For this holiday- Memorial Day- the greeting, "Happy Memorial Day" just does not express the appropriate sentiment. Memorial Day is a day to remember the sacrifice of soldiers who have died in war. It began after the Civil war and was originally called 'Decoration Day'. It was later extended to honor all fallen soldiers in any war. Jesus told us in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than his, that he lay down his life for his friends." Anyone who joins the military knows they might be called to go to war and fight. Believing in life, freedom and independent pursuit of happiness that is declared in our Constitution's Bill of Rights gives motivation and heart to their call to defend our nation. It is an honorable calling that is worthy of our acknowledgement and remembrance. Proverbs 10:7a "The memory of the righteous will be a blessing." Who will you remember today that has answered the call and given their life for their friends? You and I are those friends and it is our obligation to their sacrifice that we remember them. Scripture teaches that remembering will be a blessing.
Will you attend a parade, a breakfast, have a time of prayer, watch a war movie? Any of these things can be a cause to remember those that have fallen and give thanks for their sacrifice for you and for me. Have a blessed Memorial Day! I think that would be the proper greeting and I send it to you!
Linda
Prayer: Thank you Lord, for those brave men and women who have given their all- their lives- so that I can enjoy the freedoms our country provides. Help me to be honoring to their memory and sacrifices knowing they laid their lives down for me, someone they did not even know. Give me an attitude of thankfulness for those Veteran's that are still living and help me to honor them. Lord, give our leaders wisdom and a sense of unity in working to preserve that for which so many have died. Amen.
Monday, May 26, 2014
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Gracefilled Aging
What is age? As I get older I ponder about whether I am getting better with age like good wine or if I’m moving towards getting crotchy and narrow-minded. Yesterday I had a wonderful lunch with 2 octogenarians. They were delightful- so full of life and quick to relate stories from the past as well as what is current today. As our lunch progressed, we talked of things of the LORD. Both ladies have walked with the LORD for many years and speak from experience about God’s faithfulness. They are both students of the Word and enjoy studying, discussing and applying God’s word to their lives. I was reminded of these verses as we talked. Job 12:12 “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” Psalm 111:10 ” The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” and Proverbs 2:6 “For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (NIV)
Just getting older does not make us wise. Scripture tell us that understanding, insight and knowledge comes from God. The knowledge of God comes from following his precepts- those things he has laid out for us in his word. Studying God’s word allows us to grow and develop through our entire life. It allows us to develop knowledge and understanding that only He can give. That is what made these two ladies so alive and vibrant. They were still seekers and are not content to “rest” in their age. They want to know God more fully with each day. One of these ladies was in a study group with me this year and she was always consistent to memorize the scripture verses. I was convicted over this as I have used the excuse that ‘the older I get the harder it is to memorize scripture’. Well, she made me see that it is not age that is keeping me from memorizing it is laziness.
What about you? Are you ‘resting’ in your age-whatever it is? Are you seeking to know God more fully with each passing day? Are you seeking to apply His word to your life and hide his words in your heart? Are you using excuses like- I can’t do that anymore? or I don’t have time? Where is God wanting to stretch you and help you to grow? You are never to old to learn- it is a lifelong proposition. While we still draw breath we need to be open to learning. It will keep us young at heart, vibrant and hopeful in the LORD just like my octogenarian friends.
Blessings,
Linda
Just getting older does not make us wise. Scripture tell us that understanding, insight and knowledge comes from God. The knowledge of God comes from following his precepts- those things he has laid out for us in his word. Studying God’s word allows us to grow and develop through our entire life. It allows us to develop knowledge and understanding that only He can give. That is what made these two ladies so alive and vibrant. They were still seekers and are not content to “rest” in their age. They want to know God more fully with each day. One of these ladies was in a study group with me this year and she was always consistent to memorize the scripture verses. I was convicted over this as I have used the excuse that ‘the older I get the harder it is to memorize scripture’. Well, she made me see that it is not age that is keeping me from memorizing it is laziness.
What about you? Are you ‘resting’ in your age-whatever it is? Are you seeking to know God more fully with each passing day? Are you seeking to apply His word to your life and hide his words in your heart? Are you using excuses like- I can’t do that anymore? or I don’t have time? Where is God wanting to stretch you and help you to grow? You are never to old to learn- it is a lifelong proposition. While we still draw breath we need to be open to learning. It will keep us young at heart, vibrant and hopeful in the LORD just like my octogenarian friends.
Blessings,
Linda
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Tips on 'de-stressing' your life!!
How is your busy life going? Does it cause you to stress over things? I have discovered that stress is rooted in fear as I am not trusting God to accomplish what needs to be done. There are times when my life seems to be all about activity, doing accomplishing things and then times of rest and relaxation. I find the times of activity bring me the greatest stress, and I often feel overwhelmed by everything I am facing or need to accomplish. On those days that I know will be very taxing, I pray for God to multiply my time and energy. Another way to say this is Time Management for both activities and energy. God has always been faithful to do this for me. At the end of the day I look back and can praise Him for all that He has done through me that day.
How can I live fearlessly and know that God will faithfully energize me and multiply my time? What assurances do I have from God’s word? Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (NIV) The first step in being assured is to ask God. Lay out your day before Him and ask for strength, guidance, energy, multiplied time, good decisions in using the time give, etc. Once you have laid the problems at Jesus feet, you need to believe He will answer you. James 1:6 a “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,” and 1John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (NIV) God is good and wants me to accomplish things for Him. When I ask for strength, guidance, energy and time management, those are things He will freely give me so that I can do His work. The key to this is to remember to pray and give it to God. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be joyful; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I pray these are words of encouragement to you and will help you ‘de-stress’ your life this week.
Blessings,
Linda
How can I live fearlessly and know that God will faithfully energize me and multiply my time? What assurances do I have from God’s word? Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (NIV) The first step in being assured is to ask God. Lay out your day before Him and ask for strength, guidance, energy, multiplied time, good decisions in using the time give, etc. Once you have laid the problems at Jesus feet, you need to believe He will answer you. James 1:6 a “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,” and 1John 5:14 “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (NIV) God is good and wants me to accomplish things for Him. When I ask for strength, guidance, energy and time management, those are things He will freely give me so that I can do His work. The key to this is to remember to pray and give it to God. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Be joyful; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
I pray these are words of encouragement to you and will help you ‘de-stress’ your life this week.
Blessings,
Linda
Sunday, May 4, 2014
God is Greater
Yesterday was my first official book signing event. God so graciously brought another author at the same time. He was a young man with a powerful story about God's transforming power in his life. Both of us had time to talk with people about God's might and power and what he has done and is doing in our lives. I had some deep theological conversations about fear and how God's word changes lives. What about you? When was the last time you had a serious conversation- not argument- about God, who He is, what He is doing in your life or why you believe He is who He says He is?
In our society we are taught to believe that when you are with others- you don't talk religion or politics, right? However, my discussions were soul searching, exhilarating and thought provoking yesterday. I should be ready to talk about the Lord and what He has done for me at anytime. This is not always easy and Satan wants us to be afraid, intimidated, embarrassed, doubting or tongue tied by our thoughts and worries. John reminds us in 1John 4:4 " You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."(NIV) When we step out- or in this case- speak out, we are living by faith and not fear! Jesus wants us to be bold for His sake and not be ashamed to proclaim Him to the world. Paul so aptly put it in Romans 1:16-17 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (me). For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" (NIV)
I want to live by faith and not be captive to my fears. I am learning that this is a day by day walk with the Lord towards fearlessly living in Him!
Blessings,
Linda
The young man I met, Eli Contreras, tells his story in his book And then I Heard His Voice. A short article by Allen Payton was recently published in the Antioch Herald . You can also see him on You Tube under "Saving Eli". It is a powerful interview done by the 700 Club.
In our society we are taught to believe that when you are with others- you don't talk religion or politics, right? However, my discussions were soul searching, exhilarating and thought provoking yesterday. I should be ready to talk about the Lord and what He has done for me at anytime. This is not always easy and Satan wants us to be afraid, intimidated, embarrassed, doubting or tongue tied by our thoughts and worries. John reminds us in 1John 4:4 " You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."(NIV) When we step out- or in this case- speak out, we are living by faith and not fear! Jesus wants us to be bold for His sake and not be ashamed to proclaim Him to the world. Paul so aptly put it in Romans 1:16-17 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile (me). For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'" (NIV)
I want to live by faith and not be captive to my fears. I am learning that this is a day by day walk with the Lord towards fearlessly living in Him!
Blessings,
Linda
The young man I met, Eli Contreras, tells his story in his book And then I Heard His Voice. A short article by Allen Payton was recently published in the Antioch Herald . You can also see him on You Tube under "Saving Eli". It is a powerful interview done by the 700 Club.
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