Our granddaughter is four, and from the time she started crawling and climbing, we have told her she could not jump on our furniture. But why, Mimi? This discipline does not make her happy. She still tries. We still tell her no. She doesn’t understand why she shouldn’t do it. Later, she fusses about controlling who sits where at the dinner table. She still tries to be bossy. We still tell her no. We spent over 12 hours with her and her two-year-old brother, navigating between giggles and groaning because we loved and disciplined. These two keep you on your toes. But they say thank you, and you are welcome. They squeal and play and bounce from game to game. They are precious. Now, they are not perfect. No grandchild is. The two-year-old boy will walk up and say, “I farted.” He wants a reaction. He wants to push our buttons. I think I am better as a grandparent than as a parent because I have seen the outcome of how I parented the first time around. I am not perfect. No parent is. But tucking them into their car seats last night to go home, both littles said, “I love you, Mimi.” And the kisses! They wave all the way down the driveway. My life is about the next generation now.
It reminds me of God’s Word: 6 “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” Hebrews 12:6
God loves us and offers us Jesus as an opportunity to follow Him and to be invited to live eternally with Him if (conditional statement) we make Jesus our Lord and Savior. If we say yes to that salvation experience invitation, we are “sons” of God, meaning we partake in God’s inheritance. A father disciplines his son because He loves and wants good for them.
Why? Because God’s Word says, “Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?8If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.9Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
10Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good so that we may share in His holiness.11No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peaceto those who have been trained by it.
12Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.13Make straight paths for your feet,so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.” Hebrews 12: 7-13
We have to learn our place in the family. For a season, we are an infant, then a child, then a teenager, then an adult. We change again when we become parents and grandparents. Each of us benefits when others invest in our lives. What they deposit into our hearts is what we will have to share with others down the generational line that follows.
As we ate lunch, my granddaughter began her conversation about our family. She asks me who my mom is. I tell her. Usually, she stays with her mom, my daughter, and then my mom, her great-grandmother. But today, she said, who’s your dad? She has never asked that before. She has also never met him, so it is understandable that she suddenly remembered that Mimi may have a father. She has figured out that we all have a mother and a father. I tell her that he has passed away. She pauses, and her little mind is processing. You can tell because she is not talking, and that my friend is rare! She then looks at me and smiles the sweetest smile. “I love you, Mimi.” That was her little heart’s way of saying, I don’t know what to say or do, but I love you. She understands how to “love one another.”
My father never invested in her heart. He will never be able to share any of what his heart could offer her. I watch my husband pour what he has into her heart. She values his words and actions, from rescuing her from a spider and being her hero to explaining how something works. His effort becomes a part of her when she learns from him.
Today, I pray for you to prioritize what is truly valuable, which is the next generation. We will come and go in this world, but what we invest in one another’s hearts is everlasting. Eternal good things are of God. If we don’t fill their hearts with God’s goodness, then their hearts lack good. This world will take a heart that is lacking and fill it up with all kinds of useless, not good things that are in opposition to God.
We wonder what is happening to the youth of today. Why are they the way they are? Because no one invested God into their hearts. Sure, we provided all kinds of other stuff: education, lessons of every kind, philosophies, ideologies, and material things of every shape and size. When they do wrong, we don’t spank or correct them anymore. Folks think a child will determine what is right or wrong on their own.
Our two-year-old grandson likes to play a cup game where I hide a toy inside one of four colored cups. He has to guess which one has the toy. As he lifts the cup to reveal what is inside, He says, “Nope” when it is empty. Nope! We need to guide them just as we need to be guided by God. We should never leave a child’s heart empty!
I wrote this yesterday. I had no idea what would be said in church today. It was just perfect, and it fit right into what I wrote.
We need more Jesus in every aspect of our life. Without Him, we have no purpose!
I was teasing and playing with my littlest granddaughter. She is four. She suddenly turned to me. Her turn had attitude from the position of her head to her toes and included a hang gesture found in teenagers. I know because I’ve seen our thirteen-year-old granddaughter do it. The hand is flattened and goes down in full on sass. And the eye roll!
The little one said, “Seriously, Mimi!”
I see that little love of a brown-eyed girl and the sass from her thirteen-year-old sister in that sass, and then I see her mama. If I am honest with myself, I will see myself in her too. Little by little, generation after generation, we sass. We think we know it all.
This morning, giggling at the thought of her, I soberly realize that little by little, generation after generation, we do that to God. We think we know it all.
We have a heart issues. Seriously, we have the matter of “teshuvah” (i.e., returning to God). We do not want to turn back to God. Little by little, generation after generation we drift farther and farther away from Him.
I played a game with my four-year-old granddaughter. Her response was appropriate and funny. But life is not a game with God. It is not appropriate or pleasing or good to sass or turn away from Him because when you do, that is when your deep heart issues begin!
I can’t even begin to explain properly our last couple of weeks. Winter left and spring sprung but somehow it is summer. Weather trouble and trees fell. The end of the school year activities, my father passed away, projects, paintings requested, teacher duties, my mother’s sick, work, grandkids, sickness, appointments, this broke and that broke, Joe broke a tooth and I chipped one. Not at the same time or week, but we couldn’t even get them fixed at the same time because of more sickness. Somewhere in there was a trip to the zoo, Fun-Day Monday’s with the grandies, play dates, birthday’s, Mother’s Day and my first Father’s Day without my dad. Juggle this and get through that. One cat had a fever the other got hurt and needed another trip to the vet. More grandies, cookies, swings, cats, toys, naps, stories, and “dance parties!” As I am typing this, I realize that instead of continuing to type the chaos, I’m going to change to a summary.
Thankful. Grateful. Blessed.
It really doesn’t matter that you know or don’t know my little world. I can describe it in another way. Worry, stress, sadness, tears, joy, laughter, laughter so hard that I teared up. Panic, calmness. Peace and no peace. Grief and hope. Love and more love. Loss and loneliness. Hurt and pain. Growth. Timidity and boldness. Ending and beginnings and everything in between. I can also sum it up in another way.
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
So, this morning I woke up, after the “tossing of the waves of the last couple of weeks,” singing.
“The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. Zeph. 3:17 is written by my computer.
I look up the verse in my Bible. I have the years 2010, 2018, and 2020 beside these verses. What do those years mean? Pretty much the same chaos as above only the details have changed. There will always be waves of instability in this world. ALWAYS. That will never change. You can take that to the bank. You can take to the grave unless you change. Jesus can help you with that change.
For example, 2018 was a year of a wonderful 3.5-week trip to Israel. But it was also a six-month journey with Joe’s cancer before the surgery and six months to a year after in follow up appointments, etc. There is always good and there is always bad. But how you handle the good and the bad is what can change you from where you are now to where Jesus wants you to be. You can sing about the wonderous love of Jesus, sing His mercy and His grace.
Back to this morning. SING! S-“seeing” IN-“in everything” G-“God!” I just made that up!
So let me tell/sing to you about my Jesus this morning. This is my songlist. A good old country church revival happened with only me and Jesus this morning. He didn’t even care that I am still sick and sounded pretty awful. But I had breath and I let everything of me that had breath praise the Lord this morning!
I LOVE TO TELL HIS STORY!
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.
I love to tell the story; More wonderful it seems Than all the golden fancies Of all my golden dreams, I love to tell the story, It did so much for me; And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.
I love to tell the story; ‘Tis pleasant to repeat What seems each time I tell it, More wonderfully sweet. I love to tell the story; For some have never heard The message of salvation From God’s own holy Word.
I love to tell the story; For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting To hear it like the rest. And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ’Twill be the old, old story, That I have loved so long.
I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY BECAUSE WHEN WE ALL GET TO HEAVEN WHAT A DAY OF REJOICING THAT WILL BE, WHEN WE ALL SEE JESUS, WE’LL SING AND SHOUT THE VICTORY!
Sing the wondrous love of Jesus, Sing His mercy and His grace; In the mansions bright and blessed He’ll prepare for us a place.
When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory!
Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold; Soon the pearly gates will open; We shall tread the streets of gold.
When we all get to Heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory!
When we all see Jesus, We’ll sing and shout the victory!
WHY WILL WE SING AND SHOUT THE VICTORY? BECAUSE ‘TIS SO SWEET TO TRUST IN JESUS AND TO TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD!
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend; And I know that He is with me, Will be with me to the end.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
MY TRUST IN JESUS GREW IN A GARDEN OF FAITH IN HIM.
I come to the garden alone While the dew is still on the roses And the voice I hear, falling on my ear The Son of God discloses
And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known
He speaks and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing
And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known
I stayed in the garden with Him Though the night all around me is falling But He bids me go, through the voice of woe His voice to me is calling
And He walks with me And He talks with me And He tells me I am His own And the joy we share as we tarry there None other has ever known None other has ever known
IF YOU DON’T HAVE THAT PRECIOUS RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE HIS OWN. YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF, “ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB?”
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you washed in the blood? In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Do you rest each moment in the crucified? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless, are they white as snow? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE, OH THE SWEETNESS OF SOME GLAD MORNING WHEN THIS LIFE IS OVER!
Some glad morning when this life is over I’ll fly away To a home on God’s celestial shore I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh, Glory I’ll fly away When I die, Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then I’ll fly away To a land where joy shall never end I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh, Glory I’ll fly away When I die, Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away
Yeah, when I die, Hallelujah, by and by I’ll fly away
I WILL SING HALLELUJAH BECAUSE WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS! WHATEVER MY DAY HOLDS, I KNOW MY JESUS HOLDS ME. O WHAT PEACE WE OFTEN FORFEIT, O WHAT NEEDLESS PAIN WE BEAR, ALL BECAUSE WE DO NOT CARRY EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer. Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer! In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer. Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
HE IS A FAITHFUL FRIEND AND WE CAN STAND ON HIS PROMISES BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!
Standing on the promises of Christ my King Through eternal ages, let his praises ring Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing Standing on the promises of God Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God, my Saviour Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see It was grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed When we’ve been there, 10, 000 years bright shining as the sun We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we’d first begun
IF YOU DON’T FEEL SECURE IN THIS WORLD OR YOU HAVE NO ASSURANCE OF YOUR FUTURE. IF YOU HAVE LOST HOPE OR YOU NEVER HAD HOPE TO BEGING WITH, IT IS TIME TO TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS AND LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE!
O soul are you weary and troubled No light in the darkness you see There’s light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace
His word shall not fail you he promised Believe him and all will be well Then go to a world that is dying His perfect salvation to tell
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace
O soul are you weary and troubled No light in the darkness you see There’s light for a look at the Savior And life more abundant and free
Turn your eyes upon Jesus Look full in his wonderful face And the things of earth will grow strangely dim In the light of his glory and grace
BECAUSE OF JESUS, NO MATTER WHAT THIS WORLD THROWS AT ME, ON ME, OR THROUGH ME, I WILL ALWAYS HAVE IN HIM THE ABILITY TO LEAN ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS!
What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms; What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, Leaning on the everlasting arms; Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms; I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
THAT BLESSED PEACE IS FROM MY JESUS. HE IS EVERYTHING TO ME AND I WILL CLING TO HIM!
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross The emblem of suffering and shame And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross (rugged cross) Till my trophies at last I lay down I will cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it some day for a crown
To the old rugged cross I will ever be true It’s shame and reproach gladly bear Then he’ll call me some day to my home far away Where his glory forever I’ll share
And I’ll cherish the old rugged cross (rugged cross) Till my trophies at last I lay down And I will cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it some day for a crown I will cling to the old rugged cross And exchange it some day for a crown
WHY? BECAUSE GOD IS GREAT. I CAN’T HELP BUT BE IN AWE OF HIM AND SING HOW GREAT THOU ART! HE IS!
Oh Lord, my God When I, in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
And when I think that God, His Son not sparing Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing He bled and died to take away my sin
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart Then I shall bow, in humble adoration And then proclaim, my God, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art How great Thou art, how great Thou art
I CAN’T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO SPEND ENTERNITY THAN WITH JESUS. THE NEXT GREATER THING WILL BE IF I GET TO SPEND IT WILL ALL OF MY LOVED ONES AND JESUS! YOU NEED TO BE THERE WITH US!
If I surveyed all the good things that come to me from above If I count all the blessings from the storehouse of love I’d simply ask for a favor of him beyond mortal king And I’m sure that he’d grant it again I want to stroll over Heaven with you some glad day When all our troubles and heartaches are vanished away Then we’ll enjoy the beauty where all things are new I want to stroll over Heaven with you
So many places of beauty we long to see here below But time and treasures have kept us from making plans as you know But come the morning of the rapture together we’ll stand anew While I stroll over Heaven with you I want to stroll over Heaven with you some glad day When all our troubles and heartaches are vanished away Then we’ll enjoy the beauty where all things are new I want to stroll over Heaven with you
I want to stroll over Heaven with you
I ALREADY KNOW THAT I GET TO GO TO HEAVEN. IT IS NO SECRET. JESUS HAS GIVEN ME ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL BE TOGETHER, ALWAYS!
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood
This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long
Perfect submission, perfect delight Visions of rapture now burst on my sight Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love
This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long This is my story, this is my song Praising my Savior all the day long Praising my Savior all the day long
WHEN YOU HAVE THAT ASSURANCE THERE IS ETERNITY WRAPPED UP IN A WAY THAT CAUSES JOY AND SONG! YOU NEED THAT JOY AND YOU NEED TO SING. HE IS CALLING YOU, SOFTLY AND TENDERLY. JESUS IS CALL YOU!
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling Calling for you and for me See on the portal He’s watching and waiting Waitin’ for you and for me
Come home Come ho-ome He who are wary Come ho-ome
Ernestly, tenderly Jesus is calling Calling, oh sinner Come home
Come home Come ho-ome He who are wary Come ho-o-ome
Ernestly, tenderly Jesus is calling Calling, oh sinner Come home
YUP THAT WAS MY PLAYLIST. PRAYER LIST. PRAISE LIST. YEAH, I LIKE THAT ONE. PRAISE LIST!
THANKFUL TO JESUS. GRATEFUL FOR JESUS. BLESSED BY AND BECAUSE OF JESUS!
YOU NEED HIM TO REJOICE OVER YOU WITH SINGING!
I can’t imagine not having my Jesus! These precious songs started my day, and they are ending my day. And there were songs in between. Twelve classes of preschoolers, singing about Jesus, and whales, sharks, fish, bubblegum, birds, gentleness and the other fruit of the Spirit. Yeah, it has been a good day. A very good day to have a birthday!
Spending time in prayer and thanksgiving because in the next two days, we will be going to two funerals.
God is Faithful and True, and as the song says, “He is running after you…”
Each and every one of you.
I teach 4’s and 5’s at WEE school on Mondays and Tuesdays. They get it. They have a child-like faith. God is GOOD. God is EVERYWHERE. God made EVERYTHING. God is LOVE. God loves me.
Life in this world removes that child-like faith and fills it up with all kinds of distractions such as addictions, sports, hobbies, parties, entertainment, stuff, celebrations of things other than God things, etc.
We need to get back to that child-like pure faith and remember that God loves us. God is Faithful. God is True. God is real, and we really need God.
Don’t wait until it is too late to make sure that you choose Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Do not let this world kill, steal, and destroy your eternal future by you NOT making a choice for Jesus.
Listen to the song, “Goodness of God.”
How do you choose Jesus?
You just have to get to a point in your life that you put yourself aside, all of your junk, baggage, issues, problems, etc. and simply want a change.
The only ONE who can provide a real change in your life is Jesus.
Jesus is transformational. He will change you. It will always be a good change.
He is good. He cannot NOT be good.
He is Faithful. That means He is reliable and steadfast, and remains loyal. He is true to the original. He is the original.
In preschool, the children learn that a caterpillar eats leaves and then makes a sleeping bag to sleep in while he changes into a butterfly. God’s plan is for the caterpillar to change. They learn that God created the caterpillar to transform, to change, and to teach us that we start out one way and through God we become something as wonderful and miraculous as a butterfly.
We start out in a caterpillar like condition. We just go about life eating, drinking, and existing. We have a sinful nature which means we can never be good enough on our own. God is good and we fall short of His goodness.
Romans 3:23, “For all (each and every one of us) have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
If we stay in our current condition, we will die. We will never change and become something wonderful like a butterfly. We will never fulfill God’s plan for us.
Romans 6:23, “For the wages (the payment) of sin is death, but (in contrast) the free gift of God is eternal life in (a position) Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Why do we need to change? Why does the caterpillar have to make a sleeping bag called a chrysalis? Because without the willingness to MAKE the chrysalis, there will be NO change.
If a caterpillar does not make a chrysalis, then that caterpillar will NOT change.
We are like the caterpillar. We have to MAKE a choice.
John 3:3 says, “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.'”
Without the willingness to MAKE a choice, there will be no way to see the kingdom of God.
John 14:6 says, “Jesus said to him (you and me), ‘I am (exist, my very being) the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father (God) but (in contrast) through (because of) Me (Jesus).'”
For the caterpillar, the chrysalis is the key to changing into a butterfly.
For you and me, Jesus is the key to changing into what God has planned for us. He is also The Door!
John 10:9, “I (Jesus) am the door; if anyone enters through (because of) Me (Jesus), he will be saved (from sin and spiritual death), and will go in and out and find pasture (eternal life).”
If you are a caterpillar, you make a good choice, you make a chrysalis.
If you are like me, you make a good choice, you choose Jesus.
How?
Romans 10:9-11, “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”
Blessing and life is available to those who believe in Jesus the Messiah.
Deuteronomy 30:14-16, “But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it. See, I have set before you today life and prosperity (blessings), and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statues and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.”
What happens is you do NOT choose Jesus. Read on in Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 30:17-20, “But if your heart turns away and you will NOT obey, but (in contrast) are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I (God) declare to you today that you shall surely perish (die). You will not prolong your days in the land where you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess it. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”
Choose life! His name is JESUS!
2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “and He (Jesus) died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him (Jesus) who died and rose again on their behalf.”
Jesus is waiting for you. How do I know? Because He waited for me too!
Revelation 3:20, “Behold (pay attention), I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock (He makes the effort first); if anyone hears (faith comes by hearing) My (Jesus) voice and opens (makes the choice-responds to the knock) the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him (a relationship-intimacy), and he with Me (Jesus).”
He is The Door, and He is at your heart’s door. He is waiting for you to choose Him.
Do it today. Secure your eternal future by opening your hearts door to HIM!
Two funerals. One person I know she knew Jesus. Her life had so much evidence to plead her case if she were to stand before a judge. One person, not so sure about. He struggled. He lived this world in a way that this world won. May God have mercy on us all!
I choose Jesus!!Grace and peace to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ! -Shahe Nahler
I am the author of six books. The first three of the books are about God changing me from my way to His way! Life is a process, people! A journey to walk out with God, and it’s always better when God is in you, and you have a relationship with Him. That way, His way, you never walk out your faith journey alone but with Him!
All six books are available at Amazon.com. Just click the links above or go to Amazon and type into the search, “Shahe Nahler.” Available in paperback or eBook.
You can also visit my website at www.shahesart.com for travel photos and Bible lessons, photography, and artwork.
My prayer for you is to have a real relationship with Jesus and as you grow in the grace and knowledge of Him and that you share Him with others so that they can have that gift too!
I am sharing a friend’s blog because it is so very needed in this day and age. Please take a moment to read this! We need to be careful, people! A must read! via Poor Theology
Blessing means strengthening! May you be strengthened in Jesus today! -Shahe Nahler
A really good nights sleep. My husband on the mend. Nowhere to “have to be.” Nothing to “have to do.” But I probably should do something. It’s a bit cold, and it’s a lot quiet.
Fixing breakfast and a good cup of tea. I find myself at my office window watching a mother deer and her two babies eating in our front yard. They cannot see me. My office light is off, and I am trying to be still by the window.
I watch the mother bend down and get some acorns. Her head pops up, her neck turns, and her ears go this way and that. She is more than aware of her surroundings. She is guarding her two babies. That is her purpose, and that is her plan, get these kids to adulthood unharmed.
But these babies are no longer babies. They have lost their spots and put on their winter coat coloring. The only way that you know that they are young is because of their small size and because of the way that they act. Or maybe I should say, act up. They play and eat and bounce and play some more. Their ears are up…occasionally. But mostly they play and eat and bounce and play some more.
Mom, however, eats, watches, eats, listens, and guards her babies. She does not rest, she does not relax and enjoy the acorns or play in the leaves.
I got to thinking about Father God. We are His children, and we are for the most part a lot like the twins that play and eat and bounce and play some more. We have no idea how alert to the danger we need to be. We have no idea of the darkness that is out there to harm us because we like to play in the light. We are young, and we need that loving parent to watch over us and warn us when danger is near.
Thank you, Father God for being our parent and putting up with our baby-ways. May we grow up in You and know that You have a hope and a plan for our future in You! -Shahe Nahler
We had an 8am outpatient surgical appointment to remove squamous cell carcinoma from Joe’s cheek. This is not his first skin cancer rodeo. Last time they took two inches off of his right cheek. I am right-left dyslexic so his other left cheek.
I didn’t want to go back with Joe, I tend to want to pass out with blood, vomit, etc. Somehow I managed by God’s grace to have healthy children that only ever threw up once each while they were under 18. There was one Wednesday night in preschool at church that is legendary with the number of kids and the stomach flu. Good times! And one memorable night at children’s camp that had one child puke in the little church in the woods which lead to most of the kids then puking…it’s like domino’s, people! But for the most part, God has graced me with avoidance of body fluids.
So when Joe looked at me to come with him, I did. I love that man dearly!
The doctor has started on the other side of the room. They are doing things to my husband, and all I can do is pray for him. I see sharp things, and so I put my head in my new book with absolutely NO plans of “looking.” I read the words, “In the following chapters we will find some clever lessons about life, and experience the Bible’s vibrant imagery and word pictures…” Then I smell it…that smell…it takes me instantly back to the birth of my son and “burning flesh.” You have to read book one to get this. I gag, I stop, I almost try to get up, and the funniest thought crosses my mind, “What would Ashley do?” She is my new friend from the last ladies retreat. She is funny. Birthing is not her thing either. They lied, and she also wants her money back. Seriously, you have to read book one, people! Ashley would handle this situation. When I grow up, I want to be like Ashley.
Round one, tissue removal complete and Joe is cracking jokes. He immediately mentions the burning flesh. Not funny, honey! He is laughing…kinda crooked because of the medication. He has a temporary bandage on the wound while we wait for the lab results. I read him some in my book, and the doctor comes in to do another round of tissue removal.
Round two, longer and deeper and I don’t pass out. He is still joking. He mentions being hungry now. It’s closer to lunch than breakfast. He says he’s up for anything but doesn’t think he wants any soup…the nurse cracks up, and the doctor is all out laughing, and he actually stopped working to get his composure. Not funny, honey! I tell him to behave. The doctor walks out with the tissue for the lab. That was another big chuck. I said it yesterday, but I really believe that Joe is trying to leave me one piece at a time. The nurse closes him up temporarily. She makes a cute comment about taping up his mouth. She even offers to send tape home with me. Another long wait. We pray, we talk, and we laugh. We have been through a lot together. This is not our first cancer rodeo. You need Jesus, love, and laughter when cancer is in the room.
We are getting tired. Joe’s eye is swelling, and they are red. He and I are talking and waiting, and the doctor comes in. We have to do it again. It’s highly aggressive, and they need to do another tissue removal. More meds and the process starts again. Lots of blood. I watch the Haz-Mat collection container fill up with my husband’s “stuff.” I close my eyes and pray and then try to hide in my book. I hear that machine which means I am about to smell burning flesh and the Lord reminds me of Ashley’s beautiful baby girl and how wonderful it was to hold her last week. I love babies. Thank You, Jesus! I look down at my next chapter. It’s title, “The Powerful Imagery of Blood.” Not funny, Jesus! Joe feels pain, and they shoot him up some more. Joe jokes that if they get down to his teeth, then they’ve gone too far. More laughter. I am in tears for multiple reasons. Not funny, honeys! Both of my husbands are not funny! Yes, I have two. Jesus and Joe in that order. Another temporary close and we wait.
Richard sends us Psalm 121, and we read it earlier, but I reread it again at this moment. Another moment that Joe and I will one day look back and see God’s hand in our midst. The blood of Christ was a mystery to me. I did not grow up knowing anything about Jesus. I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior with a verbal admission of not understanding all that His blood means to a believer. My little step of faith also led to a revelation later as a believer. I read Leviticus 17:11 and found that blood is the atonement for sins because life is in the blood.
Blood is also used in the formation of covenants. Covenants between people were not just business arrangements but more like marriages in which the lives of two parties were bound together. The blood signified that the people were merging their lives together through the life of the sacrifice, and committing their lives to keeping that covenant.
Yes, we have been through multiple rounds of tissue removal today. Yes, we have been through multiple rounds of cancer removal together. And no, Joe is not trying to leave me one chunk at a time. At one point while he waits he tears up when looking at me. He’s so tired. He’s worn out. He’s hungry. He’s thirsty. He’s in pain. And he’s mine. God is incredibly wonderful to allow me to be in a covenant with a most honorable man who feels the very same way.
The doctor comes in, and we are done. Clear margins! Praise the Lord! Now an extra long closing because of the three layers of inner stitches. One three inch long continuous stitch for a final touch. Joe is told to smile so that they can see his facial movements. Yes, he cracked another joke. This time he has a three-inch scar. He is showing off. We are done! Let’s go home. I love you, honey! I love you and your pieces. Or should I say, “I love you to pieces?” Hmmm. Now, I am back to being the funny one! 😉
May your day be filled with laughter, love, and Jesus no matter what else is in your day including cancer. -Shahe Nahler
We have a small money box. We take it with us when we go to speaking opportunities so that we can make change when we sell the books. It’s mostly coins. The box is small and simple, and it has a terrible habit of spilling over. Coins go all over. They are always in the wrong spot. I am a recovering OCD perfectionist. I like everything organized and in its place. Perfectly placed. I’ve told you, I have issues, people!
Well, this box is going to be the death of me or drive me to my death. It’s never sorted when I open it up. I can’t ever get something done because when I open the box for say making change, and I find pennies where the dimes should be well…issues!
After the last speaking opportunity, I did not open the box for days. Days passed, and coins passed over their little walls and joined other coins in disobedience to the concept of being properly sorted. I opened the box to get a card. I found coins everywhere. I start with the pennies. I clean out the place where they should go and I go looking for all of them in the other little squares. They are off-color and easy to see mixed in with the other coins. Then the quarters. Their size makes them stand out. Then the nickels with their thickness and then the dimes. Dimes are trouble-makers. They slip in and hide everywhere.
As I am sorting the coins God talks to me about sorting problems in life. Some problems are easy to see because they are “off-color.” Some problems are bigger in size and some are thicker. And some problems are sneaky and small like the dimes. They slip in here and there and you have to work hard to hand those over to the Lord.
While sorting I learned that handing all of my problems daily over to the Lord is much like opening my loosey-goosey box. I open up my box like I open up each day. I reach in and gather up all of my worries and problems in my own hands and hand them to the Lord. I have learned to trust Him with them. His hands are capable and can hold them all. I have learned to let go and let God sort them out. He decides which ones to handle in my day. The control is His and I have had to learn to not pick them up. Don’t touch them! They are no longer mine.
When the Lord sorts them, they will be well taken care of and it will be well with my soul.
When the Lord sorts them, He knows the God-timing of each worry or problem and knows when to handle that very one at that very moment that matters.
When the Lord sorts them, He is in control and not me. That’s huge, people!
When the Lord sorts them and I don’t touch them, it shows that I really trust Him with everything.
When the Lord properly and perfectly places my coins, He knows more than me at all times, and I have learned that means that I am also in my proper and perfect place in Him.
Let go.
Let God.
It will be well with your soul…even if you are a recovering OCD, perfectionist because He has revealed to your heart that He and He alone is the only One who is perfect!
Sorting things out for the good and the glory of God! May you be ok with that process today! – Shahe Nahler
How do you sum up nine days? I pick a word or a theme. This past nine days can be summed up in the word “thankful.”
Thankful to Jesus would be more accurate, people!
Thankful to Jesus that Joe and I had time before a set of speaking opportunities to explore the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Thankful to Jesus that Joe did not get mad that we ended up taking a four-hour tour and on the map, coming out only twenty minutes farther up the highway than when we started.
Thankful to Jesus that there was a cottage in a harbor waiting for two tired travelers.
Thankful to Jesus that we found the heater in that cottage. We went north, people!
Thankful to Jesus for time spent in God’s Word on a porch with rocking chairs and a hot cup of tea.
Thankful to Jesus for a sweet time of fellowship with believers by the water having a picnic and talking with the pastor and his wife, my sweet friend, and the cutest granddaughter (niece).
Thankful to Jesus for dairy-free and gluten-free bread picnic. It’s the little things, people!
Thankful to Jesus for fall leaves and ancient old trees and a tour of a family’s harbor history.
Thankful to Jesus for a new friendship with a cat named “fish” and getting to meet my first black squirrels. Who knew?
Thankful to Jesus for time to prepare my heart to speak to a group of ladies at a ladies retreat.
Thankful to Jesus that when the sound and technical stuff started going wrong that I just knew it was going to be a sweet night in the Lord. That’s called spiritual warfare folks! If I speak somewhere and something doesn’t go wrong, then I may have to get on my knees and repent of something because the enemy of my soul and yours doesn’t like it when I speak about my King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And there was no mouse on stage! (that’s a whole other story!)
Thankful to Jesus for women who praised and sang and danced without instruments.
Thankful to Jesus for the beautiful faces that participated in a drama that was about the women in the Bible. They were called up by “name.” Eve, Esther, Lydia, etc. Thankful because God had shown me in my prayer time for weeks that “names” specifically women’s names would be part of this weekend. Only I never knew how that fit in my part until I sat there praising the Lord for their part! God is so good to knit us all together in Him!
Thankful to Jesus that I got to go back to the cottage that night to spend time with Joe.
Thankful to Jesus for the sunrise the next morning and the excitement to return to be with new faces and friends at the ladies retreat.
Thankful to Jesus for the pastor’s wife who set a godly example of confession and repentance by admitting that she wanted everything to be “perfect” and was frustrated because of the night before and things not working. Thankful because we need to be honest as believers that we are still in our flesh suits and yet when we let go and let GOD handle things like the night before, we can dance and sing in the freedom of Christ Jesus.
Thankful to Jesus for the testimonies and the beauty of the women in that room.
Thankful to Jesus for the honesty of a young woman that is my new favorite child birthing story. She thinks they lied too and wants her money back! (You have to read book one, people!)
Thankful to Jesus for my sweet and very dear friend who shared her testimony of going through the valley of the shadow of death and coming out of the flood, wet, humbled, displaced, but very loved and ultimately blessed beyond measure.
Thankful to Jesus that when it was my turn to share about what God had laid on my heart to share that I looked out at faces and that I knew their names and some of their stories but that there was a heart connection in Christ that filled me and enabled me to be focused on Him and not me.
Thankful to Jesus for a puppy that loved on us all day long.
Thankful to Jesus for hugs and new friendships and prayer and praise.
Thankful to Jesus that I had heard a song at my home church the Sunday before we left and I thought to ask my friend if she knew that one because it just fit with the coming retreat in Maryland. Thankful because they sang that very song both days and I never told a soul but Jesus that I thought it fit the retreat. Guess He thought it fit too and He made a way! I love when He shows off like that!
Thankful to Jesus that my husband remembered to come and get me at the retreat when I forgot to call him because I was talking to people. Wait, what? Me, talking!
Thankful to Jesus for a cottage with a comfortable bed because I was so poured out that I was in bed by 8 pm (that’s EST, people).
Thankful for rest and refreshment in the Lord because I woke up ready to be used.
Thankful to Jesus for my sweet husband, just because he is willing to be married to me.
Thankful to Jesus that He helped me get ready for church on time and reigned in my desire to grab my camera and go off capturing the mist off of the water and the sunshine on the boats. I would have been late to church, people!
Thankful to Jesus for GPS to get us to the church on time for me to share my testimony.
Thankful to Jesus that when I walked into the church that I had been at over a decade before that, it had grown and continues to give God all the glory.
Thankful to Jesus that as folks came into the church, I knew the ladies faces and that they still wanted to come to church even though they had heard me speak all weekend!
Thankful to Jesus for more hugs and getting to hold baby Sammie Jo! What a doll baby and it made my morning. If you know me, intimately know and understand me, holding a baby fills my hearts desires. God knows that! He gets me!
Thankful to Jesus for songs including “that one” that are sung and enjoyed and celebrate Jesus!
Thankful to Jesus for a church that is the real deal body of Christ.
Thankful to Jesus for a room full of faces and people that are beyond precious in the eyes of our Holy God.
Thankful to Jesus for time to share my story which is all about Jesus. God knows that! The story ends with a victory! I get Him!
Thankful to Jesus for all of the love poured out on Calvary and in Calvary Church. God is so good!
Thankful to Jesus for a wonderful after church meal with four very wonderful people!
Thankful to Jesus for carrying my camera and capturing a picture of “fish” in a tree just as he was about to capture one of my elusive black squirrels.
Thankful to Jesus that the black squirrel lived! Can I get an AMEN! And thankful that I eventually got a great photo of one of those chatterboxes.
Thankful to Jesus for a sunset of beauty and a weekend of hope, love, and peace.
Thankful to Jesus that when my lense that I had used all weekend broke that He calmed me down and made me refocus on what is really important, HIM!
Thankful to Jesus that we got through Washington DC traffic and headed off and found Mount Vernon. Thankful also that where we live, we don’t have traffic like this!
Thankful to Jesus for an opportunity to revisit a place from my childhood that I don’t remember much of but I had been there, and now I can revisit and relearn about it. We need to know our history, people! A legacy that goes untold is no legacy.
Thankful to Jesus for God’s timing because we just happened to go down to the gravesite of George and Martha Washington at 3 pm and they asked if there were any veteran’s in the group and my sweet Joe was honored by getting to participate with two other veteran’s for a wreath-laying ceremony.
Thankful to Jesus for God’s sweet timing in that I love to honor my husband. He sits and hears my story told over and over and has yet to complain or not want to participate in these trips. Thankful that it was his turn to shine. He really is an amazing man of God.
Thankful to Jesus for finding our hotel and that we got to stay there for free. Reward program points, people!
Thankful to Jesus for a special and precious day touring the National Mall in Washington DC. Know your history and understand that this nation was created under GOD and by God for His plan and His purpose.
Thankful to Jesus because my Vietnam Veteran got to be at the Vietnam War Memorial at the same time as a very large group of Honor Flight Veterans. Again, God’s timing and God’s hand, and honoring my Joe is a precious gift.
Thankful to Jesus to have working feet that are exhausted because we walked them all, people!
Thankful to Jesus for the morning filled with taking pictures of every helicopter and my heart’s whisper that it would be cool to get a photo of Marine One. And God provided because only He heard my heart’s whisper. Great photo!
Thankful to Jesus for another night of sleep and another day to explore our nation’s capital.
Thankful to Jesus for two new friends that we met on the subway.
Thankful to Jesus for time spent in the Holocaust Memorial Museum. You need to go. Thankful that we remember and tell their stories and pray it never happens again!
Thankful to Jesus for time spent in the American History Museum and that I don’t have to use the subway at home.
Thankful to Jesus that we got up early and got on the road and ten minutes into our drive our car “broke” and that we were not killed in the traffic as we moved a broken car from the far left fast lane to the side of the road.
Thankful to Jesus for a smart husband and a smartphone to find a tow truck and repair shop to fix our broken car. We lost a bolt from the wheel caliper which sounded like a flat tire on steroids. I trembled for a good long while after that.
Thankful to Jesus for praying friends who prayed for us while we were along a busy highway and waiting for a rescue. Thankful to Jesus that He is our greatest rescue.
Thankful to Jesus that three hours and $1000.00 later we were back on the road home.
Thankful to Jesus that the man in the shop that fixed our car was a Muslim from Jordan and I now have a new name to be praying for salvation in Christ Jesus. Wait, praying for a guy you don’t know when you didn’t tell him about Jesus when you were in his shop? Yup, you read me right. The opportunity did not come up, the door was not open, but I know something, someone bigger than his closed heart’s door. Jesus. Muslims don’t have people praying to Jesus and lifting their names up to Him. I plan to pray for this man by name to the One who is the Name Above All Names!
Thankful to Jesus for sweet friends who check in on us on our journey.
Thankful to Jesus that we gain an hour going home and we needed it to get home just before midnight. Sleepy! And thankful!
Thankful to Jesus for provision. I never ask for money to share my testimony. My testimony is a gift from God. I just ask for lodging and travel expenses. Calvary gave us a check for more than was agreed to before and we returned to a check in the mail for another opportunity that gave us more than we expected. God is so good to provide a way to make a way even when bolts fall off, wheel calipers are broken, and our car is in need of repair. He just knows! Yada, people!
Thankful to Jesus! God is so good!
It’s a long one. I warned you yesterday! So much to be thankful for, especially Jesus! May you see your day today from a position of thankfulness in Jesus! -Shahe Nahler (Joe says, “Amen!)
Shahe Nahler 