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IT IS WELL!

IT IS WELL!

When I last posted I anticipated I would soon be writing the next post with an exciting update of our adventure. I expected to write about how God had led us to an awesome home we were hoping to purchase in the development we were sensing was our perfect location. In reality we were unable to find a suitable home, in our price range, in the development where we hoped to locate. Proverbs 16:9, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” NLT, best describes how our adventure unfolded. Time was getting short, however we were confident we would find the right home at the right price. A home became available in the area we preferred, but it was priced above what we were expecting to pay. We loved the home and decided to make an offer. If this was the home God was leading us to we trusted our offer would gain acceptance. Disappointment became our reality when we learned the owners had accepted a better offer. Time was critical now. We had been looking at homes in other neighborhoods and a home which met most of our criteria was available. We were paying cash which would enable us to close quickly. There was a very real urgency to make a decision because the sixty day rent back period for the home we sold would soon expire. We did not want to rent and move twice. The home was vacant and we decided to make an offer. We knew we had a window of opportunity to walk away if a more suitable choice became available within three days. We were holding onto a shred of hope for a home in the other neighborhood. Personally I was not completely sold on the home we were purchasing. I wanted a three car garage which would give me space for a workshop. The home did not have a three car garage or space to build a shop. We were still hoping, but to no avail, as the eleventh hour came and we purchased the home. In the passing months since, I have come to terms with my disappointment. We are happy with our home and neighborhood. We are just ten minutes from our daughter and her family. The fenced back yard is perfect for our now two year seven month old granddaughter. On Christmas day 2022 we were Blessed with a new grandson. The grandchildren living nearby and away have a wonderful backyard in which to run and play when they come to our home.

God directed us where He knew we needed to be. There is purpose in everything we encounter in our lives, even when we do not see it in the moment. We are content knowing this truth. The disappointment I experienced is tempered by knowing God directed our steps. Looking back we can see His hand leading us to the home we purchased. Until now I have been unable to find words to write to explain how our adventure unfolded. Thankfully, in His Grace, I have found them. I can truthfully say it is well!

AN ADVENTURE IN PROGRESS

AN ADVENTURE IN PROGRESS

Almost everyone loves an adventure! An adventure has a way of bringing excitement and anticipation into our lives. There was an element of adventure when I started writing posts for this project. From the onset my hope has been that by sharing actual life experiences from my life and faith journey I could offer some measure of hope and encouragement to a person reading what I had written. Recently it occured to me perhaps writing about an in progress experience from our lives could serve my original desire for the blog. With that thought in mind I want to tell you all about our adventure in progress.

When we moved into our new home in early 2017 my wife Patty and I both assured the other we were here to stay. An old folks home, assisted living or the promised land would be the next stop for us. Normally in our over forty one years together, whenever a move occurred, I have been the one initiating the discussion. To our surprise about a year ago Patty began initiating the discussion that perhaps we should consider selling our home and making a move. Several realities came into focus as reasons for selling the home we love. We are getting older each birthday rather than younger, we are caring for our 18 month old granddaughter one and one half days per week and driving to pick her up and return her home when we do so, and we began attending a different church and wanted to be closer to allow us to be more involved. There are other pertinent reasons as well which are part of our consideration leading up to considering the decision. We made some inquiries in two different communities in the area when we first began discussing the possibility. By that time it was Fall and based on our own assessment and professional advice we received, we put the idea on pause with the intent of deciding whether to move forward in the Spring. During the months from Fall to Spring much discussion and prayer went into the possibility of actually making a move.  During these months we now realize God was at work changing Patty’s heart into alignment with His plan for us, as well as myself, and giving us both an inner assurance we were moving into His best plan for our lives. The inner peace we both were experiencing gave us confidence to move forward.

We began making preparation to place our home on the market about mid April. As we prepared, an unexpected plan to stage the home for selling emerged. If you are not familiar with what happens when a home is staged for market, well lets just say almost everything in the home is removed and more contemporary furniture and decorating items replace your stuff. It’s ok but it’s difficult if you plan to live in the home while it is being sold. There were two and a half weeks of hectic packing and moving out items we had not planned for. Our home went on the market May 12th and everyone anticipated a quick sale. Average days on the market for our area was four. It did not sell during the first week.  Interest rates were rising. The market was changing rapidly. Price reductions were showing up on some listings and after about ten days we, on advice of our realtor, made a reduction to the price. That proved to be a wise decision as we received two offers within the next four days. Our closing is scheduled for June 30th.

What I have not mentioned is we do not have a home to move into. Part of our marketing plan was to ask for a rent back provision for up to sixty days to give us time to purchase a home and move. God cares about every detail of our lives. The offer we accepted has the provision we needed to give us the time we asked for. We knew this would be an adventure as well as an exercise of our Faith. It is proving to be just that. We are excited to see and experience what God has in store for us. In an upcoming post I will write about what happens next!

 

TIMELESS

TIMELESS

Months have passed since my last post. I am keenly aware of the importance of regular posts, in part, to maintain the interest of those following the blog. I chose at the onset to write what I believe The Holy Spirit is impressing me to write, and I have stayed true to that decision. The absence of posts is because I had not sensed the leading of The Holy Spirit with direction for a post. I am thankful now to be writing and sharing this one. To say the months since July have been challenging and sometimes difficult would be an understatement. In early July my sister Sandra, my only sibling, passed away after a months long battle with cancer. She lived in Texas, and due to shutdowns and travel restrictions related to COVID, we could not be with her prior to her passing or attend the memorial service, which has been difficult. Realizing you are the last one alive of your parents and siblings can be a stark reality. However, there have been some good things occuring with us even in these most difficult times. Our youngest daughter is pregnant and later this month will bless our family with a precious granddaughter. Another arrow added to our quiver of grandchildren and great grandchildren, soon to number twenty three.

I have come to understand with more clarity during these months, the timelessness of God’s Word and of my relationship with Him. Timeless is defined as having no beginning or end. Not restricted to a particular time or date. not affected by time. I believe I am gaining a better understanding that the Bible’s relevance never diminishes and how it can speak so clearly to us today, just as it did to believers hundreds of years ago. His Word is timeless just as God himself is timeless. His love for mankind and for each of us individually is timeless as well. Believers have testified, back to very early historical accounts, how He intersected their lives and spoke to them through His Word, resulting in countless testimonies being voiced and written.

Nothing impacts us quite like a personal experience. In 1983 I was a relatively young Christian. On September 23rd at around 11:30 PM I was awakened and experienced an impression from The Holy Spirit, a message I wrote down and later shared with the church family we were part of at the time. This was in the latter portion of what has been called the Charismatic Movement. I came to faith in 1976 during the height of the outpouring of The Holy Spirit. On occasion over the years, I have experienced impressions I believe have come out of my relationship with God and striving after Him. The message I received that night was one of those occasions. Through the years and several moves, we lost track of the copy I had written. Recently my wife found it among some papers. In reading it again, we were amazed how relevant the message still is today, just as it was in 1983. Rediscovering the copy and reading it anew has enabled me to experience personally what I am saying here and have come to better understand during these past months, that being the timelessness of God and His Word.

His love for each of us is timeless and He speaks to us through His timeless Word and the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer. Certainly not the only ways but important and common ways we hear from Him. May God Richly Bless you and your family as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

 

 

 

THE TRUE PROBLEM

THE TRUE PROBLEM

It is unfortunate a legitimate peaceful protest of the unjustified death of George Floyd has been allowed, in many cities, to be used by some to spread and impart more injustice upon innocent citizens. Their agenda is to spread hate and create division. What they are doing is wrong and only hampers needed change. Instead of giving platform to those breaking the law, we need to consider their victims and the results of their insurrection. Innocent citizens had their business destroyed which they had spent years or in some cases a lifetime building. There is likely no justice for the loss they sustained. Many harmed are also people of color.  What happened to George Floyd is wrong irrespective of his color. Those responsible will be punished to the full extent of the law. The media would lead us to believe unarmed black citizens are routinely killed by police, and that most police are racist. The truth is twice as many unarmed white citizens were killed by police than were blacks. One would need to study the details of each incident to know the justification of the use of deadly force. If any were the result of unauthorized use of force or racism, a crime was committed, and those responsible need to be held accountable. To riot and attack innocent citizens and destroy property for the cause of events which happened 400, 300, 200, 100 or 50 years ago serves no legitimate purpose. It hinders the cause for those seeking to heal the wounds of the past and move forward with unity. We know racial prejudice exists and there is work which must be done to eliminate the injustice. We know as well the overwhelming majority of police professionals do not display or practice mistreatment of the public they serve. Change can happen only with the present and the future. The agenda of those who riot, loot and destroy property is not to bring the change those who demonstrate peacefully seek.

I believe it important to look at why what we see happening is happening. There is not just one cause. There are many facets to what has brought us to this place. Unless we identify and accept the truth, nothing will change. While there are many facets involved, the main point I wish to make as absolute truth is, we have a spiritual and moral problem in America. I am convinced it is at the root of the hate and destruction we are seeing. We have been desensitized regarding the value of human life. There is blatant disregard for the welfare of others. When harm occurs to another person because of our actions, for many, there is little or no concern. I do not condone abuse or harm to any person or animal. Today if I harm an animal I am subject to a fine and imprisonment. We place more value on animals than we do on human life. God’s view is every person has equal value and is to be equally valued and respected. I hold to that truth.  Every person is equal in God’s sight and loved by Him. We have turned from God’s values and established values of our own which are contrary to His plan and purpose. We have a spiritual and moral problem which is affecting the health of our nation and each of us. There is help for our condition. God does not change! His Word gives us clarity as to how we are to treat one another. His plan is for harmony and unity between each person and a healthy environment for mankind.

 

 

 

 

A SHAKING NOT SEEN IN OUR LIFETIME

A SHAKING NOT SEEN IN OUR LIFETIME

When we experience a shaking in our lives, a disruption to how we have grown accustomed to living, it is uncomfortable to say the least! It is unsettling and scary! Suddenly we are facing the uncertainty of what will happen next. Our life can seem to be spiraling completely out of control. This is the all too real description of what millions around the globe have been and continue to experience daily during recent weeks. Job loss or that possibility, loss of retirement funds, inability to meet obligations, or worse no way to feed themselves or family. This has become daily life for many! Fortunately for most, unemployment benefits, stimulus funds, food banks and other resources are available to lessen the uncertainty and meet basic needs. For some that is not the reality, and even when it is, our lives have literally been turned upside down! It is very easy to allow panic to take over. If we do we cannot think clearly or make rational and wise decisions. It is vitally important to determine to live today, facing whatever challenges this day holds, and to face tomorrow’s challenges tomorrow.

For myself, the Bible gives me comfort and direction. Even more so this is true during unforseen or uncertain seasons in life. Scripture is God’s truth and roadmap for living my life. An example is found in Matthew 6:25-34. Jesus is teaching in this portion of scripture and reminds us our Heavenly Father knows our needs and will provide for us. He tells us in verse 34, “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it’s own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

I believe God is allowing the shaking we are experiencing for a purpose. If you know anything about God and His Word, the Bible, you know in America we have turned from God and the way He instructs us to live the life He gives us. Because God loves us He warns us of impending danger and provides opportunity to turn to Him. The opportunity is for us individually and as a nation to turn back to Him. As the fire and brimstone preacher would say “REPENT”! Turn from the way we have been living and seek Him and His righteousness. If we do, He will heal our lives and our land. He is with those who believe in Him through whatever we face in life! Jesus has overcome and will help us overcome if we turn to Him and allow Him to lead us through the difficulties we face. He has been faithful to me in my life more than forty three years.

During this season of social distancing, let’s imagine we are walking with friends across a railroad trestle. We have come about halfway. We can see the light of the locomotive! We can hear the whistle blow! We hear the rumble of the engine as the trestle shakes beneath our feet! If we stay stubbornly where we are on the trestle, what might we imagine will be the outcome! I pray we allow the shaking to wake us up individually and as a nation to the MESSAGE GOD IS SENDING! Is there an idol in my life that needs to go? Is there sin or anything else keeping me from the fulness of what God has planned for my life? God will not accept half-hearted commitment or the leftovers we may choose to give Him. He requires first place, and asks us to give him our best. Why, because it confirms our trust in Him! After all, He has already given his best for us!

 

 

 

UNITY

UNITY

There is being heard a loud and clear call for a move towards unity within The Body of Christ. Unity is defined as oneness, a condition of harmony and accord. Most will agree that this is a desirable state of being! In our home church Westside, the vision Pastor Steve Mickel has “For The City”, is being realized and gaining momentum. Serving the community and being the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we can. I was visiting with a good friend New Years Eve and he voiced that similar local and global activities were happening in the church he attends. Pastors in our area and throughout America are coming together to pray for and support the other churches in their communities. Unity is God’s plan and desire for his people who make up The Body of Christ.  In Scripture we gain insight into God’s heart and intent. John 17:11, Jesus is speaking, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they (this includes us) are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” In the verses following Jesus prays for His Disciples and for All Believers. His prayer as recorded in verses 20-23 is that we would be one as He and The Father are one, and we would be brought to complete unity. The last portion of Chapter 17, verse 23 reads, “Then the world will know that you sent me and You have loved them even as You have loved me.” God emphasises his love for each of us and his desire for close intimate relationship with every person. Don’t be fooled into thinking or believing God does not love you or that he won’t accept you. It simply is not true and is completely contrary to Scripture.

At the end of this month my wife and I will celebrate our 39th anniversary. We are a blended family. When we married, some of the emotions within the family were very raw. As is the case with most blended families, it took time to adjust and for the uncertainty of this coming together to begin to subside. A few months into the marriage I felt prompted by The Holy Spirit to fast a dinner meal each week and to pray for unity and harmony for our family. I did this for several months. Looking back I know my efforts resulted in a deepening of my personal relationship with God and my relationship with my new family for whom I was praying.

As we step into a new year my wife and I have committed to pray for unity and harmony within our family and extended family. We are also praying for our unity with God and unity within The Body of Christ. God wants us to develop a deepening relationship with each other and with Him. This is, without question, His will for each of us.

WHEN MY DREAM DIES, WHAT THEN?

WHEN MY DREAM DIES, WHAT THEN?

I have my share of dreams, once vivid and alive, which now reside in the dream graveyard. Perhaps you have some as well. Usually, when I realize my dream is ill, I administer CPR!  Sometimes I have placed the dream on life support, grasping at every possible way to save it. Typically when I am finally exhausted, and no pulse can be detected from my dream, I reluctantly accept reality.  It is dead!

I am not one who had a lot of childhood aspirations or dreams. Growing up on a farm five miles from the nearest small town, my younger years were full of farm chores. Not a lot of spare time for dreams. It was later in life when some of the hopes or dreams I had did not pan out. I have written in previous posts, describing some of those experiences. Were it not for my personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I can’t imagine how I would have come through some of them and kept my sanity.

What I want to convey as I write today is, everyone has or will face difficulty and perhaps tragedy in life. My faith has given me the strength and courage, to face my challenges and persevere through, knowing I was not alone on the journey.

Major traumatic events can test our character and faith to the limit. We doubt, we question and we wonder why we are in the situation we find ourselves in. Believers have The Word of God and The Holy Spirit to help us during the difficulties we encounter. Those who are without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ depend on self and every other source imaginable to cope. The truth and assurance of The Word of God is available to anyone, willing to place their trust in the only source, dependable and trust-worthy.  God’s love for each of us is certain, unshakable and undeniable! You can read David’s perspective that God is always there for us in Psalms 46:1-3, 37:39-40 and 20:1. Isaiah 33:2, Ephesians 6:10 and  II Corinthians 12:9-10 also point us to God and declare his faithfulness to help us navigate the pathway of life.

When we face the death of a dream, or any other of the disappointments life may throw at us, we have a choice to make. As aptly spoken by our Pastor recently, regarding trials in life. “They will destroy us, define us, or develop us.” The best outcome is to persevere through the difficulty, and that it helps develop us into a stronger person, who is more reliant on God, in a deeper relationship with Him. He promises His help in all of life’s trials and circumstances. I have found He is faithful, trust-worthy and His Word a guiding light for my life.

 

 

FROM THE ASHES

FROM THE ASHES

If you have read my earlier posts, you learned my second marriage ended in divorce. Certainly both parties play a part in any failed relationship. None the less, for anyone not wanting a relationship to end, it is devastating. I was now living out the consequences of two failed marriages. Through the separation, which lasted two years, God was preparing me for the marriage to end. I was growing spiritually in the midst of my circumstances. In the pain of the death of the marriage, God’s grace and mercy enabled me to keep going. God masterfully takes our failures, and turns them around. Good ultimately comes from the rubble and ashes of our broken lives. A real life picture of Romans 8:28. One thing I do not want to do in writing my posts, is litter the page with christianeze.  Relating how God saw me through this experience, denotes the practical living out of my christian faith. We all are broken in one way or another, in need of His grace, mercy and salvation.

I was participating in a singles group at the church I attended. I met my beautiful wife Patty there. We both had experienced divorce. She was a single mom with three children. Our relationship grew and developed. We married about a year and a half later. This past January, we celebrated our thirty seventh anniversary. God faithfully has worked in each of our lives. He healed the deep wounds we experienced, and has helped us grow and develop individually. As a result, we deeply love one another , and have a wonderful marriage and life together.

There have been struggles along the way. A couple of years into our marriage, through circumstances beyond our control, a financial crisis developed.  Suddenly and unexpectedly, our income was substantially reduced with no replacement or alternative.  God saw us through this season, and we were somehow able to meet all of our obligations. Eventually we regained financial stability. We experienced God’s faithfulness and provision.

There have also been blessings we could never have imagined. I had been told years earlier, I would be unable to have children, which to that time had been the case. We had been married six years, and were on a ski trip with a group from our church. Patty did not feel well, and was experiencing flulike symptoms. After returning home, she still was not feeling well. When she went to the doctor, we learned she was pregnant. I had accepted what I had been told years earlier, and I had no thought or hope I would ever have a biological child.  God blessed us with a beautiful daughter. Between us, we have six children. We love each individually and dearly! The son and daughter I adopted, Patty’s three children and our daughter together. His, hers and ours as we like to say.

From the ashes of Patty’s life and mine, God has done what only he can do. He has brought forth something beautiful and lasting. We praise Him for what he has done in and for us!

IT’S A LIFELONG JOURNEY

IT’S A LIFELONG JOURNEY

 

The journey begins when we accept Christ as savior. The Holy Spirit comes to life within us and we gain more understanding of scripture. (1)  Our desire to learn more, a Spiritual hunger of sorts, becomes evident. We each are unique, and while the process normally has similarities, it usually is different for each person who chooses a Faith journey. For me, about a year after I became a Christian, I undertook a comprehensive Bible study. The wife of a good friend, and fellow insurance agent, was teaching the Bethel Bible Series. Developed by the Institute of Lutheran Theology, the course is an overview of the Bible from Genesis through Revelation. I have found the more I study God’s Word, the clearer my understanding of Jesus becomes. In turn the more desire I have to grow closer to Him. A healthy relationship is like a living organism. Getting the right food, in appropriate amounts, results in healthy growth. As in the natural, so in the Spiritual. (2) Reading God’s Word and listening to worship music are two ways I nourish myself Spiritually. I like to explain the relationship I have with Jesus as a life change for a lifetime. It’s not a weekend outing! Romans 12:2 NIV Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. The Holy Spirit works in our lives to transform us into the likeness of Jesus. The fruit of the Spirit should become evident in our lives, as we grow and mature Spiritually. (3) The more I study God’s Word, the more I realize there is so much I don’t know. I have but scratched the surface of knowing God. An activity I find beneficial is spending time alone, quietly, in the presence of God. In this atmosphere I am able to think on His goodness, His faithfulness, His provision, His majesty. I continue to be amazed at how the Holy Spirit connects with my spirit, and I am able to sense His presence. He desires our pure and heartfelt worship and devotion. Our busy lives can make it difficult to slow down and quiet ourselves as we should. It takes determination, at least for me, to achieve some success. I like to go out on our patio where I can shut out life’s numerous distractions and spend time in His presence. Your desire to grow in your relationship with Jesus will increase as you experience His presence. My journey has been worthwhile and filled with His blessings. I pray and believe you will find the same will be true for you.

(1) 1 John 4:4, 2 Timothy 1:14  NLT                                                                                                                                                                                                                   (2) 1 Corinthians 12:12, John 3:6 NLT                                                                                                                                                                                                             (3) Galatians 5:22-26 AMP

 

 

NO MATTER WHAT

NO MATTER WHAT

 

Anyone who has experienced divorce, the loss of a loved one or some other traumatic event in life, will understand the wide range of emotions a person experiences during these times. A sense of helplessness, hopelessness, anger and disappointment only touch the surface.  I was experiencing all of these, plus others, in the place I found myself. I think the most poignant was the utter sense of failure.

If you have not read the narrative on “About” at the top of the blog, I encourage you to do so. It provides more insight.

The “valley of the shadow of death” found in Psalm 23 pretty well describes how I was feeling. As you read further in the Psalm however, you encounter comfort, hope and provision. What I experienced was a crossroads of sorts. What would I do about God if he didn’t come through in what was, at the time, my greatest need and desire. After all Psalm 37:4-5 NIV says “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this.” I was beginning to realize what committing my way to the Lord meant. Matthew 6:33 NIV “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you as well”. Revelation 3:16 NIV “So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth”. What I believe the Lord was showing me in the midst of my pain was that he wanted all of me. He wanted a total commitment.  More of a commitment than I had made thus far in life.

I remember very well the evening, when during a time of prayer, I arrived at the intersection of the crossroads. The time was at hand for me to decide where I stood in this struggle. As I remember, it was with great fear and trembling that I said to God, “No matter what, whether you restore my marriage or not, I am going to serve and follow you”. An overwhelming sense of Peace swept over me at that moment. I had decided the path I would follow.

I believe someone reading this, has accepted Jesus but has not arrived at their crossroad. Or they have arrived, but refused for whatever reason, to go further. The Word is clear in this regard. God’s desire is for you to go deeper in your relationship with him. He wants all of you. Life and my walk of Faith have taught me, a deep, meaningful, successful relationship requires total commitment. Jesus understood and instructed us in John 15:13 NIV “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”. He freely gave His life for you and me! After choosing to follow Him, how can I do less than serve him with my whole heart? Today He is asking you “Will you commit to me, walk with me, serve me, no matter what”?

It’s your decision to make. In the same way you are free to choose to accept His free gift of salvation or not, God will not force you to go deeper than you want to go with him. I pray you will choose to deepen your relationship with Him.

After 41 years I am thankful I said “no matter what” to Him. He has been faithful, and I have no regrets.