Now that I am getting older, I am learning more about what really matters in life. There is a story told by Janice Hune, an associate professor at Kansas State. She said that she was using obituaries as a little window to look at cultural values. She discovered obituaries of the 19th century focused on the deceased’s character while in the 20th century it centered on their financial worth and work.

A life well lived has some qualities that are unmistakable. It is a life of significance declared by God Himself in His word. That life has a significant purpose, to “tell” the great works of God. Psalms 71:18 “When I am old and grey headed, oh God forsake me not until I have declared Your mighty strength to all generations.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your being. You shall teach these things (what things?) the wonders of God to your children and grandchildren. You shall talk of them when you are in your house, walking by the way, lying down and rising up.” Then, “trust” in the Lord. Psalms 31:14 “Trust in the Lord and rely confidently in Him.” Psalms 28:7, “The Lord is my Strength and Shield; my heart has learned to trust in Him.” Then a significant life has learned what the word “toil” really means. When I am feeling unworthy because I am unable to work in the Lord’s fields because of age, sickness, weaknesses, etc. we must remember what our Lord said when the disciples ask Him, “What are we to do, that we may habitually work the works of God? Jesus replied, “This is the work of God that you believe in Jesus Whom the Father has sent you.”

Keep telling, keep trusting, and keep toiling in believing prayer! You are one of the Lord’s most precious significant ones. Our God has declared it!!!!!

Joy

Phyllis

“In this world you will have tribulation, trials, distress and frustrations.” John 16:33a

Where do we run when the things that were warned of in the Bible in John 16:33 come to pass in our lives, as well as our family and friends’ lives? I hear some say that they run to their preacher. Some to a psychologist. Some say that they just go to bed and cover their head and pretend it will go away. One thing about growing older is hopefully we grow a little wiser. If we know Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we have a Rock in which to run.

The phone rings and the voice on the line says, “Your grandbaby is on the way to the hospital. Mom, I have cancer. Your son has had a bad car wreck. Your best friend’s husband just died. Your husband (wife) has cancer.” I could go on as many of you have already experienced or may soon get that unexpected phone call. What do we do? Where do we run? Our gracious heavenly Father has already planned for everything that we will ever face in this life.

John 16:33b. I have told you these things so that you may have peace and confidence.

Psalm 61:1 Hear my cry; O God listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth, I call to You. I cry as my heart grows faint. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my Rock, and Fortress, and my Deliverer. My God, my strength, in Whom I will trust, my Buckler, and the Horn of my salvation.

Psalm 28:1 Unto You do I cry, O Lord, My Rock.

Psalm 31:3 For Thou art my Rock and fortress.

Psalm 62:7b The Rock of my strength, my refuge, is in God.

When trouble comes, and it has or will, let’s RUN TO THE ROCK, Who, is our strength and powerful God!

Joy

Phyllis

In 1621 America celebrated the harvest and other blessings of the past year. The holiday was believed to be modeled by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people. It wasn’t until 1863 that President Abraham Lincoln and then later presidents supported the event. In 1941 Congress made it an official National holiday.

I can remember when the children in school would dress up as Pilgrims and Indians having a play to celebrate Thanksgiving. Have you ever helped your children make the turkey drawing using their hands as the pattern? Those were such fun filled day for the children in our schools. Some might call them the “good old days.”

Long before America decided to declare to be thankful on a certain National Holiday, the God of the universe stated over 70 times in the KJ version of the Bible to give thanks. Our Lord knew that having a thankful heart was the key to having a contented life. I am afraid that we have forgotten this truth as we are so tuned into this world and all the problems that we have forgotten to give thanks in “all” things.1 Thes.5:18

Colossians 3:17… And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

1 Chronicles 16:34… Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good for His steadfast love endures forever.

Psalms 118:24…This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Colossians 3:15… Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.

Psalms 107:1…Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.

Just a few verses to remind us that no matter how bad things are in this world, in Jesus Christ our Lord we have been blessed beyond measure.

Joy,

Phyllis

A character in the Li’l Abner comic strip several years ago named Joe Btfsplk always had a dark cloud hanging perpetually over his head. Doom and gloom. Yet in Psalm 87:7 the Bible says, “All my springs and resources of joy are in You, city of God.” Meaning God’s Spirit dwells in us if we are born again Christ followers, in other words, joy comes from the Lord, while doom and gloom come from people, circumstances, things, etc. I think Paul was a great example of how we can live in joy and victory as we read the book of Philippians. He experienced beatings, flogging, and imprisoned on several occasions. In fact, he was in a Roman prison when he wrote the book called the joy book! Some 16 times he uses the words rejoice, or joy. Philippians 4:11 Paul states, “In all things I have learned to be content.” Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.”

How can someone experience and even encourage us to have joy or rejoice when things all around us are upside down and painful?

Paul challenges us to remember and rehearse the enormous privilege and surpassing value in knowing Christ personally. He reminds us of being heaven bound. We are so blessed with the power of Christ living in us and through us to do the Father’s will and good pleasure. He says because we have the power of Christ living in us that we don’t have to grumble, complain, and be filled with anxiety. Our Father in heaven says, “I’ve got this.”

What is the Bible’s answer to the challenges of today in this century in which we live.

1. BELIEVE…Philippians 1:6, “He Who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ developing, perfecting and bringing to full completion in you.”

2. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you that My joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

3. Jesus said, “The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come that you might have Life (God’s Life) and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

4. “All things work together for good to those that have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

A man tells a story that in a town that he visited, there is a well located in the middle of the town. People would flock to that well and drink fresh water. While visiting one day he noticed an older man drinking from the well. He asked him, “has the well ever run dry?” No, the older man said that they had tried to pump it dry. They even got the fire engines to try to pump it dry. Then, to their amazement they found there was an underground river flowing right through the town. God says, that His well of salvation and grace will NEVER run dry. It flows from the “river of God.” WOW what a Savior!

Joy,

Phyllis

Mathew 11:28-30 “Come unto Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you REST. I will ease and refresh your soul. Take My YOKE upon you and learn of Me for I am gentle, (meek) and humble and you will find REST for your souls. For my YOKE is wholesome, good, and not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but is comfortable, gracious, and pleasant. My burden is light and easy to be borne.”

I have heard many say that life has become so crazy and seemingly out of control. Everything is turned upside down with so many burdens. How can we have REST in all this?

Bible REST is by definition when one ceases to be agitated or disturbed but finds peace and a place of quietness. The Bible speaks of REST some 71 times. Jesus says, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you REST.” We seem to think we can find rest in drugs, alcohol, self-help books and just about everything but Jesus. In the eyes of our heavenly Father, resting is an imperative, not now and then, but on a regular basis. We must learn that rest is simply taking God at His Word. If this is not so, why would He put it in the Bible so many times. Everything that the Father commands, the Holy Spirit is there to provide the power.

Matthew also speaks of being “yoked” in this verse with Jesus. “My yoke is easy.”

When a farmer would put oxen in a yoke, a younger ox was always fitted in one side with an older wiser one on the other side. The older, wiser would teach the younger by helping guide him in the right direction. Matthew is saying that we are to be yoked with Jesus, the One Who teaches and guides, pulling in the same direction and helping to carry the load. We no longer have to be agitated and disturbed over things.

I heard a song Rest For The Soul this morning by Austin French that speaks so well of this verse. These are the words in part:

Are you tired and troubled? Weighed down with a heavy load? Praying for change, searching for faith. Waiting for a miracle. Are you drowning in questions? Can’t believe where the road has led. There is One who knows, the heavy load and He says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy burdened. All who are hurting, come to Me. I’ll be your shelter. My yoke is easy, my load is light, and you will find Rest for your soul. Rest for your soul.”

You were never meant to carry that weight alone. You were never meant to carry it on your own. Come to the cross, lay it at the feet of Jesus, lay it at the feet of Jesus. There is One who knows the heavy load, and He says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy burdened. All who are hurting, come to Me. I’ll be your shelter. My yoke is easy, my load is light, and you will find rest for your soul. Rest for your soul.”

Phyllis

As I was reading my devotional the other day, I was struck by what the Lord said to Moses in Deuteronomy 32:51-52, ´Although from a distance you will view the land that I am giving the Israelites, you will not go there, because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kedesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow me in the midst of the children of Israel.”

Moses was the man that God raised up to lead the people out of bondage in Egypt (Exodus 3). The man that used the rod of God to part the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14). The man that God spoke face to face as a man speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11). The man that God gave the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). The man that prayed to God for mercy for the people even when they rebelled against his leadership (Exodus 33).

Do we get the picture of how the Lord used Moses in these few of many verses that I have listed? YET, one of the saddest verses is the one in Deuteronomy 32:52. “you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children.”

Just think of how many times we as His children have trespassed (sinned) against the Lord when He was very clear about something that we needed to do or stop doing. We just rebel and don’t obey. What a challenge to be vigilant by the power of the Holy Spirit to obey quickly and completely when the Lord speaks. Moses was so close to crossing over but was having to look from a distance. Are we just looking from a distance, but not crossing over into the power filled promises of the Lord. We may be saying, “it is just one small thing, and it doesn’t really matter.” It does to God!

Joy,

Phyllis

“CONFIDENCE” A trusting or reliance; an assurance of mind or firm belief in the integrity, stability, or veracity of another, in the truth or reality of a fact. 1828 Websters Dictionary

One day a week I help our daughter take care of her granddaughters, A 2+ years old and a 9 months old. On occasion I see the oldest ask her grandaddy to throw her up in the air. When he does that, she laughs and laughs, “Do it again, Popa, do it again,” It never enters her mind that he wouldn’t catch her and hold her tight. She has such confidence and trust in her Popa’s ability to care for her. Oh, the beautiful faith of a child. Some qualities of a child are, humility, wonder, trust (confidence) and hope. How much more can we have confidence in our heavenly Father’s strong arms. God has our best in His mind for His children. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Psalm 27:10” Even if my father and mother abandon me, THE LORD WILL HOLD ME CLOSE.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I WILL HOLD YOU UP WITH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND.”

Isaiah 46:4 “I will be your God throughout your lifetime, until your hair is white. I MADE YOU AND WILL CARE FOR YOU.”

Troubles, hurts, sadness, sickness, and things we don’t understand will come, but we can have confidence in the strong and safe arms of our heavenly Father, Who loves us.

Joy

Phyllis

Another year has come, another year has gone. As I get older it seems that time has hastened its pace. Life is much like an old roll of toilet paper, the older it is, the faster it goes. Just when I get the Christmas tree put away, oh my, it’s time to get out the Christmas tree again. Maybe that just happened to us oldies, but I think the invention of the internet, cell phones, microwaves, and all the other things that help us to hurry, hurry, hurry, have made the pace of life ever changing. It is such a blessing to me when I read the Bible scriptures that remind us that the Lord never changes. The Lord and His Word are strong anchors that we can count on in every situation and at all times.

1. Isaiah 40:8 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”

2. Malachi 3:8 “For, I the Lord do not change; therefore you, oh children are not consumed.”

3. Numbers 23:10 “God is not man, that He should lie, or the son of man, that He should change His mind. Has He said, and will not do it? Or has He spoken, and will not fulfill it?”

4. Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”

5. Isaiah 40:28 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does nor faint or grow weary, His understanding is unsearchable.”

6. Psalms 102:25-27 “Of old, You, oh Lord laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They will perish, but You will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, they will pass away, but You are the same, and Your years have no end.”

Seems to me with every part of our lives moving like a whirlwind, it would be a great idea to be sure you are anchored in 2023 in the right place, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT HOLDS HIS CHILDREN IN THE PALM OF HIS STRONG RIGHT HAND

John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal Life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of MY HAND.”

ANCHORED !!!!!!

Joy

Phyllis

As I have been reading about the great revivals of God in the earlier days of this country and around the world. I hear many say, oh how we need revival! We need a mighty move of God across this land. The world and our nation are morally decaying. I would like to share in part a few stories that I have read from, “Revival Fires” by Wesley Duewel. What is different today than in those days of Spiritual Awakenings? What is missing today?

Charles Finney was greatly used of God in 1825 to spread the fires of revival to central New York. On a Thursday night the Lord brought much brokenness in the leadership of the church where he was preaching. It was on Sunday that God gave Finney a “burden of prayer.” The power of the Holy Spirit was so powerful that the people were gripped with conviction that they could not contain their emotions. Everyone that came into that town felt the overwhelming sense of God’s presence. The town was FULL of praying. As one would walk around town the sound of praying was everywhere. Finney lists the striking characteristics of the great moving of God and number one on his list was prevailing prayer. According to the Boston Recorder in the 4 months of 1831, 362 places experienced revivals. It was a day of prevailing prayer.

In 1898 while visiting the Keswick convention a Hindu woman named Pandita Ramabai, who had been converted pled with the 4,000 that attended to pray for a Spiritual movement in India like in America. She was at the time caring for some 2,000 girls in Bombay. For several months’ “prayer continued,” and 1200 girls accepted Christ as their Savior. Later another 600 were saved. Pandita started a prayer circle of 10 girls to pray for the salvation of others. That began to spread and encompass many other groups, and many were saved.

A man called, Rev. John Hyde in 1852 began to pray for revival. It was 12 years before he was granted his prayers. He would spend whole nights praying. Hyde became known as the “wrestler with God, a prince prevailing.”

As I read these and other accounts of the great awakenings of old, a couple of things stand out to me about them. God had given them the “burden of prayer.” It seems to me that we are asking for revival without asking for the “burden” (carrying a load, heavy laden, burdensome) to pray. God is the initiator. We cannot even pray without God impowering us. The second thing I noticed, it was months and even many years before God chose to answer their requests. We live in such a microwave society, our expectations are, “I want it yesterday.” We need to ask ourselves, are we willing to ask for the “burden” (carry the heavy load that will cost us time and energy). Are we willing to continue until God chooses to pour out His power on this land and receive the glory that is due Him. Each one must answer that question for themselves.

Joy

Phyllis

To continue with Ezekiel 37, I will do a very short review of the devotional I shared in DRY BONES part 1. You can scroll to the July devotional and read it to get the full context of the passage.

In the book of Ezekiel, we read that the children of Israel had been taken into Babylonian captivity. God had chosen Ezekiel as a prophet to call the nation to repentance, and that judgement had come upon the nation due to the sinfulness prevailing in Jerusalem. The first half of the book is pronouncing judgement. However, after the word reached Babylon that Jerusalem had been destroyed, Ezekiel began to proclaim a new message from the Lord, a message of hope and restoration!

Ezekiel 37:1-6 The Lord has Ezekiel sit down in the middle of a valley filled with DRY SUNBLEACHED HUMAN BONES. The Lord asks him, “Son of man, can these bones live?” “Oh Lord You know.” Let’s be real, how many times we are faced with that same question about our loved ones, our country, or even our own lives. Will things get any different? Can these bones live? God says, “I WILL,” three different times in verses 1-6 to remind Ezekiel and the dry bones that He is the Lord (the Sovereign Ruler). A good reminder to us as well.

As we continue in the passage for today’s devotional. In verse 7, we see the power of God to do what He says He will do. So, Ezekiel prophesied and there was a great thundering and behold a shaking, a trembling, and a rattling as the bones came together. Oh my, what it must have been like seeing and hearing that happen!

Verse 8… I looked, and behold, it was done, but no breath or spirit was in them, however. They had form, but no LIFE.

Verse 9…Prophesy to the breath and spirit and say, Thus, says the Lord “come from the 4 winds, Oh Spirit and breathe, and these bones will live.”

This is what the bones said, “We are all dried up and all hope is lost.” Once again, how many times have we been guilty of saying that about unanswered prayers?

Verse 10…So I prophesied as God commanded me, and THE BREATH AND THE SPIRIT CAME INTO THESE BONES, AND THEY LIVED, and stood up upon their feet, a great army.

That says to me that our Heavenly Father has the POWER and PROVISION that is needed in every situation in our lives and our loved ones. We are also reminded in this passage that we all must have the breath and the Spirit to truly have LIFE.

Isaiah 46:11 “Yes, I have spoken, I have planned it, and I will bring it to pass.”

Joy

Phyllis