Walk Through

Sunday evening I stood by the bedside of a friend... a 47 year old man who had struggled and fought with his body betraying him. I listened to Kez his wife tell about how he had also struggled with the Lord. What made this a bitter sweet time is that Kevin, in struggling with the Lord, I believe from what Kez told me, received answers from the Lord... and so, there was a resolve... a release that took place in Kevin's heart and soul.

The next day I pondered many things. One being a portion of the 23rd Psalm. " Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I fear no evil, for You are with me."

Some phrases in this that played over in my mind were... "walk through". For the Christian, death is not a wall, but a doorway. We proceed through this doorway with Him. We may be weary, even injured, but we arrive at our destination. How? Because the Lord Jesus is with us with every step we take.When we "walk through"the valley, He is right there with us.

The second phrase is, " shadow of death". I was thinking about shadows. You could be walking down a trail in the woods and come across the shadow of a bear. The shadow itself cannot hurt you. It is just a play of the light reflecting a certain way that makes the shadow. A shadow can only be seen when the sun is shining! This is not a cloudy, gloomy day for the Christian. So when we are walkingwith the Lord, we need not fear the "shadow" of death, for it's just a shadow. When you are a child and you first discover a shadow, you may be afraid until your Mom or Dad that is with you explains it. They may say, "Oh honey, there's no need to be afraid, it's only a shadow and shadows can't hurt you." I believe this is what it's like for the Christian when they face death. We don't need to fear death because when Christ is walking with us, it's only a shadow.

In Randy Alcorn's book,"If God is Good" he says, " Although death is the last enemy, the ghastly result of the Fall and the Curse, Christ made death a passageway into the loving presence of God, "Sothat by His death He might destroy him who holds the powers of death- that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2: 14-15) Christ has liberated us from the need to fear death." Why? Because He conquered death!

So for the Christian, when we come to the end of our journey here in this life, we can continue to "walk through". We can walk through the valley of the "shadow of death", where God will comfort and calm fears, where our cups can overflow, and this is a place where we can rejoice and look forward to an eternity of being with our good and loving God.

So, walk through Kevin, and walk on with your Lord, dear Brother. It was just a shadow, and the Son is shining bright on the other side!

I want to have 12/12 vision

I used to work in Eye care. Most people think that if you have "perfect vision" that it is "20/20". Actually, you can have vision that is better than that, but that is not the point of this post. Today I read Romans 12:12.  It says: "Rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer." In reflecting on what this verse means, I decided that I want "12/12" vision! Okay, I don't think that is very good when it comes to vision for your eyes. I want this kind of vision for my spiritual eyes.

How can we have 12/12 vision?

 We can have this because Christ is raised from the dead. This is where we find hope. His death looked bleak, but His resurrection brought hope for a new tomorrow for all of us, if we are believers. "Hope", that is a beautiful word. Burns said, " Hope is the cordial in every human heart." We get up and go every morning because of hope. It gives us something to live for. I can live my life rejoicing in a hope like this!

The second thing mentioned in the verse is "Persevering in tribulation". I am told in Scripture to expect tribulation. It will come. But I am to persevere through it. With the Lord's help, I can go on, through the tribulation. Isaiah 43:2 says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." Notice it doesn't say, "If" you pass through the waters, but "When". But the second part of the verse is how we can persevere through the tribulation. It says He will be with us. The Holy Spirit will be with us, guiding us through the trials and tribulations.

The third thing is, "Devoted to prayer". If you are devoted to something you are dedicated to it. It becomes something so important to you that you become single-minded in it. If I am devoted to prayer, it becomes such a part of my life that I do this like breathing. I Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." We can only pray like this if we are devoted to it.

Lord, Help me to have 12/12 vision. To be ever "rejoicing, persevering, and devoted" to the things that are important to you. I want to look at life through spiritual eyes like this. For it is then that I will really begin to see things clearly... as You would have me see.

Cross references:

1. Romans 12:12 : Rom 5:2
2. Romans 12:12 : Heb 10:32, 36
3. Romans 12:12 : Acts 1:14

 Picture:                                                

Source: borntomakeanimpact.tumblr.com via Kalyn on Pinterest

What about your heart?

Things we guard:

Our children, from dangerous situations.

Our home, by using locks and security systems.

Our computers, by implementing a password.

Our property, by using a guard dog.

Our skin, by using sunblock.

Our finances, by saving money.

Our car, by using a car alarm.

What about your heart?

Did you forget to guard one of the most important things?

The Bible says in Proverbs 4: 23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (NIV)

This word guard means to protect, keep, watch, inspect, like the guarding of a fortress.

We are guarding everything else, why aren't we guarding our hearts? If you are not careful with your heart, it will lead to "heart"ache. The repercussions can be terrible. You have the potential to not only ruin your life, but the lives of your family and the people you say you love.

Don't start the "innocent" flirting, there is no such thing! The confiding in someone other than your spouse. That is giving a piece of your heart away that should be for them alone. Only let your spouse be your confidant... not anyone of the opposite sex if you are married.

Most affairs start out innocently. You think it would be just fine to friend your ex girlfriend or boyfriend on facebook. In my opinion it's not fine... it's dangerous and playing with fire. If you are married you need to be careful of who you allow to be your friend in life AND on facebook! Too many marriages have failed because of facebook. I know of several.

You might think, wow, you sure are strict! Yes indeed I am. I'm trying to guard my heart.

We guard everything else... why not our hearts?

After all... if you don't guard it... you might not have anything much left TO guard. The rest may be left shattered in a million pieces...

Something to think about...

Our Awesome Creator/ Song Writer/ Music Producer

Louie Giglio Mashup of Stars and Whale Singing God's Praise

Psalm 148:3-13


As a music major and music fanatic I am always interested in learning new
things about music. Yesterday I saw a you tube clip that just fascinated me. It
is about different things in nature and creation that put out a sound that could
be interpreted as music. I started thinking about this, and wondered if anyone
else might find it interesting as well.
We all know that birds chirp and sing with different pitches and melodic
tones. But did you know that stars did as well? How about whales, did you know
they sing a song too? The whales have a call to each other that is a haunting
sound. Elephants and other animals do as well. By definition this could also be
thought of as music.
Our great creative, creator God has made all of these things for His good
pleasure. He has created them to praise Him in one way, or another. Just their
very existence is a praise to His glory. But the Bible also says that His
creation praises Him. In some instances in Scripture, it says that creation
sings praises to God.
I found too many to print out the full verse, but I want to list them so
that you can look them up. I went over these yesterday and had my own time of
praise to the Lord.
I Chronicles 16: 31-33, Jeremiah 51:48, Isaiah 14:7, 35:2, 44:23, 49:13,
55:12, Psalm 65:13, 69:34, 96:11-13a, 98:4, 7-9a, 103:22, 145:10, 150:6.
We kid ourselves if we think we as humans are the creator of music. The
creation of music is within the mind of God.
Edith M. Thomas said, "The God of music dwelleth out of doors." God created
us as humans to praise Him, but we would be naive to think that He didn't create
His other creatures to be able to do the same thing.
Psalm 98:8-9 says, " Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains
sing together for joy before the LORD..." Psalm 148: 3 also says, "Praise Him,
sun and moon; praise Him, all stars of light!" (vs 7) "Praise the LORD from the
earth, sea creatures and all deeps..." (vs 10-13) "Beasts and all cattle;
creeping things and winged fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and
all judges of the earth; Both young men and virgins; Old men and children. Let
them praise the name of the LORD, For His glory is above earth and
heaven."
Are you getting this picture?
His creation is leading the praise. The rivers and the mountains, the
creatures in the sea, the birds flying in the air are all praising the Lord. So
we see that they are doing what they were created to do... Praise God and give
Him glory!
Are we doing what we were created to do?
We were also created to praise God and give him glory. The Scripture above
does not leave anyone out. It says young men, old men and children. Kings of the
earth and all people.
All means You! Don't let the rivers, and the whales and the stars out do
you in their praise to God!
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD!"

Our Awesome Creator/ Songwriter/ Music Producer

As a music major and music fanatic I am always interested in learning new things about music. Yesterday I saw a you tube clip that just fascinated me. It is about different things in nature and creation that put out a sound that could be interpreted as music. I started thinking about this, and wondered if anyone else might find it interesting as well.

We all know that birds chirp and sing with different pitches and melodic tones. But did you know that stars did as well? How about whales, did you know they sing a song too? The whales have a call to each other that is a haunting sound. Elephants and other animals do as well. By definition this could also be thought of as music.

Our great creative, creator God has made all of these things for His good pleasure. He has created them to praise Him in one way, or another. Just their very existence is a praise to His glory. But the Bible also says that His creation praises Him. In some instances in Scripture, it says that creation sings praises to God.

I found too many to print out the full verse, but I want to list them so that you can look them up. I went over these yesterday and had my own time of praise to the Lord.

I Chronicles 16: 31-33, Jeremiah 51:48, Isaiah 14:7, 35:2, 44:23, 49:13, 55:12, Psalm 65:13, 69:34, 96:11-13a, 98:4, 7-9a, 103:22, 145:10, 150:6.

We kid ourselves if we think we as humans are the creator of music. The creation of music is within the mind of God.

Edith M. Thomas said, "The God of music dwelleth out of doors." God created us as humans to praise Him, but we would be naive to think that He didn't create His other creatures to be able to do the same thing.

Psalm 98:8-9 says, " Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the LORD..." Psalm 148: 3 also says, "Praise Him, sun and moon; praise Him, all stars of light!" (vs 7) "Praise the LORD from the earth, sea creatures and all deeps..." (vs 10-13) "Beasts and all cattle; creeping things and winged fowl; Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; Both young men and virgins; Old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His glory is above earth and heaven."

Are you getting this picture?

His creation is leading the praise. The rivers and the mountains, the creatures in the sea, the birds flying in the air are all praising the Lord. So we see that they are doing what they were created to do... Praise God and give Him glory!

Are we doing what we were created to do?

We were also created to praise God and give him glory. The Scripture above does not leave anyone out. It says young men, old men and children. Kings of the earth and all people.

All means You! Don't let the rivers, and the whales and the stars out do you in their praise to God!

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD!"

"Feel Free"

Jen, Pastor's wife at Naibor Amon

This will be my last update about our Kenya Mission trip until the Lord lets me go again.

Saturday, February 18, 2012: We are at Liberty Baptist today. Carrie teaches on prayer and then Betty taught, "Who I Am in Christ". We ate lunch with them as we have all week. We have had goat and cabbage and potatoes and chapatti. Today we also are served fruit. The food has been very good and we appreciate all the sweet women who have cooked for us all week.

It is getting time to go and so we pass out the final gifts to the Pastors, the women, and children. Pastor Peter, and some of the women also give gifts to us. They are special, handmade gifts of intricate beaded jewelry. Each piece is so special. But what is even more special is the place that these people have in my heart. I love them so much! They are the sweetest, kindest, most polite people that I have ever met.

Sunday, February 19, 2012: Our team divides up into four teams. To be able to go to four different churches and lead their worship. Steve and I went to a church that our team has never been to. It is called, Naibor Amon. The Pastor's name is Peter and his wife's name is Jen.

When we arrived the Pastor's wife greeted me by saying "Cairiboo" which means "welcome" and then she said with a smile, "Feel free". I have thought often about those two words since she said them to me.

Feel free... that is how we should feel in church. We should feel free to worship the Lord without worrying about what other people are thinking about us. We should just have love for our Lord uppermost in our minds and hearts. We should stop being so self- conscious in our worship of the Lord and more God- conscious.

Thank you Jen for those two beautiful, and "freeing" words.

"Feel free"... I think I will!

God still does miracles today!

The miracle young man, John

Update on Kenya Mission trip.

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Pastor Peter asked us to go by the home of his half-sister, Eunice and see her son, John. What Pastor Peter wanted us to see was the evidence of a miracle! You see, the College team from Bayleaf that went to Kenya in August went to John's home and prayed for him. John had an epilepsy type disease that made him have convulsions. His arms and legs were drawn up and he was in the bed, and a wheel chair. He could not walk.

This really hit me hard because our son Daniel was a part of this group that went to Kenya and prayed for this young man. Well my eyes had a hard time really taking it all in! This young man was healed to the uttermost! He was so whole again and well, that it looked like nothing had ever been wrong with him! He looked as healthy as our son Daniel.

As a Mom, this touched me so much that our son and the other young people had faith in God to heal. It also reaffirmed my faith in our Great God! Our God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is the same God that healed in the Bible, and He still heals today. Don't you doubt God's abilities for one split second. He is Almighty, and able.

Of course, I cried all the way to Liberty Baptist where we taught the people there. I cannot wait to hear what the Lord is going to do in the life of this young man, named John. What a Mighty God we serve!

Amen?!