A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read “Puppies for Sale.” Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough a little boy appeared under the store owner’s sign.

“How much are you going to sell the puppies for?” the little boy asked.

The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.” The little boy said. “May I please look at them?” The store owner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?” The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered that it did not have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. “That is the puppy I want to buy.” The store owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I will just give him to you.”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I will pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now and fifty cents a month until I have him paid for.”

The store owner countered, “You really do not want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies.”

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands.” – Author Unknown

In 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

Some of the most important words in the above passage are the words so that.

Thank God for the comfort He gives to us when we bring our past issues or present issues to Him. He can bring comfort that is supernatural and beyond anything earth can offer. He cares. He comforts. He heals. While He does that for our benefit, the scripture gives valuable information. He comforts us so that we can use that heavenly comfort to touch others who need comfort.

Because of our testimony of the work of God in our lives, we become comfort + able. We are able to comfort those who are facing what we have faced. The little boy in the story said, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands.”

God will absolutely let us cross paths with someone who needs comfort in an area which He has already brought healing to us.

Some of the things of which I have become comfort + able are:

• Sexual and physical abuse as a child.
• Miscarriage.
• Losing a child to death.
• Hurt by the Church.

There are other areas to which I can testify, but over the years, I have been able to wrap my arms around those who suffered abuse, miscarriage, death of a child, and Church hurt. I can proclaim, “God will bring You through this.”

There are parts of my story that I wish I could erase, but they exist. BUT GOD! God has redeemed me from the pain I have faced. He has made me comfort-able!

What have you faced that God has healed? He has made you comfort-able in that area. Speak up! Look for those the Spirit is trying to lead you to comfort. They need to hear your voice. Don’t keep it to yourself any longer. Others can receive the comfort with which God has comforted you. Your story of grace could be the lifeline they need. Let’s be comforted and comforting.

Years ago, a well-known actor returned to his home in England. The actor was given a grand reception in his childhood parish. While replying to the complimentary speeches in the parish auditorium, he asked if there was anything they especially wanted to hear from him. After a minute’s pause, his old pastor asked him if he could recite the Good Shepherd Psalm, Psalm 23, which he had taught the actor in Sunday school.

A strange look came over the actor’s face. He paused for a moment, and then said, “I will, on one condition—that after I have recited it, you, my pastor and teacher will do the same.” The old, retired pastor replied, “I am not an actor, but, if you wish it, I shall do so.”

Impressively the actor began the Psalm. His voice and intonation were perfect. He held his audience spellbound, and, as he finished, a great burst of applause broke from the audience. As it died away, the old pastor rose from his wheelchair and began to recite the same Psalm. His voice was feeble and shivering and his tone was not faultless. But, when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room.

The actor rose and his voice quivered as he said, ‘”Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears, but my old pastor has reached your hearts. The difference is just this: I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.

Knowing the Shepherd is so needed today.

For decades, I have studied the Bible. When I was a child, a woman picked me up and took me to church each week. At that little church, I learned so much scripture. I was motivated to learn passages of scripture because my Sunday school teacher offered prizes. I learned a lot of Bible.

After graduating from high school, I attended Southeastern University. At that time, it was known as Southeastern Bible College. We had daily chapel services and a Friday night chapel service. Attendance was mandatory. I heard a lot of sermons based on the Bible. When it came to choosing courses, many studies of books of the Bible were required classes. I learned a lot of Bible.

After SEU, where I met my husband Gaylon, we left to begin the life of pastoral ministry. As time passed, I began to teach children’s church and adult Sunday school. That required teaching books of the Bible, so I studied for hours. I learned a lot of Bible.

Eventually, I began to travel teaching in churches and conferences. I continued studying a great deal. I learned a lot of Bible.

I cannot pinpoint the exact date, but I found myself a bit unfulfilled in ministry and my Christian walk. I had heard over and over that I should get into God’s Word, and I would know God.

I knew so much of the Bible, but something was missing. There came a point in time that I was broken before God, telling Him something was wrong. I was a worship leader, a Bible teacher, and a woman of God, but these were not totally fulfilling.

God clearly began to break through and show me that I was much like the actor in the above story. I knew the Psalm, but I did not intimately know the Shepherd. It is the Shepherd who brings the Word to life. It is the Shepherd who fulfills the longing deep within my soul. It is sitting alone with the Shepherd that is life changing.

Scripture is wonderful, and I thank God for the Bible. But it is intimacy with the Shepherd that we must have. Intimacy is more than just knowing about God; it is about experiencing Him, communicating with Him, and cultivating a heart connection that grows over time. 

I am not discounting the study of scripture, but that in itself will not produce intimacy with the Shepherd. Of course, to intimately know God, we must know crucial things about God. These things are learned through study of scripture.

Never in the history of the Church has there been so much theological material available to every person. Theology is simply the study of God. We have many Bible translations, books written by other Christians, a plethora of articles, Christian magazines, and endless sermons. All of these are wonderful, and things for which we should be grateful.

Yes, there is an abundance of material about God at our fingertips. We do not lack material about God. It is my opinion that what we lack are Enochs who walk with God. Genesis 5:24 tells us that Enoch walked faithfully with God. Hebrews 11:5 shows us that Enoch had a walk with God that was life changing. In a time when there was little teaching material for Enoch to access every day, Enoch accessed God, and it translated to a life that pleased God.

I am reminded of the words of a chorus that I find myself singing from time to time.

In your presence, in your presence, there is peace.

In your presence, in your presence, there is joy.

I will linger, I will stay, in your presence day by day.

Till your likeness may be seen in me.

That is what happened to Enoch. Being a child of God was not just one of Enoch’s priorities. It was his top priority through which all other priorities were filtered. Enoch walked the earth for many years, but God summed up Enoch’s life very simply. Enoch walked with God.

God invites us to intimacy. God invites us to walk with Him. Will you answer the invitation? Rise up and be an Enoch!

“Oh God, let Enochs arise within the Church. Let believers arise who do not know only the Psalm, but who know the Shepherd.” Amen.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalms 16:11 NKJV

School has begun in our city. Students went back Thursday and Friday of last week, and this week they began full weeks. It seems that summer vacation flew by for families in our area.

Living in a neighborhood with almost fifteen hundred homes and thousands of children requires careful driving. As a result of the large number of houses and people in my neighborhood, the speed limit on our streets is twenty miles per hour. Yes, twenty miles per hour! Scores of stop signs grace the intersections, and we are required to stop at those. Can you believe that! Add in that there are two schools that back up to our neighborhood, so that means a lot of traffic in the mornings and afternoons.

Apparently, there are hundreds in our neighborhood in Old Cahaba who think they can drive as fast as they want, and at times, run the stop signs. My road, Old Cahaba Parkway, is one of the main arteries for those entering and leaving the neighborhood. Often, I wonder if it should be named Old Cahaba Speedway. I saw a car coming towards me at a rapid speed. Something told me to pull to the side of the road and wait. The car sped down the road and did not even hesitate at the stop sign. I literally prayed that God would keep the young man from hitting a child or another vehicle.

Usually, for two or three weeks prior to school beginning, a radar speed sign is placed on my road. The sign reminds one of the speed limit, then displays how fast their car is actually going. If you stand in my yard and look towards that warning sign, you will see plenty of taillights. People get close to the sign and quickly press their brakes because they are well above the speed limit.

The purpose of the sign is to get people to slow down, but also to warn them that when school begins speeding tickets will be issued. Sure enough, this morning, in less than an hour, three people were stopped for speeding. One of them was right in front of my house, and I watched as the driver was given a costly ticket. If she had paid attention to the warning, it would not have cost her the high price of a ticket.

The Bible is full of warnings for the believer. God’s purpose is not to take the joy out of life, but to guard against things that will impede the abundant life God has promised to His children. It has been said that there are at least sixty-four warnings in the New Testament alone. I took time to look at some of them and so should you.

Here are just a few examples of the warnings found in the New Testament:

1. Warning against false prophets: In Matthew 7:15, Jesus warns his disciples to beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves.
2. Warning against neglecting salvation: In Hebrews 2:3, the author asks believers to pay closer attention to what they have heard, lest they drift away from it and neglect their salvation.  
3. Warning against unbelief: In Hebrews 3:19, the author warns that the Israelites were unable to enter God’s rest because of their unbelief.
4. Warning against neglecting the gathering of believers: In Hebrews 10:25, the author admonishes believers not to neglect meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but to encourage one another, especially as the Day of the Lord approaches.
5. Warning against falling into temptation: In Matthew 26:41, Jesus warns his disciples to watch and pray so that they may not fall into temptation, for the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
6. Warning against the dangers of sexual immorality: In 1 Corinthians 6:18, Paul warns believers to flee from sexual immorality, as it is a sin against their own bodies.
7. Warning against the dangers of disobedience: In Hebrews 4:11, the author warns believers to enter God’s rest and not to fall into the same disobedience as the Israelites in the wilderness.
8. Warning against the dangers of unrepentance: In Revelation 2:5, Jesus warns the church in Ephesus to remember their first love, repent, and do the works they did at first, or else he will remove their lampstand.
9. Warning against the dangers of judging others: In Matthew 7:1-2, Jesus warns against judging others hypocritically, reminding his followers that they will be judged by the same measure they use to judge others.
10. Warning against the dangers of divisive behavior: In Titus 3:10-11, Paul warns about the consequences of being factious and divisive within the church, urging believers to reject such behavior.
11. Warning against the dangers of drifting away: In Hebrews 2:1, the author warns believers to pay close attention to what they have heard, lest they drift away from it.

The Bible cautions us in the areas of obedience to God’s word, unrepentance, false prophets, sexual immorality, drifting away from the faith, unbelief, and many other things. God has given us warnings. Let’s not speed right through them, and let’s not forget to stop when God says stop. His purpose in the warning is to keep us from paying a high price. 

Child of God, be faithful, be obedient, be steadfast, and be true to God’s inspired Word. If there was ever an hour in which we need to heed the warnings given in scripture, it is this hour. SELAH.

A few years ago, I was taking a walk through my neighborhood. There are about fourteen hundred homes in our neighborhood, so lots of miles to walk. Just a week before, a tornado had dipped into our city leaving behind widespread damage. It was amazing to see the many blocked roads where whole trees and broken limbs had fallen.

As I walked past one house, I noticed that a Bradford pear tree had split in half. The trunk was pretty much intact, but the top part where all the branches were was a mess. Many of the limbs were on the ground. I thought to myself, “They might as well get someone to remove that tree. It is damaged and will never come back to life.”

For several years following the tornado, I continued to walk in the neighborhood. On most occasions, I passed that ugly tree, wishing the homeowners would have it removed. Then, an amazing thing happened as I walked this year. That Bradford pear is now perfectly shaped, and its limbs are full. It is as if the storm never came. The tree looks perfect with the exception of a scar where a limb had once been. The scar covered the broken place; the place of the wound was now healed and the tree flourished again.

The Bradford pear had been broken but was now whole.

Most of us have encountered storms of life, and some of them have left deep wounds. Wounds of abuse. Wounds of deep rejection. Wounds of monetary loss. Wounds of betrayal. Wounds of church hurt. Wounds of assault. Wounds of loss. Wounds of abandonment by the ones we thought we could trust. Wounds of – I could go on and on. Tornadoes come and they are very damaging.

The owners of the broken Bradford pear tree did not give up on it just because it was broken. The Bradford pear did not give up on itself. It continued to drink from the earth and lift its arms to the sunny sky. Faithfully, day after day, the tree hung in there, and now it is one of the healthiest looking trees in the neighborhood. It is beautiful.

Has your life been hit by a tornado? Does your life seem broken and beyond repair? Your brokenness may feel unmendable right now. I have been there. Let me encourage you today – there is a God who spends his days mending broken things. Maybe your brokenness is too deep to put into words. You cannot see past today, and you do not want to face tomorrow. You cannot imagine a way out. The lid has rolled over the opening, and no sunlight peeks through the cracks.

Dear friend, the broken parts of your story don’t make you a broken person. You are still the whole, loved, purpose-filled person God created you to be. The storms that you have endured are not lost on God. Our scars can become powerful testaments of the God who is at work.

Do not give up! Your owner, God, is not giving up on you. Please do not give up on yourself. Our brokenness does not stop the unlimited power of God from working in our behalf. Keep drinking deeply from the fountain of God. Lift those heavy hands towards heaven in surrender. Give God time to restore the broken places. He is working amid the wounds of our stories. One day you will look in the mirror and see the healing power of God.

“‘For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds,’ says the Lord.” – Jeremiah 30:17. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds [curing their pains and their sorrows].” – Psalm 147:3. (AMP)

As a teenager in my local church, there were times I would lead the singing in the worship service. Today, we call it worship leading, but back in the day, it was leading the singing. That was in the sixties, so the time of worship choruses like we sing today were not on the scene. It was good old hymns. While I love much of today’s modern music, I do miss the richness of some of those hymns.

In my spirit today, the hymn “I Love To Tell The Story” began to bubble up. I found myself singing it and loving every word.

I love to tell the story
  Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
  Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
  Because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings
  As nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story,
’Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
  of Jesus and His love

Do you love to tell the story? I do.

I love to tell the story of the things Jesus has done in my life. I love to tell the story of Jesus finding a messed up little girl who lived in the deep south. After so much abuse, poverty, and dysfunction, Jesus found me, and over time He has healed me and set my feet on a solid rock. I love to tell the story!

I love to tell the story of the work of Jesus in my life. When I felt called to stand before people to share the Word of God, I explained to God how it would never work. I was too shy. I was too insecure. Oh, how I love to tell the story of Jesus empowering me to stand before many groups, both large and small, and share the powerful word of God. I love to tell the story!

I love to tell the story of my teenage son who was facing cancer. We had just moved to a new city and within a few months, we would be battling cancer. After surgery and months of therapy, our son was well, or so we thought. After new scans, a new tumor showed up in the very same spot where the original tumor was. The doctor said, “We will need to do surgery again and treat it more aggressively.”  We took it to the Lord in prayer. I love to tell the story that Bryan went back for that second surgery, and the doctor was amazed that the tumor was benign. Bryan never had another cancer cell in his body. I love to tell the story of the great healer!

I love to tell the story of our pastor friends who desperately needed a new sanctuary but did not have the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed. They did not let that stop them from telling the story of Jesus and His love. Each week, they would conduct an outreach to the homeless. Each week, they fed the homeless, clothed the homeless, and told the story of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. One of the homeless men grasped the story of Jesus and His love. That man gave His life to Jesus Christ. He was transformed. A few weeks later the man showed up at the church for worship. He looked like a different person. After the service, he asked the pastor if he could speak with him. As they conversed, the man told the story of how Jesus had changed his life. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a check for one million dollars. No one knew that the man was very wealthy, but life had dealt him blows that caused him to wind up on skid row. Someone told him the story of Jesus and His love. That changed his life and provided the money needed for the new building. I love to tell the story of Jehovah Jireh, the great provider!

Friend, I could go on and on with this blog because I love to tell the story of Jesus and His love. How about you? Do you love to tell the story?

We hear so many sad stories in the news and elsewhere. People need a good news story. Has Jesus saved you, healed you, provided for you, opened doors for you, changed circumstances for you, or made a way? Tell the story!

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3.

As I sat down on Sunday afternoon to write this week’s blog, my mind seemed empty. “Lord, I have nothing. Please give me an idea.”  As I sat for a few minutes staring at a blank screen, my mind began to wander trying to think of something.

A few minutes later a sweet voice came from over my shoulder. It was my grandson Tucker who is visiting for a few days. Tucker is thirteen and lives in North Carolina. Each summer we bring him to Alabama for a week, so we can spend time with him and let him get to know the extended Benton clan.

As I heard the voice over my shoulder, I saw a broad-smiled Tucker. He asked what I was doing, and I explained that I write a weekly blog as part of the ministry to which I am called. He wanted to know more about what a blog is. I explained that I needed to come up with a fresh idea each week, and that sometimes it is easy, and sometimes it is not!

After explaining to Tucker that I like to use real life stories that can have a spiritual application, he said, “I have an idea.”  At this point, I could use an idea from anywhere. Tucker said, “It took me a long time to get to your house. It was a long trip, but it was worth it, because once I am here, I get to spend time with people I love. So, the time in the car was worth it.”

Well, Hallelujah, Tucker Bryan Benton! The journey seems long, but the reward is so worth it. Tucker was content on the journey.

Tucker accepted the journey he was on and knew that the journey would take him to fresh joys, deepening relationships, and new adventures. Unless Tucker stayed on the journey, he would have missed the blessings that came his way. Tucker learned to be content on the journey.

The apostle Paul understood that life is a trip, and the destination is heaven. On the journey, Paul encountered times on top of the mountain, and times shackled in the dungeon. Yet, Paul offered this advice, “Learn to be content.”

“Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:11-13 (NLT)

Philippians teaches us that God wants us to embrace where we are in life right now. Live the life we have right now. Learn to be content. And here is the crucial part, these things can only be accomplished by walking with Jesus who gives us the strength to do this wherever we find ourselves in life’s journey.

Sometimes I have had barely enough money to make ends meet. Sometimes, I have been blessed with a surplus. Sometimes, I have so much joy up on the hilltop. “I am queen of the hill.” I have been in the deepest of valleys, especially the valley of grief. My husband has been the pastor of small congregations where we did almost everything. My husband has also been the pastor of larger churches where we were blessed with staff members who could help with the ministry. I have lived in a literal shack with no bathroom. I have also lived in a home with three bathrooms. Life has all kinds of changes, some unexpected.

Being content does not mean we cannot desire that things be different. We can be content being single and still desire to be married. We can be content in our jobs and still desire different ones. We can be content in whatever season we are and still desire something to be different, something to turn around.

Paul said that he learned to be content. Contentment is not necessarily a natural thing. A contented spirit is not bound by circumstances. Because contentment works from the inside out it is insulated from the ever-changing circumstances outside of us.

So many of us, including me, have spent enough time living in a world of discontentment. According to the Apostle Paul, we can learn to be content amid circumstances that are not those we would have chosen. Our part is to make a choice to be content, God’s part to enable us to walk it out by His power. I want to live a life of contentment. How about you? Join me in a commitment to learn to walk in contentment even in a world where so many live in discontentment.

Finally, the night arrived. It was fall festival night at our church, and we expected a large crowd. People began to arrive early, and the children were so excited. So much time and energy had been put into making this a night to remember, especially for the children.

There were some really creative people in our church, and they produced fabulous ideas. One of the “fun” things to do was to go through the maze that had been prepared. The cardboard maze went through two rooms and a hallway. One had to crawl through the many twists and turns.

As others went through the maze, I watched. It was not so challenging to watch others go through it, and I encouraged them along the way. It seemed they made an A+ as they made the journey. They had such joy through the twists and turns. While standing in the light before entering the maze, I was all smiles. At the end of the maze, as I exited there was light and laughter. But the in-between was total darkness. TOTAL DARKNESS.

As I began my journey through the maze, I thought this would be a breeze. About ten feet into the darkness, I felt fear grip me. It was so dark, and I could not see my way. I did not know when the next wall would come. I did not know when the next left or right turn would come. The only choice I had was to keep moving, knowing that this would not last forever. It only lasted five minutes but felt like hours as I pressed through the darkness, the twists, the turns, and the walls. I knew that what I was experiencing at the moment, would not last forever. That truth helped me maneuver all the darkness and every twist, turn, and wall.

We all have times when we feel we are in a dark maze, and we wonder what twist or turn is next. Or we have hit a wall, and the darkness seems to hold us captive. The Truth is always with us, and He will bring us out of the maze of darkness.

We want our spiritual life to be an upward journey of growing closer and closer to God and becoming more like Christ. That is certainly my desire. In reality, our growth does not progress in a straight upward line. Nor does our experience of intimacy with Christ. Our journey goes up and down, forward, and backward.

I always want God to remove the darkness that seems to engulf me at times. After more than fifty years of walking with God, I have learned that my greatest need is not to get out of my dark moments, but my greatest need in darkness is the presence of God. And that I have! If you have placed your faith in Jesus, you have the presence of Jesus with you even in dark times.

If you find yourself in a dark place today, remember that Jesus, the lover of your soul, is right next to you. Jesus Christ will not leave you for a moment. He is unafraid of that which scares you most. He sees every step of the journey, even when you cannot. Trust Him to guide you through the maze. He will give you “a-maze-ing” grace and lead you out of the darkness.

^“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”- John 1:4,5

Let’s pray.

Father, when the darkness settles in around me, I ask you to remind me of Your closeness. Jesus, You are the Truth, the Light, the Way. Shine Your truth clearly and unmistakably when I am unsure of the way. Strengthen my trust when the unknown feels overwhelming. Remind me that You are able to free me from any danger or bind the fiercest enemy that comes against me. Your purpose will prevail. In the strong Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

“You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not recorded in Your book? – Psalm 56:8 AMP

One of the most powerful images in Scripture is found in Psalm 56:8. It is a wonderful verse that begs to be underlined: “You have collected all my tears in your bottle.”

Yesterday, as we gathered with family for a Father’s Day celebration, I watched four of my grandchildren running around. I saw thirteen-year-old Joseph run by with a smile, and that made my heart smile. Joseph is our grandson who is on the autism spectrum, and years ago a gathering with many people having conversations would have been difficult for Joseph. I looked at his mother and said, “The Bible speaks of God gathering our tears in a bottle. Mine must be quite large from the prayers for our grandchildren.”

Gaylon and I pray for our children and grandchildren every day and have done so for many years. There have been many tears.

There are all kinds of tears. There are the tears a child has when growing up in an abusive environment. There are the tears of parents as they see their daughter at the matrimonial altar. There are the tears of a mother who sees her child going through cancer treatments. There are the tears when a mother and father lay eyes on their first child or grandparents holding the first grandchild. There are the tears that stain the death certificate as a young wife sends them to the various places needed. There are the tears on the faces of grown men after winning a national championship. Yes, there are all kinds of tears.

Then, there are the tears shed in prayer – often years of prayer. Psalm 56 lets us know that God sees every tear that falls down our cheeks as we pray for those things that burden our hearts.

Have you ever been so burdened that you thought the tears would never stop? There you were with just you, God, a hurting heart, and buckets of tears. I want you to envision that heaven collects every one of those tearful prayers. They are precious to God.

When I think God is taking too long, or I wish God would relieve the pain of the situation, I try to remember that God heard every prayer and saw every tear. Whether literally or figuratively, God has a big apothecary jar with my name on it. He has seen every painful tear I have shed. Then, one day, it is as if he uncorks the bottle, pours out the collected tears, and they become showers of blessings in my life or the lives of my family.

The seasons of burden can be long and hard. I refuse to stop sending prayers and tears to heaven. I believe that one day those tears will change the lives of my children and my grandchildren. What is happening in my life is not unseen by heaven. My situations are in His hands, and my tears are in His bottle. Even after I die, they will still affect the generations behind me. In God’s time, He will uncork the bottle and rain down on the generations behind me.

The Psalmist wrote, “You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not recorded in Your book?” Psalm 56:8 AMP. It was possibly a rhetorical question at the end, but one to remind us that God sees every tear and every sorrow. For me, knowing that the Creator of the universe cares about my pain makes it more bearable.

God sees. God cares. God upholds. God blesses even the generations I have not yet seen because of the tears shed in the prayer closet.

After removing all the Christmas décor from our home and packing it away for another year, I sighed with relief. Christmas decorating has become a big event, requiring a lot of time, and in some cases, a lot of money. The Christmas season consumes much energy.

As we came closer to Resurrection Day (Easter), I noticed few, if any, decorations were up. I decided to look for a few things to commemorate the glorious, life-changing event of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I went to a few stores and found little, except for bunnies, chicks, eggs, and candy. I mulled this over and over in my head. Why do we celebrate the baby over the top, but not much fanfare over the powerful resurrection that brought victory for us all? I asked for the opinion of a few people, and no one really had an answer.

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. It is a day largely ignored by much of the Christian church, and to be frank, it shows. While we make much out of the birth of Jesus, and there is much said about the resurrection, little is said about Pentecost. Let me emphatically say, one cannot over-emphasize the importance of the birth, life, and resurrection of Jesus. Our Christian walk is based on those things. Pentecost deserves the same close attention and emphasis in the Church.

What Is Pentecost?

Pentecost is a Church celebration that occurs fifty days after Resurrection Day. Pentecost commemorates the birth of the Church and the arrival of the Holy Spirit, who baptizes the disciples.

Pentecost Is Extraordinarily Important.

Jesus thought it was essential. “However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].” – John 16:7 AMP

Jesus told His followers it was better for them if He were to go away. Think about that. Jesus is the One who healed the sick, fed the multitudes, cast out demons, calmed the storm, made the blind see and the lame walk, and even raised the dead. And Jesus said it was good if He went away?

I imagine those followers scratched their heads or made a facial expression showing their reaction at what Jesus said. They had to be wondering, “How is it possible that Jesus not being around is a good thing?”

Jesus answered that question. He said if He did not go away, the Holy Spirit would not come, but if He went away, He would send the Holy Spirit to us. Gaining the Holy Spirit was so good for us that it was worth Jesus leaving Earth in physical form to ensure it happened. Pentecost is extraordinarily important!

Pentecost is not the beginning of the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God was at work throughout the whole Bible, beginning in the first chapter of Genesis. In scripture, we find that the Spirit would “come upon” individuals at special times for special reasons to accomplish a task or work God had for them.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was given to believers in a different fashion. Instead of the Holy Spirit coming upon someone, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within someone. Instead of the Spirit being at work for a specific time and function, now, the Holy Spirit would be as “rivers of living water flowing from your innermost being.”  This would be life-transforming for those who believed in Jesus Christ as the Savior.

Yes, the Church was birthed that day, but much more happened. Those who were filled with the Holy Spirit were empowered and emboldened. The effect was holiness of heart and life, and power to boldly do Christian service.

The impact of the Holy Spirit dwelling within a person is that the person has a resource which enables them to live a transformed life exhibiting the character of Jesus. In addition, we are empowered to walk through a murky world, bringing changes as Jesus did when walking the earth. Pentecost turned the timid, frightened, unconfident followers of Jesus into the Church, the Body of Christ, impacting the world for the glory of God.

As believers, we need a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is our leader, encourager, comforter, and teacher. He gives us boldness and strength to live in this world, and to share the Gospel. A guy named Peter had denied even knowing Jesus, and later in the book of Acts, we see him empowered and emboldened to preach to thousands, and to be used by the Holy Spirit to bring miracles into the lives of others.

There are a lot of complaints and much concern about how dark our world has become. It is time to celebrate Pentecost in our lives. Today, ask Holy Spirit to give you that same boldness…just be prepared because Scripture says if you ask you will receive.

Do you want to be empowered by God?  Lay your hand on your chest right now, and pray, “Come, Holy Spirit, I need You.”

“Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind. We are useless.” – Charles Spurgeon. Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.” – Corrie Ten Boom. “The Holy Spirit’s main ministry is not to give thrills but to create in us Christlike character.” – J.I. Packer

Have you ever noticed how hard it is for political leaders to admit they were wrong? It seems as if they feel like they can never budge from their original position, and if they do, it is quite subtle. “I misspoke.” “I used poor judgment.”  There seems to be a need to be seen as right.

When Gaylon and I first entered the ministry together more than fifty years ago, I was ill-prepared. I feel sorry for the congregants who were around me! Thank God they were saved enough not to spank my young behind! I was clueless about what I was doing. Thank God there is hope after immaturity!

As a young parent, I made so many mistakes. I had been raised in a home with a screaming, demanding, controlling father. It truly was a case if he said to jump, your only response was, “How high?” I look back at my young years of parenting…thank God there is hope after immaturity!

As a wife, oh boy … this one is awful! Let’s just say, thank God there is hope after immaturity!

What brought about change in these areas? It was when I began to cultivate a teachable spirit. Because I was gifted for ministry, I thought that was equal to maturity. I did not need anyone to teach me how to be in the ministry. We were successful! I did not need anyone to teach me about being a wife and a parent. My family was in a much better environment than I had in my childhood.

I will not get into the specifics, but there came a point that one of my kids said something to their father about me. I realized that I had a lot to learn. There came a point when my husband’s secretary said something corrective to me, and I realized that I was stubborn and had a lot to learn. There came a point in listening to teaching on marriage, that I realized I had a lot to learn.

I began to cultivate a teachable spirit. A teachable spirit is one in which we learn both knowledge and wisdom, and a willingness to apply that which we have learned.

There is a passage of scripture that explains the concept of being teachable. “That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men.” Acts 17:10-12 NLT

When one of the greatest teachers of all time, the Apostle Paul, spoke to them, the Bereans listened to what Paul had to say. Their response was not, “Wow! He is a great speaker.” Or “I totally disagree with him because I have been taught a different way.” The Bible says that they listened and then searched the scriptures for themselves. They wanted truth. When they saw that the teaching lined up with the scriptures, many had changed lives. They applied to their lives the truth they had learned. They were teachable.

The Bible tells us that the Bereans searched the scriptures day after day. It was not a one-time, quick look. It was intentional, extended study. They were hungry for the truth, and when they found the truth, it changed their lives. They had a teachable spirit.

Many years into ministry and marriage, I set out to learn as much as I could. I read. Attended conferences. Hung out with strong women of God. Listened to the Holy Spirit’s conviction leading to a rebuilding in many areas of my life. God sent an amazing number of teachers, mentors, and friends along the way. All of them became teachers to me. Yes, ALL. Some taught me how to be a strong woman of God. Some taught me about being a parent. As I watched some, I was taught what not to be.

The key to growth is staying teachable. Many have gone to church their whole life, they believe in God, they even serve in ministry. Yet they are stuck in the same patterns and attitudes. This was me for many years. We might be good moral Christians according to the standards of the world, but God wants us to daily yield and to keep our hearts surrendered.

We must not only hear the word of God, but we must let it fall on good teachable soil and to take root. Then we will bear lasting fruit that changes us and others around us.

Stay teachable.

 “Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.” (Proverbs 19:20).  “A poor yet wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive instruction.” (Ecclesiastes 4:13). “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” (Proverbs 13:18).