Reminding Myself...

When life throws the curve ball, which seems to come way too often at 103 mph, I fight to turn to the Scripture, where I know I will find hope and peace. The fast pitch came in last night and almost hit me in the ribs. Actually knocked my breath away...again. I stumbled. I fell to my knees. Anger tried to capture me, but it wasn't long before the Spirit brought humility and right thoughts.

So as Mr. Cartwright and I opened the Word this morning, we turned to the innumerable promises of our Great God.

I meditate on them today.

Here are just a few.

*We will be rewarded for perseverance.
Matthew 10:22 "The one who endures to the end will be saved."

*The Lord will give us rest.
Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

*The righteous will shine.
Matthew 13:43 "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father."

*The Lord gives wisdom.
Luke 21:14-18 "Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand on how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand and contradict. You will be delivered up even by brothers and parents and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for My Name's sake, but not a hair of your head will perish."

These are just a few of God's Words that give hope when all around gives way. My thoughts turn to those Believers in Iraq and other countries that are fleeing for their lives.

That puts life into perspective. My God and their God is good. He remains good and will uphold His children.

More promises to come.....

He Never Forgets

The girls and I are studying the story of Noah right now in morning devotions. The story amazes (and frightens) me every time I read it.

"5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. ⁷ So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” ⁸ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord."

Imagine the evil that was taking place in the world at that time. God cannot take it any more. He simply must destroy the wicked. But, as always, He saves a remnant. Noah and his family must have stood out to those around them. In more ways than one. Noah was seen as crazy as he built this gigantic boat in his front lawn. A lawn that had never seen rain.

We all know the story. He took two of every kind of animal into the ark to preserve each kind that God had created. Then God closed the door and they waited. It is interesting that God told Noah that He would send the rain in 7 days. Another grace moment. Noah could have waited and waited and wondered if God would really do what he said. But, God told him the plan.

The earth opened up. The rain came down. I can imagine all the people running to the ark and banging on the side of it, begging to be let in. Or, maybe, their hearts were so hardened, they continued to doubt the severity of it. Eventually, the earth was covered. Next time you see a globe or a satellite picture of the earth, imagine nothing but water. Water and more water.

And a minuscule little dot. The ark bobbing along on the surface of this vast expanse of H2O. In the grand scheme of what God was doing, the ark was such a small piece of this picture. But....

Genesis 8:1 "But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark." 

He didn't forget amidst His righteous anger. He promised and he kept that promise. He cannot lie. He held the world of water in His powerful hands, while keeping His eye on His beloved.

He is our powerful God, ruler of the Universe, and Mighty Creator. The only, trustworthy God!

If He Can Calm the Sea....

then He is capable of calming me.

My boy is hurting. Just when I think all is well and better, knew feelings arise and I get worried. No. Scared.

Choices are made that put my stomach in a knot. I feel sick and want to puke. Anxiety returns and I struggle to breathe. I remember....all those days....

So I stop. Look up. Remember THE day.

*The day my Savior made a way. The special day in a 5 year old's life when His Spirit came to reside.
*The day He brought my beloved into my life.
*The day that I am sprawled on my bed in tears and asking why. My Jesus comes near and touches me.
*The that I learned about my boy. The day I learned he wouldn't be. The  I day held him in my arms.(That was a roller coaster.)
*The day He placed my other three treasures in my arms.
*The day and many more when He is the only hope. He is the only Truth. He is the only Way. He is the only Sustainer of life.
*The day He showed me the simplest promises in His Word.

I wish there was only one day when I surrendered my lamb to the Lord. But there are many. I keep taking him back. I know Jesus is the only Healer of hearts. I fall down to my knees and lay him at the scarred feet of my Savior.

Friends, I ask for your prayers. The next couple of weeks are crucial in some decisions we have to make concerning "Hoss". Please pray for the heavens to open and provide what we need to keep helping our son.

God knows what He is doing. I must just trust. This is the only job I have.

God's Promises Endure Forever!

Psalm 119:107 tells us the deep down feelings of the psalmist.

"I am exceedingly afflicted;
Revive me, O LORD, according to Your word."

The psalmist feels weighed down and lifeless, and yet his response is begging the Lord for new life. But not just any ordinary life. Life according to God's Word.


James 1:12 promises blessedness to "the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him."

The perspective we need when feeling so afflicted is that God is his graciousness has loved me so much to send me affliction that we might cry out to Him and see our dependence on Him. Jesus gives us the Bread of Life. Tender, life-giving words, that give nourishment for the starving soul.

Paul reminds us in Romans 8:38-39 that nothing can separate us from our Heavenly Father. So why do we worry and not trust? Why do we not cast our cares on Him? Why do we fear?

"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

So often we look to other things to revive us. Oh, friend may that not be. May we run to the Father who will never leave us. May we run to the Son who gave His very life for us that we may acquire eternal life. May we run to the Spirit who brings all comfort and guidance.



The Words of Life are our only hope.