"NO WAY"

 

"NO WAY!"

 

This story took me back several years when we visited our son and his family at his house.  It reminded me of myself.

 

Emma, our granddaughter, had just awakened from her nap.  Those of us closest to Emma all know what that means!

 

Emma is just the sweetest, most loving and adorable child that has ever walked upon the face of the earth.  Although, when she wakes up from a nap in the afternoon, I just know that somebody has sneaked into her bedroom while we had our backs turned.  Whoever did must have traded our precious, adorable little Emma for a very upset and frustrated little girl.

 

You can ask her a question and her answer is never “Yes.”  Her answer is not “Maybe.”  She doesn’t even say “No.”  You can ask it soft and sweet and the answer is the same. “No Way!”

 

On this particular day, Josh summoned us all to the table. He asked Emma if she wanted to sit on the bench to eat. “No Way!”

 

Do you want to sit by Mommy? “No Way!” Do you want to sit by Meemee? “No Way!”  Do you want milk? “No Way!”  Do you want some meat? “No Way!” Do you want some bread? “No Way!”  

 

As parents, we all know she will have to eat in order to survive, but at this point she isn’t thinking about surviving.  

 

Neither Josh nor Kristy shoves food down her throat, hits her or forces her to eat.  They know that in time Emma will wake up enough and decide to eat on her own.

Watching Emma go through this process reminded me of a time that the Lord wanted me to be in fellowship with him, to read and his teach his word, to play the piano, to be a Pastor’s wife and to live for him. I was much like little Emma.

 

When the Lord spoke to me about what he would like for me to do, I said, “No Way!”  See, I had been wounded and there was no way that I was going to allow myself to be wounded again by people who professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

I felt if I stayed away from the Word of God, the House of God, and the People of God, that I would be safe. The Lord continued to ask me to serve him and I continued to say, “No Way!” He had to meet me not where I used to be, nor where I would be in five years but he had to meet me exactly where I was at that moment.

 

When Emma wakes up from her nap, she just wants her Mommy to hold her.  She doesn't want Kristy to hug her and set her down, neither does she want her to hold her for five minutes.  Emma needs to be held until she feels secure with everything and everyone.

 

After Emma has spent some time being held by her mother, she will gladly take your hand and go with you to the table and eat a meal.  She will not do so one minute before she feels secure.

One day I remember my Father saying, “Walk with me.”  I said, “No Way!”  I said, “I don’t think I’m ready.”  My Father said, “I’m not going to make you teach.  I’m not going to make you sing.  I’m not going to make you play the piano, or even be a helper. Just walk with me.”

 

As I heard the gentle wooing of my Father, I finally agreed that I would walk with him.  All he wanted to do was feed my soul.  As I opened the word of God, he gently led me to attend church.  I wouldn’t have to talk to anyone, just sit on the back row.

 

I attended church for about six months and only sat on the back row.  As I slowly began to wake up, I realized that I was doing more and more.  I was no longer pushing him away, saying, “No Way!”

It has been eight years now since that time.  The Lord has walked with me slowly, never pushing, never demanding – just walking with me.

 

Before I knew it, I found myself walking back into the ministry.  I began playing the piano and speaking to women about my deep pain and helping them to have a closer walk with my Father.

I would never just walk out of Emma’s life when she says, ”No Way!” because I know that Emma is such an adorable, loving bundle of joy.

 

This is what your Father sees in you.  He see’s you as pure, and clean and filled with his love.  He is longing for you to fully wake up, so that he can see you laugh, dance, and bless other people’s lives once again. 

 

He is willing to wait patiently until you are ready.  He will not push or demand, and most of all, he will not leave you.  He is waiting with tender eyes of love and open arms the moment you are ready for him.  He is waiting for you stand and say, whenever Satan whispers fear, doubt, and frustration into your ears,

“NO WAY!”

Risk Taking - The Well of Salvation - II Samuel 17: 18-20

Do you ever take risk?  It can be quite a traumatic experience.   Can you remember the very first time you set your precious little baby onto the floor, held their hand until they gained their balance and then pryed your fingers away from their grip.  You watched them as they bobbled, as they panic to grab onto an object, and then as they fell to the ground.  Do you remember feeling the same way when you are ready to take a risk?   Feeling one second the calm assurance that you are ready to tackle it and the next second having the feeling of falling and looking for something to grab onto in order to cushion the fall.  We have all been there and done that and many of us have some scars as evidence.

Their are numerous people that take risk daily.    Mountain climbers, electrician,  fireman, policeman, bungee jumpers and the list goes on of people who have jobs taking risk daily.  Many of these people take enormous risk every day, but the same person might not be willing to step out and take the risk of giving their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ.   Just like with your small child, they may need for you to take their hand and let them hold onto you for a period of time.  One day you may see they have their balance and you may pry your fingers loose and let them began to stand on their own.  At this point is your job complete?   No, at this point you have only just begun.  You see this person still will fall down.  It is your job to teach them how to get back up, how to regain balance and how to take the first steps.  Just as you stood before your small child and said, "walk to mommy".  The heavenly father is standing before them saying, " walk to the father, this is where you will be safe".   All the while this person has good intentions, his footing is still unstable.  Be there for that person and remember that at one point and time you walked the same path.  Help them to the well of salvation.  You probably didn't discover this well by yourself and neither will they.  Allow them to take baby steps, fall down, get back up and to move slowly.  None of us learned to run before we learned to gain our balance so lets make sure that we don't expect others to be mature Christians before they first learn the basic steps and be able to rest in the presence of the Lord God Almighty and learn what his love, patience, kindness, long suffering, and joy is.

MISSIONS

I was listening to KLove radio this morning.  They are talking all about missions and I began to pray for our son Josh, who is a staff pastor in Garland, Texas.  The staff at his church began searching out what they feel missions is really about. As I was praying for them, the Lord lead me to look even deeper at what my definition of missions is.  I feel this is what the Lord showed me.  Missions is:

M - Myself

I - Invoking

S - Self

S - Sacrifice

 I - In

O - Others

N - Needing

S - Salvation

I didn't know if the word invoking really described it until I looked the word up and it is exactly the word the Lord wanted me to use.  Dictionary.com  shows the word invoking as shown below.

verb (used with object), in·voked, in·vok·ing.


1. to call for with earnest desire; make supplication or pray for: to invoke God's mercy.

2. to call on (a deity, Muse, etc.), as in prayer or supplication.

3. to declare to be binding or in effect: to invoke the law; to invoke a veto.

4. to appeal to, as for confirmation.

5. to petition or call on for help or aid.



Invoking is calling on God and unless we take the time to call on God for this we will not truly be able to do missions sacrificially. I'm afraid sometimes I give but not sacrificially. We are so blessed to have been given the gospel,, nice homes, cars, and wonderful vacations and we forget there are millions of people dying daily and are in need of a Saviour.  Someone to lift them out of the mire they are in.  Help them find a loving relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  That person they are needing could be you.

DIGGING A WELL= MARAH, THE BITTER WATER

You may find yourself drinking from the bitter waters at Marah someday.  If you do, there are a few things to remember.

When the Israelites were passing through this land they had gone several days without water.  I can only imagine what it would be like to be traveling though the dry barren land and not have water to quench my thirst.  Looking far into the distance someone spots water and they all began to move quickly towards the water only to find out that this water is not good drinking water.  This water is bitter. 

There  are many places in this region that shows bodies of water that is bitter.  There is the Great Bitter Lake, the Little Bitter Lake and then there is Marah.  In our lives we will be given the opportunity to drink from trials of great bitterness or small portions of bitterness.  Each of you know right off hand some of the times you may have already been offered the water at Marah. 

When the Israelites got to the water they had a choice.  Needless to say, they chose exactly what you and I usually choose.  They began to grumble and complain.  Moses then turned to God and asked what he should do.  Now why did the Israelites not turn to Moses and ask that they stop and pray to the God Almighty that had just parted the Red Sea and let them go across on dry land.  Maybe the same reason we don't.  God can carry us through a trial and we are praising his name all the way through it and we never even think to grumble and complain.  Then we are faced with a new trial during the same week and the first thing we do is start to grumble and complain. 

God knew before the Israelites ever came to Marah that they would be passing that way.  He had already made prior arrangements for them.  There was a tree growing by the waters of Marah.  Many years prior to them arriving God had allowed a seed to fall to the ground and germinate and produce a tree and just sit by those waters and wait for the Israelites to pass by it.  When Moses turned to God and asked him, What should I do".  We see in the following verse that God showed him a tree.  "And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet."—Exodus 15:23-25.

There is actually a tree called the Moringa Oleifera tree.  This tree is known to purify bad water.  We don't know if this is the type tree that the Lord had allowed to germinate beside the waters of Marah but we do know that the Lord was the one that showed the tree to Moses when he prayed.  The Lord may not have provided a tree for you whenever you pass through bitter stages in your life but he truly has provided just what you need if you will turn to him and ask. 

Don't choose to grumble and complain.  Be a Moses and turn to God and ask for the Lord to show you how to turn your bitter water into sweet water.   Your tree may be in the form of a friend or family member, an item, or a book.  Just asked the Lord to show you what your tree is that will turn your bitterness into the joy of the Lord.  As the Lord was to the Israelites, their Jehovah-Rapha, the God that healeth Thee.  He too can be your Jehovah-Rapha.

Our Children, grandchildren, friends and acquaintances will be drinking from the waters that we drink from, so be sure and don't dig your well too close to the Great Bitter Lakes or Marah.  The springs that feed Great Bitter Lake and Marah, will also be the springs that feed the wells that you dig.  Be sure and dig as close to the River of Life as possible so that you will know that the waters your friends and family drink from is the Living Water.

GETTING GOD'S WORD INTO PEOPLES HEARTS

Have you ever noticed that people at work say bad things and if they say it often enough, it tends to get programmed into our minds.   When you hit your thumb and kick your toe on the bed, what tends to be the words that come to mind?  The reason for this is we have been programmed by friends and family.

Are you taking the time to program your family, friends and co-workers with Godly things.  You see, the same is true for them.  If you spend alot of time saying Godly things, quoting a scripture, or leading them to Christ.  They may not all follow through.  One thing is for sure, your words will play back in their minds as much as theirs do in your mind. 

Give them something to think about- JESUS

Jenny’s Story

Jenny lives in Midland Tx. Jenny’s Dr advised her to go to Dallas for testing. She was just a few weeks away from delivery and there seemed to be complications with the pregnancy. She flew to Dallas by herself to undergo test. The tests results came back that Jenny’s baby girl had a heart condition and she was also warned that the test showed the baby had downsyndrone. Dr orders were to go home and gather enough supplies to move to Dallas for the two months it would take to carry her little princess thru the surgeries that would begin upon her arrival. She knew she had to find daycare for her 18 month old son Konion. She went back to her motel and began calling every daycare in the Dallas area to find childcare for her son. Every direction she turned, she heard the same story, nobody would take her son in for just 2 months. As worry of her little princess being born with birth defects set in and Konion not having a place to go and be taken care of,  Jenny boarded the plane from Dallas TX to Midland, Tx.  She sat down on the plane and she called out to God for help. Lost, alone and broken she knew she needed help.

As Kay, my baby sister boarded the plane they began to search for seating for her and her husband. Ah, there’s a seat for two. She made her way down the aisle and set down. Immediate Kay could sense there was a problem but not wanting to pry, she just set there. Something inside tugged at her to reach out. Kay hesitating finally began to talk to the lady. Jenny immediately spilled her heart to Kay telling her she had just set down and asked God to please help her. Kay asked her softly, do you know why I am sitting in this seat beside you. Jenny seemed puzzled. Kay began to tell her that God had lead them to that seat and her prayer was going to be answered. Jenny was a bit skeptical but desperately needing help went on. Kay told her that her sister was a pastor’s wife and their son lived in Dallas and just happened to be a CONNECTIONS Pastor. She took Jenny’s name and phone number and asked her to trust God because he had heard her prayer and was going to answer it. 

Kay landed in Midland Tx and called me while unboarding the plane. I began getting connections for Jenny in every way possible through Josh and Kristy and all their friends. We found daycare info, private people that might be interested in watching a child for 8 hours a day. After 2 days Jenny called me on the phone. Kay had also left my phone number and information about Digging a Well Ministries with Jenny. As we began to talk I realized she didn’t need child care 8 hours a day. She was going to need someone around the clock. I felt I was really putting my neck on the line but I told her that I’m not satisfied to pray for an 8 hour child keeper and she didn’t understand. I told her it was gonna take a 24/7 angel to meet the needs she was going to have and I would pray for nothing less than a 24/7 angel.

The next day my daughter ended up in the Hospital in Lubbock and after speaking with her surgeon it was determined if she didn’t get better by morning we would be leaving for Dallas for surgery. I began calling my family to tell them the news. When I got to my sister that lives in Michigan, she said, wow I am actually flying into Dallas tomorrow. I began to question her as to why in world she was flying into Dallas Tx the next day. She thought she was going to go to an old friends birthday party. God had other plans.

I laughed and said, “since you are flying into Dallas tomorrow I have a special assignment for you. I laughted again. She asked what the assignment was and I told her I had prayed for a 24/7 angel for Jenny and maybe that is really the reason she was flyng into Dallas instead of for a Birthday party. Balinda called me back in about an hour and said. I’ve been praying and if my grandkids don’t mind, I will stay in Dallas after the Birthday party and help Jenny. I started crying because I knew God was going to use her. Didn’t know the details but knew he had heard my prayer for a 24/7 angel.

Balinda went and talked to her grandkids and they said no way, She has family and she shouldn’t take our Nanna away from us for 2 months. She just answered, that is fine because I told Aunt Sherry if God wanted me to go all three of you guys would agree it is what I should do. Balinda then said, I just know when she asked me I felt the same way but I had to stop and say, “What would Jesus do”. I realized God would reach out even when I didn’t want to. Ashton, 10 years old started crying. Nanna you are right. I have to change my mind and say that little boy needs my Nanna to help him out. The other boy age 8 began to cry also. Nanna I don’t want to let you go but Ashton is right, that little boy needs you more than we do. The oldest being 13 said absolutely not. You will miss my ball game and there are a thousand other people who can help her. We need our Nanna. On that note he walked out of the room and into his bedroom. About 10 minutes passed and he came back and was crying. "Nanna I want you to be at my game so bad but the Lord wants you to stay in Dallas and help this family and I have to say it’s ok for you to go even though I want you to say."  Everyone cried and hugged. Nanna promised to let them know exactly how the baby was doing every day.

March 14th Jenny went to Baylor hospital with a huge weight over her sholders. She knew Konion was going to be taken care of by Balinda but she was so full of fear not knowing what all the next two months was going to have in store. Prayers were going up in Colorado, Tennessee, Texas, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Ohio. Probably more than that but we knew God had began a good work and he would be faithful to complete it. About 1 PM the doctor began to struggle while doing the cesearen. The Lord laid on my heart very powerfully that I needed to stop working and pray, pray, pray. I didn't realize at that moment 3 nurses were rushing in with a incubator with tubes hooked up all over it.  A team of medical people were surrounding the bed, ready to wisk AnnaLynn away for immediate heart surgery and whatever else lay before her. 

A few minutes later I received the call. Annalynn had been born and was screaming so loudly that people in the waiting room could hear her. Everyone began to Praise the Lord because they knew that heart was pumping and they knew immediately she wouldn’t go into surgery right then. She was taken into pediatric ICU to run test and make sure the little princess was actually as healthly as she looked. Her doctor determined heart surgery wasn’t needed immediately and this little girl didn’t have downsyndrone. But the roller coaster wasn’t over yet. After 24 hours they decided there was something wrong. Back into testing to see if there were issues with the top of her mouth. Warning Jenny that Annalynn probably would have to undergo surgery because she wasn’t able to suck. Prayer began to go up once again from the “Digging A Well” ministry group and friends. Test came back and there was no surgery needed. AnnaLynn was given to her mom and she began to nurse. PTL

Annalynn was released from the hospital on Friday. Her doctor said she has a heart murmur but doesn’t need a heart monitor.  Her doctor in Midland will keep a close watch on her and there may be a possibility that she has to have surgery in 3 to 6 months but she may heal and never need heart surgery.

Getting ready to head for Midland Tx the next day Jenny began to have some complications. She started having Epelictic cesears. Back to the hospital once again only this time with two babies in the waiting room. Balinda realized why I had prayed for a 24/7 angel to take care of this family as there would have been no way Jenny could have made this journey without the assistance of Balinda being guided by the Lord.

Annalynn and Jenny are now back in Midland and doing great.

All Glory To God

"THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH"

When you look at the word JOY you can see three letters.  Each of these letters represent something. 

J - Jesus

O - Others

Y - Yourself

The scripture says in Ecclesiastes 4:12 - And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. When our lives is made up of Jesus, then Others, then ourselves, it will be filled with Joy.

With this threefold cord we form the body of Christ, which is the church and not only does this bring great joy into our lives we also see that Matthew 16:18 says that not even the gates of hell can prevail against it. 

This kind of joy is accessable to everyone.   All we have to do to have joy, real joy, everlasing joy is stand together with:

J - Jesus

O - Others

Y - Yourself