REWARD Offered

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Arrow

Open your mail and find ads for rewards on credit cards. Turn on the news and hear rewards offered for those who help solve crimes or provide vital information on prison escapees. I receive reward points on groceries toward discounts on gas. But, did you know there are rewards promised in the Word of God?

Here are a few of my favs:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does …” (Ephesians 6:7-8).

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord God you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Living for the Lord may have its hardships, but it also comes with rewards in many forms. Seek Him, serve Him, and do the work He has given you to do. Watch for His rewards and always give thanks for them, for our Father loves us beyond measure and desires to give good gifts to His children.

Go forth and be blessed!

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Distrac … tions

Posted on January 20, 2021 by Arrow

It took a minute. I had been reading … and then I realized I was also scratching … and scratching the back of my hand. I stopped reading. Upon close examination, I found the tiniest red dot. Apparently, a no-see-um had taken a miniscule bite leaving a not-so-small itch!

Dang! Distracted again. For a person with an attention disorder (diagnosed by my family), distractions are a daily struggle. As a planner, I have a list of things I want to accomplish, but battle diversions that hijack my attention and steal my time. (Right now, heavy eyelids are calling me to a power nap and my growling stomach is demanding brunch.) FOCUS!

When Jesus and the disciples visited the home of sisters Mary and Martha, we are told, “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” While that makes perfect sense, Jesus explained that “Mary has chosen what is better.” (Luke 10:40-42)

The key word, chosen, reminds me that I am constantly making choices as to what I will focus on. Although I may be distracted for an instant, I choose how long I will pay attention to that distraction, or how far I will follow that rabbit trail, or how many things I will browse on my phone. And, I have the option to choose to use self-control and call on the power of God to help me focus on the task at hand.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). So, throughout our day, may we focus on the better task and snub distractions.

(There, now I can have my egg muffin.)

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Whoever … Forever

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Arrow

Who ever heard
Of a builder
Becoming a building?
(That’s ridiculous!)

A writer
Becoming a word, a sentence, or book?
(That’s weird!)

A baker
Becoming a cake, cookie, or donut?
(Mmm.)

Then, why on earth
Would the Creator
Of the heavens and earth
Become
A created being?

Why would
The Almighty God,
King of kings and Lord of lords,
Surrounded by angels
Extoling Him with glory, honor, and praise …
Come
To become
A man
Surrounded by sinners,
Misunderstood by family,
Criticized by neighbors,
And mocked by religious leaders?

Why would God,
Who is absolute love,
Choose to live in a world
Filled with so much hate?

Why would God
Who created life
And breathed life into us
Show up at Christmas
As a baby
Only to die
Thirty-some years later
On a cross?

Why?

Because
Someone
Was missing
From heaven—
You.
Jesus came for YOU!

For God
So loved
The world
That He gave
His
One and only Son,
That whoever
Believes in Him
Would not perish
But
Have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

Jesus came
To pay for and forgive our wrongs
And to restore our relationship with the Father,
So that we could stand before Him
Holy and righteous
And one day hear Him say,
“Welcome home!
Welcome to My kingdom! Enter in.”

Because …
Whoever believes in Him
Lives forever with Him!

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Sound the Blast

Posted on January 6, 2021 by Arrow

Back in the day … of Moses, waaaaay before internet, long, slender, silver trumpets were used to call the community or leaders to gather. These instruments were also used to signal the tribes of Israel to move forward from their camping locations in the desert. When they went into battle, a different blast was sounded. The trumpets were also heard at times of rejoicing, during feasts and festivals, and when offerings were given to God. (Numbers 10:1-10)

With the recent arrival of a new year, ‘blasts’ of celebration were heard around the world. I thought we could imagine those fireworks and cheers as spark to motivate us to move forward in our pursuit of spiritual growth, to receive our marching orders daily determined to walk with the Lord. When enemies try to block our advancement, ‘sound the blast’ as a prayer, seeking God’s guidance, help, and protection. In remembrance of all His blessings, may we ‘sound the blast’ of praise, thankfulness, and worship as we bring Him our tithes and offerings.

Finally … and with great anticipation, we look forward to that last trumpet call! “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). May we be ready for that trumpet call.

Moving forward in 2021!

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Return to Sender

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Arrow

Wasn’t it delightful to give gifts this holiday season? Were they received with a smile, a twinkle in the eye, excited giggles, and/or joyful gratitude?

Or, was a gift handed back to you? Did anyone absolutely refuse to receive the treasure you took time to select and wrap? Was a gift shipped back to you, or, if you dropped it off due to Covid, did they request you come back and pick it up … unopened? Now that’s painful!

But, wait a minute! God sent His Son Jesus, the perfect gift, to all people. The intimate relationship God wanted with us upon creation was destroyed by sin. To make things right again, God sent Jesus so that we could have an opportunity to have a restored relationship with the Father. God’s greatest gift was His offer of salvation, forgiveness, and promise of eternal life with Him. “For 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).

So, what have we done with this gift? Rejected it? Ignored it? Decided we’ll ‘open it’ when we get our lives together or when it’s convenient? Have we reasoned that the gift is not really for us or not the gift we wanted?

If you’ve never accepted this gift, Jesus, as your Savior, I pray you would believe and receive Him today. Truth is, there is no greater gift. If you have accepted Jesus as Lord, give thanks to the Father for the gift that cost Him everything!

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Hark!

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Arrow

“Hark, the herald angels sing …”
Hark? Listen carefully, pay attention, focus, hear and consider.

Listen up, shepherds:  Your Messiah was born today in Bethlehem. You will find Him wrapped in cloths in a manger. (Luke 2:11-12)

Listen, Mary:  You have found favor with God. You will be pregnant and give birth to a son. He will be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:30-35)

Listen, Joseph:  Take Mary as your wife. The child is from the Holy Spirit. Name Him Jesus because He will save people from their sins. (Matthew 1:20-21)

These real-life characters, not just figures in a nativity scene, actually heard a word from the Almighty God. And God continued to speak. When Jesus’ body was transfigured, appearing in a glorious state, God spoke from a cloud, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7b). Jesus spoke these encouraging words, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

God continues to speak to us today. Whether your Christmas is noisy and hectic, whether you experience a calm, silent night, or perhaps, a blend of both, may you take time to listen to what God is saying. He has a message especially for you … if … you … listen.

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Prepare Him Room

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Arrow

Joy to the world
The Lord has come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room …

Let’s pause right there and focus on that last line from the Christmas carol Joy to the World. I do ‘prepare a room’ in our home when we have guests spend the night. I dust and vacuum and make sure there are clean linens. I try to create some space in a closet, making room for our guests’ belongings and luggage.

But the phrase “Let every heart prepare Him room” obviously has a completely different meaning. What role have we allowed Jesus to play? Have we so filled our lives with other things that we have basically hung a ‘NO VACANCY’ sign on our heart, leaving ‘no room’ for Him? Or, do we treat Jesus as a temporary guest during emergencies or on special holidays? Hopefully, we have welcomed Him in and asked Him to reign as King, wholeheartedly surrendering to Him.

If we decide to welcome Jesus in, the amazing thing is that we don’t need to have our lives ‘cleaned up’ first. He comes in and helps us with our mess. The other point to remember is that He wants more than one small guest room. He desires to reign in every area of our life.

King David, known for his devotion to God, gave his son the following charge: “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts” 1 Chronicles 28:9a.

On the first Christmas, there was “no room” for Jesus.
More recently, He waits outside and gently knocks.
I pray you have made room in your heart and welcomed Him in.

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Reader, Did You Know?

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Arrow

One of my favorite Christmas songs is “Mary, Did You Know?” I’ve changed the words to speak directly to us and added Scripture references for your own personal study. “Mary, Did You Know?” ~ Lyrics by Buddy Greene and Mark Lowry © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Reader, did you know that Jesus really walked on water? (Matthew 14:25)
Reader, did you know that Jesus came to save all sons and daughters? (John 3:17)
Did you know that Messiah Jesus came to make us new? (2 Corinthians 5:17)

That the baby Mary delivered came to deliver you? (John 8:36)
Reader, did you know that Jesus gave sight to a blind man? (John 9:1-7)
Reader, did you know that Jesus calmed the storm with a command? (Matthew 8:23-26)
Did you know that in heaven Jesus walked where angels trod? (John 6:38)
That all who kissed the baby Jesus kissed the face of God? (John 10:30)

Jesus caused the blind to see (Matthew 20:29-34),
The deaf to hear (Mark 7:32-35),
The dead to live again (John 11:43-44).
He made the dumb to speak (Matthew 9:32-33),
The lame to leap and give praises to the Lamb. (Acts 3:6-8)

Reader, did you know the Jesus is the Lord of all creation? (Colossians 1:15-16)
Reader, did you know that Jesus will one day rule the nations? (Revelation 12:5)
Did you know that Jesus is heaven’s perfect Lamb? (I Peter 1:19)
That the baby in the manger is the great I AM? (Mark 14:61-62; Exodus 3:14)

Dearest Reader, I pray you know Jesus as your Savior, the Christ of Christmas.

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Manna Mañana

Posted on December 2, 2020 by Arrow

Join me for a moment in imagining God’s ‘To Do List’ in about 1446 B.C. when He heard Israel crying out to Him from Egypt:

  • Call Moses to lead Israel.
  • Send 10 plagues to show Pharaoh I am God.
  • Free Israelites from slavery.
  • Allow Israel to cross the Red Sea on dry ground.
  • Annihilate Egyptian army.
  • Lead Israel to shade and water in the desert.

Now mentally check off every item because God completed each one. Why, then, were the Israelites grumbling again, this time about food? Did they really think God would overlook the fact that His children would need nourishment in the desert?

I’m ashamed to admit we have the same short-sightedness or memory loss or lack of faith today. We Americans just celebrated Thanksgiving, where hopefully we took the time to recall and thank God for His many blessings, but have we already jumped back on the grumbling track?

Exodus records, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions’” (Exodus 16:4). God has not changed. The template remains the same. God provides for us in His way, in His time. We are expected to listen, follow His instructions, and trust He will provide.

If God provided manna (bread from heaven) for more than two million people for 40 years in a desert, we can trust He will meet our needs for each mañana (tomorrow).

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Thank You, Father

Posted on November 25, 2020 by Arrow

For all the air we breathe today,
For love no one can measure,
Wisdom in Your whispers, Lord,
Your word, our greatest treasure.

For strength and inspiration,
Open doors and guiding light,
For keeping all Your promises
To make all wrong things right.

For being near, for calming fear,
Your Presence by our side,
Mighty Warrior and Defender,
In Your arms, we’re safe to hide.

For You are our Provider,
Friend and Savior, Truth and Way,
We thank You, thank You, Father
For the blessings of each day!

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” ~ Colossians 4:2

Posted in Inspiration, Poetry, Wednesday Whisper | 1 Comment