This weekend I a got a thank you note from a friend and she had written at the bottom several verses from Psalm 136. I looked the verses up and was gripped by the message of this Psalm. It is a long list of things the LORD had done for the Israelite nation.  They would have sung it as a hymn of thanksgiving to the LORD. After each line of thanks the reader is reminded that “His steadfast love endures forever.” This is a powerful reminder that God is motivated by his great love for us.   Unlike earthly love, God’s love is eternal and boundless and because God is immutable he will not change his mind about loving us.  That is an assurance we can count on for eternity.

I pray that the words of the psalmist will encourage you and broaden the scope of your thanks, especially during this season of Thanksgiving. They are words that cross time and are as meaningful today as they were when King David penned them.

Psalm 136      verses 1-9 and 23-26
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.
To him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever.
to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever.
the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever.
the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever.

It is he who remembers us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever.
and rescues us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever.
he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.  (NIV)

Read this Psalm out loud and let the words sink into your soul.  God is indeed good and his steadfast love never ends.  Praise Him!

Blessings,

Linda

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Here are some pictures of the beaches and cemetery at Normandy.  This was place of great sacrifice during World War II.  Thank you to each Veteran on this Veteran’s Day for your service and the sacrifice of all those who have died to preserve our freedoms.  I am most grateful.

In John 15:13 Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends”. (NIV)  These brave men and women paid the ultimate price and they did not even know me.  I am humbled by their patriotism and sacrifice on my behalf.

On my recent trip to France, Northern Spain and Portugal, I visited the small village of Fatima, Portugal.  This out of the way place was not even on my religious radar as I was unfamiliar with the visions that occurred there.  In the early 1900’s the Virgin Mary appeared to 3 young children and gave them prophetic messages to share with the world about World War II and beyond.  Two of the messages have already come to pass and the last deals with things still future to us.  The children were illiterate yet spoke about things that they could not have known .  In addition to the messages, the children were told to pray for the future.  Two of the children died several years later,  but Lucia lived to become a nun.  The Virgin Mary appeared to her many times throughout her life.  Prayer for the future and the lost were the central themes.

How diligent are you to pray for the events of the future?   Jesus instructed us to pray in Matthew 6:10 “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” and in 6:13 “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’   I am to pray for the things of earth to align with God’s will and purpose.  I know He has a  purpose for me and  desires that my life align with his will.  Through prayer the Holy Spirit can minister to our hearts and attitudes so that we can recognize those things that God wants for us in our lives. As we praise God, confess our sins, and thank Him for the blessings that are evident in our lives, we allow God to mold and reshape our thinking and create in us a ‘clean heart’.  Psalm 139:23-24 gives us a clue as to the process that God uses to mold our hearts. Search me, O God , and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  Are you willing to have God mold your heart in prayer?

Satan is alive and well on planet Earth and will be until the Lord returns, so we also need to pray for protection from the evil one.  God is greater than Satan and is more powerful than anything Satan can throw our way.  We just need to be prepared and pray.  God promises us  battle armor in Ephesians 6: 14-18 so that we can stand firm against Satan’s attacks.  Are you wearing the helmet of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, carrying the sword of truth- God’s word, and praying in the Spirit?  God wants us prepared for the spiritual battles that come our way.  So, suit up and do as 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 suggests.  Be joyful always;  pray continually;   give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  (NIV) Then you will be ready and prepared for the future, regardless of what lies in your life’s pathway.

The children also heard a plea for prayers for the lost- those that do not know Jesus as their savior.  Jesus tells us in John 14:6  “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to me by which we must be saved.”  Pray for open hearts of those you love, that they may hear and believe.  Lucia’s first message from The Lady of Fatima was a vision of hell.  Not a pretty site and not one you would want anyone to experience.  Separation from God would be a horrible fate.  The Lady told her to pray for those that do not know Jesus to come to a saving faith.  Isn’t that our prayer for the lost too?

I am comforted and encouraged that  our brothers and sisters in Christ are praying continually at Fatima.  They pray and process each evening with their eyes and hearts on the future so that we can be in alignment with God’s will and for those that do not know Christ to come to faith.

Blessings as you pray,

Linda

 

Pictured below is the magnificent Cathedral in Santiago de la Compostela which is at the end of “The Way of Saint James”.   It is currently under restoration but still stands commandingly over the city of Santiago in northern Spain. Since medieval times pilgrims have been making their way to this church to worship.  This cathedral is the resting place of the bones of James, the brother of Jesus, and the writer of the New Testament book of James.  He was an early Christian leader that led the church in Jerusalem.  History has it that he came to Spain and preached the gospel, and then returned to Jerusalem where he was martyred.  His body was said to have been taken by boat back to Spain and his bones later discovered in Santiago.  Pilgrims or Pelegrinos  walk, bike or ride on horseback along The Way towards Santiago from France, and Portugal.

What is it that causes someone to want to journey with nothing but what they can carry on their backs for hundreds and hundreds of miles?   From what I have read and those I’ve talked to the reasons vary.  Some walk for religious reasons, personal reflection, the physical challenge, the companionship, etc.  One pelegrino I talked to in Burgos said, “It is amazing to discover how much you really do not need each day.  It is a welcome relief to step away from all our technology, busyness, jobs and commitments.  You can take time to focus on internal thinking, light, air, steps, communication and the landscape surrounding you.”  Since you do not know how far you will walk in a day, each night you need to find accommodations in an alberque- or a hostel for pilgrims.   A good deal of trust in God is required as you set out with only the final destination determined and each day open to experience.

Psalm 84:5 says “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.”   I used this verse earlier in the year when I made my way to Jerusalem, but it also fits here.  There is much to be gained by going on a pilgrimage.  This time I went on a tour and visited the “high” points, yet I do hope to walk part of The Way of Saint James myself in the future.

The cathedral is amazingly beautiful and takes your breath away.  The incense burner is swung now at selected masses but in medieval times it was swung daily.   The pilgrims were a smelly and sweaty lot that came and filled the sanctuary.  The swinging of the incense burner is vividly seen in the movie “The Way” by Martin Sheen and Emilio Esteves.  It is a touching movie that they made in honor of their ancestors that had come from that region of Spain and gives a good portrayal of walking The Way.

In Santiago,the beauty of the altar reminds me that as rich as it seems it is nothing to compare with what awaits us in the presence of God.  Ezekiel’s shares his vision of God and his glory in Ezekiel 1:26-28a, “Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like a glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.  Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.  This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.    John also had a vision of the throne room of God in Revelation 4:2-3 “At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.  And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.  A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.”  In both visions the writers were trying to describe godly things and places with earthly words and images.  Our finite minds cannot truly conceive that which we will one day experience in the presence of Almighty God.  I love visiting beautiful cathedrals for as magnificent as they seem they only give me a mere glimpse of what I will see in heaven.

When I was in the cathedral late on a Sunday evening, I witnessed a group of teenagers getting their picture taken before the altar.  They had finished walking The Way, had their certificates and were filled with joy.  They broke into song and the music of their joy was a sweet incense to the Lord and a testament to their perseverance and trust in God as they completed their journey.  (Some of them are pictured in the last photo.)

Where are you journeying with God?  Do you consider each day a journey with God or is he just something to be considered on Sundays?  Walking with God requires faith and trust, hard as that seems, it is the surest way to get where we are going.  The end of our journey is heaven and eternity with God.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own  understanding;    In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”      Proverbs 3:5-6

Blessings,

Linda

 

 

 

I have been home from Europe for several days, and I am still reeling with images speeding through my mind.  There was so much to take in on this trip to holy sights in France, Spain and Portugal that I am struggling to process it.  I want to try to make sense of a few of the highlights for you and help you to catch a glimpse of how God is at work all over the world.

After seeing amazing churches in Paris- Norte Dame, Sac Le Coeur, and Saint Chappelle, we were off to Lourdes.  Since I am not Catholic and did not have previous teaching about the miracles that occurred at Lourdes, I did some reading before I went.  It seemed when I got there all I had read disappeared from my brain so it is a good thing we had knowledgeable guides to refill us.  A young girl, named Bernadette, was gathering wood in a nearby grotto when an angel appeared to her.  She later learned that the apparition was the Virgin Mary and that she had a message for her and the world.  She was instructed in one visit to dig in the dirt, wash and drink the water that came out.  Then she was told that a chapel should be built there and that people should process in prayer.  Since 1858 when the virgin appeared to Bernadette, a small church was built near the site and now there is large church and a large underground basilica.  A clear cool spring is coming out of the place where Bernadette dug and each year there are thousands upon thousands of visitors.  Many healing miracles have been attributed to the waters of Lourdes and people come from all over the world to drink and bathe in the crystal clear spring waters.

I was able to drink the water from a plastic water bottle I brought with me.  I just stepped up to the spring water and filled up my bottle. There was no miraculous healing when I drank but I can still feel the water as it went down my throat and the cooling sensation it brought to my body.  It is just a symbol of the true ‘living water’ that Jesus gives and speaks of in John 4:13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life”. 

Many services are held each day and the grotto is open 24 hours a day.  The sick are brought to the baths by volunteers and given first priority each day for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.  Each evening there is a rosary service in front of the above ground church and each section of the rosary is given in a different language.  Each section is proceeded by a plea to those present to pray- for mothers, children, families, the world condition and the lost.  After the service is concluded the priest leads the procession with lighted candles around a large oval area in front of the church.  It is about a half mile procession in silence by candlelight.  I found this extremely moving and unifying as all the participants were praying.  The unity of spirit was incredibly powerful and I truly felt the Holy Spirit’s presence.

As I reflect upon this powerful experience, several scriptures on prayer come to mind.  Ephesians 6:18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”  James 5:16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”  Each night they gather in Lourdes to pray and process in prayer.  I find it incredibly comforting to know that each night our brothers and sisters gather in prayer.  The collective prayers of Christians throughout the world are powerful and a reminder of our unity in Christ.

We are told in Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”   Are you coming to God in prayer believing that He will show you mercy and help?

Remember, they are praying tonight in Lourdes.  Won’t you join the community of believers and pray with confidence to our faithful heavenly Father trusting Him with your problems and concerns?

With heartfelt prayers for – mothers, children, family, the world and those that do not know Jesus,

Linda

The last several weeks my mind has been occupied with working on my new book about God’s promises.  It seems all my ideas had drained away while I focused on this new work.  I gave myself a swift kick this morning and prayed for some new ideas.  Actually, what came to mind was something that had been brewing or stewing in my mind since last Thursday.  That was the anniversary of 9/11 and I have been thinking about how I needed to remember that day and our loss as a nation.  Often times God instructed the children of Israel to ‘remember’ what God had done for them.  By remembering God’s goodness, provision and miraculous events, they could refocus on who God is and why they needed to rely upon him.

As we remember 9/11 and the events of that day- I remember the incredible loss but also the incredible courage that was offered and given for others.  God allowed those events to happen, so we need to process the good that came out of those events.  That does not diminish the sorrow we feel, but gives us hope.  God promises in Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  We do not know God’s plan and do not understand the whys, but we need to trust in our benevolent and good God.  He says in Psalm 34:8 “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.  Lamentations 3:25 “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.” 

The good I recall from 9/11 was the great unity as a nation to stand together against evil.  Our renewed focus on prayer, praying for those in need, and calling upon God to be with us. Many stories came out of those days for rescues, heroes, heroines,and sacrifices that reveal the true character of Americans.  We as a people love and cherish life and uphold each other with dignity.  Patriotism, love of country and the freedoms we hold so dear, the sanctity of life and value we put upon each life make me proud to be an American. So it is good to remember and know how strong we are, and yet how we need to depend upon God for guidance and direction.  He promises in Deuteronomy 31:6 ” Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (NIV)

Cling to God in times of trouble, lean upon him for deliverance, guidance and direction each and every day.  He is the Almighty God and you will not be disappointed.  Isaiah 49:23b “Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

Have a blessed week.

Linda

I was up and driving towards Walnut Creek very early yesterday morning.  As I gazed towards Mt Diablo, it was beautiful in the morning light set against a cloudless sky.  By contrast to the right of the freeway, the clouds of low fog hung on the coast hills.  I was struck by what a beautiful area we live in and how often we take the beauty around us for granted.   I struggle with those who would say, “How do you know God exists?”  His very creation speaks to his grandeur and the perfection of his designs.   Romans 1:30 says, ” For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”  

As summer draws to a close, I thought it would be good to think about all the wonders we have seen this spring and summer.  You have been experiencing God’s creation all around you as you are out with the kids at soccer or swim practice, camping or walking on the beach.  You may not have traveled away from your home but you may have seen a smile on your child’s face, looked at your flower or vegetable gardens or walked your neighborhood with your dog.  Being thankful and praising God for his creation is to be part our worship and shows our appreciation for all he has given us.

As summer ends, let’s take some time to reflect on God’s greatness and what He has given us in his creation.  What wonders did you see or experience this summer?  Just click to add a comment, and put in the name of the place where you were touched by God’s greatness.  I’ll go first, since this was my idea!!  Besides Mt Diablo this morning, I went to Point Reyes for the first time this summer.  I was awestruck by the expanse of beach that stretched out below the cliff and seemed untouched by the world.  It was beautiful.  On the home front, I was delighted by the smiles on my grandson, Riley’s, face when he made $14 at his lemonade stand last week’s garage!  Both scenes caused me to gasp and thank God for his creation and his created ones.

I love hearing from you, my readers, and I am so encouraged by your comments.   If you have not clicked to follow my blog regularly, I would encourage you to do so.  You simply click and put in your email address, and then any blogs I publish will be sent directly to your email.   It does not cost anything and is simply a convenience to you so you won’t miss any of my blogs!

Blessings,

Linda

Well, this summer I promised myself that I would have a garage sale to clear out all the build up of “things” that I I never seem to use.  I do this periodically and it feels really good, besides I always wonder where did all that ‘stuff’ come from?  To get ready for a garage sale, you have to go through the closets and drawers in the house to see if there are things you are storing that are no longer being used,  This takes time, thought and a great deal of effort.  My daughter and I are doing this now as we made some changes in the house that required moving furniture, cleaning and waxing floors, vacuuming the walls and sorting through our possessions.  Even though this is a lot of work, I am greatly rewarded when I look at what has been accomplished and how clean things look.  I am reminded of 1Corinthinans 14:33 that says, “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace”.  There is a peace that comes from ridding yourself of chaos and reestablishing order in your things and in your life.

How do we do this spiritually?  To reorder, prioritize and reestablish godly calm, we need to turn to God in prayer and repent.  “Clean house” so to speak of those things that are getting in your way of standing firm with the Lord and seeking Him each day. Acts 3:19 says,”Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord”.  King David wrote in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (NIV)  God promises renewing, cleansing and refreshing if we will turn to him.  God knows we need to do this often to keep order and closeness in our walk with him.  He knows that this will lead to peace.  My question is, why do we fight this so much?  Just like my house cleaning, polishing and organizing, it takes work to keep walking with the Lord day by day.  The work on our part is having faith and intent to be with God and have his focus during our day, but He is the one that accomplished this for us through His spirit. I know there will be Big blessings for me if I can keep my heart and mind focused on Him. Isaiah 26: 3-4 puts it this way, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal. (NIV)

I pray that you will be able to spend some time cleaning both physically and spiritually as our summer comes to a close.  May God bring order and peace to your life today.

Blessings,
Linda

P.S. Our garage sale is today and, though I am exhausted, there is a sense of peace and accomplishment.

Day Camp is in full swing this week at church. This year we are lighting candles as we share our God Sightings.  Our theme for Day Camp is Spelunking as we are lighting our lives with the light Jesus gives.  May He light your way today and may you have many God Sightings!

In the ‘old days’ Day Camp was called Vacation Bible School or VBS for short.  Kids and adults gathered to learn about Jesus each morning, share fun experiences, bond with their leaders and learn some rousing songs.  It is always a fun time that is a spiritual high for the summer.  During the gathering time each day, our directors would ask us if we had had any “God sightings”.  Now this was a new term to me, and it meant had we seen God at work in any area of our lives that morning or during the previous day.  I think what they wanted each of us to realize it that God is always with us and watching out for us. Being loved and valued by our creator is a powerful thing as it gives us value and worth.  Why do we struggle so much with self-esteem?  Many have not yet discovered their worth in God’s eyes.

Back to God sightings, when was the last time you had a God sighting?  This could be as small as a soft kind word, a helping hand, a smile from child or God’s provision of housing, a car, a loved one being healed or a friend coming to know Jesus as savior.  The more I read and study God’s word, I am convinced that there are no coincidences with God.  He is intentional and brings things into our lives to bless us and remind us of his presence.  When I have a near miss in traffic, when I get an unexpected check in the mail, when a friend thanks me for something I’ve done, when God gives me ideas for this blog, those are God’s reminders to me that He loves me and is watching over me.

I pray that today God will open your eyes to see Him in a  new way and that you will be blessed with some God sightings!  I would love for you to share your sightings with me.

Blessings,

Linda

This is the season of vacations and as a rule we try to do something that will give us rest.  But what is rest to you?  – being in someplace new and different, being with friends and family, being alone in nature, reading a book, watching a movie, listening to your favorite music, taking time to work on a hobby, taking a drive……  The list is endless as we are all different and find rest in many ways.  However, there is one pure form of rest and that is in God.  Psalm 62 says, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”   Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your soul.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (NIV)

Do you know what it is to rest in God?  This morning the pastor had us sit quiet for 1 minute.  It seemed like a long time yet was so very short.  During that minute a peace and calm came to rest upon each person as the busyness and noise of life was eliminated.  Do you take time regularly to be quiet before God?  Do you seek to listen to Him and have him give you His rest and peace.   Why not try to put a little of God’s rest and quiet into your life this week- start with just a minute and see if you can increase your time of silence and listening before God by week’s end.  Resting in God takes practice and seems so foreign to us- but give it a try this week and let me know your results.

Blessings as you Rest in the Lord.

Linda