What is Certain in Life?

Many blue moons ago, while Doris Day sang:

“The future's not ours to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be"

my friends and I wondered, hoped, and planned a future ripe with knights in shining armor, picket fences surrounding swing sets, and exciting careers in exotic places...unconcerned that armor conceals the real knight and exotic places rarely sport wooden fences and jungle gyms.

Fast forward several decades and the world is a scary place...

The jet packs and Rosie the Robot maids that we all assumed would be the norm by now have been replaced by terrors abroad and on home soil...dishonest leadership...nonexistent accountability...and disregard for creation.

We never discussed this in home ec class...

Hell and damnation were reserved for the vilest of sinners...while the rest of the population would just float along in a sea of tranquility and blow bubbles from wands dipped in the imagined squeaky cleanliness of their noble lives...not a care in the world.

But we know that’s just not real...

What is certain is - 

We will

• have struggles
• grow weary
• feel pain
• lose loved ones
• not understand
• reach a breaking point
• want to give up

That is life in our post-paradise world...

BUT

there are promises...

more promises than the “might happens”...and “will happens”...and “already happened”...and the “happening right now”...

When you have to step off the shore of supposed safety and venture into deep waters...and the buoys and life preservers are hidden behind the darkened clouds of a world gone mad...and arms flail and feet slip and heads threaten to go underneath the unrelenting current...

look up...

the Father’s strong right arm reaches down,

the Savior lifts up,

and the tide turns as the Spirit rushes in.

"Victory is the place

where our breaking point

becomes our turning point."
— L. Burt

What is certain in life is this - 

we will...

but

God does

provide

protect

restore

forgive

comfort

love

and

so much more than we can imagine...

Victory is certain for a child of God.

When Faith Needs a Face

The letter was addressed:

“Dear Heavenly Father”

Dated October 11, 1978, my Grandmother’s handwriting on the faded page closed with:

“Your daughter and son

We are Your children” 

In that pre-blog era of putting actual pen to paper, she wrote heart words to her Lord and Saviour asking for blessings concerning selling her and Granddaddy’s house.

She knew the value of a

tangible testimony

of her faith in answered prayer…

The same envelope housed another such letter dated one year later that began:

“Dear Heavenly Father

We thank you Father for all Your blessings upon us”

and ended with:

“Thank You Father for answering prayer.

We are Your children.

Hallelujah”

Did my Grandmother know when she wrote these letters that nearly 35 years later they would encourage and edify?

Did she know that her precious script would be seen across the globe and that a written prayer goes further than ink on paper by putting a face on faith for all to see?

And did she know that her Hallelujah would merge with mine and raise a right holy ruckus of praise?

Put a face on your faith

Write the letter

Break the bread

Hug the weary

Reassure the doubtful

Minister to the broken

and go serve

in whatever way God tells you

Because your faith needs a face, hands, and feet to glorify 

the One Whom you believe....

A faith that does not do things is a dead faith.
James 2:17 NLV

When His Sheep are Black & Blue

Your birthday came and went last month.

No cake, ice cream, or balloons for you this year...just a harvest of seeds sown...

You see yourself as the “black sheep” of the family...

But I was there that night

The night you pushed up from the altar...planted your hand on your heart...lips curled into a grin...actually you laughed...and said:

“Thank you, Jesus!”

That black heart was washed white...and momma danced happy...

I was there later as the enemy tried to take back

what had been redeemed...

And watched as detours became the norm...

eventually steering you back to the straight path...

and then you’d be off again...

Another birthday came and went this month.

A custom cake by Katie,

Kroger ice cream, but no cards...

Until the mail lady delivered an envelope with your return address in the corner...

Inside was the sweetest custom handmade card...

And this blue sheep smiled and thanked God for His grace and love...

So black sheep, blue sheep, green or purple -

if grazing in the Good Shepherd’s pasture,

we are all the same.

His blood marks those who belong to the Lamb...

He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.

John 10:3-4 NLT

Step Back...and Let Go

It was called the “Spindletop” here in Georgia.

 

The dark bare walls of this cylindrical room always made me nervous...

“Step back with your feet against the wall!”, was the first order from the operator.

“Remain in your spot and don’t move!”

The room began to spin...faster and faster...up to speeds of 33 revolutions per minute (or so I am told)

“Let go!”, my cousin shouts, as I grip his hand tightly...

Then, the floor drops about 2 or 3 feet and we are left

Hanging...on the wall...

By a force so strong we are helpless to stop it...

Yeah, I know that thrill ride is considered “old school” to this generation, but back in the day it nearly terrified me...

Stuck in one spot...held up by an unseen force...

If we had refused to “step back”, things would not have worked correctly...

If I had not “let go”, my cousin might have been mad at me the rest of the afternoon...

So now during this prelude to summer in Georgia, I find myself on another ride...

There are only seconds remaining before the room begins its revolutions...and I hear...

Step Back...

So I stay,

and then

Let Go...

(this part is way hard but I know it’s what I have to do)

The floor drops

And that force so strong I am helpless to stop it

Rushes in like the wind

And I am held up

By His power

And His mighty hand

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Is there a situation in your life that the Lord is wanting you to step back and let go?

Camping in Paradise

Has it been one of those days/weeks/months

or seasons?


You know the ones I'm talking about...

Your head hurts from trying to count all the times you messed up...

 Regrets crush your heart...


Ears listen while lips sing 
Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus...
yet your spirit only tastes 
the bitterness of self-condemnation?

Well, grab your camping gear...

and come pitch your tent in the land of hope!

Please join me over here to read more...

Leaping Over Walls

When Grace Cradles Faith

Today I saw

Grace cradle Faith…

Wonder and awe at the newness of life

Faith cradled by Grace

Sweet sisters...

Tender lullabies whispered gently...

a prelude of things to come...

giggles under blankets...

talks heart to heart...

Faith resting

Grace holding

Hearts bonding

Love growing

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for

and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11:1 TNIV

 God's grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ.

Your salvation doesn't come from anything you do.

It is God's gift

Ephesians 2:8 NIRV

Faith - expects much

Grace – gives abundantly

Faith – believes expectantly

Grace – delivers sure

Faith – builds up

Grace – holds together

Faith – reaches out

Grace – pours down

Ruby Faith

May 20, 2011

8 lbs. 15 oz.

21 1/2 “

Embrace faith and rest in His grace today...

Become Like Them - WFW

Jesus said, "What I'm about to tell you is true.

You need to change and become like little children.

If you don't, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3 NIRV

Play hard

Laugh long

Rest securely

Hug fiercely

Trust completely

Love deeply

Believe

@ The Internet Cafe

It Will Happen Today - WFW

Did you get the memo?

Did you mark your calendar?

It’s happening today!

You may not have seen it...or felt it...or heard a thing...but God’s word promises us...that it is happening today...

Right now!

He is working...

Situations are changing...

All

According to His plan.

Trust Him

He will bring it to pass

And it will be better than good...

Moses told the people, Fear not; stand still (firm, confident, undismayed) and see the salvation of the Lord which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians you have seen today you shall never see again.

Exodus 14:13 AMP

at The Internet Cafe

Hope Assured – Thankful Thursday

It is dark...

Flashlight in hand, I make my way through the pitch-black house...

As I enter the bathroom, my fingers automatically flip the light switch...

Have you ever done that?

Knowing the power is off, yet still trying to turn on the light...

False hope...in a dead current

This world is dark...

Sword in hand, we make our way guided by the illumination of His love...

As we enter the battlefield, our hands automatically raise to praise the Source of all life...

Do we do that?

Knowing His power is in us, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us...

Assured hope...real hope...unfailing hope...

In a risen Savior...

His light will never go out...

“I am the light of the world.

If you follow me,

you won’t have to walk in darkness,

because you will have the light

that leads to life.”

John 8:12 NLT

with Lynn

Joy Assured - WFW

Now is your time of grief,

but I will see you again

and you will rejoice,

and no one

will take away your joy.

John 16:22 NIV

@ The Internet Cafe