Learning His Paths

Are You Ready for Battle? Then...Don't Slouch!

2011-05-10T09:12:00.000-04:00

My children attend Bible camp in TN and one of their teachers is Mrs. Sheila Doom who's father was the great missionary James Stewart. Throughout the rest of the year Mrs. Sheila sends out emails to the campers encouraging them in the Lord. The following is one such email, the most recent one in fact. I read it this morning and feel led to post it here on my blog. I hope you are blessed.

Dear Troops,

Just wanted you to know that when I pray, I don't pray for a ballet troup or a bunch of sr. citizens who want to play shuffle board and checkers! I am praying for an army of men --yes, and women too, who will commit to doing battle for the Lord.

I just read a marvelous billboard for the Marines. It said, "We are not looking for applicants; just commitments!" I like that. The Lord requires that and much more.

So, I know it is not time for camp yet, but it is time to stay watchful and wary of the Enemy. It is right when you get your eyes off of the present and on to the future blessing of campmeeting or camp, that he will sneak up on you. I encourage you to

I. STAND.
          A. Don't slouch! be lazy or dull or sleepy. Be wide awake.
          B. Don't stagger, first to the one side of faithfulness and then to the other side of indifference.
          C. Don't slide--"moved about with every wind of doctrine."
          D. Don't surrender , giving ground to the Enemy and giving up, instead of reclaiming that ground! II. PUT ON --the Whole Armor of God

A. Girdle or Belt of Truth--know Truth; wear it morning, noon and night. Never take it off. Keep you loins girt about with Truth, braced for action. Ready to give an answer for the hope that is within thee. Ready
to defend what you believe at a moment's notice. Ready to contest with the Devil when he tries to put
lies in your head and accuses God to you or you to God.
          B. Breastplate of Righteousness -- that which covers the vital organs such as our heart, our mind, and our
thoughts and emotions, desires. Satan's tactic is to make you go by your feelings instead of the facts
of God's Word. Feel saved, don't feel saved; feel a failure, full of fears, full of doubt. Remember that
our feelings are not a measure of our condition. The Word is!
          C. Sandals -- feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Give a firm stance to keep us from
falling or sliding. Causes us to be ready, firm, resolute, watchful and alert! What does this?
                     Peace with God -- blessed assurance; Jesus is mine!
                     Peace of God -- nothing between my soul and my Saviour!
           D. Shield of Faith

     Whoops! Off to another meeting and no time to finish. Will send second installment next week. Love you guys! Mrs. Sheila

"Arise and Eat."

2011-03-23T05:28:00.004-04:00

Can you tell I've had a bad month? How, because I haven't written a post for a whole month. Well, we all have excuses for not doing things. They are usually pretty good excuses too, like falling down the stairs or getting sick. But when it comes right down to the nitty gritty, we all do what we want to do. In my case I didn't feel like writing something spiritual on my blog because I felt BLAH! I think it goes in cycles with me: on a roll and doing well, become distracted with daily troubles, get discouraged by attack of the enemy, fall into the doldrums where everything can wait, then depressed where nothing is actually bad, but everything is seen that way. Go figure.

So, what is one of the first thing that slips when you are doing well? Bible reading or devotions. I love the children's song that says, "Neglect your Bible, forget to pray and you'll shrink, shrink, shrink, BUT read your Bible, pray everyday and you'll grow, grow, grow." So simple. Why is it so hard? well, I know for one thing, the enemy wants to keep Christians from being effective. Also, I think that many of our generation lack discipline and structure; I know I do. However, how do we overcome? How do we, as Christians, get past ourselves and get to the Lord? I'll tell you my own experience.

I am going along, day by day, unmotivated and miserable, knowing that I am not right. I pray that the Lord would help me to get over myself and to forgive me for my failures and sin. He helps me when I pray. Well, duh, I say to myself. When I don't read the Word for myself, the Lord lovingly gives it to me in church. You know that chastening thing He does. I am so grateful that the Lord chastens us so softly and gently! The message was about Elijah and when he was having a pity party under the juniper tree. Sometimes the big evergreen tree beside our house looks a lot like a juniper tree! When we get our eyes off of the Lord God and onto ourselves it is always depressing! After the Lord let Elijah rest, He sent a angel to him with some breakfast and said, "Arise and eat." So, I left thanking the Lord for showing me that, yes, He has dealt with people like me before. I was encouraged, but unbeknowst to me, I still didn't get it. Until I woke up this morning at 3:30 am with an upset stomach. As I was in the thinking room, I was thinking of writing on this blog and it hit me,

"Arise and Eat!"

Oh, right, now I get it! Get up and read my Bible! Arise and feast on the Bread of Heaven. So simple. Sometimes I make things harder than they really are.

Up and Down

2011-02-19T00:08:00.003-05:00

Up and down, up and down, that is how my week has gone. The downs are no fun, of course. Wrestling an American bulldog with a glue trap on his paw can be hard on anybody; me, it took four days to recover.

Then part of it is the kids were sick with the flu, part of it is me trying to fight getting the flu, and part of it is I am a stinky sinner - which is probably the larger piece of the pie. Ever been there? It seems I lose my patience when I feel yucky as opposed to when I am downright sick I just don't care, and this week it has been totally the former. And how difficult it is to regain the ground lost to the enemy during battles. Did I even fight in that one or did I just sit back let myself get pummeled? Today I thought, "Lord, I am not doing very well in this battle; please save me!"

As I woke up today, I uttered a few prayers such as Psalm 51:10,
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."
It is amazing how just acknowledging that I cannot be a good mother without the Lord lifted weight off my mind! Time to meditate on Ephesians 4:20-32 for sure! All along the way during the week, the Lord has blessed me despite of myself. It is that love, grace, mercy... that I do not understand, of which I am completely unworthy, and for which I am so grateful.

‎"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen." Jude 24-25

image: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=851

A Substitute For Joy

2011-02-07T06:03:00.008-05:00

My friend, Cathy, posted this quote on facebook, and it really struck home.

"Entertainment is the devil's substitute for Joy, the less joy of the Lord you have the more entertainment you need." -Leonard Ravenhill

Wow. We turned off our cable TV about 2 years ago and now have only local channels, and I really have not missed it. I have seen the positive changes in my homeschooled children. My kids do not have cell phones, mp3 players, or the latest gaming system (yet...). But could I do more; do I need to do more? YES. Since we cut off the cable a substitute has crept in...online movie streaming, you know the one, all you have to do is click the blue play instantly button. And guess what? its not just the kids crooning over the blue button!

You know, once you gain victory in one area of your life, another vice or struggle rears its ugly head, or more like a four headed dragon!

So what is the answer? I know it. You may know it. But here it is again: In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy! Psalm 16:11 And how do you come into the presence of the Lord? Daily devotion in prayer and reading of His Word. Easier said than done, I know. Help me, Lord, to seek Your face early and to meditate on Your Word day and night! Amen!

Philippians 4:6-9

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

image: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1058

Once again...Shew me thy ways, O LORD! Strengthen my heart.

2011-02-02T17:54:00.002-05:00

As I gaze toward the window I see the snow swirling in the ever encroaching dimness of daylight. The snow is blowing sideways and whirling around in all directions depending on where I look. I feel like that snow today. In my mind there are thoughts swirling all around and I'm not sure which one to hang onto. I feel like I'm being blown sideways and encouraged in directions that I'm not sure I want to go. I want certain things in my life, and these I know for sure: to obey Him, to have a loving and edifying home, to evangelize, to minister to others. I feel helpless and discouraged often. The only thing I can do is to cry out to the Lord; and verses come to mind:

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day Psalm 25:4-5

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD Psalm 27:14

So when will I learn this lesson? He graciously gives me reminders of it every time I try to jump ahead of the Lord, and every time I try to do things in my own strength. Lord, give me the strength to follow after You. Help me to walk in the light of Your Word so that I may not stumble.

Well, I must go...we just discovered the pump house is flooded in 6 inches of water!
photo from dan/freedigitalphotos.net

Are You a Good Person?

2011-01-27T18:27:00.000-05:00

How Did Our Godly Foundation Crumble?

2011-01-25T01:36:00.002-05:00

The Short Story:

James Hutton questioned Noah’s flood and founded uniformitarianism geology which was built upon by Charles Lyell who added a chronology of the rock layers called the geologic column in his Principles of Geology published in three volumes 1830-33.

Then there was Gap theory creationism which was popularized in The Adaptation of External Nature to the Moral and Intellectual Condition of Man (1833) by Thomas Chalmers. This was a huge blow to Christian thought regarding the literal interpretation of creation in Genesis. In my opinion, this was the turning point; the undermining of the validity of the Word of God!

Here we see and example of how the enemy can manipulate even a man of God who otherwise doctrinally hold to foundational tenets of the Scriptures!

During this Age of Information of the 1800’s anything brought out in the name of Science was gobbled up as truth by the public. So when Chalmers explained to Christians how he thought an old earth was true, it was swallowed up too. This laid the ground work for Charles Darwin’s new religion of evolution to be widely accepted... in the name of science.

And, woe unto us, the rest is history. God, the Bible, and prayer has been removed from schools, and evolution is taught as the Gospel truth without the Gospel, of course.
image: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=122

A Thousand Generations

2011-01-24T22:55:00.002-05:00

I often post on Facebook, verses that the Lord puts on my heart. Sometimes I think of a phrase or word from a particular verse, so I go to my favorite online Bible search. That is what I did today. While looking up something for a friend, I came across the phrase: a thousand generations. Wow. How powerful is that? Our generation has lost "His commandments." The ten commandments are seldom preached anymore; however that does not negate our responsibility, as Christians, to proclaim God's law in order to reveal sin. Here is what I have to say..."Preach it! Preach it to our generations!"

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Deut. 7:9

Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; 1 Chron. 16:15

He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Psa. 105:8

I Love the Lord!

2010-06-21T15:31:00.000-04:00

It has been over a year since I last posted, and the reason is the same as I had when I skeptically started: who would want to read my blog. Well, I have come to the conclusion that it does not matter if anyone reads as long as I enjoy the outlet of writing. And I do so enjoy writing, and it doesn't have to be profound!

We just finished Campmeeting for Revival and Campmeeting for Kids at our church and I am delightfully exhausted with post traumatic campeeting stress syndrome, as Pastor Alan calls it. I am still revelling in the Lord for His goodness in saving my precious son, Wyatt, and also a dear friend, Ryan. Hallelujah!

However, the after-campmeeting attack has begun. Last night, I felt totally overwhelmed, and the Lord graciously encouraged me at the store by running into two friends from church. On the way home, I worshipped Him with the words of the song "I Love the Lord."

I love the Lord. He heard my cry. He lifted me way up high
He set my feet upon the mountaintop.
Just think of it, the Lord, the King, the Creator of everything
Loves me with a love that won't stop.

Hymn: Sweet Hour of Prayer

2008-10-13T08:53:00.000-04:00

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
The joys I feel, the bliss I share,
Of those whose anxious spirits burn
With strong desires for thy return!
With such I hasten to the place
Where God my Savior shows His face,
And gladly take my station there,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
Thy wings shall my petition bear
To Him whose truth and faithfulness
Engage the waiting soul to bless.
And since He bids me seek His face,
Believe His Word and trust His grace,
I’ll cast on Him my every care,
And wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
May I thy consolation share,
Till, from Mount Pisgah’s lofty height,
I view my home and take my flight:
This robe of flesh I’ll drop and rise
To seize the everlasting prize;
And shout, while passing through the air,
“Farewell, farewell, sweet hour of prayer!”

William Bradbury 1816-1868

Great Is Thy Faithfulness!

2008-05-18T06:03:00.001-04:00

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

I have never thought of myself as a weak person until about 3 years ago, when I was expecting my 5th child. I never thought pregnancy could totally weaken my mind, will, and emotions like this one did; most recognize it as a hormonal imbalance. God has a plan for everything; He made me see myself weak in order to reveal to me that He alone is my strength. In my weakness I could not handle the things of everyday life as I normally would. It became worse after my precious baby was born. I did not go to the Lord for my strength. My weakness progressed into depression, confusion, and despair as was the natural progression of things in my unwillingness to turn to Him. I felt hypocritical trying to "find" my Lord during that time because as much as I wanted in my heart to do right and to be right, I found myself the opposite. I am ashamed to say that I entertained thoughts of suicide and of cutting myself, which I knew was attack straight from hell. I could not understand why no one saw me in this and why no one tried to help. I felt that I had no one to turn to or speak with that would understand my bondage without judging me. I prayed intermittent, but earnest prayers that God would have mercy on me and deliver me from this state of which I could not get myself out. I felt trapped. Trapped within the walls of anger and emotion. A round room with no doors. I had to look up; there was no other way.

The Lord Jesus said, "I Am the Way..." He heard my prayers. He took me out of my environment and put me in a different place where I could observe the world without being in it. He gave me strength for each day. He showed me my blessings. He is my blessings. "Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside." Is it not odd how we do not truly understand seasons in our life until we look back. I thought I was alone there in my pit of despair. But I wasn't. My Lord was there even in my horrible version. He was taking care of me and my family. He gave my husband understanding and patience. My family and church family loved me and prayed for me. Only my Savior could pull me out of being stuck in the muck! Thank You, Lord! Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Bright Hope for tomorrow. Hope that my failures will not disable my children. That I could teach them of this awesome, faithful God. That they would be better equipped to serve Him from my experiences, failures, victories. Hope that I can go forth :) and minister to others. Hope that my life will count for His glory. The Lord Jesus is real, He is personal, and He is mine. I will look to Him for my Strength, today.

Thank You, Lord, For Your Chastening

2008-04-05T00:44:00.000-04:00

This is a reflection of a devotion that I read today.

I sometimes feel like the 4-year-old who lied to me today at school. He said something in play that I would have simply corrected and gone on, but he decided he was going to deny it to my face for several minutes. Finally I got the explanation that I knew to be true, and he got a note to mom and dad. If I would just admit to the small things that I sweep under the rug and accept the simple corrections, then the Lord wouldn't have to discipline me further when He "reads the note."

Lord, let me be transparent for Your glory and for my benefit. Thank you so much for all the discipline You give me, even when I ignorantly choose beyond the simple corrections. In Christ's precious Name. Amen.

The word chasten is translated from the Greek word paideu which means to "to train children; to be instructed or taught or learn."

Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
Hebrews 12:5-7 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Create in Me a Clean Heart

2008-03-11T06:05:00.000-04:00

Psalm 51:7-12 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

My prayer is that God would cleanse and renew my dirty and cold heart. My prayer is that God would grant me personal revival that I may see Him high and lifted up. My prayer is that I would desire and righteous "wanter" to want the true will of God and not my distorted perception of it. I want to be willing to pay the price of revival. The enemy is strong against me, but my God has already won the battle!

Lord, help me put on the whole armor of God that I may be able to withstand the wiles of the devil. Lord, help me to crucify my flesh daily that I would not fall so easily to sin. Lord purge my heart that it would bring to my lips love, joy, and praises to your Holy name. I want to serve you with my whole heart, O Lord. Help me to seek you each day. Help me not to grieve your Holy Spirit. Forgive me for my failings. Forgive me for the sins that easily beset me. Grant me repentance, forgiveness, and victory in Jesus Name, I plead! Create in me a clean heart. Amen

Thank You, Lord for Your Patience!

2008-03-06T05:51:00.000-05:00

When I was young I did not have difficulty with devotions; I have had hard times as an adult with devotions. For example:
I love the Old Testament. When I was a Christian teen I would sometimes look at the Old Testament figures and think, I would not fall or give up like they did...I would seek God and be strong. I thought, God's people should have figured it out after a few years of wandering the wilderness, not forty! LOL! Now, almost 20 years later, I understand that they were normal people that had everyday struggles with sin. Now I know that the "wilderness" can whip you! I can better relate with the wonderful lessons God gives us in those men and women, and how they overcame when they called upon God after making unwise decisions. God's ways and thoughts are so truly way above mine! And I am sooo glad. Thank you Lord for your patience with me.

Good Missionary?

2008-03-05T06:09:00.000-05:00

The most important gift we can give our children is the knowledge and love of our Lord Jesus. There is no one else we as parents should soley depend on, to teach our young ones of our marvelous Saviour; because no one else will love them as much as their momma and daddy. They need to see Christ in our lives as well as from our lips. Deut. 6:7 exemplifies to us that we should teach our precious children God's Word diligently: "when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up." As a young person I wanted to be a foreign missionary, yet God has brought the mission field to my home. I have to ask myself, am I being a good missionary to my 5 precious gifts?

Duh, Where Did She Go?

2008-03-03T16:12:00.001-05:00

Can you believe that I forgot that I had a Blog???? Yes, indeed, I did. I found it by reading another's blog and I saw that they were a Blogspot blogger. That was familiar to me, so I tried signing in. It took a couple of tries but I found my "lost to me" blog! So here we go, again. This time I will not forget, I hope!

First Post

2007-07-17T15:00:00.000-04:00

Well, this is my first post. I really think this is a neat thing to do. I have never really been one to write a whole lot, but I do enjoy it. Then there is the thought that I have though, "Who would want to read it?" Well I guess, I give it a go.

So, have you ever experienced the feeling of having a whole bunch of kids bombarding you with questions and statements at once while you are trying to concentrate on something? Thats me right now. The feeling is one of exasperation. And my thoughts on this are, "Lord give me grace and longsuffering. Help me be kind instead of angry." And He helps me. "Thank you, dear Lord!"