THE BALANCE BEAM TEACHES US TO EXERCISE OUR FAITH

Do you ever feel your faith needs strengthening?  I have just the thing for you. There are times that it is very hard to keep our faith right where it needs to be.  Exercise your faith on the balance beam and you will find a greater depth of maturity.

Today as I was faced with various obstacles of the big city, I just had to stop and ask the Lord to help me keep my balance. My desire is to walk in his steps but there are times it's hard to find the imprint in which to place my feet. I began to feel my faith slipping and my hope failing.

Instantly I realized I was like the gymnast on the balance beam and needed to focus, really focus deeply on what was at hand instead of what was going on all around me. I began to pray and ask the Lord to start filling my path with things that would help me place my feet in his steps.

            With all the changes in life and routine I haven't been able to play the piano one time in three weeks. My heart was longing for some worship time of sitting and playing. The Lord surely knew that because I was at Methodist Cancer Center taking some paperwork in and there was a baby grand piano close to the front door over in the corner. I was admiring the baby grand, as any pianist would do. 

The recceptionist said, "You know there used to be a gentleman come in and play once a week for one hour but he no longer comes. The staff and the patients have missed that piano being played."

As we continued to talk, she asked if I'd be interested in sitting and playing a few songs for the people there. Surprisingly I had a song book in the back seat of my truck so I agreed to play a few songs. They loved it but more than that, it was exactly what I needed to help me get my focus.

           But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)

There is only one way that I am able to stay on the balance beam and that is to keep my focus on the Lord and let him lead the way. When our faith is wavering, he is not. He is there to help us make it to the end of the beam and make a smooth landing.

 

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

    
     Emma is three and her most recent response to everyone is, "What did you say?"  We are really not sure why she asks this question constantly but I was thinking about it this morning. 

     We are so much like her in our walk with the Lord.  He tells us something and we sit there and say, "What did you say?"  There are times I say it to the Lord because I don't know if I really understand what he is actually trying to teach me.  Then there are times I say it because I'm not ready to respond to what he is asking me to do. 

     This morning while drinking a cup a coffee I began thinking about a card my sister sent me that said, "Tough times don't last, but tough people do!"  This time I said to the Lord, "What did you say in Philippians 4:13?" 

     Me, myself and I have had to have long discussions about exactly what I can do and what I can't do.  According to the scripture, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me."  Therefore it's up to me to make sure that I am in the Father's will.  I will only find my strength in him and be able to make it through tough times.

     Do you ever wander if the Lord looks down on us like we do our children and grandchildren?  I wonder sometimes where Emma is coming from when she asks the question constantly but I understand that she is in a learning process. For whatever reason she is needing to have things clarified, I am willing to sit and say it over and explain it if necessary. 

     The Lord has always been patient with me, loving and willing to teach me what I am in need of.

     But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15)

YOU GOD! ARE MY ALL IN ALL

 

SO SMALL BUT YET SO BIG

    
When we think about how small we are compared to the universe we feel like a grain of sand in the vast ocean.  This can cause us to start thinking that the Lord doesn't care about us and we are somehow in this world groping around attempting the survive without his hand on our lives. 

     The Lord is constantly putting something in my path that proves this is just not true.  Upon completing a job interview yesterday and starting the drive back through the medtroplex, I stopped to get gas at a Seven-Eleven convenient store.  As I walked through the doors there was a lady there and she showed a great amount of kindness. As I shopped around in the store I noticed how relaxed and comfortable I felt even though I was in the metroplex area where I should normally be quite tense.  Then I realized the music playing over the sound system was a christian song.  Matt Redman was singing the wonderful song, "You never let go." 

     How often does that happen in a convenient store in the heart of Dallas Texas.  The Lord knew what I needed, he knew I would fill my truck with gas and he placed the person inside that store for such a time as this. He wants us to know he is ever present and leading the way for us. 

     Maybe you are one of those people who don't believe the Lord cares about me that much.  Well, I am here to tell you that even though I am a tiny piece of sand in the middle of the vast ocean, my father sees me and knows my need.

     Upon leaving the store I made it a point to tell the manager how much I appreciated the music that was being played over the sound system and what it meant to me at that very moment.  I must say, "I am blessed."

    But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.  (Luke 12:7)

PEACE IN THE MIDST OF THE STORM

     The trials have been great over the last five days as we were making our way into the a new area, unpacking, and adjusting to change.There is something that has surprised me during the whole process.The Lord has given me the greatest peace in my life.The storms are raging and beating against me in every direction, but the vessel is steady. Steve even commented yesterday that he noticed a great peace in my life about the whole change of events.

     About ten days ago I read a poster and it said, "Don't tell God how big your storm is, tell your storm how big your God is. How true is that statement.  It was so true that I decided not to just read it but to apply it personally to my life.

     Earlier today I was thinking, "I must be in the eye of the storm where it is calm."  I know the storm is raging all around me, but I only feel the stillness and peace of God. 

     With this being said, I must also say a special thanks to all of my wonderful friends and readers who lift me up continually in prayer.  Without the prayers of my faithful prayer warriors, I could have never survived.

     And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:15-17)

NURISHMENT IN THE MOUNTAINS

Many of you know and have read about our lives when we lived in Ignacio, Colorado. I had a deep love for the mountains and its spectacular grandeur. One of my fondest memories was waking up in the morning and walking into the living room of our "A" framed house and seeing the La Plata Mountains capped with snow. The living room in this two story house was glass on three sides from the top story ceiling to the top edge of our sofa that sat on the bottom floor. If you wanted to see breath taking beauty it could be found at that very location. It was always an awesome experience to place visitors upstairs and listen to them wake up the next morning.

One of the other spectacular things about living in the Pine River Valley was the wonderful people. The Guffeys, Faverino's, Witts and Klusmans all lived on ranches and farms filled with excitement and wonder. Each summer the Faverino's would move their cattle up to Missionary Ridge outside of Durango for better grazing, making the cattle healthier and richer in quality for the sale. This event was not an easy one, but the Faverino's knew that it was the best thing for the cattle.

For some reason this thought was on my mind as I woke up this morning in a motel room in Weatherford Texas. Asking the Lord why I would wake up with this thought, he began to show me.

I myself am like the cattle the Faverino's owned. My feet do not want to climb the steep terrain. My nature is to resist and cry out. It would be so much easier to go back to the flat land where it doesn't hurt my feet, thighs and only the Lord knows what all is hurting after spending three days packing and moving. My surrounding is unfamiliar and there is more danger in the area where the Lord is sending me. It's easier to balk at things when we are entering new territory, especially if you are a female who likes to have things on a schedule, know what is ahead or just want to live in total security, like myself.

During the process of getting the cattle up this spectacular mountain in the spring and back down the mountain in the fall came the wonderful times when a few of the cattle would break loose from the herd into a field of alfalfa. To the cattle this grass looked rich and full of nutrients. To the rancher this grass meant disaster. When this occurred Glenn would have to break several on the team loose, round up the straying herd and if the cattle had eaten the alfalfa it meant inserting a knife into the side of the animal and running a water hose into its belly, in order to relieve the gas build up.

The Lord is seeing the total picture and he obviously knows that this climb up the ridge is one that will make me stronger, give me the nourishment that I must be needing, and cause my writings to become richer and more fulfilling. He must know my heart was needing something I was unaware of. We can't experience all the Lord has in store for us unless we let go and allow the Lord to lead us where he desires, to place our feet on the ground he wants for us to tread, to fill us with the riches of his love and grace.

The alfalfa fields are out there but the shepherd will be there to lead and guide. He has his staff ever ready to draw us back into the fold and take care of the bumps and bruises we obtain on this adventure. Knowing this, I must allow my father to lead me to the path he knows is best for my life, help me to make the climb, and know he is there each step of the way.

 

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.  (Psalm 32:8)

FEAR WILL CRIPPLE - HOPE WILL SET YOU FREE

     This is a time I must be perfectly honest.  The last week I haven't been able to write one word.  This morning I woke up with the thought, "Fear will cripple me but hope will set me free."  This is a fact my friend.  If we are filled with fear we are usually frozen in our tracks; unable to move forward. 

     Looking back at some of my recent writing and photo's that I posted and realized that the Lord has been preparing me for this adventure in my life without me being aware of the preparation.  I thought I was writing things for my readers to be encouraged and drink from.  Even the book I recently published was for myself.  I had already lived much of it but there was somethings that I hadn't lived.  In order for me to truly tell you how to move forward when it feels impossible, I needed to experience the depth of it, for myself.

    Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:11)
    
     These two verses are the verses on my heart today.  Just as I learned to ride a bike when I was young and so afraid of getting hurt, I will learn to ride this wave of events.  My choice is not to be crippled but to be set free, so therefore I must choose hope. 

     A person is unable to have faith if they don't have hope.  Look at Hebrews 11: 1 and you will see that the two are weaved together and walking hand in hand. The three of us shall walk closely together.  Faith in one hand and hope in the other. 

     With this being said, I must let my readers know that Steve has resigned his position in the church and we are relocating.  We covet your prayers and ask each of you to pray the Lord shows us what is next.  The next few weeks will be filled with packing, moving, and all the events of a new life, in a new place.  If I don't write on my blog often, it's not because I have forgotten to or don't want to, it's because of our busy schedule. 

     The greatest ministry we had was at Northside Baptist Church and I will be praying that they keep up the faith, keep on suppling The Living Water to the children and youth of Kermit.  I will miss this ministry with all my heart and am positive I will have to come back and help with VBS if I am not working a regualar job.  God isn't through here, he has only just begun.  He placed us here and used us to start something that he wants to finish.