God's guidance and wisdom, not my ability.

Although I had snoozed and lost God's invitation to start a ladies' class decades earlier, God had His way and worked in my friend's life. My BF had a hunger for God's Word, delved into it, and became a phenomenal Bible scholar, teacher of God's Word, and daily devotional writer. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" Romans 8:28. God works all things together for HIS good, the good of others and ours.

Now for today's thought:

"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs 15:23

Another special moment of the memorable day made my heart overflow with joy: The Lord allowed me to see His Spirit light up the eyes of my dear sister-in-the-Lord when I told her how God used her decades earlier to spark an interest in me to start a women's Bible study class.

I wish I could paint a word picture depicting her perplexing yet glowing expression —the "Are you sure?" look and the sigh of thankful relief I saw on her face. I told her the rest of the story, how my friend received the blessing of that first ladies' class because I snoozed, yet God was gracious and gave me a second opportunity to trust Him about teaching. 

My sister didn't respond with Thank the Lord but asked if I remembered the name of the church her husband had pastored at the time. When I confirmed it was the one she thought it was, she told me she was in a dark place during that time. She never dreamed God had spoken to me through her or that He possibly even could have, given her condition at the time. It was as though my testimony stripped away layers of Satan's lies he had taunted her with. 

God's truths can break our greatest enemy's strongholds; the words of our testimonies of God's works are powerful enough to break the chains that can bind us. God works in mysterious ways, far higher and greater than our finite minds can imagine.

Here are some thoughts I leave you from the story and Scripture:

My sister's testimony about the class she taught greatly inspired me. She motivated me to seek God on a matter I had felt ill-equipped about for decades. Even though she felt she was in a dark place then, God's Spirit in her broke through the darkness, shined through, and ministered to me. God's work is not about us or where we are in our spiritual journey but all about Him.

The word I spoke to her in due season yesterday—my testimony of how God used her to catapult me into teaching an adult class—even though years later, it was good for her soul at the right time. I saw evidence of it all over her face and demeanor. God's timing is always right. His work is not about us but all about Him.

Let us never underestimate God's power and what He can and desires to do through us, no matter His timing or how we "feel."

May we never overestimate our abilities, thinking we can do anything but by God's grace. God's work is not about us but all about Him.

God bless you richly. 

When the Wind Blows

        Yesterday morning, the weather station posted a twenty-four-hour wind advisory warning for our area. They were correct that 20–35 mph wind gusts could be expected. On this warm Spring day, I enjoyed the breeze as I made our daily trail run through our wooded property in the golf cart with our dog, Scout, running alongside me. This is his favorite pastime daily; he often reminds us when it's time to run. Running the trails with Scout is also one of my husband's and my favorite times because it greatly pleases our little companion. But today took on a somber note as we entered the first trail.
        Although cardinals feed on our feeders near our house, earlier this week, I saw a male cardinal in the woods for the first time since we've lived here. Today, I was surprised to see a male and a female as we entered the woods' first trail. But immediately, I knew something was amiss because they were frantically circling and dipping towards the ground. Then I spotted her. One of their babies had fallen from the nest, and they desperately wanted to pick it up but were helpless. That's when Scout spotted the little one. Another of his favorite pastimes is playing with baby birds and rabbits that he finds. His problem is that he plays too hard and for too long.
        The wind gusts were not as welcoming as before when I realized the havoc they wreaked on nesting birds. I know that the death of God's innocent little creatures is part of nature's circle of life, but it still saddens my heart every time I witness it happening.
        I wrote an article several years ago about a baby bird that fell from its nest in a high hedge under our kitchen window. I wondered if distraction or carelessness as it walked the edge of the nest caused it to fall. I erroneously didn't consider that an unsuspected outside force like a gust of wind could have caused it to fall. But whatever the reason was, its mother and father frantically circled their little peeping fledgling, chirping loudly as if trying to console and rescue their fallen baby but could not. They were helpless, and sadly, the baby bird rejected my help. Each time I tried putting it back into the nest, his fear of me repeatedly caused it to fall out.
        Sometimes, the unforeseen happens, and people desperately need rescue but look to the wrong source, not the truth they need to hear. Some don't turn to God because they don't know Him or His loving care or may know Him but don't feel worthy of asking for help because they have wandered too far from where they should be. Others are unaware of their condition or don't think they need help, struggling through life in their fallen state.
        Then there are some people, like the baby bird possibly blown from its nest, who, through unforeseen circumstances, are thrust into unfair, dangerous, or even life-threatening situations. But nature's circle of life, unfairness, and things we don't understand will continue to happen to good people until time on this planet ends and God creates a new heaven and Earth.
        The apostle Peter wrote, "Nevertheless, we, according to His [God's] promise, look for new heavens and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness." 2 Peter 3:13. He also said that the Lord's longsuffering is salvation (v. 15). One day, heaven and Earth will be perfect again; righteousness will reign as it did at the beginning of creation. Until that day, God loves and wants to save all mankind, but sinners must repent and yield to His authority. 
        The winds of life will blow, and sometimes, the breeze they bring is unwelcome and challenging. But we can turn to our heavenly Father for help with our concerns and struggles; He wants you and me safely where we should be—with Him.