From Failed to A+

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Arrow

F Failed

The test. Another dreaded exam from an aging professor where it seemed no matter how hard or how long I studied, the chapters I reviewed, and notes I memorized, it was never enough to score well. There were always test items that stumped me, which I had no knowledge of and therefore had little to no hope of a high grade.

Sometimes we may feel that way with God, that no matter how hard we work at trying to be obedient and do things right, we continue to fail. That’s where the good news comes in. God knows we have a sinful nature and could never get a perfect score. That’s why He sent His Son to take the test for us. Not only did Jesus take the test and score perfectly, never sinning, He gives His perfect test score to everyone who believes in Him!

In Romans 4:5-6, Paul explains that our “faith is credited as righteousness” and that “God credits righteousness apart from works.” Obviously, we could never work our way or score high enough to attain salvation or God’s heaven. Paul goes on, “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him” and “God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead” (Romans 4:8, 24).

Faith not only permanently deletes our ‘F’ and replaces it with an ‘A+,’ but we receive Jesus’ extra credit, eternity with Him. May we thank the Lord for His grace in making a way for us to stand in righteousness before the throne of God!

A+

 

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Wednesday Whisper ~ The Potter’s Clay

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Arrow

IMG_5320 (2)This morning I was washing one of my favorite bowls, a work of art gifted by a potter, Ms. Dalton, a parent of one of my kindergarten students years ago. Imagining the time and effort it took to form the clay, add intricate details, fire and paint it, and whatever other steps required that I know little of, made me appreciate its beauty even more.

It reminded me that we are but clay in our Creator Father’s hands. Some days, we may be tempted to jump off the potter’s wheel because being transformed can be a painful and lengthy process. But we can be reassured God has a plan and purpose in mind for each of us crazy lumps of clay. He can shape us and mold us into amazing works of art, treasures of His design, when we surrender to His will and allow Him to do His work in our lives.

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” ~ Ephesians 1:11-12 (The Message)

May we be pliable clay in the Potter’s hands.

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Wednesday Whisper ~ The Path of Life

Posted on February 19, 2020 by Arrow

Among my treasured memories is a grass-covered path my husband and I took through a thickly-wooded area in Yosemite. (I was so relieved it did not include a bear!) Another favorite is an impromptu hike we took in the mountains of Colorado that surprisingly included a quaint bridge over a stream. Here in the desert, our footpaths are dryer and less colorful but still lead us up and around the mountain peaks surrounding the Phoenix area.

A path allows us to get somewhere easier than if we had to cut a trail ourselves. Others have been this way before us and most likely have forged the easier route. The point of being on a path is to move forward, except for an occasional rest,  and the goal is to reach our destination.

On the path of life, we do not know what we will encounter, how long the steep, difficult sections may be, the magnificent views we will savor, or what adventures will challenge and change us, but we can know there is One who desires to walk with us and who promises never to leave us. His name is Jesus and He knows the way. He is the most dependable trail guide of all. We can follow Him for direction and lean on Him when we are weak and weary. Through treacherous passages, He may even carry us. Be assured that whatever our course, He is always by our side. Psalm 23:3b says, “He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

May you be on the right path today, walking with Him!

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Wednesday Whisper ~ Incomparable Love

Posted on February 12, 2020 by Arrow

According to Webster, love is a “strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties.” Each of us longs to experience this kind of ongoing relationship.

People, however, can be fickle, moody, rude, ignorant, self-centered, and extremely cruel. Sometime without warning, words like flaming arrows pierce our tender hearts leaving us feeling broken, defeated, and perhaps, in a puddle of tears.

Who, then, is the one most capable of healing brokenness? Who loves more than anyone in the whole world? Who is always listening, always near, and always faithful? Whether you call Him Heavenly Father, Almighty God, Jesus, or Daddy, He is always ready to wrap you in His arms of compassion and proclaim His never-ending, incomparable love for you!

If you are hurting right now, may this verse and chorus from “My Daddy” touch your wounded heart.

Last night I went runnin’ home
Cryin’ from the pain
Hurtful words still stinging
Echoing again
And when I reached my Daddy
Suddenly I knew
His cheeks were streaked with tears
Because He’d heard them too!

Chorus
I know my ‘Daddy’ loves me
I know my ‘Daddy’ cares
I know He sees my joy and pain
He listens to my prayers
He waits for me with open arms
And knows just where to start
He touches me so tenderly
And heals my broken heart.

Psalm 34:18 assures us that, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May you encounter His love beyond compare.

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Wednesday Whisper ~ Prayer & Petition

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Arrow

Philippians 4:6a “Do not be anxious about anything …”

Uuh, my “Wednesday Whisper” is due to be published in a few hours, Lord, and I have no ideas.

Philippians 4:6b “… but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving …”

Thank You, Lord, for the opportunities You have provided to touch lives with words of encouragement.

Philippians 4:6c “… present your requests to God.”

Lord, I pray that You would make clear the message You want me to share this week. Open my eyes and ears. Help me to be sensitive to the leading of Your Holy Spirit.

Philippians 4:6c “… present your requests to God.”

The world is hurting, Lord. I ask that You would do a mighty work, that You would move in such a way as to inspire a great awakening, that Your power would be released, and that miracles would take place displaying evidence of Your great love for all You created.

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I pray the world would know and experience Your peace, Lord, that we would understand You are not the enemy, but that surrendering to You is an alignment with our greatest ally, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.

Thank You for a peace I don’t understand that guards the hearts and minds of those who choose to live for You. Thank You for always listening and caring about our needs and for providing another “Wednesday Whisper”.

Now, it’s your turn … He’s waiting to hear your prayers and petitions.

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Wednesday Whisper ~ What a Day!

Posted on January 29, 2020 by Arrow

We wake each morning, most likely with some kind of plan, but never fully knowing what the day will bring. Birth, death, blessings, struggles, heartache, joy, or a mixture thereof.

Next week, my family will have a memorial service for my step-dad. While simply trying to stand, he lost his balance, fell, and underwent surgery for a fractured femur. Three days later, at age 92, Dad experienced a cardiac event. As he died, we knew he was going home to the Lord because Dad believed Jesus is the Son of God.

We who believe likewise will join him in heaven one day. The comforting words from the hymn, “What a Day That Will Be”, echo in my mind.

“What a day that will be
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be!”

I pray that you believe or will choose to believe and accept God’s gift of salvation from the eternal consequences of our disobedience. That one decision determines our eternal destiny. “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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” ~ John 3:16-17

May we be ready for our ‘day’.

 

 

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Wednesday Whisper ~ Press Pause

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Arrow

1446 B.C. ~ The nation of Israel is sandwiched between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army. Their response? Terror, panic, and anger. Clearly, they were doomed … until God intervened and split the sea, allowing them to escape across dry ground! Three days later they faced what they viewed as a drinking water crisis and the following month, a food crisis. Israel’s reaction to each challenge was panic. If God had given Israel the Red Sea test again, they probably would have fared better.

Typically, the tests of faith we experience vary, but sometimes, we face the same challenge repeatedly until we pass the test. We haughtily view Israel’s lack of faith, but most likely follow a similar pattern. Increasing stress builds until at the panic point, we implode or explode without a thought given to the One who could intervene for us.

James 1:3 says “…the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” As believers, we will be tested. When we find ourselves at the panic point, when we see no way out and no sensible answer, may we remember that we have a God who is working on our behalf, who has good plans for us, and who can make a way. Instead of panicking in the face of difficulty, let’s ‘press pause’, pray for His peace, and persevere.

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Wednesday Whisper ~ His Name

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Arrow

All of us have a first and last name and most have a middle name, although I acquired mine as an adult. My illustrator, originally from Brazil, has five last names. I hope she doesn’t have to write that signature often!

When we think about our Creator God, our Heavenly Father, the One True God, clearly many names come to mind. Depending on their experiences with God, characters in the Bible referred to Him differently. The same thing happens to us. Some are comfortable with calling Him ‘Daddy’ or ‘Abba’, others know Him better as their Provider, Helper, Healer, or Defender. When meditating on His character, other names come to mind:  Lover of My Soul, Almighty One, God of Mercy and Grace, Faithful and True. The list lengthens with the additional names for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

Be challenged this year to consider God’s names in striving to know Him better. Whether you are spending time in worship, taking a walk, driving, or sitting in a waiting room, meditate on the names of God that touch your heart. If you wish, go through the alphabet and see how many different names you can think of and then identify your favorites.

“Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory.” (Psalm 115:1a)

To view my list that blossomed into a song, go to my website, http://pointingtheway.live, and find “Sing Out Your Name” under the ‘Song Lyrics’ tab.

 

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Wednesday Whisper ~ Beyond Me, Beyond Now

Posted on January 8, 2020 by Arrow

No! I can’t! I quit! I’m out! I’m done! The task is insurmountable, the cost too great, the request unreasonable!

When I am called to ‘do the difficult,’ my initial response is often negative because I am completely focused on self. If I would pause instead of panic and take a step back, I could gain a better perspective. The key seems to be to look beyond me and beyond now. When I stop focusing on me, I gain a sense of the One who is with me, the God who is my Hope, my Strength, my Provider, and my Friend. When I look beyond now, I am reminded that this is only a speck in time, and there are eternal rewards awaiting believers.

From this new point of view, my “no” becomes “maybe.” “I can’t” transforms into “I can do it with God’s help.” “I quit” turns to “I can take one step.” “I’m out” changes to “I’m in this for Him.” And, “I’m done” elevates to “There is something He wants me to accomplish.”

So, the next time we want to slam the door on what seems to be ‘mission impossible,’ let’s  bring the request to our Father in prayer, surrender the cost, and begin the task in His strength and for His honor. May we look beyond me and beyond now and meditate on, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)

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Wednesday Whisper ~ Vision 2020

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Arrow

What do you see as you look toward a new decade, a new year, a new day? Newness may invoke feelings of hope and/or fear. Remembering God’s promises helps conquer the fears Satan fires at us and replaces them with God’s peace. Those who believe in God, who have accepted His Son Jesus, can be confident in knowing we have good reason to hope. God promises to do life with us, provide for our needs, give us strength, and offer guidance and counsel all 366 days of 2020.

Look and experience how God speaks to His children. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” (Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV)

May we go forth with a reverent fear of the Lord rather than fearing the future, trusting in the One whose vision surpasses 20/20.

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