Trust Him Always

 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, 

for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Oh, my dear girlfriends, every day for the past week I have thought about you as I opened my web browser. Whenever the Girlfriend Moments homepage popped up, I envisioned your faces! I longed to write to you, but my heart was also pulled in another direction: to my child!

The reason for my writing drought has not been a dry pen! Rather, I have been immersed in a flood of memories, spending the last ten days sorting through print and digital photos. You see, I have a senior in high school graduating in a month. She is my third child, mind you, but I am finally in a position in life to create a slideshow for her party. This task initially seemed simple, but I forgot who I am. Nothing I undertake is "easy" because naturally I expect detail and perfection! Oh, yes, and I have four children, so the quantity of material through which I must sort is monumental. But fear not, my head is above water, and I am swimming for the finish line!

During this endeavor, God and I had quite a few conversations. Do you find that God revisits you frequently in different fashions with a point He wants to drive home? This happens to me all the time.

Girlfriends, the last time I wrote I spoke about trust. Well, today, after this long break, I am back to the same issue. Trusting God; trusting other people. Trusting myself.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  Psalm 56:3

This morning, my second child messaged us that two girls from her college died from a house fire caused by a laptop on a bed. The smoke detector in the house they rented did not have a battery in it. My heart aches for their families, friends, and the college community. My mind cries out to God....why? My thoughts race to my own children. Fear creeps in and a sense of panic squeezes with each breath I take. I want to gather them in, hold them, and never let them go. But, alas, not one of them is present with me. 

But I have trusted in your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. Psalm 13:5

I ask God repeatedly to protect each child. I hear God replying. Trust me. I read Psalm 13:5 again. Whatever my fear in this life, I can rejoice in His salvation. God saves our children. Parents do not save them. Firemen do not save them. Their faith in God alone offers true safety and salvation. Do I trust Him? If so, while continually loving them, I will release my grip and watch as they soar. He lifts them up on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31). And when the time comes, He will carry them to His eternal home where we will meet again in joy and jubilation.  

There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. Deuteronomy 1:31

Do I trust Him?

...in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

As fearful as I may get at times like these when tragedy strikes near home, and as grim as reality appears when two young girls die in a fire that was preventable, I stand on the Rock of my salvation. With the knowledge that I imparted to my children the love of God and the pathway to His saving grace, I entrust their futures to Him. I cannot add to their lives by worrying. (Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Luke 12:25) Instead, I choose to trust and to enjoy each moment of this life together.

Girlfriends, my prayer for you today is pregnant with thoughts of personal safety, loved ones' safety, relationships fulfilled, and salvation. May God place a hedge of protection around you and your beloved families/friends. May He nudge you to take precautions and check your surroundings. I also pray you will reach out today to those people dear to your hearts--your parents, your children, your siblings, whomever--and profess with your mouth your love and appreciation for them.

But most of all, ladies, I pray that you turn to Jesus Christ as your eternal Savior and Protector. Only He can be trusted for safety and eternal life. Ask Him into your heart. Thank Him. And finally, share the Lord with those people in your sphere of influence. Let no ear within distance of your voice go without hearing His Message today. God alone saves, but you can be the megaphone in His Hand announcing the Word and preparing the way, for who among us knows our day?

God Bless, my friends, and please know how much I love and appreciate each one of you!
 

TrUSt

  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. Psalm 118:8 NIV 

Girlfriends, in whom do you place your trust?

Seriously, think about it. Do you trust your spouse? Your parents? Your siblings? Your best friend? Your co-workers or classmates? Your teachers or pastor? Your dog? Yourself?

Trust No One

Many will say, "Trust no one." Looking at the world today, that advice seems sound. People disappoint one another at every turn. Infidelity, betrayal, and divorce are rampant. The news headlines today scream about Secret Service Agents engaging with prostitutes; parents stealing $1M from a disabled son's trust find; and classmates being DNA swabbed in efforts to find a 13 year old's killer. The only good news comes surprisingly from dogs in Los Angeles:

"A loyal Labrador Retriever named Maggie, who was videotaped as she guarded the body of a yellow Lab hit and killed by a car in Southern California, was reunited with her family today....Maggie's loyalty to the dead dog was so poignant and so risky that shelter workers nicknamed her Grace, as in "Amazing Grace." The video shows traffic speeding by just a few feet from the dogs."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/17/loyal-dog-who-stayed-by-dead-dog-side-reunited-with-family/#ixzz1sJi99Wpu

Leave it to the dogs to put the "us" in "trust"!

Why Trust?

I have suffered the hurt and disappointment of broken trust. Sorry to say, I have also been the perpetrator of shattered trust. Can any among us claim otherwise? As today's Psalm tells us, God is the only One in whom we can have perfect trust...even our dogs will run away, chasing squirrels, birds, or one another, given the time and freedom!

Yet, I want to be a trusting person. Being married to law enforcement can challenge me in that area. Because he daily sees the evil face of human nature, my husband can make me edgy at times. Constantly reminding me to lock the doors, hang on to my purse, or face the entrance/exits in a restaurant, he fears for our safety because he knows what the psalmist wrote: our only true safe haven is refuge in the Lord.

Nonetheless, I fancy myself to be a genuinely trusting person. I believe in the goodness of man as created in the image of God. We know Jesus conquered sin on the cross and ultimately His Goodness wins. So I try to live life accrediting righteousness to the people I encounter unless otherwise shown. I guess I just do not want to live under the shadow of mistrust and skepticism all the days of my existence, which is the reason I could never do the job my husband thankfully performs. I do not want to acknowledge and face evil on this earth. I seek justice, yet I love grace and mercy.

For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth. Psalm 71:5 ESV


Do I Really Trust?

So, ladies, by now you may be wondering just why I have a photo of Mandisa and friends at the top of this blog for the Girls' Night Live Tour, and what does it have to do with trusting? (If you are not wondering that because my blog is so long that you have already forgotten what photo was at the top of the page, do not feel bad. My brain works that way too!)

Mandisa's music has been an inspiration to Joslyn through her pain and medical struggles. So a few weeks ago, my daughter invited me to attend this show with her.  The performances sold out in a matter of minutes, and she had only gotten two tickets. When this past weekend arrived, we needed another ticket for either my mother-in-law or my best friend to also attend. Joslyn put out a message on the local Christian radio station's facebook page and soon received numerous offers. I texted a response and located a ticket.

Now, friends, here is where the trust part comes into play. The woman making this offer was so kind. She scanned and emailed the ticket to me without any form of prior payment or identification. She simply trusted me to mail her a check for the cost, which did not even include the fees she had paid by the way! She also told me that she was using a scanned ticket for the show the night before we were to attend and would let me know if she encountered any difficulties.

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10
 
Now, you would think I would imitate her nature and mail that $20 check asap. After all, she modeled the trusting nature I admire and seek to claim. Unfortunately, a little voice crept in my head warning me to wait until after the show just to be sure the ticket was legitimate. Doubt. Apprehension. I could not even trust myself to be the trusting person I think I am.
Ugh!
Why?
Well, just that day, my daughter's friends had bought tickets from a man outside the Cardinals stadium for the 2012 World Series Champions' Home Opener game. When they reached the gate, they were told the tickets had already been scanned for admission. They had been scammed to the tune of $300. Another example of deception and dishonesty for worldly gain. That memory was fresh in my head.

A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. Prov 28:5

Trust Anyway

Dictionary.com defines TRUST as "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc, of a person or thing; confident expectation of something; hope." 


Girlfriends, I want to trust. I desire faith and confidence in my family, friends, associates and the public. I regret that I doubted this sweet woman who placed her trust in me. (I mailed her a check including the fees in a thank you card for her kindness.)  Yet, I also know that God is calling me to put in Him my ultimate faith and trust for salvation from this broken world. He is the Only One Who will never betray my trust in Him.

My prayer for you today is that you will spend some time reflecting upon "trust." In whom do you trust and why? Who trusts you and why? Do you trust in the Lord? Can the Lord trust you? Pray about it!


Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV


Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. 2 Samuel 7:28 NIV


But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5

The Last "Girl Prom"

 “The LORD bless you
   and keep you;
 the LORD make his face shine on you
   and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you
   and give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

Girlfriends, I have found out how difficult it is to maintain a writing schedule for a blog when you are on the road traveling! I took a trip to St Louis this past week with my wonderful mother-in-law to see my two daughters living there and to attend a Christian Women's Concert. We had a wonderful time! I will write more tomorrow about our experience, but just wanted to take a moment tonight to wish you all a blessed Sunday!

My third daughter is attending her senior prom tonight. It is my last "girl prom," and I am a little weepy as I wait for her to come home. Soon she will join the other two girls out in the wide world. My son will be the only child left home. As I am sure you can imagine, we each have mixed emotions over the upcoming changes in our household.

I know I have a wide variety of ladies reading this blog, so I ask you to please pray for us as we adjust. Also leave me any wise words of advise you may have to pass on. (The comments section is just below at the end of this post!)

God Bless each one of you this week at whatever stage of motherhood and/or womanhood you find yourself! I pray you will savor each tender moment. And now, box of kleenex in hand, I return to staring at kindergarten photos until curfew arrives and my little girl is safely home in her bed!!

Love to all....

Mental Vacations

In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city;

God makes salvation

its walls and ramparts.

Open the gates

that the righteous nation may enter,

the nation that keeps faith.

You will keep in perfect peace

him whose mind is steadfast,

because he trusts in you. 

Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. 

 Isaiah 26:1-4

As I stood making my breakfast smoothie this morning, my dear daughter told me, "It's going to be 82 degrees today.."
"Really?" I asked, thinking how nice 80's sound after these evening lows in the 30's again.
"..in Hawaii," my dear child finished her sentence, which I had interrupted with my comment.
"Of course it is!" I laughed, mentally traveling with her to the beaches of Waikiki. My family loves Hawaii, no doubt about it!

Mental Vacations

Whether or not you have been to Hawaii, you probably have a place in your mind to which you like to travel for get-aways. I think we all do. It's our "happy place" we can go to when real life is overwhelmingly difficult. Being present in the moment is sometimes too stressful to handle. We need those mental vacation spots to take us away, even if for a brief moment of respite.

In today's key verse from the prophet Isaiah, we read a song of praise and remember that God is the ultimate vacation destination. His city walls are salvation. The righteous and faithful enter through its gates. Girlfriends, the calm we seek, whether we vacation for real or simply "mind travel", is waiting for us in the Lord:

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

You do not have to board a plane or hire a travel agent. Jesus can take you in an instant to that place of perfect peace and tranquility. Trust in Him; keep your mind fixed upon Him.

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:4

The Rock

The Lord is our Rock eternal...I love that thought. When we traveled to Florida for spring break, we drove out to the jetty and sat on the rocks to watch the dancing waves and pursue glimpses of sea creatures! In Hawaii last year, we climbed to the top of a huge rock for the thrill of jumping and falling twenty-five feet into the water below. (Or leaning back and not-so-thrillingly smacking your back and thighs onto the water and bruising from neck to knees, as was my case!) Even here in Lemont, I enjoy hiking out to the quarry and sitting on the rocks, feeling the breeze through my hair and the warmth reflecting off the stone. 

But Ladies, the Lord is our Rock eternal! He is THE rock upon which we can always rest steady no matter where we find ourselves or in what condition. He is strong, steadfast, and sturdy. 

My prayer for you today is that next time you desire to take a mental vacation, go to that beautiful place in your mind--the ocean, the forest, the canyon --wherever it may be. But take the Lord with you. Keep your mind resting upon the Rock of your salvation wherever you go, and peace will surely be yours all the days of your life!

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1 NIV

Loving you!

Have You Seen My Keys

 Woman, why are you crying? they [the angels]asked her.

She answered, "They have taken my Lord away,

 and I do not know where they have put him!" 

Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Woman, why are you crying? Jesus asked her. Who is it that you are looking for? 

John 20:13-15 GNT

Girlfriends, have you ever been completely certain about where something is located for which you are looking? But then when you get to that place, the thing which you seek is not there? Panic starts to rise along with your blood pressure, yet you are positive you are scanning the exact spot where it should be.

Have you seen my keys?

I cannot tell you how many times I have found myself in this situation. Perpetually running late, I have sought my keys on the rack in the laundry room. Alas, they are not hanging on the hook. Frantically, I begin scouring the area, then my purse, my coat pockets, and my tote bags before I resort to screaming to anyone in the house within earshot. "Has anyone seen my keys? I need to leave like five minutes ago. Help me!" Of course, no one knows where they are. Depending upon the present level of hormones, tears often accompany the agitation.

On any given day, substitute the word "cell phone" in place of "keys" and start the story at the beginning. Or "my purse". Or, most recently on spring break vacation, "credit card." The scenario plays out just about the same every time! And the funny thing is, most of the time, the item I seek is exactly in the place I left it. I am staring right at it. I just don't recognize it. I feel relieved when I find it, yet also silly for not recognizing what is in front of my face. 

Where Have They Put Him?

After the Sabbath ended that first Easter weekend, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where she knew Jesus should be. Alas, instead she encountered an empty tomb, and in her distress, she cried. The angels of the Lord were present and asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"  Yes, Girlfriends, our sister in Christ also cried when she could not find what she was looking for. 

She answered, "They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!" 

Ladies, can you feel her confusion, dismay, and fear? Can you just hear the thoughts racing through her mind? I know how alarmed I become over lost keys, but Mary could not find her Savior whom she dearly loved. She knew He should be there because she witnessed the placement of His body in the tomb after the crucifixion:  

Joseph bought a linen sheet, took the body down, wrapped it in the sheet, and placed it in a tomb which had been dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph were watching and saw where the body of Jesus was placed. Mark 15:46-47 

What happens next is amazing:  

Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there; but she did not know that it was Jesus. Woman, why are you crying? Jesus asked her. Who is it that you are looking for? John 20:14-15

The Jesus whom Mary sought was exactly where He should be. Isn't that how it goes, girls? He was right there with her all the time, yet she did not see Him. Her blinded emotions took over and sent her into a frenzy for no reason. Her Savior had not left her and in fact, He spoke to her by name:

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). John 20:16

Girlfriends, my prayer for you today is that you will hear Jesus calling your name. I pray your eyes will be opened to the presence of the living, risen Savior who longs to be in relationship with you. He is exactly where He is supposed to be: with you! If you have been frantically searching for His peace, His love, His joy, and His assurance of salvation, take a breath and wipe away your tears. Find Him waiting with open arms, ready to hold you. I pray your will respond just as Mary Magdalene: Teacher! He saved her from her sinfulness and taught her the way of everlasting life. Jesus longs to do the same for you. The One you have been looking for has been here the whole time...

 A Beautiful Video:
ALIVE: Mary Magdelene  by Natalie Grant    

He Is Risen!

Happy Easter, Girlfriends!

Christ is Risen! Alleluia!

I love today's key verses, spoken by the angel to the WOMEN at the tomb. 

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 
Matthew 28: 1-7 NIV

But wait, ladies, it gets even better...not only had Christ risen from the grave, conquered death, evil, and sin, BUT his first appearance as the resurrected Christ was to the WOMEN:
 
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Mathew 28: 8-10 NIV

AMEN! 


The living Christ is seeking YOU today, Girlfriends. As you rush about on this Easter day, I pray you will include "rushing to tell the Good News" among your activities. Meet Jesus along the way. Do not be afraid; He rose for all people, Jew and Gentile, male and female, free or in bondage! Embrace your new freedom in Christ! Spread the lifesaving news like butter upon the Easter bread, let it melt into hearts and add sweetness to the feast.


My greatest prayer for each one of you is salvation. TODAY is the DAY! Jesus stands waiting for you, nail-pierced hands stretched wide, open arms waiting to hold you forever! Run to Him. Be the woman at the tomb..." for I know that you are looking for Jesus..."

Happy Easter! I love you and so does God!



  

Good Friday

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities

and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered him stricken by God,

smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the Lord has laid on him

the iniquity of us all. 

Isaiah 53:3-6 NIV

Girlfriends, we are in the holiest week of the year, and today is GOOD FRIDAY. In my heart, I ask myself what is so good about a man full of love, devotion, compassion, empathy, and caring being beaten, tortured, crucified, stabbed, killed, and thrown into a cave? I can think of a lot of words to use as a prefix for this day but "Good" would not have been one of them.

For me, this day begins as one of sorrow and sadness as I envision the sins of the world--past, present, and future--cast upon an innocent man hanging from a wooden cross by nails through His hands and feet. A guiltless man dying for me--for all of humanity. His blood purchased for me what I could not earn, an eternity in the presence of God. It saddens me to know that I contributed to Christ's suffering and pain. Who am I to deserve this priceless gift of grace?

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7 ESV

This gift of grace puts the "good" back into Easter Friday. Only a good, loving, merciful God would make such a sacrifice for disobedient, selfish, and trespassing people of which I am one.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT

Only a God of understanding would submit to the hands of evil to suffer the atrocities of this broken world in order to be a living example to us of overcoming adversity, finding strength, and gaining everlasting peace. Only a good God would offer us a choice, knowing fully well that we may turn away from His provision and choose death.

Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Matthew 7:13-14 ESV 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 6:23 ESV

As Good Friday progresses, I begin to feel the "good" in the day--the goodness of my God, my Savior, my Jesus. The goodness of the hope His death offers to a beaten, battered, broken world and me living in it. By one man sin entered the human race and by one Man sin is forgiven for each human who comes to the foot of the cross humbly seeking restoration and salvation. That is the Good News of Good Friday!

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—Romans 5:12

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15-17

Girlfriends, I pray you will meditate upon the meaning of "Good" in this Friday for you. Weep if you feel like weeping; cleanse your heart with tears of sorrow and grief for the suffering of the Beloved One sent to save you. But ladies, let that water wash away the debris and walk toward the place where glory will be revealed by the Resurrection in three days! Soon, my dears, soon our mourning will turn to celebration, for the grave in which Christ was laid could not hold Him. Good is about to turn into Great...a great day for all of creation!

Love you all!