Don't Be Afraid--I'm Here

As a sick little girl, I was afraid of the dark and of being alone. "Don't be afraid," Mama said. "I'm here." She gave me the comfort and security I needed to get through rhuematic fever and scarlet fever, allergies and heart trouble. Mama's home with Jesus now and I have kids and grandkids of my own.

Fear of failure or success and fear of having no value at all replaced my fear of the dark and being alone. That was until I found my personal worth in God, the Maker of Heaven and earth. My poor choices took me down a road of sin and destruction. Facing the next day seemed impossible and in my despair I wanted to give up. It was then that I felt the warmth of God's love and presence. Who was I that He would care for me? "Don't be afraid," I heard Him say. "I'm here."

Just when I think fear is no longer a part of my life, I see catastrophic storms in Australia on the news and hope that nothing like that comes to California.Then the news, thank them for their uncertain projections, says that the West Coast expects a storm that will change the way we live in California forever. When will this happen and what does all this mean? My thoughts go crazy!

Then I remember a horrific storm on the Sea of Galilee. Among Jesus' disciples were experienced fishermen who had been through storms on that lake many times. This one was different. Just when  Jesus' friends paniced, He showed up walking towards them on the water. "Don't be afraid," He said. "I'm here." (Matthew 14:22-36)

So if the predicted storm hits California, I will call on the name of the Lord, knowing He is always with me. I hope, my friend, that you will too.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for always being available to calm the storms of our lives. We love you and trust you to protect us and lead us in your way. Amen.

The Rose

Read: Psalm 145:15-16

Verse: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 4:8 NIV

Walking through a shopping mall parking lot in early evening, I found a beautiful, long stem, red rose on the ground. Its leaves were torn but the flower was perfect. I thought at first it was artificial. I picked it up, took it home and put it in water. The rose responded quickly. Its loveliness and aroma filled the room and I wondered how anyone could throw it away.

The rose reminded me of myself – not valuable in the eyes of this world, but God saw something special in me. He picked me up from a pit of despair. He rescued me from my selfish, self-centered life. He gave me a new heart of compassion. As the rose lifted its petals and leaves in response to the water, I respond to God’s love by telling others how much He loves them and helping them learn to trust Him with whatever concerns them. God’s love is more powerful in our lives than the water is nourishing to the rose. It works in believers to accomplish good works. With his love he gives each one talents and abilities to perform our tasks and he stays with us to inspire, encourage and strengthen us.

Prayer: Thank you, Father God, for not abandoning me but showing me your love at just the right time.

Thought for the day: God holds blessings for us we know nothing about until the proper time.

Book Review - RIVEN

Brady Wayne Darby, an intelligent, good looking guy in high school could have had the world at his fingertips, but he made some bad decisions that set him on a path of destruction. Although he worked hard to get himself out of trouble, he kept getting in deeper and deeper until he finally landed on death row in the Adamsville State Penitentiary.

The faithful work of defeated Chaplain Thomas Carey led Darby to believe that there really was a God and just maybe He loved him. RIVEN is a page-turner novel that brings hope to losers like Darby and people in ministry like Carey. God’s love and His word comfort and encourage, inspire and move in people to impact a prison, a state and an entire nation.

I can’t stop thinking about the characters or the message and I am encouraged to keep praying for the members of my family, that they would be aware of their great need of Jesus, experience His extravagant love for them and grow in relationship with Him.

I have read the LEFT BEHIND series and other books by Jerry Jenkins. RIVEN is his best work! I hope he writes the screenplay and makes it into a movie.

“Let the water and the blood,
From Your riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save from wrath and make me pure.
From “Rock of Ages”

From Passive Aggressive to Compassionate

Our first camping/fishing trip for the year got off to a roaring start. The wind whipped against the motor home and brought down the awning before we got out of Sacramento. Once that was fixed we were on our way. We arrived at Whiskeytown and launched the boat in the horrendous wind, hoping that during the night it would calm down. It didn’t. In fact by the next afternoon it brought rain and it rained hard all night. The following morning we pulled the boat from the lake in the wind and rain.

Stuck inside the motor home for two days I read a great book, A Tale of Two Sons, based on Luke 15:11-31, by John MacArthur. By the time I finished the book, I had identified with the three main characters in the book, however, not in the same order as the Bible story of the Prodigal Son.

I first identified with the passive-aggressive elder brother. During my young years I tried to do everything right but I was not happy. I was impatient and judgmental. Frustrated and disillusioned I took the lifestyle of the prodigal son and did things my way. I made some bad decisions that left me lonely and depressed. After I made a total mess of my life, I cried out to God. I didn’t feel worthy of a life with Him and I told Him I didn’t want to go on living.

I heard His small quiet voice say to me, “Could you make it through today if I promise to stay with you?” Tears filled my eyes. “I guess I could,” I whispered. I picked up my Bible and I started reading. Peace came over me like I had never known. The following day I started off the same way, reading my Bible and praying. At first I didn’t know what to say and I just said, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus,” over and over. Later I thanked Him for His word, faithfulness, and fellowship. Day by day I added more of His attributes and I talked to Him about things that concerned me. Today He is my best Friend.

Like the Father in the story, I pray for my family. He must have prayed a lot. Why else would he anticipate his son’s homecoming? I think it’s because he prayed for it. And so I pray for my family and I anticipate the wonderful homecoming we will share when we all get home to be with our Lord.

“This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” Luke 15:24

Thank you, Lord, for the hope of coming home to You some day.