Category: Blog Article

Do not be afraid. Do not fear. When I read these statements in the bible they make me tremble, but also comfort me. It’s clear by their repetition in the Word we are meant to understand their inference. We are going to face places in our lives where our challenges will bring fear enough to be afraid.

I am encouraged by these repeated instructions. They assure me. In the moments I will both fear and be afraid, I will also be strengthened to endure by the Lord Himself.

Psalm 18:32 You give me strength and guide me right

The eyes looked into deep darkness and wept. The voice spoke words few would receive. The hands reaching out met resistance to be touched. The nose could smell an acrid scent. The taste of the tongue was bitter.

Jesus wanted us more than we wanted Him and despite the testimony of our rebellious natures, He still chose to give us His life. His heart broke open and He poured the balm of His love out to soothe all the wounds of the world. Hope was restored in His mercy and compassion.

Imagine if you will a game of magic. You come to the table expecting a trick and view it as entertainment. The magician does not disguise who he is. He puts before you the cards or shells you anticipate because you have seen them before. He shuffles, and while waiting you are being entertained by the knowledge of your guessing.

Now letting go of imagination, realize the truth. The magician has used guile to entertain you. While he was showing you what you were expecting to see, he was doing his best magic ever, keeping you occupied in guessing.

Magic defined – the art of producing illusions as entertainment by the use of sleight of hand, deceptive devices, the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature, power or influence exerted through this art

Faith was the beckoning light in the darkest of night. Hope offered the rope needed to pull me from the depths of a well too deep to climb out of. Love healed wounds cut so deep no pharmacology could numb the pain. This is my testimony I must declare from rooftops over and over again. If I don’t, I deny who Jesus Christ is and what He has done for me.

1 Cor 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

1 Thes 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

Mat 10:27 Whatever I say to you in the dark, you must tell in the light. And you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you.

The man was beside himself with renewed hope. I had stepped back from him momentarily to be quiet and listen to what was in his heart. He was weeping some and expressing his gratitude to those of us who had prayed for him. One by one he hugged the others who were in the room. Turning to me I was surprised by the way he wrapped his arms so tightly around me. Expecting him to quickly release me I started to pull away, but he held me still, not letting go.

He began to speak to me tenderly with a father’s voice. He shared with me what a lovely daughter I was and how much I was loved. In that moment I heard my heavenly Father’s voice so clearly. It felt like such a long time this man held me in his arms. Nothing about his hug was untoward; it was just a Father’s love. Inwardly my heart melted knowing the Lord Himself was hugging me.

Unmerited favor came to my doorstep, just a knock I answered. There at my feet lay a gift I didn’t ask for, nor had I done a thing to deserve it. The Lord’s hand alone was at work in my life. All I had to do was receive His gift. I picked it up and unwrapped its content. The beauty of His creation took my breath away.

I again lay myself down at His feet, bowing as low as I could get. Understanding I could offer Him nothing in return for His gift, I offered the tears and sobs of my grateful heart.

* Artwork by Jodi Lee Gasner, “Amber Autumn Aspen”

I let the water run momentarily watching this beautiful gift of God. Water fed every need for our planet and our bodies, without it nothing could exist. Sun rays bounced off the water so brightly it hurt my eyes, but I wasn’t ready to look away. Cupping my hands I reached into the flowing stream. Holding the small pool in my palms I marveled about our Creator. Everything I touched of His creation was like touching a part of Him. I raised my hands to my face feeling His splash of refreshment.

I stood in the middle of the room and everything began to swirl around me, rearranging what was once familiar. The couch where I rested had been moved to another location. The lamp had been moved to a higher table allowing me to see better when I read my Word. Pages of my Book now flipped back and forth randomly in some private breeze. Fascinated, I sat in this new spot allowing my reading be led in whatever direction this wind would take me.

Far below I spied an old dock slowly crumbling, its disintegrating fragments carried away one wave at a time. High up on outcroppings overlooking the bay many fortresses made of concrete, iron and wood were decaying. All of these things built by men were returning to their natural states; elemental blocks of minerals, rocks and trees.

I stood in the strong winds looking at the signatures in paint upon each of these disappearing structures; each layer bleeding into the next one. Looking at the tagging I was struck by irony. Those who built this place wanted to build a structure that would stand for ages. Those who brought their paint cans to write on these structures wanted to make their mark on the ages.

Turning my eyes to look at the vastness of where the ocean met the sky, I stood in this place of recognition. Only Jesus could be a foundation that would never crumble and only He could add my signature so it would never fade.

A servant by definition is “a person employed by another, a person in the service of another”. Essentially they act on behalf of the one they are serving. I can become quite enamored with these kind of hearts. Not because of how they bless me with their service, it’s something larger I can sense. These are people who walk with incredible authority but they are so humble as to never point to it. They don’t announce their titles, they don’t boast of who they are; they don’t do a thing to point to themselves. All they ever do is serve Jesus. They recognize the value and worth of serving the King.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.