Joyful, joyful we adore Thee

Joy is such a small little word, but it is an amazing word - the dictionary describes it this way: It is an emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires; a state of happiness or felicity. Other words to describe joy include delight, gaiety, bliss - the word joy is derived from the Latin word gaudia which is akin to the Greek word to rejoice.

As I ponder the word joy this third week of Advent, it seems that all those definitions fit with the plans that God had when He sent Jesus to earth. The life, death and resurrection of Christ has evoked in believers a sense of well-being; God himself must have experienced great joy when Christ agreed to come and live among mankind and willingly die for the sins of the world because reconciliation was what He had desired for mankind and we have great joy and can rejoice because of the great love that God has shown us in making a way for us to inherit eternal life. 

The birth of Christ is cause for rejoicing - it should give us a sense of complete joy.

The Bible is full of joy from the beginning to the end. In the Old Testament the Israelites would often shout for joy, sing with joy and hold joyful celebrations - the angels have been known to shout for joy and bring news of great joy, even the unborn can leap for joy and the trees of the field can sing for joy.

God can fill us with joy, clothe us with joy, anoint us with the oil of joy and crown us with everlasting joy. Joy can be found within a city and entire nations can be joyful.

However, just because we have been joyful doesn't mean that we will always stay joyful - the Bible also warns us that joy can come to an end, it can be replaced with panic, it can wither away. 

Is there any hope for us when we lose our joy? Yes, because the Bible also says that joy can be restored - we can bring joy to others and other Christians can be our joy. Joy can also overtake us when we least expect it!

Even trials can produce joy within us: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

My mom used to say that happiness was a state of mind, we could choose to be happy no matter what the circumstances in our lives and I believe that we can choose to be joyful no matter what! The Bible tells us to be joyful always - not just when things are going our way, but 24/7. We have a lot to be joyful about, sometimes we just need a reminder.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace

As we celebrate the second week of Advent the focus is on Peace. 

Peace is also a fruit of the Spirit which is available to all followers of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah prophesied the birth of the Messiah with these words.

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7

Although Jesus is prophesied to be the Prince of Peace, He himself said that He did not come to bring peace.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 10:32-39

He basically said that His teachings would turn unbelievers against those who believe - causing division. He also said that His followers would have to love Him more than anyone else. As believers in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is our master and the one we will have to answer to for our actions. He should take first place in our hearts and receive all of our devotion.

The angels announced His birth with these words, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." Luke 2:14

Since we have accepted God's gift of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, His favor is now resting on us and the peace we have within us is different from the peace that the world understands. The world sees peace as an absence of war, but the peace that we have through our belief in Christ Jesus is much more than just a truce or an agreement between people to bury the hatchet.

The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Philippi when two women in the church had some sort of disagreement, "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

The peace that Jesus brought to earth defies understanding and can be accomplished only through Him. God sent Jesus to earth to reconcile mankind to Himself and that peace was accomplished through the blood of Jesus.

The peace of Christ is available to us but it is something that we must seek, we must pursue peace and then we are to let it rule in our hearts remembering that we (Christians) are all one body. When we let the Spirit of God prompt us to be obedient, the peace we receive from God flows through us like a river.

Growing in love...

I have recently spent some time reading God's word and what it has to say about the fruit of the Spirit. 

If you are a born-again believer of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God is dwelling inside you. That is a fact, believers are filled with the Spirit, but not all believers walk in step with the Spirit. God has given us freewill and we can choose to stray from His plans for our lives, but when we listen to the still, small voice within and are obedient, God's Spirit will lead us along pathways that we never dreamed of traveling. 

I have written before about the fact that, as believers, we are to stay connected to the vine (Jesus), but did you know that as long as you stay connected, God will produce fruit in your life?

Love is one of the fruit that is produced and God's word has so much to say about love that I'm not sure I can cover it all in one blog. 

The dictionary definition of love refers to "a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." There are many types of love, but the love that I'm looking at today is "agape" love. It's an unselfish love, a love that is concerned for the good of others. It's the kind of love that God has for the world and all the people of the world. It is a perfect love that doesn't depend on what someone does or doesn't do, because God took care of our redemption for us on the cross. 

In scripture I read that God's love is faithful and unfailing; His love endures forever. He keeps His covenant of of love with those who love Him. His love is abounding, it's far-reaching, He fills the earth with it and loves His creation. He also disciplines those He loves and remembers our love for Him. He loves us, as believers, in the same manner that He loved Christ Jesus. His love has great depth. 

So what should our fruit of love look like? Jesus told His disciples to love God and love others. These were the two greatest commandments. 

We should love wisdom, discipline, our friends, our enemies, God's law, His salvation and His righteousness. 

Love should compel us to build others up and worship God. When we walk in God's ways, we will find ourselves loving like God loves. That should give us a reason to rejoice, the far-reaching, eternal love of God gives us a desire to love heaven, our eternal home. 

I also discovered that nothing can quench love and it can keep us from the pit of destruction. The love that God has for us is capable of quieting us, making us patient and kind and urging us to do everything in love.

This is one of the fruit that I often struggle with. Let's face it, some people are just harder to love than others, and yet, if we can remember that God's Spirit is living in us, then we can become instruments of His love. He will love others using us as a means to reflect that deep, abounding, eternal love to all those we meet. It's not about us and what we think or "feel," but our lives are about our Creator and His faithful love to all those He created. 

Jesus said that people would know that we are Christians by the love that we show. It may not come easy for us to show that love, but we are commanded to do it. 

I often use my time while waiting in line at a department or grocery store, just looking around at people. I'm trying to look at them through the eyes of God's love. Each person, young or old, tall or short, rich or poor, is created by God and has the potential to become a brother or sister in Christ. Maybe no one has ever prayed for them or maybe they are resisting God's gift of salvation. I can't know what is in the hearts of people, but God knows and God's word tells me that He doesn't want anyone to perish. The blood of Christ was shed for all people to receive eternal life. Maybe God just wants me to look at folks through His eyes of love and pray for those who haven't accepted His gift. 

I heard someone put Christianity this way - we are like the moon. The moon itself isn't a source of light, it can only reflect the sun. We are to be a reflection of God's Son in a dark world. Keeping in step with God's Spirit within us, can make us shine and illuminate the dark places where we walk. Walk in love this week and shine!

Are Your Prayers Too Small?

Something happened to me this week that made me take a closer look at my prayers. 

I have a hearing disability that seems to have gotten worse within the last few years. I wear hearing aids but they don't seem to be helping too much. The loving people at our church have been praying for me and one lady in particular says that the Lord has told her that He will restore my hearing. 

I have been struggling with that thought - doctors have told me that once your hearing is gone, there is no way to get it back. The loss is permanent and irreversible. I have asked my sister and prayer partner, Rhonda, to pray for me about this and she says that nothing is impossible for God. He can restore my hearing. 

As I pondered that thought, I decided to pray in color and take my focus off myself by praying for the needs of others. As I began to pray for other people, my prayers suddenly grew large. Instead of asking God to heal someone of the cancer they are enduring, I prayed for God to eradicate cancer completely. Instead of asking Him to help someone with poor eyesight, I instead asked Him to give them new eyes. He is, after all the creator and Jesus made the blind to see. He created a new hand for the man with the withered hand. 

I not only prayed for cancer to be eradicated, but also liver disease, heart disease and every type of disease I could think of. As I prayed for these things I realized that I have been limiting God. Jesus said we have not because we do not ask and God knows the motivation behind our asking. Are our prayers selfish or are they heart-filled? The Bible says that the prayers of a righteous man are powerful and effective. 

Years ago the Holy Spirit placed in my heart a desire to pray for the lost people of the world. I use the Every Home For Christ world prayer map and each month I pray around the world, lifting up the nations and praying for my brothers and sisters who live there and those who do not yet know Jesus. I have done this for years, not really knowing the outcome of those prayers, but asking God to reveal Himself to those who do not know Him. I trust Him to do what He deems best. I'm just an intercessor.

Marsha Mundy praying during a National Day of Prayer
event in Brown County Ohio.

Tonight I asked myself, "What is the difference between praying for the lost people of the world and praying for God to eradicate cancer?" God is a huge God, He is the one who created heaven and earth and He is quite capable of giving people new eyes, new ears, a clean bill of health - whatever He chooses to do for them. 

We are living in a fallen world and Satan is working overtime trying to steal, kill and destroy - especially those who are in the body of Christ. I also know that God allows Satan to cause harm, (the book of Job is an example of what God allows) but Satan is still subject to God and if God chooses to stop Satan, He has the power to do so. I also know that God hears the prayers of His people and He knows why we are praying. 

When Daniel fasted and prayed for the nation of Israel to be released from captivity, an angel told him (21 days after he began to pray) that since the first day he prayed, God had sent him in response to Daniel's prayers but that he had met resistance from the prince of the Persian kingdom (or Satan). It took the angel Michael to come to the rescue and fend off the enemy attacks. (Daniel 10) Daniel's prayers were heartfelt and righteous - he was an intercessor for the land of Israel and Satan did not want his prayers answered. 

If you are praying "BIG" prayers and they haven't been answered, keep on praying and don't give up. The enemy will use many tactics to try to stop you from praying but God will hear your prayers and He will respond in His time using whatever means He chooses. 

My brothers and sisters, I urge you to pray "BIG!" I'm believing in God to restore my hearing and eradicate cancer. Give Him the biggest request you can think of and watch for miracles.

You are not alone

Have you ever been so tired that you just wanted to die? Recently I've had a number of days when exhaustion has taken its toll on me. On Aug. 19 I was experiencing extreme exhaustion and opened my Bible to find out what God's word says about being weary.

In reading 1 Kings 19:1-19 I found out that Elijah the prophet experienced exhaustion. He had just slain hundreds of prophets of Baal and proven the power and might of God to the people of Israel. When Jezebel heard what he had done, she vowed to kill him.

Here was a man of God, whose faith was unwavering in the face of danger - yet he began running for his life at her threat. Why? He was exhausted from his ministry. 

After going a day's journey into the desert alone he sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die.

"I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 1 Kings 19:4-6

How often do we feel like Elijah? As Christians, it gets tiresome battling the demons of this world day after day. Some days we fight until we have no strength left. Maybe we're not physically killing the prophets of Baal, but there are forces of evil all around us that we have to contend with on a daily basis. 

Notice how Elijah spoke with the Lord. He was honest with Him and confessed his hopelessness in the situation. I guess to him it felt like all his hard work had been for nothing. 

I've felt that way at times. There have been many days when I tried my very best to be a reflection of Christ but it seemed as though I failed miserably. 

What did God do for Elijah when he cried out in frustration? He sent an angel to strengthen his physical body with food, but that wasn't all the Lord did for his servant Elijah.

The angel came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:10

When we're tired and ready to throw in the towel, we can look at Elijah as our mentor. Just eating the food offered to him gave him the strength to travel for 40 days and 40 nights. His journey wasn't over once he was strengthened, it was only beginning. As we read the word of God and continue on our journey with God we may find ourselves in a place near to the heart of God, but we may not get to rest until we arrive there. 

Elijah told the Lord that he had been zealous for God. He lamented that the Israelites had rejected God's covenant, broken down God's altars and put God's prophets to death.

"I'm the only one left and now they are trying to kill me, too," said Elijah.

Do you ever feel like you're the only one being obedient to God? Does it ever seem to you that you're facing life's problems alone? Take heart ...God hears your cries for help, He knows what you need to regain your strength and if He has to, He'll send an angel to minister to your needs.

This next passage is one of my favorites, I hope you'll hear the voice of God like Elijah did as you read this.

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:11-13

Elijah repeated his lament from earlier and was reminded by God that there were 7,000 in Israel who had not bowed down to Baal. He was not alone. Not only was he not alone, but God was sending him to meet Elisha, who had been chosen by God to become his right-hand man. 

God knew that Elijah was disheartened, He knew that Elijah's faith was strong, but He also knew that Elijah was human and needed encouragement and someone to come along side him as a friend. God was not through with Elijah, even though Elijah thought he'd done all he could. 

As long as we are on this earth, there is work we can do for the Lord. When we feel exhausted, we can ask for His help. Just as God helped Elijah prepare for future ministry, He'll help us with our ministries. 

Listen for the gentle whisper and go forward in God's care and His grace. 

Fear the Lord

We live in fearful times. With an uncertain economic future, government upheavals, job losses, health issues and lack of medical care, it seems that each day there is more to be concerned about.

I opened my Bible to the concordance to find out what God's Word says about fear and I was surprised at what I discovered.

There are numerous references to the fact that we should fear God. After Moses was given the 10 commandments, God gave him warnings about the importance of keeping His commands. 

Moses told the people, "Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only and take your oaths in His name." Deuteronomy 6:13

Moses repeated that advice again in Deuteronomy 10:12-13. "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good."

Before Moses' death, he left the people with these words. "Assemble the people - men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns - so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 31:12

A fear of the God was needed to serve Him and from what Moses said, it wasn't something that was naturally ingrained in people, but something that was learned. The people needed to first hear the law or commandments and then they would learn to fear God.

As I think about those who are evil and shun God, I realize that most of them either have never heard God's commands or have made a conscious effort to defy those commands. Evil people have no fear of God, some do not believe that He exists and others don't believe that He is capable of harming them.

The word states that a fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it adds length to life, it is the fountain of life, it teaches wisdom, it avoids evil, it leads to life, and it prompts us to hate evil.

In a nutshell, having a healthy fear of God is a wonderful thing. Isaiah 11:2-3 had this to say about the root of Jesse (which was a prophecy about the coming Messiah). "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord."

Yes, Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord. He knew just how powerful, almighty, righteous and just the God of heaven and earth really is. He knew that to refuse to be obedient to God would be futile. 

God had a purpose and a plan for his life and it was necessary for the good of all mankind. 

Jesus spoke about this fear to a crowd of thousands in Luke's gospel. 

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Luke 12:4-5

I believe that if we have a healthy fear of God, our own fears will dissipate because our trust is in Him. 

Hear these words of comfort from the scriptures about our earthly fears:

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me.

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 91:5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (This verse tells us that day or night, through terror, disease and famine - we, who have put our trust in the Lord, have nothing to fear).

God's word says that the fear of man is a snare, but that God is with us and He will deliver us from all our fears. 

When we give our hearts to God, we become His precious children and He will take care of us - it's as simple as that. Give your fears to God and let Him vindicate you.

I leave you with these words from 1 John 4:18. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

God has so much love for you and I and He will drive away the fears because of that great love!

Kindred Spirits

A few weeks ago I wrote an article in The News Democrat (see http://newsdemocrat.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=133748&SectionID=30&SubSectionID=233&S=1) about the enjoyment I received while reading a well-worn, cover-torn novel called “Anne of Green Gables.” I’ve almost finished the last book in the series and it saddens me to think that it’s coming to an end.

One of the things that I like about the character, Anne, is that she finds “kindred spirits” wherever she goes. There are people who cross her path for a season and they become steadfast friends.
This week I lost one of those “kindred spirits” in my life. Marge Krody died on July 10 after a long battle with cancer.

Our paths first crossed years ago and they seemed to intersect off and on throughout the years.
Marge was an avid fan of “Anne of Green Gables” also. She made me “green” with envy a few years ago when she and her sisters took a trip to Prince Edward Island, Canada, to visit Green Gables, the legendary home of Anne. It may not sound like the ideal vacation spot to everyone, but she had a great time and said it was wonderful. Some day I’ll find out for myself, and when I go, I’ll visualize Marge at all the stops along the way.

Marge was also the wife of a pastor. Pastor Bill Krody ministered to the saints at Georgetown United Methodist Church for a number of years, filled in at Mt. Orab United Methodist and Bethel United Methodist, but that’s another story.

When I knew that my husband was going to pastor a small church, I asked advice from Marge. She was a shining example to me of what a pastor’s wife should be and I looked to her as my mentor. She was always honest and straight-forward and her Scottish accent was pleasant to the ear whether she was correcting and encouraging or offering advice and warnings.

As Marge valiantly faced chemotherapy, she was an inspiration to the folks around her. She and I weren’t what you would call close friends, but she was often in my thoughts and prayers during her illness. There was just something about our relationship that ran deep. She knew what I needed to hear and I could sense her needs.

Most of us have people in our lives who touch our hearts in a special way. Our lives seem forever intertwined with some folks whether we see them often, talk with them on a regular basis or rarely speak. Those people are “kindred spirits” and their friendship is not only valuable, but eternal.

When I think of Marge, I am reminded of Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

As her family and friends say goodbye to her this week, our lives have been enriched because we knew her and our hope of eternal life is rekindled because of our desire to connect with her again.

She’s not the first “kindred spirit” that I’ve had to bid farewell and I still feel the connection between myself and those others who have shared their hearts with me. Sometimes I can hear their voices clearly telling me when I’ve goofed-up to watch my step. I can also hear them cheering me on when I’m on the right path. “Kindred spirits” remain with us through all the trials and victories that come our way. I hope you have a “kindred spirit” in your life.

Marsha Mundy is the news editor. Read her blog at marshamundy.blogspot.com.

Glorify and worship God by attending church

Statistics show that many people consider themselves Christians but have no desire to attend worship services on a regular basis. It is troubling to me that those who claim Jesus as their Lord and Savior cannot spend an hour in worship of Him on a weekly basis. 

Many churches have tried to keep up with the times by offering people contemporary services with less and less traditional worship and in that, some people have attended services who wouldn't ordinarily come. But it seems to me that people are missing the purpose of the "church." 

Church services were designed, not to please people, but to please our Creator. We are made in God's image and He has placed in each one of us a void which can only be filled with Him. That void can only be filled with worship of Him. 

It's a cop-out for people to say that they avoid church because it is filled with hypocrites. In my estimation, those who attend church regularly are there because they want to glorify God and they are being obedient servants.

When the early Christians were waiting anxiously for Christ's return, they met on a regular basis to fellowship, worship God and share the good news with one another. In the book of Hebrews, the writer addresses some concerns because some folks in the church seemed to think it unnecessary to meet. He reminded them of the sacrifice and Lordship of Jesus Christ and the importance of worship.

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:19-25

It only hurts the "church" and those who are in need of encouragement when Christians fail to attend worship services. 

If I sound like I'm on my soap box, I guess it's because I am. For too many years, especially in the USA, too many people have wanted their names on church rolls, they want to get married in the church and they want a Christian burial, but other than showing up on Christmas and Easter, they never darken the doors of the sanctuary. 

Christians who fail to go to "church" have failed God. They have also failed their children, their fellow Christians and those who look at them as examples of Christianity. 

When I go to church on Sunday morning, I do it as an obligation to God. I'm not there to hear and critique the music or the preaching, I'm there to worship God – period. Over the years I've found that I can worship God in small congregations, in large congregations; whether singing contemporary music or traditional hymns; worship is an attitude of the heart and corporate worship is good for God to see and will uplift your heart because it affirms your beliefs and gives you an opportunity to share your heart with like-minded people.

If I've stepped on someone's toes with this message, then I guess you needed to have your toes stepped on! If I've enlightened you and placed a desire in you to attend worship services, then I'm overjoyed! God doesn't really ask much from those who believe in Christ Jesus, but He is worthy of worship; He is worthy of praise; He alone is worthy of an hour of your time each week. 

May the Lord bless all who attend church on a regular basis – may you continue to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Biblical teamwork

I have been thinking quite a bit about people working together as a team to accomplish a set goal. In my line of work, it's everyone working to put together a newspaper twice a week. It takes advertising people, graphic arts designers, writers, editors and finally the people who run the press to put all of the elements together for the finished product.

As I looked through my Bible this week, I noticed that there were many times that the people of God pulled together to complete a project. One of the most impressive, was when the tribes of Israel built the tabernacle according to the Lord's specifications. 

The Lord told Moses to have the people bring offerings of gold, silver and bronze; blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair, ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; olive oil; spices; onyx stones and other gems. Then God instructed Moses exactly how the tabernacle should be built.

Craftsmen of all sorts were needed to complete the task. They had a goal to reach and with each one completing their own work, the tabernacle was complete.

Their team work wasn't finished though, because whenever the Lord said it was time to move on, each tribe was assigned a specific task to disassemble and carry the tabernacle to the new location. 

There were many instances of men working side by side through battles. Some were called to march into the war zone and others were needed to carry supplies, provide food, shelter and first aid for those who endured the battle.

Nehemiah enlisted the support of high priests and the remnants of the tribes of Israel to help reconstruct the wall of Jerusalem and erect the broken gates. Those men had to accomplish the task under threat of death. While some worked on the construction, others stood behind them with their weapons ready to defend their brothers. Both jobs were equally important to get the job done.

Jesus himself built a team of 12 hand-picked disciples to assist him in the work he was doing. There were times when jealousy and anger was evident within the group, but if the team hadn't done their assigned work, we wouldn't be followers of Christ today. 

The Apostle Paul never went on a mission alone, he always took others along with him for support and encouragement. He depended on the assistance of others as he fulfilled his mission from God.

We are created to share our talents and abilities for the good of others. One of the best illustrations of teamwork is Paul explaining to the Corinthian church that the foundation of the church is Christ. The teaching he (Paul) brought to the church added to the foundation and the teachings of Apollos added a different dimension. He also explained that the church is like one body with all the members adding their own special gifts to create a healthy church.

When everyone shares their gifts, whatever they may be, and they are used in conjunction with the gifts of others, we have created a tabernacle where the Almighty God is pleased to dwell.

If you don't know what your gifts might be, ask God to reveal them to you and guide you into ways in which to share what you have to offer. 

"The man who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:7-9

Heaven is for real!

This week a very learned man shared his opinion that there is no heaven. World renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking claims that heaven is a fairy tale for people afraid of the dark. 

My first reaction to his claim was to pray for God to reveal Himself to Mr. Hawking and then scripture came to mind. 

The Apostle Paul told the church members in Corinth that the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. He then referred Christians to Isaiah 29:14 which reads, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent."

1 Corinthians 1:20-25 reads, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

Mr. Hawking isn't a believer but he is a very intelligent man. According to scripture, "the man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

Mr. Hawking is living proof that someone can be very intelligent and yet miss the whole point of eternity. How very sad that he believes that when he's dead–it's all over.

As Christians, we believe in eternal life because we believe that Jesus was truly the Messiah, that He made atonement for our sins when He died on the cross and that He was resurrected through the power of God's Holy Spirit. Jesus told us that He was going to prepare a place for us and that He would one day come back to take us there. That place is in heaven and the disciple John tries to describe it in the book of Revelation. I believe it defies description–John couldn't find the words to explain what heaven is like. 

Paul also said that God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. 

Mr. Hawking may have been somewhat right about one thing without his really knowing it. He said that people who believe in heaven are afraid of the dark. Those who have the Spirit of God within them know that God is light and we will forever be in His light when we arrive in heaven. Scripture tells us that those who don't have God's Spirit are living in darkness. As believers, I suppose you could say we have a fear of the dark, but it's less of a fear and more of a desire to live in the light of God. Those who choose not to believe in God have no fear of the dark because they are already living there, they are comfortable where they are. They have nothing to compare the darkness to.

I may be foolish in the eyes of the world, but I truly believe in heaven and look forward to the day when I'll get to see the mansion that is being prepared for me. Paul put it best when he said, "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." Amen, brother Paul!

God is a faithful provider

A quick glimpse through the Bible is our assurance that God is a God who provides. His promises tell us that He will never leave us nor forsake us and that He will provide for His people.

In Genesis 22:8 Abraham reminds his son, Isaac, that God will provide the lamb for the burnt offering. Abraham was being obedient, he was willing to sacrifice his son because God had asked him. But Abraham knew God's character well enough to know that He was able to do the impossible. Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in their advanced years. Their son was the result of a fulfilled promise by God Almighty.

God did provide the lamb for the sacrifice and Isaac's life was spared because Abraham was obedient. His first priority was to God.

I have been out of work now for 13 months. During that time, God has provided for all our needs. We have not lost our home, we've never gone hungry, we've had shoes and clothing and we've always had enough to pay our bills. I've seen God's provision in my life on a daily basis. Although there have been days when I doubted if we would have enough, I've never stopped believing that God heard my prayers. Last week I was asked to return to a former job and I have accepted. God has provided this job for me and I give praise Him.

There are so many ways that God provides for us. We often think of provision in a monetary or physical sense, but the Bible teaches us that God provides redemption for His people. The precious blood of Jesus Christ has provided all we need to receive forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. 

God's grace provides a way for us to triumph over temptation and enables us to stand through the trials that we encounter. 

God's love for us provides us with more than enough love to pass along to others. 

The Jewish people have called God, Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide. 

If you have any doubts about God's provision, open your Bible to the following verses and fill your heart with His word about provision. Read Isaiah 43:20; Jonah 1:17, 4:6-8; 1 Timothy 6:17 and 1 Peter 4:11.

Think back over the past few months–how many times has Jehovah Jireh taken care of your needs? Praise Him for His mercy and great love.

Prayer event was great

Finding 3 praise band played for us.

I just wanted to update everyone about our National Day of Prayer event in Brown County Ohio. We had a good crowd, the weather was perfect and prayers were offered for the seven centers of power!

We had a variety of music. From praise and worship, to traditional hymns and a banjo ballad!

Wesley O'Hara played his banjo.

God was glorified on courthouse square in Georgetown, Ohio last night by all who participated in the event.





God's word was read by all those in attendance and our voices filled the square with a sweet sound!


We estimate between 300 - 400 people were there for the observance! Praise God!

The crowd waits for the prayers to begin.

National Day of Prayer

Today we observe a National Day of Prayer in the United States of America. This is a day set aside to seek God's guidance and mercy for the nation.

If ever our nation needed to seek God, it is now. We have experienced growing numbers of unemployment, severe weather affecting the lives of many, increased prices for gasoline and food and wickedness seems to be spreading like wildfire.

I am one of the coordinators for the National Day of Prayer in Brown County Ohio and our task force has spent the past five months working to promote the events we have planned for today. Our main objective is to glorify God Almighty in Brown County.

We have selected people who have a heart for prayer to pray for the seven centers of power within our nation. The centers of power include: families, churches, the government, the military, the media, area businesses and schools. These are the centers which make our nation strong. Having Christians working within these centers of power is vital if we are to remain a Christian nation.

As I write this blog today, there are hundreds gathered in our nation's capitol seeking God's direction and guidance for our country. It is indeed a privilege and an honor to call upon God.

The theme for this year is taken from Psalm 91:2–"I will say to the Lord, 'my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust'."

Holy God, We praise You today and recognize You as our creator, our refuge and our fortress. Your word says that You will never leave us nor forsake us and we are standing on the promises of Your word today. Amen

One of the highlights of our observance in Brown County is a simultaneous Bible reading. All those in attendance bring their Bibles and chairs and sit in the street in front of the county courthouse. At a specific time, everyone will open their Bibles and read scripture out loud–all at the same time. The entire Bible will be read by 350 people in 15 minutes. It is a moving experience and I know that it is pleasing to God's ears to hear His word read by all those present.

If you live in the USA and would like to participate in the NDOP visit this website to find an event near you http://nationaldayofprayer.org/about/find-an-event/

May God continue to bless the USA and may the USA bless God!

Focus on God for a great beginning

Women of Faith wanted to know–How do you start your day? How's that working for you?

I start my day with a cup of home-brewed Starbucks and my devotions. I use several different devotional books to help get me on the right track. I found that after awhile I get into a "devotional rut" and have started to add a little variation. 

I use a journal to record notable events and prayers for those who are in my heart but I also now pray in color on occasion. This is a wonderful way to be creative while focusing on God and praying for the needs of others. I've included a picture from my praying in color journal. 

It's really easy for me to get sidetracked while I'm praying and reading scripture so I keep a piece of scrap paper handy to write down the things that pop into my head so I can remember them and deal with them later. 

When my dog starts snoring as she lays on the floor by my chair I often break into a song of praise. My singing isn't the greatest and that usually wakes her up. God doesn't mind that my voice is creaky–He's listening to my heart.

Before I open my Bible I ask God's Spirit to show me something new, teach me what I need to learn and I often have to ask for forgiveness for messing up the day before. Often as I pray, I will hear the Spirit direct me to send someone a card or give something to someone. 

There have been days when I had to be out the door early and didn't take time for devotions, but I know that God understands. He wants my undivided attention and usually I can give Him at least a half hour of uninterrupted time. It's the best part of my day!

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

As we prepare to celebrate Easter and the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, our hearts are turned toward a hill on calvary where He laid down His life for the sins of the world. 

Jesus came into the world as a man for one specific purpose. He came to bridge the gap between sinful man and a righteous, holy God. Without Him and His precious blood we would all be lost for eternity, but praise be to God, Jesus came, He walked among us and showed us the great love God has for each one of us. The New Testament is full of eye-witness accounts about His earthly ministry.

As Jesus prepared for His crucifixion, He spent His last hours in prayer in the Mount of Olives. 

"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." John 17:1-5

It is hard to imagine the anguish that Jesus went through as He realized that His earthly ministry was over. We cannot fathom the amazing love for mankind which held Him to the cross. His physical body was inflicted with pain just as any human body would be, yet He endured. He could have called upon 10,000 angels to come to His rescue, but He didn't. Why? Why would He willingly die for us? It's all about love. A love which is beyond our comprehension, a love that is timeless. 

"Let us fix our 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 the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grown weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3

Jesus experienced joy for what He accomplished. His work on earth was complete as He hung on the cross and took on the sins of the world. He reconciled mankind to God the Father for all eternity. In spite of the pain, in spite of the scorn, in spite of what looked like complete failure; He knew that what He was doing was for the benefit of all mankind. All those who believe in Him and seek God will reap eternal rewards. His love for us is that great!

But the story doesn't end with Jesus death. The power of Almighty God was displayed further when He brought Jesus back from the grave. His tomb is empty! Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ not only saved mankind through His blood, but he also defeated the enemy by overcoming death. All those who accept Jesus as their Savior are over comers. We will all spend eternity in the presence of God because of His immense love for us.

All I can say is "Thank You, Father! Thank you, Jesus! And thank you, Holy Spirit!"

Abandoned by not forgotten

                                         Do you ever feel abandoned? How do you deal with that emotion?

Years ago my husband and I were having marriage problems. We had just moved 100 miles from our families and our hometown with his new job and were hoping to get a fresh start on our marriage. 

We moved to a wonderful neighborhood with other families who had young children and things were looking up for us. We had made some new friends, were meeting our new neighbors and had a bright future.

Shortly after the move, however, my husband had a difficult time letting go of the past and some ties he had to our former hometown. He often picked a fight with me on the weekend which gave him an excuse to head back home leaving the children and myself to fend for ourselves. At that point in time, I didn't even have a car and I felt totally helpless.

Being abandoned by my husband, living in a new town and trying to keep things as normal as possible for my children created much fear within me. Although I had faith, I felt like the man who asked Jesus to help him in his unbelief. I cried out to God and to everyone who would listen asking for help. Many of my new neighbors did what they could to help and my family listened to my cries long distance. I know many prayers were offered for my children and myself.

Going through that period of abandonment was a new experience for me. My life had been relatively trouble-free up to that time. I learned through the experience that although God is always with us providing for our needs, He often surrounds us with people who will help us. The key is for us to ask Him for the wisdom to know where to go for help and who we can trust to help us. We often need to rely on the kindness of strangers and God is the one who puts them in our pathway.

God has restored my marriage and the abandonment is just a memory, but when I see other people in need, I am more compassionate with them because of my own experience. 

The Bride of Christ

The book of Esther is more than a love story. As Christians, we can get a better understanding of our own lives as we read about her life.

After Queen Vashti insulted her husband, King Xerxes, he began a search for a new queen. The Bible is full of types and shadows. Stories which have double meanings and are a reflection of things to come. 

Reading about the dethroning of Queen Vashti reminded me of the Jewish people and their disregard for Jesus as the Messiah. They rejected Him as their king and He called others (Gentiles) into His kingdom. He is the King of Kings and is searching for a suitable replacement to be His bride. 

The "church" is referred to as the bride of Christ over and over again in the New Testament. Jesus is coming back someday to take His bride to heaven with Him. Even now He is preparing a place for us. But before that day comes, the "church" must undergo beauty treatments.

Esther was selected as a candidate for queen from among many others but before these women met face to face with the king, they had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments. 

"Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name." Esther 2:12-14

The "church" has been established by Christ Jesus as His bride. We are in the process right now of beauty treatments. Not necessarily the same type of treatments that Esther had to endure, but more of a purification process. Our hearts and minds are going through a cleansing and we are becoming more Christ-like in our thoughts and deeds. The oil of the Holy Spirit is being applied to us daily, preparing us to stand before King Jesus. 

"Now the king was attracted to Esther more than any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made he queen instead of Vashti. And the king gave a great banquet, Esther's banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality." Esther 2:17-18

Revelation 19:7-9 puts it this way; "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear. (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints). Then the angel said unto me, 'Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' And he added, 'These are the true words of God."

The "church" has been selected as the bride of Christ but we are still in preparation for that glorious wedding day.  

For Queen Esther her responsibility increased once she became queen. She was asked to go before the king to plead for the lives of the Jewish people. Her adopted father, Mordecai, explained it like this: "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:13-14

What a responsibility we have as the bride of Christ. He is expecting us to share the gospel message and save people from eternal damnation. The world needs Jesus more than ever before and maybe, just maybe we have been called "for such a time as this."

A note about this post: I have been asked if this means that the "church" replaces Israel as God's chosen people and the answer is "No!" Although the "church" has become the bride of Christ, the Jewish people have not been rejected by God. He still loves Israel and we (the Gentiles) have been included in His grace and mercy through the blood of Jesus.