Monday, December 29, 2014

Do You Hear It?



Do you hear it?


Or maybe I should ask, do you not hear it? The noise, the hustle, the bustle from a busy Christmas week.




I wonder how quite it was the night of Jesus' birth after the shepherds left and the animals settled down. Talk about noise, hustle and bustle . . . there was a lot going on for awhile in the stable that was tucked away in the small town of Bethlehem.


In Luke 2:19 we read from the Amplified Bible that "Mary was keeping within herself all these things (sayings), weighing and pondering them in her heart." What sayings? The account the shepherds gave about their visit from an angel and then the multitude of the heavenly host that praised God concerning the birth of His only Son.


She was nestled away in a stable, holding the Son of God in her arms as she felt His heart beat next to hers. While rocking Him, the words of the shepherds must have moved across her mind and she spent time weighing and pondering what they said. It was true, the baby she held was the Son of God, born to be the Savior of the world.


In the quietness of these days following Christmas may we too spend time weighing and pondering the things we have heard about the birth of Jesus. We may not be nestled away in a stable holding the Son of God in our arms, but if He lives inside of us, we too can feel the beat of His heart next to ours. For it is true, Jesus is the Son of God and He is the Savior of the World.


Thursday, September 4, 2014

Who Do You Trust?





Who do you trust when
the storms of life 
come your way?







Visit me at Dr. Charles Stanley's In Touch Ministries . . .

Unannounced Storms -- In Touch Ministries



Blessings,
~Beth



picture courtesy of www.morguefile.com

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

God Surprised? Never.


There are times when we can see the storm clouds forming on the horizon. We may not be able to prevent them from coming our way, but at least we can prepare for their arrival.

Then there are other times when we don't see the storm coming, we only feel the impact when it is upon us.

Have you been blindsided by a storm? Large or small, we still get wet.

Let me assure you today that the storm you are experiencing, or the one you are trying to recover from, did not catch God by surprise. He says in His Word that He's always with us, no matter what we go through.


"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,
Nor will the flame burn you."
(Isa. 43:2 NSAB).



photo coutesy of www.morguefile.com

Friday, July 18, 2014

Expert Fluff and Fold


Expert Fluff and Fold . . . These words are posted on a sign in front of a dry cleaning business I drive by a couple of times a week. I know I've read it many times but today as I read it a conversation formed in my mind.

"Are you this kind of person?"

"What?"

"Are you an 'Expert Fluff and Fold' kind of person?"

"What kind of person is that?"

Then it hit me, so many times we use our words and actions to only fluff those around us. We pour out shallow compliments or pleasantries that splash on the surface of another's soul. After the fluff comes the fold -- when we take the things they are going through, fold them, and place them neatly on a shelf out of our way.

We seem to be so absorbed in our own lives we sometimes don't want to take time to listen, help, or encourage others. So, when someone in need crosses our path, we do the easy thing -- fluff and fold.

Take time to notice . . .

has God placed someone in your life that you need to listen, help, or encourage? 

Better yet . . .

take a look into the closet of your heart and see what (or who) you may have folded and
placed neatly on a shelf out of the way. 


"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up" (Eccl. 4:9,10 NKJV).



pictures courtesy of morguefile.com


Tuesday, July 8, 2014

God Notes

We all love to receive mail, but in the day of email, text and facebook messages, a letter or a note rarely shows up in our mailboxes.

Today I sent a card to a dear friend to encourage her. 

In my note I shared Scripture verses I thought would help her, God's Words -- not my own even though the words were displayed in my handwriting.

God sends us notes of encouragement, we need only look in His Book to find them.

Here are a few God Notes for today:

  • "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you" (Deut. 31:6 NASB).
  • "Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you" (I Peter 5:7 NASB).
  • "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psa. 46:1 NASB).

Hide these God notes in your heart  . . . 

better yet, share them in a letter. 


We could all use a note from God!





photos courtesy of www.morguefile.com

Saturday, July 5, 2014

A Cry From My Heart

To everyone else it's a pretty church on a hill overlooking the quaint main street of Highlands, NC, but not to me. To me it's where my Heavenly Father answered the cry from my heart and said "Yes. Yes, you can come back home."

First Presbyterian Church, Highlands, NC
I was a prodigal daughter and was tired of wallowing in the muck of the world and running from bad choices that I didn't want to define me or my future.

Have you walked away from the Lord?

Do you want to come home?

Do you want to see your Heavenly Father waiting with out-stretched arms to welcome you back?

It's NEVER too late and He is faithful to forgive.

As I poured out my words of confession and sorrow to Him it was as if he took His finger, placed it under my tear-stained chin, and lifted my head towards His extravagant love. He washed me clean, infused me with joy, and enveloped me with peace. From that moment on I've never been the same.

He will do the same for you.

Don't stay away if your heart yearns to be back home. Open the eyes of your heart and look . . . He's right there with you, waiting to be the lifter of your head. He met me at the top of a mountain in an old Presbyterian Church, but He will meet you where ever you are at the moment.

Call out to Him today then join me in declaring,

". . . He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God" (Psa. 40:1-3).

Yes. You can always go home . . .

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

A Bird's Life


Some days don't go according to my plans. It's like walking into a beautiful summer day, but then by afternoon a thunderstorm comes through and I end up soaked and miserable. (And yes, my umbrella is always in the car, not with me.)




Sometimes my day is so difficult I just have to tuck my head down and push through.



Then there are the days when I feel like I'm watching everyone else enjoy their lives while I deal with all my hardships. Carrying what I feel is the weight of the world on my shoulders keeps me from soaring and enjoying life.



But as I stand on my feeble legs my heart reminds me of the words I hid there long ago . . .

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they" (Matt. 6:26 NASB).


God cares for the birds of the air, but He cares more for me. I need to remember I was made in His likeness and He delights in me.

He delights in you too!

We must not worry about tomorrow, for if He cares for the birds of the field and we are worth more, He will take care of us.







photos courtesy of www.morguefile.com



Monday, June 30, 2014

Not a Leisurely Bath



Perfume sales in the US reach well into the billions. Matter of fact only 17% of American women don't wear perfume. But perfume isn't something new. In Song of Solomon 3:6 we read “Who is this that cometh out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense . . .” The bride in this verse smells like frankincense and myrrh. Myrrh was the same ointment that Esther was bathed in, but it was not a leisurely bath. For you see, the oils were SCRUBBED into her skin so intense that it became a part of her skin. In this way, the fragrance would not last for only a few hours, like our perfumes, but Esther WAS the fragrance.



Myrrh had many uses in Bible times and has many spiritual uses for us today:
  • Myrrh was an ointment to prepare a body for burial. We should be willing to die to self. 
  • It was used as anointing oil for the priestly robes.  It's time we realize we're kings and priest and need to step into our robes of authority to help bring change in our homes, schools, jobs, and churches. 
  • It was also an alluring fragrance that attracted the bridegroom. In Scripture we can find where the Bridegroom actually sought out the fragrance of myrrh before he entered the bedchamber. Our bridegroom, Christ, is seeking the scent of myrrh within us.



I am one of the 83% who enjoys wearing perfume, but my fragrance fades. I need to ask myself if I would be willing to take a bath and scrub my skin with an ointment until I BECOME the fragrance. We all need to be willing to take a not so leisurely bath and be scrubbed with myrrh so we will in turn die to self, fulfill our destiny, and welcome the Bridegroom.

Now, where's my towel? . . .





Photos courtesy of www.morguefile.com



Friday, June 27, 2014

Road to Encouragement



"After these things Jesus was walking in Galilee" (John 7:1 NASB).

While Jesus was on this earth He walked along dirt streets, garden paths, and cobblestone roads. As He walked from town to town He ministered, taught, and encouraged others.

Cobblestone Road . . . 
Building a road to encouragement one stone at a time.

Join me for short words of encouragement as we walk down the road of life together.

~ Beth