Encouragement

The past several days have been challenging and I am a little weary today but not defeated. This passage from my devotional Come Away My Beloved has really ministered to my Spirit. I hope it will do the same for you.

The Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Be not afraid. I will not allow your adversaries to swallow you up. You are My child; I will deliver you, honor you, and be glorified through you. Because of My faithfulness to you, even your enemies will recognize My power. I will keep you in sickness, and in death I will be your sure comfort. I will walk with you through the valley, and you will fear no shadow. Hold to My promises. They are given to you as a chart is given to a ship, and a compass to the hunter. You may set your course and find your way by My promises. They will lead you and guide you in places where there is no trodden path. They will give you direction and wisdom and will open up your own understanding.

Study My Word, the Bible. It abounds with nuggets of courage. It will strengthen you and help you, and even in eternity you will partake of its far-reaching effects.

Have a blessed day!

Caring for our spiritual lives

What a great weekend! The weather was beautiful and I didn't have anything pressing. A rare element in my life and it felt so good! I enjoyed planting flowers, spending quality time with my family and grilling out. It was absolutely incredible!

We recently purchased a swing set for our grandson Luke who turned three this month. It is equipped with two swings, monkey bar, see-saw and slide. It reminds me of a few pitfalls in our Christian life.

DEVOTIONAL LIFE How is your daily devotional life? Are you solid and steady or simply swinging from day to day in a hit or miss fashion? Are you savoring and meditating on God's Word or simply swinging through the passages in a hurried fashion so you can swing to your other daily responsibilities? Luke's attention span is very limited. A few minutes at one activity is the norm! Are we mimicking that behavior when reading our daily devotions? Are our minds wondering? Are we truly hiding God's Word in our hearts and applying it to our lives? Do our actions throughout the day truly demonstrate God's character? Do the words coming from our mouths reflect Godliness? Are we positive people? Does our lives truly mirror joy? Or are we always looking for fault in others? Have we allowed ourselves to become a part of a group of folks who are always attempting to destroy God's Kingdom? On a scale from 1 to 10 how would you rate your devotional life and spiritual walk today?

PERSEVERANCE Luke loves the see-saw. He giggles each time his see-saw bumps the ground. As his end of the see-saw extends back into the air his face expresses brief skepticism until he returns safely to the grassy spot beneath his feet. Are we sometimes skeptical of the ride we are taking with God? How solid is our foundation when we are "in the air" so to speak? The ride with Christ can sometimes be a bumpy experience but those who persevere will be rewarded for their dedication and commitment in the end. Philippians 3:14 (New International Version) I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Luke knows if he hangs on tight during his ride it will be fun when the see-saw finally reacquaints itself with the ground. Many times Christians give up and bail out during the journey. We fail to discover what God is unfolding around us because we give up before the ride is complete. Some of this response is a product of weak Christianity. We need to prepare ourselves for life's journey and the pitfalls that await us. If we are trying to survive on mere microwave prayers and drive-thru devotions we will never be ready when the enemy comes on the scene.

TRUST Luke slowly and cautiously climbs the ladder to his slide. It isn't a huge slide but there are a few steps he must navigate in order to reach the top. He always sits down at the top of the sliding board and waits for a few seconds before he releases his hands to prepare for the journey to the bottom. If he chose to hold onto the sides of the sliding board as he made his way to the bottom it would not be an enjoyable ride. Luke has learned that releasing his hands and thrusting his little body down the slide will give him a great ride! We also must release the things to God that are hindering our journey with Him. Whatever it is I encourage you to release it today to the Lord. Hand it over to Him. Leave it with Him and trust Him to handle it. Dig in and become strong in Christ!

What an incredible vacation

We had an incredible time on our cruise! It was everything we thought it would be and more! Absolutely awesome!! The vacation passed so quickly but it was good to get home and resume the routine of life as we know it. Luke and Victoria were happy to see us!

God's creations are so beautiful. It was breathtaking to stand on the ship and gaze at the beautiful blue seas. The sunrise on the water was definitely a Kodak moment and walking around the top deck of the ship in the early morning hours was an experience I will cherish forever. The snow white sand and aquamarine waters on the Seven Mile Beach in Cayman Islands were unbelievable. So many things we experienced will never be forgotten no matter how old we become. God's awesome paint brush and creativity far exceeded anything that I could have possibly imagined.

Bobby and I had such a relaxing stress free week. It felt so good to get away from everything and not be concerned about the everyday ministry tasks. We will celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary in July and have never had a vacation like this. We were at sea on Mother's Day and I even received flowers from my family! It was awesome! Somehow I know Bobby orchestrated the delivery but it was still incredible. My hubby is my best friend and the love of my life. I have been blessed with a Godly man and incredible husband. We had such a wonderful time together. Memories are priceless..................

God truly is amazing. So many times we take Him and all that He can do in our lives for granted. We simply undervalue who He is by doubting what He can accomplish in and through our lives. If He can create such beauty for our eyes to behold why it is so difficult for us to trust Him in the midst of negative circumstances in our lives? It is obvious that He has the power to do whatever He wants wherever He chooses. Just take a look around you and savor the beauty of the trees, flowers, mountains and all that goes with it. He created all of this for you and I to enjoy.

Maybe you are searching for answers today or need clear direction to things you are dealing with in your life. Seek Him with all that you have and TRUST Him with all that you are. God will speak into your life. That is a given. The answers may not always be what we want them to be but God sees the big picture and He knows what is best for us. He is a wise Father who cares for us and loves us just like any parent loves their children. He has given everything for us. Will you give everything for Him?

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways....For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Rest and Relaxation!

I have just returned from spending four days in Hagerstown, MD coordinating the 90th Potomac District Council. It was incredible! The presence of the Lord was so awesome even in the business sessions!

Brandon was ordained Monday evening. Bobby and I are so proud of him. At twenty-four years of age he is now officially an ordained evangelist! We are believing that God is going to do incredible things through his ministry.

Now that Council is behind me I can begin concentrating on our cruise! We depart Saturday for the Western Caribbean. We are so excited. Bobby and I will celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary this July and have never done anything like this. We are so looking forward to getting away for a few days of total REST AND RELAXATION!!!!

The ministry can be very challenging and stressful. As pastors and pastor's wives we need to take care of ourselves or we will not be effective in ministering to those around us. In the busyness of life it is easy to become overwhelmed with the everyday routine of things. The routine tends to weigh heavy on our hearts and robs us of our needed time with the Lord. When we neglect that time we suffer spiritually and mentally. We cannot hear God's voice when we are tired and weary.

I need to hear God's voice clearly and concise regarding direction for me personally in some areas of my ministry. I am looking forward to spending quality time with the Lord on this trip. I plan to rise early and sit on my balcony in the presence of God. So many times we totally miss what God has for our lives simply because we are too busy.

Isn't it refreshing to know that even when we are puzzled or stressed God has the answers? In the solitude and quiet times with HIM, we can receive clear direction and answers to whatever we need. I am looking forward to that quiet time in the next week. If you are struggling today I encourage you to seek Him for the answers. He will bring peace to your soul.