God's Not Done With Me Yet!

I had an uncomfortable experience the other day.  It was an experience that I do not wish to repeat, but at the same time, I am glad that it happened.  I know that statement does not make much sense, but stick with me, it will if you read this through to the end.

As I age, I have found that taking vitamin supplements in pill form helps me with that aging process.  I have been doing this for years.  The pills come in different sizes, so when I take them, I separate them by size.  On this particular day, I became careless when I popped the pills in my mouth.  It seems that one of the bigger pills got in with the smaller pills and, as I swallowed them, (I take several at a time) the bigger pill got stuck in my throat and I began to choke on it.  Ooooh, how awful that was! 

I am thankful that my husband was standing beside me when I began to choke.  He immediately told me that since I was still able to talk, (I kept asking him to help me!) that I needed to keep trying to cough the pill back up.  Well, I really didn’t want to keep choking and cough the pill back up…..I wanted him to reach down my throat and pull that pill out!  But, alas, he wasn’t willing to do that, and I really didn’t want him to do that…..I just wanted that darn pill to come back out of my throat.

As he encouraged me to cough, I coughed and coughed and coughed, and before you know it, that pill came back out!  Praise God!  Praise God!  Praise God!  What an awful experience!  And, to be honest, the thought crossed my mind that I was going to die!  What a way to go…..I could just see my obituary…..”Women carelessly swallows too many pills and chokes to death!”  Eich!  I wouldn’t want my family to have to deal with that headline!  LOL

So anyway, why am I glad that happened to me?  I am glad that happened to me because God used that incident to tell me that “He is not done with me yet!”  He told me that He still has Kingdom work for me to do.  He used that traumatic incident to encourage me in my walk with Him.

You see, I do get discouraged.  Life is difficult and discouraging at times and I need God to reach down from heaven, wrap His ever loving arms around me and tell me that I am valuable to Him.  I need Him to tell me that there is work yet to be done.  I need Him to encourage me.  I am so grateful that I have a Heavenly Father who cares so much about me that He will use an uncomfortable experience in my life and make Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to those who love Christ and are called according to His purposes.”, come true.

Brothers and sisters in Christ…..God told me today to tell you, that if you are reading this newsletter, God is not done with you.  He still has Kingdom work for you to do.  He is reaching down from Heaven and wrapping His ever loving arms around you, encouraging you to keep “Fixing your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of God.  He wants you to consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”  Hebrews 12:1-3  God wants you to know that you are valuable to Him.  He loves you “as high as the heavens are above the earth” and He has removed your sins from you “as far as the east is from the west.”  You have worth in His eyes and He wants to use you for His glory.

So, today, brothers and sisters in Christ,

Be Encouraged!

Keep walking with Jesus!

Help.....I'm Having A Panic Attack!

The other day, my eight year old grandson was showing me his muscles.  He rolled up his sleeve and said, "Look at my muscles!"  He flexed his arms and sure enough, he had two cute little muscles to show off.  He was so proud of those muscles.  He just knew that he had power because of those muscles.

That same week, I found that I needed to flex my  muscles.  Well, not quite like my grandson's muscles, but powerful muscles none the less.  I don't know quite why, maybe because I am getting older, but I have found myself getting panicky several times this past month.  It happens when I am thinking about something that I am struggling with.  This is something that I am not used to experiencing.  I have not struggled with panic attacks before and have found that they are not pleasant at all.  I really don't like that "out of control" feeling that rises up in me.

As soon as I began experiencing these "panic attacks", I knew that I did not want to deal with them.  They were way too uncomfortable for me.  I was feeling overwhelmed.  I knew I had to take control and squelch them but, truthfully could not do it on my own power.  I needed a power that was not to be found in my own muscles.  I needed a power that was beyond myself; a power that was bigger than me and a power that was effective.

I knew I needed the power that the name of Jesus gave me.  The Bible says in Jeremiah 10:6, "No one is like you, Lord, you are great and your name is mighty in power."  And then in Philippians 2:10, "...that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth."  I needed the power that is found in the name of Jesus.

And so, when I began to feel the panic rise up in me, I began to speak the name of Jesus out loud, over and over and over again.  As I said, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.....", I began to feel the panic subside and I felt peace flood my soul.  Three times this past month I spoke the name of Jesus over and over and over again until the panic subsided and I felt the "peace that passes all understanding."

Are you struggling with anything?  Do you need to take control but can't?  Does life get overwhelming for you at times?  If you answer yes to any of these questions, I encourage you to call on the powerful name of Jesus.  You are not alone in your struggles.  Jesus is standing right there beside you.....do you see Him?

Encouraging You Today

in Your Walk with our Lord and Savior,

Jesus Christ!

I Am Out Of Control!

When I asked Christ to be my Savior 40 years ago, God gave me this verse as my Life Verse.  It has served me well over the years and continues to do so.  God used it again this month to remind me that He is in control of my life, even when I feel so out of control.

Unfortunately, we had a traumatic experience at our house several weeks ago involving my daughter’s beautiful Labrador Retriever, that left us devastated.  Mater was a very vivacious, loyal and loving dog.  He was my 7 year old Grandson’s best friend.   He was a light in our household.  Long story short…..Mater is gone.

In an instant, our lives had changed.  We didn’t want it to happen, we didn’t like that it happened, we didn’t understand why it happened.  But, it happened. 

Our house became much quieter.  Our grass became much healthier.  We all grieved.  After a few weeks, I became used to the new “norm”.  After all, a quiet house and nice grass isn’t so bad.  And, after one has time to grieve, one starts to heal.

But, my daughter and grandson weren’t healing as well as I was.  Tears flowed randomly; hearts ached and rough housing/cuddle time was missed.  Mater was still a big part of the conversation in our household but I began to notice that the conversation was changing.  It became, “I want a puppy.”  “What would you think if we got a puppy?”  “Look at this puppy I found on the internet.”

At first, my husband and I resisted…..after all, we were getting used to the quiet.  We were getting used to not having a 90 pound dog lying on our couch when we wanted to sit down.  We were getting used to life without Mater.

And so, my response to “What would you think if we got a puppy?” was “No!”  “No more dogs…..it’s too hard to lose them.”  We raised three Leader Dog puppies for the Blind and gave them back to the Leader Dog School when they turned 1; we lost one dog to a heart attack and had to put another dog and cat down because of old age.  “No, it’s too hard to lose them!”

I was emphatic; I couldn’t go through it again!  But, God soon convicted me that this situation was not about me and that I was to give my daughter a different response.  So, a few days after saying, “No!”, I told my daughter I would pray about her request.

I’m sure you can guess what God told me as I began to pray about this puppy situation.  Yep, He told me that there would be a new puppy coming into our lives and that I was to “Trust Him with all my heart and to not rely on my own understanding; in all my ways I was to acknowledge Him and He would direct my path.”

Of course, Rick was involved in this decision but, after God did a work in me, Rick was easy since the kids (and the grandkids) have him wrapped around their little fingers and can pretty much have their way with him.  LOL!  We didn’t know how this was going to come out, but Rick and I together agreed that our daughter should begin the search for a new puppy.

The search began and ended with Sarah, a friend of mine in AZ who breeds dogs.  My son and daughter-in-law purchased their precious toy Aussie from her.  And so, when my son and daughter-in-law arrived in Fort Wayne from Arizona for a visit, they had a sweet 4 lb. Shaussie (half Shih Tzu and half Toy Aussie) with them.  Her name is Jasmine and she is a light in our household.    So sweet and cuddly, she is the perfect dog for our family.  She will never replace Mater in our hearts, but she has found her own place there and we love her!

Jasmine; Jazzy; Jazzercize; Arizona Button; Chewbacca

When things are happening in your life that you don’t understand…..trust the Lord with all your heart.  Trust that He has your life under control, even when you don’t.  When things are happening in your life that you don’t understand…..do not rely on your own understanding.  Don’t try to understand what is happening from your own perspective, trust God’s perspective even when you don’t  understand it.  When things are happening in your life that you don’t understand…..in all your ways acknowledge Him and allow Him to direct your path.  Always, always, always acknowledge God in your life by giving Him Thanks and Praise for everything and then you can rest in the assurance that He will direct your path in the direction that is best for you.  Your outcome may not be a new puppy; but you can know for certain that your outcome is in the hands of our Savior and He will be in the midst of your circumstances.

Encouraging you Today

to Trust the Lord with all your heart!

The Woosh Phenomenon

It hit me the other day that I am in the last 1/3 of my life.  Wow!  Crazy!  Where has the time gone?  My husband and I were married for 10 years before we had our children.  That 10 years went by…..Woosh…..in no time at all.  Then we began to have our children, 3 in all, and they began attending public school.  That took up the next 10 years which went by…..Woosh…..in no time at all.  

When my oldest was going in to 4^th grade, God called us to homeschool.  The homeschooling experience lasted 17 years.  I must say that during the time I was homeschooling, time didn’t go by…..Woosh…..in no time at all.  LOL!  There were days that I thought homeschooling would never end, but now that it is done, I seems like…..Woosh…..in no time at all!  Now that all my children have graduated from high school and I am a grandmother of eight grandchildren, time is going by…..Woosh…..

As I was thinking about this Woosh phenomenon in my life, I was overcome by an emotion that I was not expecting.  It was an overwhelming desire to finish my life well.  To finish my life by loving God and loving like Christ loved.  God confirmed this desire in me again this past month when I was reading the book “Nearing Home” by Billy Graham.  He wrote the book when he was 93 years old and he said the same thing that God had said to me, that he desired to finish his life well, loving like Christ loved.

I want to finish my life by living out Deuteronomy 10:12-19, “…what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God will all your heart and with all your soul and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees…” and I John 3:16-18, “This is how we know what love is; Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.  If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?  Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

At the end of my life, I want to be able to say like Paul said, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day…”  II Timothy 4:7-8

By finishing well,

 I am investing in this life & in the next.

I invite you to join me!

Encouraging You Today

In Your Walk with our Lord

And Savior, Jesus Christ!

DO YOU HAVE A BIG HEART?

My daughter and her family have a Labrador Retriever named Mater.  He is gorgeous!  Yellow in color and BIG, 85 pounds of BIG.  Not only is he BIG physically, but he has a BIG heart.  He loves like no dog I have ever met.  We have built a relationship with him and he loves us unconditionally. 

He loves his family.  He loves me and Rick.  When we are sitting on the couch, he climbs up into our laps, lovingly puts his mouth around our arm and gently, oh so gently, gnaws on it. 

He also loves his toys; especially his tennis ball.  Part of our relationship with Mater involves a dog ball shooter that shoots the tennis ball way out into the back of the yard.  And oh, does he ever love to chase that tennis ball!  When I point that ball shooter to the back of the yard, he races out before it even comes out of the shooter, with anticipation of what is to come.  He runs with enthusiasm and joy; his tail never stops wagging.  He is never grumpy or lazy, but always chases hard after that ball because he loves chasing it so much.  When he chases that ball his enthusiasm is a joy to behold.

When I end the game and change his direction by walking towards the house, he follows me with joy.  His tail never stops wagging.  He loves that tennis ball, he loves the game and he loves me!  He is willing to stop the game that he loves so much and go in the house because he loves me!  We have built a strong relationship, and because we have built a strong relationship, he is willing to follow me into the house with joy, even when he’d rather stay outside and play. 

As I was playing with him the other day, it occurred to me that that is how our relationship with God should be.  Just as Mater chases hard after that ball, we should be chasing hard after God.  We should be chasing him with joy and enthusiasm, never questioning his direction or being lazy or grumpy.  We should be chasing Him with anticipation of what is to come.  And I think, if we can nail that like Mater has nailed it, we will be a joy to behold for our Savior and a living testimony to others.

David was a man who followed hard after God, and God called him, “a man after His own heart….”  I Samuel 13:14.  In Psalm 63:1-8 David said, “Oh God, You are my God; I shall seek you earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see your power and Your glory.  Because your loving kindness is better than life, my lips will praise You.  So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.  My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.  When I remember you on my bed, I meditate on you in the night watches, for you have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.  My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me.”

David was a man of many struggles but he was also a man of much joy.  It is my prayer for you and me that we become people after God’s own heart.  It is my prayer for us that we follow hard after God.  And it is my prayer for us that we have great joy as we follow hard after Him.

I know you struggle with life.  I struggle with life.  Won’t it be an easier struggle if we struggle side by side with the one who holds the Universe in His hands?

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.”

ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY

TO HAVE A BIG HEART FOR GOD

AND

CHASE HARD AFTER HIM,

WHO HOLDS THE UNIVERSE IN HIS HANDS!

The Joy of Christmas!

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER, INC.

“Therefore encourage one another and build

each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

I Thessalonians 5:11

December 1, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Those two words bring joy to our hearts when we speak or hear them spoken.  Christmas…..the time of year that we are reminded of just how very much God loves us.  Psalm 103:11 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him.”  But God didn’t just tell us in Psalm 103 how much He loves us.  He proved that “love is an action” when He left His sinless, perfect domain in Heaven and came down to our sin filled, imperfect world on this earth and took on the form of a man.  When Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem so long ago, God delivered the message in person that “…He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  I John 4:10

I loved this Jesus pin when I first saw it.  It encompasses so much of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.  I find it to be a reminder to us that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16.  It is my prayer, that this Jesus pin reminds you of just how much God loves you, who you are in Christ and what your future holds when you have Jesus in your life.

Yellow – Light:   “Jesus is the light of the world.” John 9:5; “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”  John 15:9

Black – Sin:   “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”  Romans 3:23

Purple – Repentance:  “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…”  Acts 3:19

Red – Jesus shed blood:  “…the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin.”  I John 1:7

White – Purity:  “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;”   Isaiah 1:18

Blue – Baptism:  “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:38

Green – New Life:  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here.”  II Corinthians 5:17

JESUS – “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:9-12

I encourage you today to embrace Jesus.

Remember who He is;

Remember all that He has done;

Remember all that He is going to do;

Remember to share Him with others;

and then most importantly,

Remember that it is all for YOU!

I Want A Lifesaver!

I had a craving the other day for a Lifesaver.  Remember those…..the hard candy in the shape of a circle, with a hole in the middle?  The idea, as I understand it, is that the hole in the middle keeps you from choking if you swallow the lifesaver, thus the candy itself saves your life.  Walla…..the name Lifesaver!

Ok…..so I went looking for a lifesaver at my local big box store.  I looked in the candy section in the check-out aisles…..no lifesavers…I looked in the candy section…no lifesavers…I looked in the snack section...no lifesavers!  I began to get frustrated…..I wanted a Lifesaver!  LOL!

And then, in my frustration, God spoke to me.  He told me that “Jesus is my Lifesaver.  That unlike my experience of having a hard time   trying to find a Lifesaver, I would never have a hard time finding Jesus; because Jesus would always be there for me.” 

God’s reinforces that very fact over and over and over again in His Word:

“And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:20b

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  Joshua 1:9

“I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”  Hebrews 13:5b

“Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever…”  John 14:16

“As I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.” Joshua 1: 5

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you…”  Psalm 73:23

How comforting…..no matter what is happening in my life...Jesus is with me!  All the time.  Day in and day out.  Through the good and the bad.  Jesus is with me!  Jesus is my Lifesaver!

When I was drowning in myself, God put Jesus in my life to save me from myself. I am so thankful for that!  Life doesn’t depend on me anymore.  Jesus is with me every day and is in control.  I don’t have to be in control, worry, panic, suffer through loneliness, make decisions on my own, be afraid…..because Jesus is right beside me…..He is my Lifesaver!

Do you know Someone who is…

drowning in themselves…..

who is trying to get through this life on their own power…..

who is living a life full of turmoil..…

who is lonely and needs a Lifesaver?

  Jesus can be their Lifesaver!

You can be the one to tell them about Jesus, our Lifesaver.  

You may be the only person in their life that knows about Jesus our Lifesaver.

Encouraging you today to talk to everyone you know about Jesus, our Lifesaver.