-Out of gas in the middle of traffic because of putting off filling the tank when it registered low.
-There are health problems now because the choice of comfort food was the norm rather than food our bodies need to thrive. 
-Obesity is a problem because the biblical principle of moderation wasn’t what we wanted to hear. 
-It was easier to let the kids ‘do their own thing’ rather than taking the time and effort to discipline them when they were little…now they are causing grief.  And the list goes on…

But there are also times when we’ve done the right things and life has still gone awry; this was Job’s dilemma.

Job declared he had been doing all the right things and was not living a wicked life and he wasn’t just imagining things.  God called him perfect!

When reading the account of Job in the scriptures, at first glance it appears as if in a whim God gave into Satan’s desire to torment Job and only told him not to kill the man.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  God doesn’t do things “in a whim”…ever!!  Nor does he give into pressure from the devil.  He takes what Satan would try to use to destroy and makes it a launching pad for victory!  What an awesome God we serve!

As I see it, up to that point in scripture, it was understood that when you did right, good things happened to you…always.  God had told them if they lived wickedly, their life would end badly, and if they lived a good life following God’s ways, things would go well with them.  So when Job’s life turned sour (His kids were killed in a storm, his animals destroyed, disease struck him and his wife told him to curse God and die.) it’s no wonder his friends thought he’d been living a double life.

Of course we now see what Job, his friends and the devil, could not see at that time.  Job would receive from God twice as much as he had before his trial began and would live a long full life.

I believe God allowed this trial to help those of us who would be born after Job’s time.  We can learn so much from Job’s big test.  To name a few:

-We learn that bad things can happen to good people but God sustains them to the end. 
-We know that God does not abandon us in trials, even when we don’t feel He is there, the teacher is always silent when giving a test. 
-We see that God never leaves us but walks with us through our trials. 
-He uses our tests to make us humble. 
-When the test is over the blessings return, in abundance. 
-Our tough times open opportunities to pray for and minister to others, even those who have hurt us. 
-We understand that if Job can make it with God’s help, we can too!

I think if Satan would have known how many of God’s children would be encouraged and strengthened through the ages by Job’s testimony, he would never have asked God to touch Job…what do you think?! 

But this morning but I awoke early with a dear couple on my mind that continually provoke me…but in a good way.  They are co-laborers in the gospel, dear friends, and we share grandchildren. J 

They are known in their local assembly as Bishop and Sister Anthony.  They are praying people and given to much study and teaching of the Word of God, it is not only their duty but their love and passion.  But this love doesn’t stop here, you will always find them giving…giving of their time, their finances and sharing godly wisdom. 

Having friends, family and acquaintances over for dinner in their home and gift giving are not things they do only on holidays or special occasions but these actions are a frequent and deliberate occurrence and are a part of who they are in Christ Jesus.  They are instant in season and out, with love and good works. 

What prompts all this giving in their lives?  To me it’s pretty obvious.  They have experienced the mercy and grace of God with His salvation through Jesus Christ and they make daily journeys to the well of Living Water that never runs dry.  Thus the love of Jesus overflows from their hearts into the hearts and lives of countless others.

As I thought about my friends the phrase, ‘provoking one another to good works’ kept coming to mind so I looked up the scripture to refresh my memory.

Hebrews 10:24 (KJV) states, ^“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”

The word provoke in the dictionary gives some negative definitions but the way the word in this scripture is used would be the last and most positive of the definitions: ”…to provide the needed stimulus for…”  Some of the synonyms for the word ‘provoke’ are: to excite, stimulate or quicken. 

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.”  is Hebrews 10:24  from the New Living Translation.

Our carnal nature is so prone to focus on the negative and we tend get stuck in that miserable rut. But God’s word and spirit prompts us to look around us, overlooking the faults of this humanity, and seeing the redeeming power of Christ at work in one another.  We need to be together or ‘rub shoulders’ with people who provoke us, or stimulate us to love and good works.  We can do this by going to church, inviting people into our homes, not just to entertain…but to provoke one another to love and good works.

I thank God for bringing people into my life that ‘provoke’ me and I pray God will use my family and me to do the same in other’s lives. 

Can you think of a way to ‘provoke’ to good works or ‘deliberately excite’ someone with God’s love in action through you, today? J

I will admit, it’s a fact that the sun has a positive effect on our emotions.  In climates where there are fewer days of sunshine there are more people with depression than in areas where the sun is shining almost everyday.  I thank God for the sunshine, I enjoy it tremendously.  However, the Christian’s emotions should not depend on outward circumstances to give them a “sunny” or happy disposition.  After all, we know the God who created the sun!

Are you looking for the circumstances in your life to be up to your expectaions so you can feel happy?

As a young woman I went through an experience that brought me to the realization that it wasn’t sunshine or good circumstances I needed.  Only believing in God’s promises and faithfulness could give me the joy I was desperately seeking.  Circumstances around me could add to my happiness, but real and lasting joy could come only from my God.  And just as the children of Israel had to gather manna every morning while on their wilderness journey, I too must get my rest and refreshing from the presence of the Lord, daily.  There is no other way…

What woke me up to this revelation?  I wish I would have learned it simply from prayer and reading God’s Word.  But the revelation came only after I was beat up and emotionally torn to pieces from listening to the devil’s lies.  I believed my own emotions.  I felt like I was no good and couldn’t do anything right spiritually.  I didn’t pray enough, fast enough, do enough.  Negative and ungodly thoughts would constantly come into my head. The more I tried to rid myself of them the more the thoughts persisted. I wasn’t the Christian I should be nor the wife and mother I should be, etc., etc.  In other words I couldn’t live up to my own expectations.

Looking back my eyesight is 20-20.  I see myself as a young woman, a twenty year old pastor’s wife.  I was living far from home in a different state in a different culture (Hmmm…good preperation for living on the mission field that would come later in life.)  I had married at eighteen, became a pastor’s wife and mother of two children (I was an only child with no experience being in a minister’s home).  All this occurred in the span of three years bringing me to the ripe old age of twenty-one! 

Although these changes in my life were positive, they were never-the-less major life altering changes the occurred in a rather short period of time.  The enemy knew this was a crucial, vulnerable time in my life.  But my God knows me well and didn’t allow me to emotionally crash and burn. 

It was during this time period that I repeatedly tried to fast a day and failed three times in a row, and ended up eating the meal instead.  The last night I did that, I had fixed a lentil dish…a delicious new recipe.  (That was a dumb thing to do on a fast…why didn’t I fix my hardworking husband a tried and true dish that didn’t tempt me so much!)  

As I was eating the first bite I thought of Esau who sold his birthright for a bowl of pottage, which one source sated, was lentils!  I felt fear nearly overtake me, God was through with me, done.  He had left me, I was lost…no hope.  As I write this, it sounds ridiculous.  Jesus said He would never leave us not forsake us.  That one scripture alone should have pushed away the fear of abandonment.  But I was so beat down and numb with fear, I couldn’t think straight. I suffered sleeplessness, and felt great emotional turmoil. It seemed as though I would never again be able to feel rested in my mind and have peace. 

I remember sitting on the couch looking out the living room window at the beautiful sunshine.  Sunshine had always made me feel good, but not today.  I realized that day, that only the love of Jesus made me feel joy and then the sun could add to my happiness.  Without Him, nothing mattered, there was no beauty in the sun when I could feel no hope of ever feeling the love of God again…

God brought me through the journey victoriously.  Gently, patiently God broke down the parts of my spiritual foundation that were faulty and rebuilt it again.  I had new understanding of the way God works and the way my mind, with lies of the enemy, could lead me down the wrong path.  I discovered I had perfectionist issues in my life and areas where God had forgiven me but I hadn’t forgiven myself.  I learned important lessons during this phase of my life that has helped me all along life’s way. 

I discovered I could be miserable and self destruct even in good circumstances, and I could also be joyful in any circumstance if I would choose to believe and do things God’s way, according to His Holy Word. 

I found I don’t have to follow my emotions and I don’t need the sun nearly as much as I need The Son! 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16 (KJV)

What brought this to mind was something that happened recently. *Louie, a brother in the Lord testified that he had been helping somone work in the garage. The staple gun that was being used, flew out of the other man’s hand and hit Louie just under his eye…dangerously close to his eyeball.  If I remember right, it was hard enough to knock him down. 

With blood running down his face, Louie fought panic.  He had no insurance so he felt going to the emergency room was not an option.  He cried out to God then procedded to call his pastor. After answering and hearing the situation, his pastor prayed with him for Divine healing. This happened on Saturday night.  The next morning it was swollen but and by Wednesday, his eye looked perfectly normal!  The place the staple gun hit had healed.  People commented it appeared as if it had healed from stitches.  Jesus is The Healer!  Praise be to the name of the Lord!

These kinds of things happen all the time in our church families and here and around the world.  We need to repeat them to one another.  I could write many personal testimonies from people I know, along with personal stories of healings in myself and my family.  We hear way too much bad news.  We need to shine the light of God’s power and goodness by sharing these kinds testimonies!

This world system brings stress and as our nation’s people and leaders turn from the fear of God and throw away goldly values, it brings heaviness…darkness around us.  It brings more problems than we care to think about…disease in our bodies, pollution in our air, toxins in our food, rising taxes, people unleashing rage in homes and in public, natural disasters, wars, etc.  The list could go on and on.  But these escalating troubles compel us to turn all the more toward God, our only help.  It’s now not a matter if plan A and B don’t work out, what will we do.  We have run out of options, options that were only temporary help anyway.

The bottom line…we aren’t to stress and worry about what is happening around us but rather seek the Lord with all of our heart, soul and might. 

What are some ways to seek God?  Get in the Scriptures more than in the news.  Get into prayer more than entertainment.  Have more godly fellowship than frivolis social activities and more frequent times of meditating on God’s majesty and goodness rather than more vacations.  Get involved in church life rather than just simply attending service. Do more fasting and less feasting.  Do good for others and visit the fatherless and the widows.  Give tithes and offerings faithfully, etc.

Does that seem like a rather formidable list?  Probably…we have become lulled into spiritual sleep by the enemy of our soul.  But God is awakening us! Choose to do just one thing today to draw closer to the Lord and you will rewarded by His presence and will be wanting to do more and more just to be near Him.

I am excited to see how we, as the Body of Christ, will live and move and have our being in Him, in these last days! 

* Not his real name 

Walking down the store’s main aisle, my husband David and I spotted this model ahead, she stood out above the rest.  All we could see was her back but being dressed modestly stood out in itself. She had long grey hair, caught up in a pretty barrette, flowing down her back.  David wondered aloud if we knew her.  Just then she turned her cart into an aisle to our left and now I could see her profile.  I recognized her and called out her name.  As she turned, she greeted us with kind words, clear eyes and a lovely smile.  And though the traces of time had gently etched her face she still had a natural beauty of her own. 

But natural beauty isn’t why I admire her and write about her today.  My admiration comes from observing an inward beauty that started with following Jesus Christ and has never faded but, in fact, has become even more beautiful through the years.

Sure, life has brought her many ups and downs with twists and turns along the way, as life does. But it encourages me to see her steadily going onward, no matter what happens or who leaves the path to follow another ‘new and improved’ way. The passing of time has proved that this model has her mind made up to stay with the tried and true word of God and its principles.  She is continuing to follow the same path that women of God have walked before her in times past…bearing the fruit of the spirit, ie., love, joy, peace, patience…etc., what naturally comes of righteousness or right living, as the Bible teaches.

I will do well to follow her example in the way I walk, talk, dress and act rather than the latest models in the media, any day! I need to be compassionate towards them and pray for them but by no means should I hold them up as ones to imitate in dress, speech or actions. 

I want to say a public thank you to all the women -from young to old- who as the model I spoke of in this article, have not caved to the pressure of the times.  They don’t buy in to the painted up, marked on, pierced, stripped of decent clothing, etc., and the ‘do this to be accepted by the crowd’ look.  My mother taught me it was attractive to have a clean, natural look.  And she told me it was wise to look for clothes with classic lines that wouldn’t go out of style.  Godliness modeled in speech, action and dress is both wise and classic…it is very attractive, and always in style.

To my precious sisters in Christ Jesus: Don’t give up true beauty for the glittery, cheap imitation of beauty the world pushes.  You are the real models…the models who this world, and our little girls, desperately need! 

 Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

‘Are you ready, are you ready, are you ready for the Judgement Day…?’

And…

“Softly and Tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me. 
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling, calling oh sinner come home.
Come home, come home, ye who are weary come home.”

(Anyone remember those old, precious hymns?)

The message from the Lord is simple but clear.  Jesus is coming soon…and He is gently calling His people to lay aside the sin, busyness and clamor of this world by tuning into Him.  
This we do by:
-talking to our Creator and Heavenly Father, in Jesus name
-singing and making melody in our hearts unto the Lord
-meditating on His goodness
-reading the scriptures
-listening to what He is speaking to our hearts through His Word 

Pure and simple…this is prayer. 

God’s spirit does not compete with the world, it overpowers it.  His gentle whisper, persistant and powerful, can be heard loud and clear above the noise of this world to those who will stop long enough to listen. 

The great news is, He doesn’t give up easy and His love is ever strong.  Those that desire Him need not worry but continue to keep on keeping on, and if you fall-get up.  God is much greater than your weaknesses; He will see you through the end.  

Jesus is coming very soon…let’s live close to Him and proclaim it to the world!  We need to be ready and waiting and unbelievers need a chance to hear…now! 

May God help us all to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord and with love, boldly speaking the truth of God’s word, to a lost world.  Look up!  Our redemption is very near!

“Come Home, Come Home, Ye who are weary come Home…Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling…”

My precious mother has been in a skilled care center for almost five years. She cannot respond verbally anymore nor can she move, except for twitching her feet or moving her eyebrows up a little. The little beginning of a smile and light in her eyes show up from time to time but briefly, oh, so briefly and rarely nowadays.  I know that somewhere, maybe deep in her psyche, she knows we are with her and she knows her God has not forsaken her.

How, you may wonder, does this tie into being used of God?  I thought Mom’s time of being useful for God’s purposes were over.  She could no longer sing in the choir, faithfully clean the church restrooms, bake for church fundraisers or take dinners to those in need.  There could be no more driving elderly ladies and take them to church, nor teach Sunday School.  No more having new converts over to teach them Bible Studies or  feed them lunch and have a friendly chat.  No small groups meeting in her home.  Her home’s been sold. All the things she did joyfully for her Master she can no longer do.  As far as material goods, she owns nothing more than the few clothes she needs and a few meager necessities.  It seemed as though her ministering days were over.

Then I began to notice some special things happening.  I was learning to have more patience and overcame  fears of “what if?”  Also her adult grandchildren and the little great-grandchildren learned a lot about true love.  The kind of love that gives even when the receiver can no longer give anything tangable in return.  Mom is still teaching us how to love, not the way she would have chosen to do it, but never the less, she is teaching us.

The peace and love shining through Mom’s countenance has also affected those caring for her at the nursing home. I could fill pages containing the glowing comments made to me about Mom.  How can this be, in her situation?  It can only be God’s peace and joy that continue to emanate from her that blesses those caring for her. 

So many others are drawn to Mom’s sweet spirit.  I walked in her room February 14 to find a pretty balloon with a Valentine note from the family of her roommate.  It said, “To a lovely lady with a beautiful smile.” Mom’s smiles may be rare but evidently she was able to share one with this family. 

Last week as I thumbed through Mom’s Bible looking for just the right passage to read to her, I came across a handwritten note on three small pieces of paper.  It was dated 4-8-09 and was signed by a woman in the church who visits Mom periodically. 

She wrote, “Dear Sis. Clark,  You are sleeping soundly this afternoon & unaware of my presence. You have no noticeable pain.  I don’t know what you dream about or what your thoughts are when awake.  My own mind runs to and fro day and night.  So many things to do and plan for.  $ to budget, sales goals for the job, Mica’s infected toe, Easter is Sun., my cousin is about to die from liver damage w/out the hand of God, one of my aunts is grieving over the loss of my uncle, Bro. Steve had a stroke, I focus on too many unimportant things…the list goes on…much to consider & pray about & decide upon…then I come into your room and it’s always the same… life stops… and my mind stops… for a few brief moments nothing else matters but being with you.  I thank you for every moment we have spent together… even if you are sleeping.  I thank you for every moment that the world has hushed, by being in your presence.  May your dreams be sweet and your thoughts be beautiful!!!  God in His majesty is most glorious!  I love you so much, Tam”

Through Mom’s life I’ve learned that God can use us to touch lives no matter what our circumstance.    If we give God our little ‘loaves and fishes’ He can still bless and use it to feed the multitude!

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
         I will guide you with My eye.

 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
         Which have no understanding,
         Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
         Else they will not come near you.

         Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
         But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.

These scriptures speak of two ways we can choose to be led by God. The first is by bit and bridle like an unruly horse, and the other is simply by his eye.

 Being guided by God’s eye didn’t mean much to me until I had an experience with my Filipina helper, Delia. (Having lived in the Philippines and traveled in different countries doing missions work, I have learned much about other cultures and people groups.)  Delia lived with us for a few of years.  During that time we developed more than just an employer/employee relationship, we became friends.  Learning from each other, I taught her to cook food American style; she taught me to get along well in her culture. 

One day my husband and I served in our home a large group of North American young people. My eyes scanned the crowd of guests when I spotted Delia holding a tray of glasses filled with refreshing tropical juice, ready to serve.  She spoke no words but her eyes had been fixed intently on me, she was waiting for my instructions.  All I had to do was give her the signal and she would begin serving. She was waiting for my eyes to guide her. There was no need for me to shout above the din of the crowd.  We knew each other.  All I had to do was look at those needing drinks and she followed my lead.

Being led by the eye…simple and effective.

The leading by bit and bridle, on the other hand, is not a pleasant experience.  For horses it is expected, it’s how they respond best. However God made us different from a horse and He is not pleased to lead us that way. If it’s the only way we will listen then He loves us enough to put the pressure on. 

1. So basically it’s my choice and yours.  What will it be today?  Will we choose to take the time to meditate on God’s word and talk with Him, looking to Him to instruct us?  Will we lay down our own plans and let God direct our day, guiding us with His eye? 

I know what I plan to do…

 Unto You I lift up my eyes,
         O You who dwell in the heavens.
 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters,
         As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
         So our eyes look to the LORD our God,
         Until He has mercy on us.  Psalm 123:1-2 NKJV

Our relationship in marriage is a type of Christ and the Church.  We show Christ’s love for His Bride (us) by the way we treat each other.

Treating one another this way does not come naturally.  It won’t come accidentally, we have to do it on purpose!  It will take prayer…asking God to help us know how to put it into practice. 

I don’t hear people being referred to as “Gentlemen” and “Ladies” as I did years ago.  It sounds old fashioned…I haven’t used those terms lately either; maybe I will start, I like the way they sound.

Hmmm…gentleman…gentle, that describes how my God is with me. That also describes how my husband treats me.   He makes me feel like a lady, someone treasured.  It makes me want to honor and respect him.

This did not come naturally for either of us.  This gentleness, tenderness and respect, were things that were developed in our relationship.  We had to learn how to put them into practice.  We still make mistakes and hurt one another, from time to time.  But this happens less and less as the years pass and the character of Christ is formed in us more and more. 

We have also learned to ask forgiveness from the Lord and each other when our actions do not honor Christ in our marriage.  Saying I’m sorry and meaning it, can be a tough lesson to learn.  However letting the same hurt go on for days, and even years is much more painful and can eventually become fatal to a marriage. 

Treating each other with love and respect at home first and also in public settings is the aim.  It starts with loving thoughts.  There it is again, that same biblical concept, what starts in the mind and heart will manifest itself in our speech and actions. 

Guys, it is possible to be strong yet gentle and loving to your wife.  Girls, it is possible to give honor and respect to your husband.  Remember, when you are doing this to each other, you are doing it unto the Lord.  You are painting a picture to the world of the relationship between Christ and the Church.

Things to think about:  How do you treat your spouse when you are with other people relaxing, playing games, etc.  How do you treat each other in the home? 

Here are a few simple things you can start putting into practice at home as well as in public:

1. When you think loving thoughts about your spouse, don’t just think them, speak them.  

2.Reach out with loving touches such as a kiss on the cheek or an admiring look and smile from the wife or a gentle squeeze around the waist or protective arm on her shoulder, from the husband. 

These things are simple but a great start to a loving relationship. Don’t always wait for loving feelings, do the actions and the loving feelings will eventually follow.

You can be the first one to change for the good.  Ask God to help you and He will.  Don’t be discouraged and quit when things don’t seem to go right.  Just keep on doing the right thing.  It always pays off in the end!

Remember, you are not treating each other this way only for the sake of your spouse, for others, or for the sake of your children.  You are doing it because you love and honor your God.  Earthly and eternal benefits will follow!