Too Old to Serve the Lord?...Never!

"The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil."  - C.S. Lewis

With my children now grown, I find myself slowly phasing into a new stage life. Those like myself who have reached the mid-point of life, or beyond, may suddenly realize the quick passage of time and the brevity of what is left.

For many mature Christians, there are now different things to consider that perhaps had previously not even occurred to them. For instance, there are things such as health issues, aging parents, and deaths that may now weigh heavy on one's mind.

I'm not trying to worry or depress any of my fellow, seasoned Christian brothers and sisters, here. I sincerely apologize if I have. Instead, I hope to assure, and maybe inspire you that we all still have many good miles left in God's service.

Scripture has many shining examples of faithful men and women who, although not young in years, proved to be more than capable of fulfilling their earthly missions as directed by the LORD. Allow me to point out a few of these for you.

Abram was 75 years old commanded by the LORD to leave his native land, his countrymen, and his father's house, and into the land he would show him (Genesis 12:1-9). Moses was 80 and Aaron was 83 when they spoke to the Pharaoh, as per their directions from God (Exodus 7:7).

Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt (Genesis 41:46). The prophetess Anna whose powerful encounter with Joseph, Mary, and Jesus was believed to be 105 years of age (Luke 2:36-38).

In the Book of Ruth there is Naomi, the widowed mother-in-law of Ruth who despite losing her husband and both sons, demonstrated her shrewdness, powerful strength, and belief in the LORD in procuring the future of her remaining family.

It's quite evident that age is not a deal-breaker when it comes to the LORD. There is no such thing as a saint who is too old to be useful and productive in His work. Rise up! For "the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few" (Matthew 9:37; Luke 2:10).

Scripture: Job 12:12; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Psalm 92:12-14; Psalm 73:26; Philippians 1:6

Prayer: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come, amen  - Psalm 71:17-18 (ESV)

In Christ, 

Kathy

We Must Learn to Trust in God

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." - Psalm 37:5 (ESV)

Trust in God cannot be developed by stops and starts. It can only be exercised by consistent, daily application. Trust in God is not fully generated in one fell swoop, either. It comes in small, incremental, but consistent steps.

The strongest trees take time to take root, then develop slowly over time. They are subjected to storms, the seasons, changes in climate, periods of drought, and many other conditions that help it flourish and thrive.

This occurs similarly with our trust in God. We too must give it time to develop, take root, and grow. But this can only happen by regular use in which is is actively employed. If you're hoping for quick growth with minimal effort, it won't happen.

As in the illustration above, trust in God is refined and matured only by subjecting it to all of the situations that may arise during the course of our daily lives. Over time it ceases to be simply an intention and instead becomes habit.

Learning to trust can be difficult for some, even when it applies to God. However, to trust God you must first believe in Him. Without faith in God it will prove difficult for trust to happen. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (ESV)

We must learn to trust God to hold up his end of the bargain, and that he will never fail to do so. Proverbs 3:5 (ESV) advises "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."  Make God your trust and you will never go wrong.

Scripture: Psalm 9:10; Hebrews 11:6; Psalm 118:8; Psalm 56:3; Psalm 62:8

Prayer: Dear God, Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul, amen.  - Psalm 143:8 (ESV)

Joyfully in Christ,

Donna

The Lord is Our Lawgiver

"The law of the Lord is perfect;"  - Psalm 19:7

We live in world of laws. People realized early on that in order to retain some sense of order in a functioning society, laws were necessary. The Jewish people during the time of King David lived according to Mosaic law.

And while our laws are certainly necessary they are not infallible. For example, we sometimes convict the wrong person of a crime and send them to prison, or a person may lose their property due to loophole in the law.

This only serves to demonstrate the imperfection of the world in which we live. In short, nothing here is for sure, or guaranteed. This raises the question, "If we live in such an imperfect or defective world, is there anyone or anything we can depend on?" (Psalm 119:160).

There is one answer to both of these, and that is God. God is perfect and flawless, and the doctrine he has imparted to us is also perfect. This doctrine or "instruction," is intended to teach us about who and what He is, and his intentions for, and expectations of, us, his children (Proverbs 4:2).

We find His doctrine within the pages of the Bible. It is specifically for our spiritual benefit, which has far greater significance than any man-made laws. Consequences for disobeying man's laws affect us here and now; transgression of God's laws, for eternity (Psalm 1:1-6).

The doctrine of God can never be amended or changed in any way. It stands forever. There are no mistakes, omissions, or needless duplication to be found in it. The Word of God is entirely perfect in every way. Let it instruct you, guide you, inspire you, and deliver you (John 5:24).

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 90:2; Numbers 23:19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 13:8

Prayer: Dear God, I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well, amen.  - Psalm 139:14

May God lead your path,

Lee

Remove the Heart of Stone

"The greatest mistake any Christian can make is to substitute his own will for the will of God." - Harry Ironside

Most everyone can recall a time when they stubbornly fought against something that either they didn't agree with, or refused to do or say. Some might call this "sticking to your guns," or adhering to one's principles or values.

This reluctance, or unwillingness might not, under certain circumstances, be such a bad thing to possess, such as in those that pose a possible damaging or injurious outcome to one's health, livelihood, or personal relationships.

However, there is no place for obstinacy when it comes to Jesus Christ. Those who choose to turn away from or not accept him demonstrate a stubbornness of the heart that prevents Christ from entering their life (Ezekiel 36:26).

The biggest hurdle for them to clear is putting their faith in what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1). We read in Scripture how hard it was for some to, both, accept Jesus and what he had to say (John 6:66; Zephaniah 1:6).

This, even though the Son of God was actually living, breathing, walking, and talking right among them! How much more difficult, though not impossible, it is to remove the stubbornness that holds men's hearts hostage today.

We, who believe in Jesus Christ have our work cut out for us. Still, we must persevere in trying to reach out to unyielding hearts (Mark 16:15). Sadly, even with the Holy Spirit empowering us some will remain unchanged.

Stubbornness of the heart prevents one from accepting Jesus' invitation of salvation (Romans 10:9-10), and the promise of eternal life ( 1 John 2:25). "...that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you...(Ephesians 1:18).

Scripture: Psalm 81:11-12; Romans 2:5; Acts 7:51; Jeremiah 7:24; Isaiah 48:4

Prayer: Dear Jesus, may my heart always be full of Your love and mercy, amen.

Stay blessed,

Becky Lynn

Desiring God Over the World

"We have no sufficient strength of our own. All our sufficiency is of God." - Matthew Henry

The believer in Christ must always be on guard against the plots and schemes of Satan. After all, Scripture warns us:"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" ( 1 Peter 5:8).

Without a doubt, much attention and warning is placed on Satan in the world, and rightly so. But we also must be aware of other adversaries that lurk about ready to ambush and ensnare the unprepared Christian.

This enemy may, in a sense, pose an even more dangerous threat to us than the Devil. It is familiar to us as: the world. This is not the "physical" world with all of its God-given beauty, resources, and abundance (1 John 2:16).

This "world" is that which is governed by lust, greed, vanity, and pride of heart. It also plays to the bodily appetites satiated by the pleasure of our external senses, such as: touch, taste, and smell.

We are all subject to the weaknesses of the flesh. There are no exceptions. The prince of this world has many different weapons at his disposal to take advantage of the weak or floundering Christian (Psalm 73:26).

The path leading up to "the narrow gate" is literally a minefield laid out by an evil, clever, and crafty opponent. Satan will fight you every step of the way. He will stop at nothing in order to detour us through "the wide gate" (Matthew 7:13).

The believer must love God above all else; seeking his happiness not in the things of this world but in Him. Only by doing the will of (obeying) God can the mislead, bewildered, and disheartened emerge victorious in the end (1 John 2:17).

Scripture: Romans 8:8; Galatians 5:16; Romans 13:14; Colossians 3:2; Matthew 16:26 

Prayer: Dear Lord, as the apostle Paul declared, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Please strengthen me for my daily battles; and shore up my spirit against Satan's constant thrusts, amen. 

Blessings always,

Cyndy

The Sight of the Inward Eye

"Faith is the sight of the inward eye."  - Alexander MacLaren

Sight is a miraculous thing! It allows us to view all the beauty and wonder in God's creation. Unquestionably, it is our window to the world, and some say even to our soul.

Yet even with sight, many have trouble seeing, and it's not what you might think. One can have 20/20 vision, yet still not have the ability to see. The problem is being able to see with eyes of faith.

Mark 8:22-26 recounts Jesus healing a blind man at Bethsaida, a place on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Upon arriving there, the disciples were met by friends of the blind man who pleaded for Jesus to touch him.

This blind man, however, showed none of the hopeful urgency that was displayed by another blind man who sought Jesus' help in John 9:1-12. He was brought to Christ by his friends and not of his own accord. 

It was the genuine faith of his friends that caught the attention of Jesus; the keyword being faith. I have spoken to quite a few people who tell me that they have trouble seeing Christ in anything (Isaiah 5:21).

Most of us have graciously been provided with the gift of sight, yet are as blind as the man at Bethsaida. Spiritual blindness has nothing to do with vision of the eyes, but instead being able to see with our hearts.

And while Jesus healed his eyes and restored his vision, it had nothing to do with the blind man's lack of faith. It was because of the complete faith in Jesus that was displayed by his friends that made it all possible.

We sometimes rely too much on our physical attributes to save us. As we have seen, spiritual blindness has nothing to do with our eyesight. Jesus could be standing right in front of us but can't be seen. He is seen not through our eyes, but through our hearts. 

It is our faith and belief in him that allows us to see him. It is knowing what he did for us (John 3:16), and what he can do for us that lifts the veil of spiritual blindness from our hearts, allowing us to see Him in his full, heavenly glory.

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalm 146:8; Job 34:21; John 12:40

Prayer: Dear Lord, open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law, amen.  - Psalm 119:18

God bless you,

Lauren

The Cleansing Power of Christ

"If turning from your sins means to stop sinning, then people can only be saved if they stop sinning. And it is unlikely that anyone has ever been saved, since we don't know anyone who has ever stopped sinning."  - Curtis Hutson

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to make something as clean as it was when it new no matter how many times you wash, scrub, and rinse it?

Sure, it might look better than it did before you gave it a good scouring, but somehow it just isn't the same as it was. It will never be "brand new" again.

This is what sin does to us. It soils our hearts and contaminates our souls. And no matter what we do we cannot cleanse it, at least not on our own (Psalm 51:5).

Our sin also does a lot more than make us look dirty or unkempt. It stands in the way of our relationship with God. It keeps us from having communion with him.

From our perspective any hope of changing this situation looks bleak, but not from God's. I refer you to the miracle of Jesus' cleansing of the leper in Matthew 8:1-4.

During that time, leprosy was seen as a sign or mark given to a person by God as a result of sin. It was a condemnation from which there appeared no chance of parole.

Only one had the ability to cleanse the leper of his disease and us of our sin, and that is Jesus Christ. That is what God had in mind when he sent His Only Son to us here (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Then, with all the faith and humility he could muster, the leper pleaded with Jesus to make him clean and he was healed (Matthew 8:2-3).

Thus we are to approach him if we desire cleansing of our sins. Like the leper, we too must approach Christ in faith for his mercy.

Many have it the other way around, and then wonder why nothing has changed for them. Sin cannot be erased or scrubbed away by our own efforts.

There is no remedy or ritual found on earth that can remove it. This can only be accomplished by our  humble and faithful submission to Christ, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Scripture: 1 John 1:8; James 1:14; Psalm 51:10; John 5:14; Isaiah 64:6

Prayer: Dear Lord, wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me, amen.   - Psalm 51:2-3 (ESV)

Bless you,

Brielle

What Is Truth?

"What is truth? said jesting Pilate; and would not stay for an answer." - Francis Bacon

Trust is a word that has been batted around so frequently that I feel it has lost much of its signification. It really is becoming more difficult to trust in anyone or anything these days.

A big part of the problem could be that there are few good examples set before us to follow. What we see instead are frequent instances of falsehoods, fabrications, cover-ups, cheating, and crookedness.

While it is understandable that trusting our fellow man is a risky proposition at best, placing our trust in God brings no such uncertainty. On the other hand, when we trust in man there's always the possibility of wrongdoing.

The issues caused by the failure of trust is ours, not God's. It's no wonder so many are confused and dismayed.  Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Bible has weighed in on this very problem many times.

Psalm 118:8; Micah 7:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 2:24-25 (ESV) are but a few examples that demonstrate what I've been talking about. If you notice there is a common, negative factor in all of them, and that is "man."

I'm not suggesting that there aren't any trustworthy people around. What I am suggesting, though, is that our trust is better placed with God. We know how quickly relationships can sour, and without notice.

Our trust, once it is given to God, is beyond any feeble, earthly conditions or situations. I think of Abraham who, even though given no guarantees, faithfully trusted that God would keep his word, and He did (Hebrews 11:8-10).

You and I can place our full trust with God without any worries or remorse. Psalm 9:10 (ESV) tells us, "And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."

We have all been victims of mistrust at some time or another. It's a chance we take when dealing with others. But, when our trust is with God we can rest comfortably in knowing that "whoever trusts in the Lord is safe."

Scripture: Psalm 143:8; Psalm 56:3; Jeremiah 7:8; Psalm 40:4; Proverbs 12:22

Prayer: Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.  - Psalm 86:2 (ESV)

Blessings always,

Cyndy

My Knowledge About God

"I often wonder if my knowledge about God has not become my greatest stumbling block to my knowledge of God."  - Henri Nouwen

Man has amassed a great wealth of knowledge in many things over the centuries. We have built great physical libraries that contain great collections of printed volumes of this knowledge.

The internet provides access to almost unlimited quantities of knowledge with literally the tap of a key or swipe of a finger. Knowledge of things has never been as conveniently available as it is today.

Even so, there is a growing decline in the knowledge of God. In a 2017 survey conducted by Pew Research Center, it was found that "one-third of U.S. adults believe in a higher power of some kind, but not in God as described in the Bible."

What is happening here? Although it's true, that availability of the word of God in certain regions of the world may be problematic, it doesn't vindicate the rest of the planet where the conditions are not dire and/or oppressive.

It's also true that evidences of God obviously surround us, such as his handiwork in nature and in the law he gave. But this is not the knowledge of God that leads to what is known as "eternal life." That requires some effort on our part to harvest it (1 John 5:20 ).

This type of knowledge might be more familiar to you as the knowledge of God in Christ. And there is only one place where this knowledge is readily available, and that is in and by way of the Gospel (Matthew 23:9).

It is here, and here only that we encounter the immeasurable store of divine things acquired only through Jesus Christ. But it will not be simply handed to us. We are encouraged to engage in the earnest studying and contemplation of it (Romans 10:17).

All that God has to offer us, such as his covenant, promises, purposes, even his mind and desires, are waiting to be discovered, pondered, and absorbed by any who possesses the thirst and passion for Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.

Scripture: Proverbs 1:7; John 17:3; 2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4; Acts 4:12;

Prayer: Dear Lord God, provide me with such love for you and others that it will overpower all hatred and bitterness in my life, in Jesus I pray, amen.

God bless you,

Lauren

Time Waits for No One, Including You!

"Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."  - Isaiah 55:7 (ESV)

Although God is long-suffering when it comes to dealing with us and our sin, we mistakenly assume that his patience is limitless; He will wait for us to come around.

Perhaps this might partly explain why so many put off asking forgiveness, repentance of sin, and accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. After all, there's no need to rush anything.

Wrong! Yes, it is true that God is patient and that He will wait for us to come to Him. No one would argue that. But, He will strive with us only so far.

He will not waste his time with those who, for whatever reason, refuse to change their life path from sin and apostasy. Though God has all eternity to wait, we don't (Psalm 115:17).

God has given us potentially 120 years of life to get our acts together (Genesis 6:3). Realistically, it shouldn't take that long. Clearly, the problem lies with us.

The time frame he has provided us is more than generous. This alone demonstrates and confirms his patience with us. We can't say that he is unfair in his expectations or too pushy.

Our corrupt nature and strong attraction to things of the flesh are our biggest obstacles. After all, we enter this world with these tendencies and struggle with them every day.

Even so, God does not slam the door shut on us so quickly. There are really only two choices that we have. One is to follow him, the other is to refuse him.

Yes, following him is hard because it is work. There is no easy ride, here. Putting him off altogether for whatever reason is a lot easier.

God is patient, compassionate, and merciful. But, he won't allow us to waste his time, either. To blatantly defy or reject Him signals that it's time to move on (Hosea 4:17).

Many live as if they have all the time in the world; that the party will never end. This is one of the great deceptions of Satan. Don't fall for it!

Remember, though it may be true that God's timeline for us to make a decision may appear interminable, it's not. And like the milk in your refrigerator, it has an expiration date (Daniel 12:2).

Scripture: Romans 8:1; Psalm 34:22; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:18; 1 John 1:7

Prayer: Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, amen.  - Psalm 103:2 (ESV)

Joyfully in Christ,

Donna

Can You Hear God Now...?

"We're important, but not essential; valuable, but not indispensable. We have a part in the play, but we are not the main act. A song to sing, but we are not the featured voice. God is."  - Max Lucado

When it comes to God, are you listening? Are you paying attention to what he has to say? I suppose that most would answer, "Yes," but are we? This is something we need to search our hearts for. Don't tune out the only voice that truly matters!

There is a definite uniqueness in what Jesus has to say to each of us. What he tells us depends on different factors and situations. Although they may appear similar, our individual supplications are quite distinct.

God's response to me is going to vary from yours. This doesn't mean that he favors one over the other. His answers consider the impact they may have on, and in, each of our lives. He always looks at the big picture.

God tells us,"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." (Jeremiah 1:5). He knows you and I intimately. He knows the "what, where, when, and how" in our lives. And he carefully answers us accordingly.

Now, we may not like what he has to say to us, but it's always in our best interest (Romans 8:27-28). If we choose not to listen, it's at our own risk. I think of Proverbs 18:2 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction…"

Many foolishly think that they can go at it alone simply because they can. No one can tell them any different, and if they do, they are wrong. If this were true, then why do we enter this world as helpless infants instead of fully grown, functional, and independent adults?

The truth is, as long as we are part of this world, we need God. He is the ultimate parent whether we accept it or not. And as any parent who loves his children, he will never stop doing so. This includes listening and reaching out to us. (Proverbs 3:5-6).

God isn't going to yell out, or tap you on the shoulder when he wants your attention. As we have to make accommodations to commune with him, we should follow suit in listening to him. God wants our full attention, "I the Lord your God am a jealous God" (Exodus 20:5).

Undoubtedly, it is becoming increasingly difficult to hear one another in this modern world. Therefore, we must make room, among the din and clamor, to listen to God when he speaks to us. Open your heart to his voice. Let him "instruct you and teach you in the way you should go" (Psalm 32:8).

Scripture: 1 John 5:14; Mark 11:24; Job 33:14; Romans 8:7; Hebrews 1:1

Prayer:  Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!  - Psalm 66:20 (ESV)

Blessings always,

Cyndy