As I have gotten older, I will admit I think more about eternity than I did when I was younger. This year, I have lost a brother, a sister, and close friends. The truth of the matter is that unless Jesus returns, we are all going to take our last breath on this earth.

The thoughts about Heaven that get passed around are pretty convoluted. Let’s talk about Heaven.

Facts:

• The Bible teaches that the way to eternal life in Heaven is through Jesus Christ. Jesus died and paid the price for our sin, thus reconciling us to God. I know it does not always set well with people, and I expect some pushbacks. I believe the Bible. The Bible clearly teaches that we do not get to Heaven through our good works. There are quite a few verses about this in the Bible, but I shall only give one. ^“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9.

• Everyone does not become an angel after death. Nowhere in the Bible is there any teaching that people wake up in Heaven as an angel. God has tens of thousands of angels in Heaven. I know people are sincere in trying to ease grief. Grief is hard. We should be thrilled to know that we are higher than the angels once we stand before God in Heaven. The Bible says, “Do you not know that we will judge angels?” (1 Corinthians 6:3). This verse may be referring to the rebellious angels who chose to follow Satan, but it still shows that our status after death will be above that of the angels. I believe Hollywood has perpetuated this belief in many of their movies. Our greatest example is that Jesus rose bodily after His death. I look forward to my glorified body, how about you?

• Our loved ones are watching us from Heaven. This one is questionable, but certainly not clear. When we lost our son Bryan, he left behind a wife pregnant with their first child. Well-meaning people would tell me that he was watching over us from Heaven. If that statement is true, we must remember that Heaven does not see through the same eyes as Earth. I cannot imagine Bryan seeing his grief-stricken wife suffer, causing him to walk around under a burden of sadness, while he was in the presence of the Lord. If Bryan does see, he will see as heaven sees, that everything is going to be okay because God is at work. I am thankful that God is watching over me and my family. There is no greater watchman than God. “For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV.

• There will be no more. Truth! There will be no more tears, no more pain, no more cancer, no more wrinkles, no more racism, no more grief, no more division. I could go on and on. I am grateful that I will spend eternity where there will be no more!

• The central focus will be on the Lamb of God. Our eyes will be focused on Jesus Christ in all of His majesty, power, and splendor! He will be worshipped and exalted. “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ. one glimpse of His dear face, all sorrow will erase, so, bravely run the race till we see Christ!”

• Believers preceding us in death will be there, and we will recognize them. Jesus was known to His followers after His resurrection. While I cannot give all the details of how this will look in Heaven, I do believe we will know our loved ones and friends who were saved by the work of the cross. I first want to see Jesus, and then I want to see Bryan, my mother, and others I have loved while upon the earth. It will be a glorious reunion.

• For the believer, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. “So, we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:6-9
  
  
• There will be a new heaven and new earth when we rule and reign with Christ. That’s a blog for a different day! “But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.” – 2 Peter 3:13 NLT
  
  
• I do not know everything there is to know about Heaven and eternity. I only know it will be glorious because God prepared it.

“I can only imagine what it will be like, when I walk by Your side…
I can only imagine, what my eyes will see, when Your Face is before me!
I can only imagine. I can only imagine.

Surrounded by Your Glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus? Or in awe of You, be still?
Will I stand in Your presence, or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing ‘Hallelujah!’? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine! I can only imagine!”

My husband calls me Dear or Barbara. My children call me Mom. Most of my grandchildren call me Grammy, but some call me Granny. My siblings call me Barbara, though a couple of them call me Barbara Lynn. My nieces and nephews call me Barbara, and a few call me Aunt Barbara. Church folks call me Barbara, Sister Barbara, Pastor Barbara, or Minister Barbara.

I could go on and on with the various names to which I answer. What I am called is totally based on the relationship I have with the person.

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So, they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  – Matthew 16:13-16 NKJV.

When Jesus asked the disciples a question about His identity, His disciples began to repeat what others had said about the identity of Jesus. When He specifically asked His disciples about His identity, I wonder if they were pondering how to answer the question. Finally, Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

That was a bold proclamation by Peter. At the time this conversation took place, it could be dangerous to call Jesus the Christ, especially in the context of the Roman Empire. Declaring “Jesus is Lord” was considered treasonous because it was a direct challenge to the authority of Caesar, who was also proclaimed as “Lord”. This confession could be a death sentence, and the willingness to say it signaled a profound level of commitment to faith in Jesus Christ.

In present times in many countries, it can be a death sentence to profess who Jesus is. I support the ministry Voice of the Martyrs, and the stories are quite sobering. So many lose their lives or suffer torture because they dare to say who Jesus is. While not to death sentence level in the USA, increased pressure is being felt to stand up for the real Jesus and the true Word of God.

The question asked by Jesus is quite profound. It is a question that begs all Christians to answer. People believe all kinds of things about Jesus and God. He was a great teacher. He was a prophet. He lived an exemplary life. He was caring. All of those are true, but none answer the question.

Jesus faces us with this same question even today. “Who do you say that I am?” Jesus is not so much interested in how people of the world answer this. He is interested in how His followers answer. The disciples stood there seeing Jesus in the flesh. Who is this hard-working Man, dusty from travelling, tired from hours of teaching and healing, who speaks the words of God? This Man, beaten and humiliated, who would die hanging naked on a cross? This Man, buried in a borrowed tomb? This Man, risen from the dead, never to die again—full of joy and promising everlasting life to everyone who trusts in Him? Who is He?

How do I answer the question that Jesus asked? You are my Lord and Savior. You are the One who forgives all of my sins. I was lost and on the way to hell, unable to save myself, and You paid the price for my sin. You are the One I can trust in times of trouble. You are the Son of God. You are Lord, the One who rules the universe at God the Father’s right hand. You are the One who is my hope and my joy even in the darkness. You are the One who will never leave me and never forsake me. You are my healer! You are my Lord. You are Jesus, my soon coming King. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!

That’s my answer, and I am sticking to it!!

Who do you say that He is? This is the most critical question you will ever answer because your eternal destiny hinges on it.

“Jesus, give us the courage today to say that you are the Lord and Savior and to show in our lives that we believe it.”  Amen.

What a weekend we just had! Our son, his wife, and three of their daughters were here all weekend. It was a houseful, and it was never-ending activity. It reminded me that there truly is a reason that God gives babies to us when we are young. No lie!

As our family headed back to Louisiana, Gaylon and I scurried for several hours doing laundry, cleaning, and getting our house back to normal. When we were done, we plopped in exhaustion. But not once did we regret serving our family. Gaylon said to me, “I am so glad they came to visit.”

Let me give you a few truths:

1. It was worth every minute to serve our family, and to build memories with those grandchildren. I took one granddaughter out on a solo date for lunch and a little shopping. She was so happy. To hear the joy in her voice and to have her talk incessantly with me was worth every minute. She said, “I had the best time with you.”
2. Gaylon was able to attend a football game with his sons and grandsons. Their ages ranged from nine to seventy-seven. They all celebrated the big win together with big smiles. That time together will always be remembered.
3. Other than Jesus, the most important relationships we can have are those with family. As much as you can, hang out with those you love. Leave a legacy of wonderful memories with them. (I realize there are times and circumstances that inhibit familial relationships, but, when possible, go overboard to be with family.)
4. As I fell into my chair, I smiled internally, remembering Acts 20:35, “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Jesus was the epitome of servanthood. He was the Son of God, yet He said that He did not come to be served but to serve. The statement can be found Matthew 20:28. Jesus made this statement to his disciples, who were arguing about who would be the greatest among them. He explained that the way of God’s kingdom is opposite to the way of worldly power; instead of lording over others, one must be a servant to be great. 

Mother Teresa, one of the greatest servants of all time, once said, “We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love.” God is not asking us to change the world, but to help change someone’s world. We can do this by serving the person that He has put in front of us this moment…and then the next…and then the next.

Find someone to bless this week. Take a meal to someone. Invite a senior citizen to coffee or lunch. Write a note, not a text, an actual note to encourage someone. Offer to babysit for a single parent to allow them an evening out. Volunteer at a school. Find a way to bless your local church. Offer a listening ear.

We may never know the impact of our service to God in this life, but we can trust His Word when He says in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Living a life of service is not always easy, but it is deeply rewarding. By serving others, we can make a difference in their lives and bring hope and light to a world that often feels dark and hopeless.

Are you willing to be a servant? We are never more Christ-like than when we serve.

Last night, two of our grandsons spent the night with us. Of course, they awakened ready to play video games and have breakfast from Grammy’s kitchen, where she fixes what their hearts desire. After breakfast, they truly come to life. Chatter, laughter, and silly fun.

Luke and Judah were standing in front of our Alexa echo. They love to ask her so many questions, some silly, some informational. Alexa would often say, “Hello, Luke.” She says that to Luke, Judah, and me.

When Luke visited one day, he somehow got Alexa to remember who he was and his voice. Judah’s voice sounds similar, so when he talks to Alexa, she will call him Luke. That does not set well with the five-year-old.

With a sad face, Judah came to me and said, “Hey, Grammy. Alexa just called me Luke. I don’t want to be Judah anymore. I want to change my name to Luke.” I explained that I could not change his name. He said, “Can my mom change my name?”

Judah had a flare-up of a disease called “comparison-itis.” I wish I could be Luke. I want what Luke has. Things would be better if I were like Luke.

Comparison is a killer! Comparison-itis can be a chronic, debilitating disease. It goes into remission when we are happy, when we are stroked by others, or when all is going well. All too often, the moment something does not go the way we want it to go, it flares up.

Can I tell you a little secret? I spent way too much of my life living with comparison-itis. Every time I let myself get infected with this spirit-killing disease, it would take the joy right out of my life. If only I could teach the Bible like her. If only I was as slim as she is. If only I had a house as nice as hers. If only I was as highly educated as she is. If I could just be the kind of mother she is.

Yes, I have struggled with every one of the things I listed above, and quite a few others. It would often cause me to head to comparison prison and often in solitary confinement. After all, what did I really have to offer?

I remember going to God and telling Him why I could not continue ministry from a platform. Surely, He had missed it when He called me, or maybe I even missed what I heard. As I wiped my tears and quieted myself before Him, it was as if He spoke audibly. “You are fearfully and wonderfully made. YOU – Barbara – YOU.” God did not try to convince me. He did not argue with me. He just stated His truth and His opinion.

The Bible has quite a bit to say about being happy with who God made us to be. One of the most freeing verses that I have found is, “Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else.” – Galatians 6:4 NLT. That verse just shouts, “FREEDOM.” This tells me that all God wants and asks is that I give my personal best to whatever He has called me to do. I can be secure and satisfied knowing that God is pleased with me, and I do not need to compare myself with anyone else. That is THE truth.

Years ago, comparison would kill so much joy in my life. I did not want to be around people because I was not thin enough. I did not want to speak at a large event with multiple speakers, because they were better at their gift than I was. I did not want to have people over because their house was much nicer than mine.

I went through too many periods where I hung out at the burning bush like Moses, so I could explain to God why I could not walk out my calling. “I am introverted. I am insecure. They will not even understand what I am saying in Maine or California with this deep southern accent. I am afraid to get up in front of people.”

David said it this way, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:13-14. It is time to stop allowing comparison-itis to rob you. You are God’s workmanship, His masterpiece. Today is the day to know that full well.

Do flare-ups of comparison-itis try to find their way into my life? Yes. What is the best thing to do about it? Be me! If you feel yourself coming down with this disease, what is the best thing you can do about it? Be you! You are God’s masterpiece. Know that full well!

Eight‑year‑old Frank had looked forward for weeks to this particular Saturday because his father had promised to take him fishing if the weather was suitable. There had not been any rain for weeks and as Saturday approached, Frank was confident about the fishing trip. But, wouldn’t you know it, when Saturday morning dawned, it was raining heavily, and it appeared that it would continue all day.

 Frank wandered around the house, peering out the windows and grumbling more than a little. “Seems like the Lord would know that it would have been better to have the rain yesterday than today,” he complained to his father who was sitting by the fireplace enjoying a good book. His father tried to explain to Frank how badly the rain was needed, how it would make the flowers grow and bring much needed moisture to the farmers’ crops. But Frank was adamant. “It just isn’t right,” he said over and over.

Then, at about three o’clock, the rain stopped. Still time for some fishing, and quickly the gear was loaded, and they were off to the lake. Whether it was the rain or some other reason, the fish were biting hungrily and father and son returned with a full string of fine, big fish.

At supper, when some of the fish were ready, Frank’s mom asked him to say grace. Frank did‑‑and concluded his prayer by saying, “And, Lord, if I sounded grumpy earlier today it was because I couldn’t see far enough ahead.” 

No doubt much of our complaining is because we cannot see far enough ahead.

Today, I would like to talk about the One who knows the rest of your story.

My husband Gaylon was a pastor for thirty-three years and a chaplain for eighteen years. There was a period of time when Gaylon found himself with no pastorate, no open doors, and three children to feed. I thought, “Surely, this will end in a few days, and we will know exactly where we are going, and this test will be over.”

It did NOT end in a few days.

I remember one day as I was lying across my bed, I became engulfed in fear, anxiety, and even anger. “God, how could You allow this to continue? We serve You. How are we supposed to feed our children or pay the electric bill? You have forgotten us.”

Yep, that was my conversation with God. It was not my proudest moment in prayer. More complaining than prayer. My faith had totally been eaten up by fear and anger.

As I sobbed in my pillow, thinking of my children, I sensed God say, “They are my children, too.” I am so grateful for a God who can handle all my fears and anxieties when the ocean of life sends another wave to knock me down.

Thank God for the rest of the story!

While resting on my tear-stained pillow, the phone rang. On the other end of the line was a nationally known speaker who did not know me. She said that she was part of an advisory board of a church in Michigan. The church was without a pastor, and Gaylon’s name was given to her as a possibility of becoming their pastor.

To say I was shocked would be an understatement!

A couple of weeks later, Gaylon and I were on an airplane headed to Michigan. Without going into all the details, let me share the condensed version. It was a wonderful opportunity, and the church wanted Gaylon to become their pastor. After much prayer, we felt that was not where we were to go. Right after that the next step in our pastoral journey opened.

This is the power and the reach of the God we serve! A well-known minister, who does not even know us, calls and asks us to consider a church in Michigan. While ministering there, the church received an offering for us that paid our bills that were due. It was not our next place for pastoral work, but it was the place where God supplied our needs, and we were able to minister effectively to the church who was going through discouraging circumstances. God was doing something for us and something for that church.

Just a short amount of time passed until God opened our next door for ministry.

While I was faithless and angry, God was at work. Like Frank in the story above, I could not see far enough ahead. BUT GOD saw it all and was working all things together for my family and the family of God.

Beloved, we are always in the middle of our story. We yearn to know what is going to happen at the end of our stories. The waiting is not fun, and the middle of the story is often full of challenges, twists, and setbacks. Trusting God means trusting that while we cannot see the end from the beginning, He does.

What are you facing today that causes tears to fall and concern about the future? Please remember this: if we live on the earth, we are always in the middle of our story. As we allow the Lord to author the story with us, the rest of the story will be beautiful, not without challenge, but beautiful. Trust the heart and character of God who knows the rest of the story.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT; “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” – Psalm 20:7.

Life is full of difficulties. Children walk down paths that we know are unhealthy for their well-being. Cars break down. Washing machines die. Schedules get unexpectedly disrupted. Loved ones pass away, often leaving us with heavy grief. Unexpected financial hits come our way. Betrayal barges into our lives. Sickness continues in a body that is already frail.

Life gets hard, even for those who are madly in love with Jesus. If I were to ask you to make a list of everything in the last week that has produced anxiety in your life, my feeling is that, in some cases, the list could be lengthy.

Recently, I was praying for and thinking about an individual who is being tormented by fear and anxiety. I decided to read articles or devotions on the topic, articles written from a Christian perspective. By the time I finished reading a few of them, I felt like a terrible Christian because I had dared, at times, to be fearful or anxious.

Here is the message I received from most of these well-meaning articles. “What? You are a child of God, and you allow fear and anxiety to come into you? You stop that right now!”  The most often used verse was from Philippians 4:6. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Most writers explain this verse by saying that the original language of the Bible is the imperative tense. In other words, it is a command for a believer not to be anxious and worried. Many went on to say that we are engaging in sin when we are anxious or fearful. We do not have faith if we are anxious or fearful. God is disappointed in us when we are anxious or fearful. At times, there was rebuke for those feeling anxiety.

I have a serious question. How does that thought process help a person who is already overwhelmed with the circumstances of life? How does that help the person who is fighting anxiety and fear?

Let me give another perspective to consider. Yes, that passage is written in the imperative tense, meaning God is saying, “Do not be filled with anxiety and fear. Do not do it!” That is true.

However, let’s put the whole sentence in that verse together. God gives what to do as an antidote for anxiety.

Here is what God is instructing His people to do. When life becomes overwhelming and anxiety tries to be your best friend, remember to Whom you belong. When that happens, run as fast as you can to the presence of the Lord saying, “I refuse to let anxiety rule me today. God, I bring this to You. I need Your help, Your divine supply, Your guidance, and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

When we learn to run to God every time anxiety tries to control us, He tells us what that will produce in the believer. Verses six and seven of Philippians four say, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

I love that passage! God invites us to bring every situation to Him. E-V-E-R-Y situation! Bring every situation to Him with thanksgiving. “Father, I come to You with the situation of my car that has broken down. God, I do not have the money to fix it, but I am not going to sit around worrying about something I cannot fix. I am running to You, asking You to touch my spirit and cause my faith to soar. I know You have an answer. I need rest and peace. I want to look to You and not just to myself. It is with a heart of thanksgiving that I bring this request to You. I give thanks for the many times You helped the situations of my life. I give thanks for my salvation. I give thanks for the goodness of God. In the precious Name of Jesus, Amen.”

God’s promise is that He will bring peace that transcends the situation. He will guard our hearts and our minds. What a blessing!

What are you anxious about today? As believers, we are certainly not exempt from the cares of life and the anxiety they can produce. As believers, we are called to handle anxiety and fear with a different perspective. God gives us an invitation to shift our focus from the problems surrounding us to the One who holds the entire world in His hands.

Take a piece of paper or make a note on your phone listing the things that are making you anxious. Bring each of them to God. Give Him thanks. Then, next to each of those things write, “God is at work. I can trust Him.”  Then, as anxiety begins to prey on you throughout the day or evening, pull out that note, and bring to God your concerns.

Does that seem too simple to possibly help? That is exactly what the enemy of your peace would want you to think. I challenge you to take EVERY situation to the throne of God. Some days that might mean doing this several times per day. For a month, practice handling life’s anxieties as God instructed. At the end of a month, watch the peace of God begin to replace the anxiety of situations!

As believers, we are not exempt from worry, but we are called to approach our fears with a different perspective. That is, we are invited to shift our focus from the problems surrounding us to the One who holds the universe in His hands. Be anxious for nothing. Take it to God.

(I believe it would be a travesty for me not to add this thought. There are some who suffer from anxiety and panic attacks as a health condition. Please know that it is not wrong to seek medical or mental health treatment, or a counselor. What I have written is not meant to minimize a condition that might require help from God and health professionals.)

I am so over the “social media influencers” era. I remember a time when we did not have Facebook, Tik Tok, Twitter (X), or Instagram. Who else remembers when that was the case? It is often about how many likes I get on a post, or how many followers I have. I need to be cool and accepted.

I want my influence to come from the Bible, and I want any influence I give to be done in such away that it will honor the Name of Jesus. Often, I cringe at posts from Christians. In social media, there is the good, the bad, the ugly.

The Good

• I can keep up with friends around the globe. I now regularly stay in touch with some friends that were in the churches where Gaylon was their pastor. It is amazing to see their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I stay in touch with both high school and college friends.
• I can keep up with family members that I rarely see. I have nieces and nephews living all over this country. Social media has helped me “see” them and what is happening in their lives. I can offer humor, advice when asked, prayer, and long-distance hugs.
• I can post a lot of thoughts from a Christian perspective, including the posting of this blog. It is another way to get the Gospel out.

The Bad

• Social media has amped up the political division in the nation and has caused great division among family and friends. Some will not even speak to each other because of political differences.
• The hateful discourse that can come from people’s mouth is on full display through their fingers as they type with what or with whom they disagree.
• Without checking for accuracy, people post things others have written. False stories are posted over and over. This has ruined reputations and caused division – division that could have been avoided if the lies were not perpetuated.

The Ugly

• Social media can be as ugly as me trying on a bikini in a dressing room with a three-sided mirror! The language that is now acceptable by both mouth and posts still shocks me. F bombs explode like it is no big deal, like it is normal. No, it is not!
• Many people are toxic on social media. I recently saw a person call out their pastor because he made them angry about something. They proceeded to talk about his family and the church in a way to invite other attackers to join this. I have seen the same with political posts.
• Other people are deeply hurt and wounded over posts that should not even be on social media. For several years, I followed the story of a little boy in Alabama who was born with a severe deformity. He was missing a third of his skull and had severe deformities in his face and spine. Doctors said he would not live more than a few days. Grayson lived to be eight years old. The mother’s heart was so wounded because people saw his picture and used it to make comic remarks on posts they made. (At least they thought it was funny.)  Things were said like this is how it looks when you inbreed; this is a picture of the governor as a baby. It was horrible to see the pain this mother went through. It was so cruel.

While the Bible never explicitly mentions the internet or social media accounts. The Bible does speak to the issue of what we say. This Biblical wisdom can be applied to the words of our mouth and the words from our keyboard. Scripture has much to say about our words, our neighbors, coarse talk, kindness, and many other issues.

James 1:19 gives us wisdom that is good for in-person conversations and posting or commenting on social media. “Understand this, my beloved brothers, and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving].” AMP

I make an appeal to all of us who bear the Name of Christ. Think before speaking and think before posting. The Savior of the world can use all things, including the words of His people on the worldwide web. Let us endeavor to use the gifts of technology for building others up and for pointing them to Christ. That is a wise use of words.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” – Psalm 19:14

Help, I am struggling with having a quiet time!

As a woman blessed to travel speaking at conferences and retreats, I cannot tell you how many times, over the years, women have said, “I am struggling with having a quiet time with the Lord.”  Most of them feel guilty about this, and do not want to admit to other Christians that this is their dilemma.

Can we be set free today? The treasure is in an earthen vessel, and the earthen vessel can be affected in so many ways. There is tiredness. There is family responsibility. There is work. There is … we could go on and on. All of us are impacted by the natural things that life brings. Then, there is listening to other Christians who seem to have a glorious devotional time every day of their lives. It is never stale, difficult, or unexciting.

Here it comes – freedom! Your time with God can be special whether it feels special or not. It does not have to be Instagram or Facebook worthy with a photo post showing the perfect open journal and Bible, a hot cup of coffee in a gorgeous mug, all sitting on a beautiful table on a porch overlooking a creek!

All that matters is that you show up with an open heart and have a meeting with the One who loves you most and cares about your life.

Most days, I wake up, make the bed, start the coffee, sip that divine beverage from heaven, and I listen to Andre Bocelli sing “The Lord’s Prayer” song. That song helps me remember that I am not alone today. My omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God will be with me, no matter what comes my way. I then listen to Philippa Hanna sing, “You’re Still God.” That song reminds me that I might not feel God or see God today, but He is still God today.

Then, I go to a corner in my home that is set up just for me to have a meeting with God. Trust me, it is not gorgeous like pictures in a magazine, and the only water nearby is in the guest bathroom! But it is where I show up to sit with my Savior. I read at least a chapter, usually more from the Bible – His book. I listen to another worship song, and then I talk to God, and try to listen to see if He has something to say to me.

Some days, it is so glorious that I do not want to leave and will linger in His presence. Some days, it feels like I am there by myself. Some days it is a little shorter. Some days it is much longer. Sometimes it is a delight. Sometimes it is discipline. Sometimes my life is peaceful. Sometimes, chaos seems to have decided to be my best friend. Some days, I write down notes of things that were impressed upon my heart. Other days, I write nothing. There are times when I am in the house totally by myself, and I literally march around in warfare.

It does not have to be complicated or set up in a certain way. It just needs to happen every day of your life. Show up even when you do not feel like it. The most important meeting of your day will be the one with your Creator. It is not about striving. It is about abiding.

Every day will not feel like you have entered the third heaven mentioned by the Apostle Paul, but in a frantic, chaotic, scary world, our only hope for peace is found in abiding in Christ. Even if we struggle with it at times, we must be still and remind ourselves that He is God, and He is still on His throne.

Spend time with God. We were made to “taste and see that He is good.”  Ask God to bring your spiritual taste buds to life. There is no better pleasure in this world than fellowship with God. Some days you will soar into the heavenlies as You sense His presence. Other days might seem like discipline. Feelings are not the goal; the goal is to abide in Christ.

^“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  – John 15:4-5 NKJV. “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!” – Psalm 34:8 NLT.

If you put a buzzard in a pen that is three or four feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, despite his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a running start. If it does not have space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly. He will remain a prisoner even though freedom is available above!

The same is true with the ordinary bat that flies around at night. A remarkably nimble creature in the air, but it struggles to take off from a level place. If it is placed in an open-top cage on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and painfully. Its only hope is to find some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. If it cannot find an elevated place to jump from, it will die in the cage even if there is freedom right above it.

Similarly, a bumble bee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it destroys itself even though freedom is available from above.

Many years ago, I placed the above story in my files. While cleaning out files, I noticed the article and read it. Wondering if it was true, I researched thoroughly and found the tale to be pretty accurate. On rare occasions, only the bumble bee will find its way out, but rarely.

Believers in Jesus Christ are often like the buzzard, the bat, and the bee. They are struggling through life with all their problems, frustrations, and burdens, even to the point of feeling like a prisoner in their own world, not realizing that the answer is “above” them.

I do not teach and will never teach that life always works out the way one desires. I do teach and will always teach, “What a friend we have in Jesus. All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.”

I have found that if I only look for answers and escape routes on an earthly level, it can snuff the life and joy out of me. It is essential that I remember to always look above when I see no way out of something that is trying to hold me prisoner.

A church sign reminded me, that sorrow looks back, worry looks around, but faith looks up! If there is one area that tries to imprison me, it is looking back. If only I had … If only this had not happened … If only I had not said that. I can get easily caged by my past mistakes, and then I remember to look up!

Psalm 121:1-2: “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

We often look at these verses and think that the Psalmist is looking up to the hills and that is a high place from where his help comes. There is certainly truth in that statement, but let’s look at that psalm a little more closely.

Psalm 121 is a psalm or song of ascent. There are fifteen psalms of ascent in the scripture. The city of Jerusalem is situated on a hill. Jews traveling to Jerusalem for one of the three main annual Jewish festivals traditionally sang these songs on the “ascent” or the uphill road to the city. (According to some traditions, the Jewish priests also sang some of these Songs of Ascent as they walked up the steps to the temple in Jerusalem.)

As the worshippers traveled the road, they could see the steep journey ahead of them. Rather than turning around and going back, they would start singing about their God who was with them every step of the journey.

The hills that we must cross can easily become our focus and trap us. As people who serve a God who has all power and all strength, we train ourselves to not get trapped by earthly focus. I will look to God who will bring me through the mountain, over the mountain, or around the mountain. And, at times. He will even remove the mountain.

My focus will not be on the mountain, but on the One who has all authority over the mountain. I refuse to be imprisoned when I was given the freedom to fly.

In Psalm 121, the singer is still far from the appointed place of worship, lifting his eyes toward the distant mountains, but He is never far from His God. He bursts forth in song on the steep journey! He looks above to a higher place than the mountains that stand before him.

I refuse to be like the buzzard, the bat, or the bumble bee and not look above. Do you see a steep mountain in front of you today? Look up! Don’t get stuck gazing at the mountain. Sing unto the Lord in the face of the mountain.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” – Psalm 46:1. “Fear not, for I am with you… I will strengthen you; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:10; “Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.” – Psalm 33:20

Decades ago, Gaylon and I went through a very difficult time financially. We had more month than money, without a doubt! The situation continued for a while, and I became truly despondent. I know, I know – Christians do not get despondent. Ummm – yes, they do! We can love Jesus and go through a hard time that wears on our emotions, bringing hopelessness.

There is a wonderful story in scripture that teaches us about disappointment and despondency. It is often called the story of the Road to Emmaus and is found in Luke 24. Please take the time to read the story and ponder all that the disciples are feeling.

Jesus had just been crucified, and His body was placed in a tomb. Early in the morning on the first day of the week, some women arrived at the tomb to anoint the body with spices. They were startled to find that the body of Jesus was gone, and they did not understand what had happened. Suddenly, two men dressed in glowing clothes stood beside them and asked, “Why are you seeking the living among the dead. He is risen. Don’t you remember that He told you this would happen?” Then, the women remembered His words.

The women ran to tell the disciples what had happened, and the Bible tells us, they did not believe the women and thought they were speaking nonsense. Peter did run to the tomb to check it out himself, and he found only strips of cloth. Yet, Peter was still confused about what had happened.

This is the point that we are given the story of the Road to Emmaus. Two of the disciples were taking a seven-mile walk to a village called Emmaus. They were discussing all that happened. Suddenly, Jesus begins to walk with them, but they were unable to recognize Him. Jesus asked what they were discussing. The question stopped them in their tracks. They had very despondent, downcast faces. They basically said to Jesus, “Have you been under a rock? Are you the only one who has missed all the events that just happened?”

Their frustration and hopelessness were palatable.

Verse eighteen shows us what they felt. “They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

They continued to walk and talk. They told the man who joined them to whole story about Jesus. Yet, they still did not understand who Jesus was. This newfound friend then told them about the scriptures concerning Jesus. As they got to their destination, Jesus whom they still did not recognize, looked as if He was going to continue onward, but the two insisted He come with them into their home and stay with them. They invited Him in. Then, as they were at the table and bread was broken, suddenly their eyes were opened and they realized it was JESUS. Then, Jesus suddenly disappeared.

There are many things we can learn from this story, but let’s just highlight a few.

1. We will all walk the road to Emmaus at some point. Even when we are devoted to Jesus, things can turn out so far from what we had pictured. When we find ourselves in that position, Jesus is walking with us, even if we cannot see Him. Jesus did not wave His nail scarred hands and say, “I’m here!” How I wish He would do that when I find myself in the dark places of life. By faith, we must believe that He walks with us even when we cannot perceive His presence.
2. Jesus met them right where they were. He did not walk away because they had moments of confusion and doubt. He also did not preach to them immediately. He let them share what was troubling them. “Are you weary, are you heavy-hearted, tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.”  
3. After He let them speak, then Jesus spoke. Jesus gave them reassurance but also gave correction. We all need reassurance, but we all need correction from time to time. Sometimes we need a cheerleader, and sometimes we need the voice of a straight-shooting prophet.
4. Time spent supping with Jesus restored their hope and desire to share the good news of Jesus once again. This encounter on the road so turned the hearts of the disciples that they turned around and ran back into the fray, back into Jerusalem, back into the world that had brought them pain and hopelessness. That is supernatural! According to Luke, their hearts moved from hopeless to burning! That is supernatural! That comes from supping with Jesus.

Do you find yourself walking down a road headed to hopelessness? I just want to give you a word of encouragement – Jesus is walking with you. He is ready to listen to all the hurt, the fear, and the disappointment. He is ready to speak hope back into your life. He wants to do the supernatural in your hopeless heart today. Look for Him on the road of hopelessness.

 ^“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13

Father, we thank You that Jesus is with us on our Road to Emmaus. Today, may our eyes be opened, so that we can recognize Jesus right beside us. Restore our hearts so they are filled with burning joy. Let our story get wrapped up in Your story. Come in and sup with us today, and may we leave Your table ready to sing Your praises and share the good news. Amen.