Introspection

7/31/2020

James 1:4 “Let your endurance be a finished product, so that you may be finished and complete, with never a defect.”

What do others see and experience when they are with me? Chambers writes, “Not only must our relationship to God be right, but the external expression of that relationship must be right.” If I am weak in an area of faith, it will surely show. I do not think this means I have to be perfect, for perfection is Christ’s alone. I can share my areas of frailty and weakness with those around me, and speak of God’s grace and mercy in those times. Do I let others know that I am secure in the fact that Jesus loves me, even in my imperfection, and that He loves them too? Does it show that my heart, mind, and soul are focused on Him, no matter the struggle? Do I make it clear that He will help me make it through to the other side?

I have been a Christian for many years, but do I have the endurance of a true disciple of Christ?

Triangle

7/30/2020

John 2:24-25 “Jesus did not commit Himself unto them…for He knew what was in man.”

Do I expect too much out of others, especially those closest to me? Sadly, I believe I do. I would say this applies to my husband the most. I am thankful, however, that I am learning to turn to God in emotional areas, especially those that I once expect my husband to help me manage. He now can be in a support position knowing that I bring everything to my Almighty Father. We strive to have our relationship with God and each other truly resemble an isosceles triangle, where God is the pinnacle above us both, and we are below Him on an even plane. We have been married for a long time, and I can tell you, this is the healthiest way we have found to survive and thrive in this life together. Chambers’ wise words about this subject are: “It works this way—if we love a human being and do not love God, we demand of him every perfection and every rectitude, and when we do not get it  we become cruel and vindictive; we are demanding of a human being that which he cannot give. There is only one Being Who can satisfy the last aching abyss of the human heart, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We will forever let each other down in our human frailty, but Jesus never will in His ultimate perfection.

Clouds

7/29/2020

Revelation 1:7 “Behold, He cometh with clouds.”

 I am thinking of a family today that I love so very dearly. They have experienced so much tragedy around them that is truly heartbreaking. Sometimes it seems a cloud has taken up permanent residence over them, and yet they have experienced such amazing joy in their lives as well. They love, support, and care for each other deeply. Each of them is a wonderful individual, a special human being full of kindness, humor, and great compassion for others. Sadly, yet another cloud has come, and I sit here once again holding them up in prayer. I am asking God to comfort them in their pain and sorrow, for I know it is the most powerful thing I can do.

Then today in MUFHH, Chambers talks about how God is connected with clouds or the trials of life. It seems paradoxical to associate our loving almighty Father with such things, but as Chambers says, “It is by those very clouds that the spirit of God is teaching us to walk by faith.” A terrible way to learn any lesson, but the most profound lessons are hard won. I know in my own life, the darker the clouds that loomed above or within me, the more I relied on God, and the greater my faith became. The bigger my cloud, the more rooted and simpler my faith grew. I learned that a prayer crying out to God is different than one spoken meekly and politely. It is the rawness of prayer, the kind that brings you to your knees, that sheds all pretense and formality, until nothing is left but an honest heart that knows it cannot survive outside of total reliance on God.

I wish I could heal every pain past, present, and future for these wonderful people I love, but only God can do that. All I can do is be there for them and pray. Above me on my wall sits a plaque that I love about prayer. It says…

To Pray

Is to

Laugh

Whistle

Dance on happy feet

Sing

Shout

And jump higher than ever before.

But it is also to

Whisper

Wonder

Stumble in dark places

Cry

Scream

Or just

Hold a tired head in tired hands and wait…

Prayer

Is our tired

Reaching out to the One who

Holds us closer & loves us more

Than we would dare imagine

For my sweet family of five, please know that I am sending you all much love, and holding you all up mightily in prayer.

Dream, Purpose, Success

7/28/2020

Mark 6:45 “And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side.”

Right now in our little family, there is a lot of uncertainty for the future. My husband is looking for his next career step, my son is trying to make his living as an author and entertainer, and I am looking to go back to the office after 5.5 months of working from home. With each one of these endeavors, there comes both dreams of what is to come (in my case, maybe an OCD nightmare), and a sense of achieving purpose. Of course, success is the result of the two. We are all praying, trusting God, and listening for His guidance. All three of us know there are lessons to be learned, not only from our personal uncertainty, but also that of the world at large.

Along with our personal dreams and desires, we are looking for our greater purpose, the path that God has laid out for everyone. However, in the waiting and searching, if we lose sight of God’s ultimate objective for all believers – to spread the truth of the gospel – we will truly never succeed. No matter how much we may accomplish, or how much money we may acquire, at the finish line we will not have ended well.

No matter what looms over us, or how long the race becomes, we must always live for God in every moment He gives to us, not focused on what happened yesterday or what may happen tomorrow, but what is happening right in this very instant. Every day and in all things, God is guiding us in our purpose for Him. Chambers writes: “God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.”

My prayer during this turbulent time is that we not focus on the past or the future, but be content in all things, in every blessed moment we are given. Life is a treasured gift from God.

Understanding

2/27/2020

John 7:17 “If any man will do His will, he shall know if the doctrine…”

How do I gain knowledge? I can certainly read volumes or be taught by scholars, but if there is no comprehension of what is presented, I will gain nothing. If I read the Bible, yet am not a disciple of Jesus, then I will think it contains wonderful precepts but will be disconnected from its real power and truth. The only way to application and understanding comes from yielding and obedience to Jesus. Once you enter into a relationship with Him, the Bible turns from an ancient text into a tome that is God-breathed, timeless, timely, inspired, active, and eternal. The words within become the most important in your life, and enlightenment is gained through the Holy Spirit.

Once this transaction occurs, we become responsible as believers to heed the call even when tested, being devoted to what Jesus would have us do always. Once this knowledge and understanding truly exists in you, there is no turning back. The instructions given become an integral part of your journey; you can never again ignore them and must obey. Chambers writes: “The teaching of Jesus hits us where we live. We cannot stand as humbugs before Him for one second. He educates us down to the scruple.”

This very morning, as my husband and I were sitting out on our porch reading our Bibles together, he commented on how worn his was becoming. I shared with him that mine was the same. It is hard for others to see their condition because we both keep in zipped covers. We then went on to discuss that having a worn Bible means it has gotten a lot of use. I told him that I wanted our son, and his future children, to know that we each cherished the Holy Word of God. I smiled as I thought of future generations connecting with us through our hand written notes or underlined sections that meant so very much to us. It is a beautiful thought indeed. 

I have heard this acronym many times through my years of walking with Jesus about the Bible, and it is a clever reminder about how much we need it as a guide for life.

Basic

Instructions

Before

Leaving

Earth

Condition of the Heart

7/26/2020

Matthew 15:19 “Out of the heart proceeds…”

Once again, I feel the need to share the verse in its entirety. “For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” These powerful words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples after meeting with the Pharisees. He spoke of the condition of the heart and the thoughts that it generates; it is true that thought often turns to action. What I think I say, and what I say I often become.  If I have a judgmental thought about someone, and I speak that aloud it becomes slander. As I read this verse, I may object because I have never felt any of those things in my heart, but if I am truthful with myself, the objection would overruled. I would rather be seen as devoted and innocent of such things. I can certainly hide these thoughts from others, but I can NEVER hide anything from my Lord. Chambers writes: “Either Jesus Christ is the supreme Authority on the human heart, or He is not worth paying any attention to.” We need to take all the words of Jesus and apply them to our lives, even when it is uncomfortable. The sin I do not care to recognize in myself, the Holy Spirit will certainly reveal to me when I am focused on my relationship with Jesus. Chambers also writes: “The only thing that safeguards is the Redemption of Jesus Christ. If I hand myself over to Him, I need never experience the terrible possibilities that are in my heart.” Amazing mercy and grace.

Blessed Be

7/25/2020

Matthew 5:3-10 “Blessed are…”

These verses in Matthew are known as the Beatitudes. They were spoken by Jesus to crowd as part of the Sermon on the Mount. They are 8 blessings that could be considered a cause and effect. You are in a state of being blessed, and therefore you receive more that bears out the result. Through a worldly lens, they can seem counterintuitive. For example, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” We do not celebrate or respect meekness in people; it is looked at as a weak character trait. Yet this verse tells of a different, godlier aspect of meekness. It actually speaks of meekness as not only a blessing, but one with an inheritance. Why, then, does the world see this trait in such a negative light? Synonyms for meek are: humble, modest, unassuming, down-to earth, and unpretentious; it true these traits also do not convey someone powerful, but they all are traits to aspire to. 

The other blessed states are: blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are they who mourn, blessed are those who thirst for righteousness, blessed are the merciful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, and blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Most of these blessed states of being are not the way most people would want to live in our society. So, should we just look upon them as beautiful promises that we can detach ourselves from unless forced into one of those states? Chambers writes: “The Beatitudes seem merely mild and beautiful precepts for all in the stern workaday world in which we live. We soon find, however, that the Beatitudes contain the dynamite of the Holy Ghost. They explode, as it were, when the circumstances of our lives cause them to do so.” They are primarily outside our natural way of thinking. Once we become believers, however, the depth of their truth becomes illuminated by the Holy Spirit and they come alive in us. 

Knowledge and Mercy

7/24/2020

Matthew 5:20 “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

How do I walk this world as a believer, and what do others see in me? If I asked myself this question on a daily basis, I would probably be a better disciple of Jesus. If I have knowledge of the Bible, but I do not apply it in every area of my life (no matter how difficult that may be), then my faith walk could be perceived as hollow in people’s eyes. It is not just about following the words within God’s holy text, but also having a relationship with Jesus and listening to the Holy Spirit about how to apply them. It is through a relationship with God that the words of the Bible become real and active. Chambers writes: “The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he has good motive because he has been made good by the supernatural grace of God.” If God has extended His grace to me, than shouldn’t I extend grace to others?

Contrary to popular belief, life is not about being right. This is the way the Pharisees lived; they were knowledgeable, but they were not humble. Even as they held council with the Savior of the world, their pride would not allow them to truly hear His words. They held a position of worldly status and Jesus did not, and that status was all-important to them. They were blinded by the law they held onto, and refused to speak of grace.

Today, we often use God’s word for heaping judgement on others rather than guiding them to the truth of Salvation. We become legalistic and forget about mercy. We cannot make ourselves or anyone else pure in spirit – only the supernatural grace of God can do that – so why do we feel that we wield so much power? When we know the truth, it is our obligation to share that truth with others, not beat them down with it. Chambers writes: “No man can make himself pure by obeying laws. Jesus Christ does not give us rules and regulations; His teachings are truths that can only be interpreted by the disposition He puts in.”

I am always striving to be a loving, humble, disciple of Jesus, but I know this will only happen through abandonment to Him, for He is the wellspring of life. 

Ready and Willing?

7/23/2020

1 Corinthians 1:30 “Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us…sanctification.”

“Sanctification is, ‘Christ in you.’ It is His wonderful life that is imparted by faith as a sovereign gift of God’s grace. Am I willing for God to make sanctification as real in me as it is in His word?”               

                                                  ~ Oswald Chambers

Oh boy! Here we go again with Chambers shaking me right down to my DNA with his words. In the past few weeks, there have been themes of willingness and sanctification, and now Chambers is putting these two together and asking a powerful question: Am I willing to be sanctified? God will never force faith on me, but once I yield, how far am I willing to go? If I pray to be truly sanctified, am I prepared for what that would actually mean? How would my life be if this was my reality? How would I be living? I often say, “The flesh is willing but the spirit is weak,” to explain my shortcomings or failures. If I was sanctified, however, I would say, “The Spirit within me is willing and POWERFUL, but the flesh is fragile and weak.” My mortal life is but a breath, but my spirit will live forever because of my Savior. Shouldn’t the genuineness of this reality be enough to make me willing to let the Holy Spirit be absolute in me?

Sacred Purpose

7/22/2020

1 Thessalonians 4:3 “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.”

Am I honestly willing to die to all but God? Is my relationship with my Savior the single most important one in my life? Does everyone and everything else come in a distant second or less to Him? I am called to be His alone, sanctified through grace.

According to Merriam-Webster, sanctification means being set apart for a sacred purpose. In the world that knows me, am I so aligned with the truth of Jesus’ love and sacrifice that it is all that others see? Am I “set apart” for His purpose? Do I pray to be sanctified or satisfied?

Chambers writes, “Am I willing to reduce myself simply to ‘me,’ determinedly to strip myself of all my friends think of me, all I think of myself, and to hand that simple naked self over to God? Immediately I am, He will sanctify me wholly, and my life will be free from earnestness in connection with everything but God.” This seems impossible, for I still need to live in the world, but I wonder what would happen if I prayed earnestly to be sanctified. This truly is the ultimate path for a believer. I wonder what would happen if we all willingly placed our feet on this path without a fight. It is so difficult to fathom, and yet…

Philosophy or Truth?

7/21/2020

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit.”

“I must know Jesus Christ as Savior before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of an ideal that leads to despair.” ~ Oswald Chambers

Many people who are not Christians believe that Jesus was a great teacher. These people often agree that what He taught is a guide for the way people should go about their lives: showing love and mercy to others. These things, and all of Jesus’ teachings, are wonderful indeed, but without a personal relationship with the Savior, can they be fully adopted into a life? If you do not believe in the Redemption, and don’t’ have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide and give wisdom, then His teachings just become a philosophy. However, when you yield to the saving grace of the living God, the Bible is no longer just a book of profound teachings and Jewish history. When you believe in the divine nature of all that is contained within, it becomes a dynamic instruction for life; it becomes the very air we breathe. We cannot carry out the teachings of our Lord through our own determination and vision; only the power of God in our lives can achieve that. It is only when we come to Jesus that we can have any hope of the humility we need before our Lord, and that humility of spirit is truly a blessing that allows His word to be sustenance for the soul.

Ever Hopeful

7/20/2020

Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the Lord…shall walk and not faint.”

Right now, with everything that is going on around us both globally and personally, my family has taken this verse sincerely to heart. Here is Isaiah 40:31 in its entirety: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (NIV) Hope in God brings strength, gives us wings to soar, and is also an anchor. Another of my favorite verses is Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.”(NIV)

Chambers talks about how the word “walk” in the Bible is used to convey character rather than the physical action of sauntering from here to there. When we begin to look outside of our walk with God to fill a need, a fear, a thrill, or a sorrow, we will surely fall. Satan is battling for our souls every minute of every day, so we must be vigilant, for he wants us destroyed. However, when we wait upon God and put our hope fully in Him, no matter how difficult the waiting period may be, we will arise in strength. Remember always that He is the Victor! When we feel confused and weary, He understands, and will be tugging at our hearts and minds with the words, “Do you trust me?” Chambers writes, “He will press through them and check, then we must be quiet and wait for the direction of His presence.”

I will wait and hold onto the hope that is found in my God. Even when the storm is raging around me, I will trust and lift my voice in praise to Him.

Hope in Front Of Me - Danny Gokey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KIhYZQ_ovw

Acquiesce

7/19/2020

 John 13:13 “Ye call Me Master and Lord, and ye say well, for so I am.”

God has given us freedom in our relationship with Him. Many reject Him. However, when you yield to Him as Lord and Savior, there is a recognition of His absolute authority over your life. He, of course, has that authority over every life, even those that do not know Him, but it is through a relationship with the living God that you are transformed. When you seek Him out, He will bring other believers into your life to mentor and guide you. Chambers writes: “God educates us by means of people who are a little better than we are, not intellectually but ‘holily,’ until we get under the domination of the Lord Himself, and then the whole attitude of the life is one of obedience to God.” We should never look upon such people as above us for their maturity, but rather as a gift. We should also not lose our focus on Jesus and place it on any other person, no matter how faithful they might be. God wants us engrossed in our relationship with Him, for He will never let us down. We, in our human frailty, are all sinners, but Almighty God is perfect in all of His ways. 

Obedience has become a word related to weakness in our world, but when we live in obedience and adoration of our Lord, life expands into a glorious adventure.  I would not want to live this precious existence any other way.

How Sweet the Sound – Citizens Way

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXMNzaZgMEM

200

7/18/2020

Matthew 14:29-30 “And Peter…walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid.”

The title given to today’s Chamber’s study is Don’t Think Now, Take the Road. This resonates with me because, as I have shared on multiple occasions, I am an over-thinker. When I was called to write this blog, at the end of 2019, I got in my own head about how unqualified I was to even attempt such a thing. How could I achieve a goal of writing a blog every day for a year, and base it on one of the deepest and most challenging daily studies I have encountered in all my years walking with God? I heard the call, but was not focused on how keeping my eyes on Jesus would get me there. It wasn’t until after my son encouraged me, without my telling him about what I was feeling drawn to do, that I felt a confirmation from God. He knows I often need just a little push from someone I trust.

So on January 1, 2020, Blooms of Faith was realized. Today is the 200^th day of my journey, and I am truly humbled that, through keeping my eyes on Jesus, He has gotten me here. He has guided my fingers so much so that some evenings I do not even really know what has poured out of me. I am blessed to have my two guys who read it to give me feedback before publishing. Most nights I ask, “Does it even make sense?” The answer so far has been, “Yes.” What this journey is teaching me is that when you are called to step out in faith, like Peter was, keeping your eyes on Jesus and staying faithful to His vision is the only way not to sink. I certainly would not have made it, and that is a fact.

It is true that the world was a very different place on January 1^st, and I could not possibly have known what 2020 would have in store for both me and all of the human race. It has been a storm of epic proportions in every way, but if we keep our eyes on Jesus, the storm will not overtake us, no matter what happens. Now, more than ever, we need to keep going vertical.

So, if God is calling you to step out of the safety of the boat into the storm, be strong and courageous and keep your eyes on Him alone. Chambers writes, “If you debate for a second when God has spoken, it is all up. Never begin to say—‘Well, I wonder if He did speak?’ Be reckless immediately, fling it all out on Him.”

Next time I hear God’s voice calling me to do something, I pray that this journey reminds me to step out in reckless faithful abandon, for there is no greater blessing.

Note: If today’s verse sounds familiar, it is actually because it was from June 18th. (My boss would call doing this having Covid brain. J) Instead of re-writing this post to match the study today, I am going to step out in faith that this is what God intended. The actual verse for July 18^th is, “And he said, Who art thou Lord?” Chambers writes about being a humble servant of God and obeying Him. He says, “But woe be it to me if when I see Him I say—I will not. He will never insist that I do, but I have begun to sign the death warrant of the Son of God in my soul.” This too is about keeping our eyes focused on Jesus. Clearly, it is the most important thing we can ever do.

Straightforward

7/17/2020

1 Corinthians 2:4 “My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words.”

Do I need to be eloquent when I share the Gospel with others? Since I didn’t attend Bible college, does that recuse me from sharing God’s word with others? Paul realized that his use of articulate and impressive words to reach the hearts and minds of his listeners could have obscured the straightforwardness of the message. Chambers writes: “Belief in Jesus is a miracle produced only by the efficacy of Redemption, not by impressive speech, not by wooing and winning, but by the sheer unaided power of God.” I do not need any special talent or gift; all I need is a willing heart and a desire to have others know the saving grace of Jesus. God has already given me the words to say, I just need to make certain that my walk does not conflict with His word. I must never live a life “of do as I say not as I do.”

I believe God made the way to salvation easily understood, even though it is the most profoundly unimaginable and loving action every undertaken. It is not through impressive speech or eloquent preaching that people come to Jesus; it is through a divine working in a person’s soul. Jesus knocks on the door of every heart, but not all will answer. I am undeserving of such a pure love as my Savior has for me, but I am more grateful than any word could every express.

Perfect Trust

7/16/2020

Matthew 7:11 “How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?

I am counting on these words now more than ever. So many things in life have turned upside-down in the past several months, and for our family the past week. We certainly find ourselves praying A LOT. We know that our Heavenly Father is listening and wants what is best for us. When doors close or a road ends, God always has a new ones for us to walk through or travel down. Often times we cannot even conceive of the blessings He has in store for us. I know that has been true in my life.

Chambers offers this: “Jesus is laying down rules of conduct for those who have His Spirit. By the simple argument of these verses He urges us to keep our minds filled with the notion of God’s control behind everything, which means that the disciples must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and seek.”

For those of you who, like our family, are experiencing weariness or struggle, hold onto the truth of God’s control, and pray for His answers. Journeying through this life having a relationship with God, and knowing He is always there, is certainly better than trying to survive this life alone.

Indebted

7/15/2020

Romans 1:14 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians.”

The power of the first few lines today’s study hit me hard. Chambers writes, “Paul was overwhelmed with the sense of his indebtedness to Jesus Christ, and he spent himself to express it. The great inspiration in Paul’s life was his view of Jesus Christ as his spiritual creditor. Do I feel that sense of indebtedness to Christ in regard to every unsaved soul?” BAM! Right down deep in my soul. I was forced to look at who or what I am indebted to. If it is anyone or anything other than Jesus, then I have lost my way. I will admit, I oftentimes feel spent because of a physical job I have done, lack of sleep, or because I am worried or fearful (that last one is huge for me)...but am I spent through giving myself totally to the one who gave His life for me? Do I feel the depth of that indebtedness every day, and therefore pour myself out for others in the name of Jesus?

There have been several occasions when God led me into someone’s pain or suffering, to be there for them with support and love. These instances take my time, prayers, and often tears, and are definitely wearying, but I have never thought about those times as being spent for Jesus. I have thought of them as times of humble blessings, but never about an intentional grateful obligation. If I did, wouldn’t I want to give all of myself every day? Wouldn’t I share the truth of the Gospel with others and love out loud without reservation?

I know I often struggle with the “how” of doing this while living everyday life, but if I, like Paul, approached indebtedness with intentionality, it would become a critical part of my journey with Jesus. What would happen if I was focused on how to be spent for Jesus, instead of spending myself on auxiliary things? Why is it easier for me to follow the ways of a fallen and selfish world than to follow the way of my Savior?

I am, as always, a work in progress.  

Witness

7/14/2020

Matthew 5:39 “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”

My husband, Randy, and I have read My Utmost for His Highest and prayed together before he heads off to work almost every day for the past two years. (This is actually our third time through!) It is amazing how God has used this daily study, published by Oswald Chamber’s wife eighty-five years ago, to help us hear exactly what we need for our day. Often the message is for both of us, and sometimes it is just for him or me, but something always resonates.

Today’s devotion was definitely a powerful example. The verse is the famous, “turn the other cheek” message. It is, of course, a test of how we will act when someone wrongs us. Will we act according to God’s command as a witness of His word and power in our lives, or will we act out in anger and retaliation? Chambers writes, “These verses reveal the humiliation of being a Christian. Naturally, if a man does not hit back, it is because he is a coward; but spiritually if a man does not hit back, it is a manifestation of the Son of God in him.”

These words were particularly powerful this morning, because my husband has been having a very difficult time at work with someone in a new position. This person is full of anger, pride, and bombast, and he is a challenging person to communicate with. Over the past several months, Randy has felt a darkness settle over his place of employment. We have been praying of course, but it is 2020, and Satan is doing his best to destroy God’s people. So this morning, after getting information out of him that was needed, my dear Randy was let go. The reason they gave was “company restructuring”, but he knows the real reason; Satan did not want a strong man of God in a powerful position. You see, like me, Randy had a job at his company, but he worked for God. He never hid his faith, and would pray with or support anyone he could. His desk was surrounded by verses, the full armor of God statue sat on it as well as a Bible; and he always strived to have his speech and actions honor God. I am sure the evil one could not have this, and so erased Randy’s faithful service with one fell swoop.

So, did Randy retaliate or get mad? No, indeed he did not, for he had just been reminded how His heavenly Father would have him react in just such a circumstance. In strength, not weakness, he turned the other cheek and left the building with dignity, his years of witness intact. Chambers puts it this way: “To the saint personal insult becomes the occasion of revealing the incredible sweetness of the Lord Jesus.”

This evening, instead of being overwhelmed and afraid of what is to become of us, we both have the peace that transcends all understanding. It is as if the darkness has lifted, and Randy is now able to walk into the light and breathe once again. We both are secure that God has our family in the palm of His hands. Amazing Grace.

For all who are struggling with anything during this unusual time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB4eC55dh-U

Praise You in the Storm – Casting Crowns

I See

7/13/2020

Isaiah 6:1 “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord.”

It is miraculous that God loves me, a sinner.  He sent His Son to atone for me, and Jesus did so willingly. Amazing grace. When I allow myself to really try to comprehend such a divine and powerful act, I can never hold back the floodgate of tears that come. Not only am I forgiven, but God has invited me to have a relationship with Him. This is true for everyone. It doesn’t matter who I am, where I come from, what I look like, how much money I have, or how much power I have; these things only matter to other people. He doesn’t even turn me away when I lose sight of our relationship, but instead welcomes me back with open arms. When I lose my way, I will always be the one sheep who has wandered off that He searches for.

I am blessed, for I can also say, “I saw the Lord.” I see Him every day in so many ways; through people, and the beauty of His creation. I titled my blog Blooms of Faith, because I cannot look at a flower without wonder and awe.

So, when hard times come, will God find me faithful? Chambers asks, “In the year that the one who stood to me for all that God was, died—I gave up everything? I became ill? I got disheartened? Or—I saw the Lord?” Does my vision of God depend on anything but my relationship to Him? Do I faint away when stress or sorrow comes, or do I stand firm in the Lord? Is my walk based on temporal circumstances or the Kingdom of Heaven?

I want to live a life where God goes before me in all the things, whether they are filled with joy or sadness. I want to live a life that honors Jesus.

 You Loved Me Anyway - Sidewalk Prophets 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myP9Mvs1sOk

Restore

7/12/2020

Ephesians 4:13 “Till we all come…unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

When I think of the word “rehabilitation”, a few things come to mind. It can mean that someone is working to gain physical strength back after an accident, illness, injury. It can mean that someone is trying to work their way back into society during incarceration. It can mean that a person is working through a food, shopping, drug, or alcohol addiction. Merriam-Webster has a general definition of the word – the restoration of something damaged or deteriorated to a prior good condition. While thinking about the state of our world today, I certainly believe a need for this type of undertaking applies. Rehabilitation always entails hard work and change, and sometimes the result is better and stronger than the person or group’s prior condition.

How could such a global remedy for our societal ills come about? How do we have a collective restoration of the soul? Here is what Chambers offers: “Rehabilitation means the putting back of the whole human race into the relationship God designed it to be in, and this is what Jesus Christ did in Redemption.” Jesus is the Deliverer, the Bridge, and the Healer of Souls. When we take our eyes off of Him, we lose our focus and purpose in this world. Yes, everything seems too big and scary in the world right now, and I certainly feel weary and drained, but Jesus never does. As long as I keep going vertical, He will show me the way to help others come to Him for healing and restoration. This action always starts and ends with love.

“We have a hope as an anchor for the soul” Hebrews 6:19

To Know

7/11/2020

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know Him.”

Humility is sorely lacking in our current world, not just in the political realm, or the media, but also on many personal levels. Just today I have heard several stories of people around me that have been disappointed or even harmed by another’s ego, bombast, or greed. This attitude can leave even the most faithful and hopeful person feeling injured at worst and horribly disappointed at best. Sometimes one person can walk in such arrogance that they leave an emotional wake, like a tsunami that swallows up everyone in its path. Do these people deserve our retribution? Maybe in the mind of a secular world, but in the world of a believer they need our grace. Yes, that is often times a very difficult road to walk, but we can do it if we know Jesus.

Even though others will – and often do – let us down, Jesus never ever will. The more we seek Him out, read the Bible, and pray, the closer we will draw to Him. The deeper we know Him, the more strength and peace we gain through all of the storms of life. Right now, even without injury from someone who is uncaring, we are all experiencing the same tempest. Chambers writes, “The spiritual saint never believes circumstances to be haphazard, or thinks of his life as secular or sacred; he sees everything he is dumped down in as the means of securing knowledge of Jesus. There is a reckless abandonment about him.”

We need to work on replacing injury and fear with the sacred truth: that Christ is in every set of circumstances with us. Romans 8:31, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Assemble

7/10/2020

Hebrews 10:24-25 “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of others together.”

This verse is very challenging during a worldwide pandemic. We can still, and certainly should, encourage one another to love and do good works; those things are needed more now than ever. There are many different ways that this can be done through technology.

Now, what about not forsaking assembling together? Many churches have been closed for months, and even though some are slowly reopening, they are doing so with limited capacity. Most programs of any sort are also cancelled for the foreseeable future. This isolation from fellow believers is wearying and sad. We need one another. Chambers writes, “To live a remote, retired, secluded life is the antipodes (opposite) of spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.”

When I was struggling with my illness, I lived through a time of self-imposed isolation. I stopped going to work and church, I stopped seeing my friends, and was even housebound for a period of time. This new compulsory “stay at home, stay safe” order, as our state’s governor likes to call it, is far too familiar to me, and it brings back memories of a time of deep sorrow. The difference is that back then, I could work to get back to my life, for it was there waiting for me on the other side. Right now, however, we are living in a nebulous time that seems to be stretching out in front of us. The only clear guidance is “wear a mask” and “stay home as much as possible”. Honestly, it has become exhausting.

Is this time creating, as Chambers puts it, “a spiritual sluggishness”? How can we prevent this from happening? We absolutely need to stay in our Bibles and seek God’s wisdom during these times of uncertainty. We also need to reach out to one another. If you have someone who has been on your heart during this time, do not delay in contacting them. Give them a call, Facetime with them, send a card, drop off a small token; just continue to lift others up and encourage them as best you can. You will be mightily blessed for doing so, and you will feel connected even when forced to be apart.

Satan will try to use this time of physical distancing to do as much damage to the church body as possible. Let’s join together to stop him right in his tracts. It is more important than ever that we stay vigilant and continue to be warriors! Let’s join together even though we are apart!

Rely

7/9/2020

Joshua 24:19 “Ye cannot serve the Lord.”

Who do I rely on in this life? I am very blessed that I have people who love me that I can depend on. Can I say this is valid with 100% certainty? I don’t think anyone of us truly can. Sometimes there are issues that prevent someone from being there for you, even if they sincerely want to be. These issues can be emotional or physical, and are certainly understandable even if painful at the time. God, however, is the constant. He will never leave or forsake me. Does this fact allow me to rely on Him totally, without reservation? Chambers asks, “Have you the slightest reliance on anything other than God?” If I rely on any circumstance, asset, virtue, person, or even just on myself, I am misguided. If I am living my life for the Lord, I should always be in a state of trust and surrender. My “I should” then turns to “I will”. This takes a steadfast belief. If I am trying to serve the Lord in my own strength and in my own will, without surrender to Him alone, it will show in my ultimate fragility and failure. I can have the best intentions, but outside of seeking God’s direction, I am nothing but a clanging symbol.

Will

7/8/2020

Joshua 24:15 “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.”

The will is a tricky thing. When a person is stubborn, they are willful. When a person is conquering something difficult, it takes willpower. When a person does something they are asked to do, they are willing. The will is a state of mind that leads us to how we will act.

This verse asks, whom will I serve? Verse 24:14 charges before the question is asked, “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness.” After the charge comes an act of will. Which way will I go? Will I choose the narrow road, or turn away from God? How are my actions evidence of my decision? Words are often time hollow. Chambers writes, “Will is the whole man active. I cannot give up my will, I must exercise it. I must will to obey, I must will to receive God’s Spirit.” God will never force His spirit upon me if I am unwilling to receive it, or if I harden my heart to Him.

Choosing to follow God is a deliberate act of will, and not something that should be done lightly or through coercion. It is an individual yielding of body, mind, and spirit to God. After this surrender, I must be willing to live my life according to His word and His ways; it is the single most important and wondrous decision in life.