This is it!

Hey All ~

Its not like their assistants could just pick up the phone and call the travel agent to book their trip. In fact they didn’t even have the convenience of a phone or an airport. They only possessed a hunch…and lots of power to act upon it. They gathered their resources and made the arrangements; all the while looking up each night to make sure that star was not some crazy figment of their imagination.

The hired guides mapped out the safest route. Moving high profile men through the desert with minimal protection proved to be no small feat. This gig could be the big brake these escorts have been looking for! Imagine the business they’d pick up if all went well…then again, one little misstep and they wouldn’t have to worry their little turban heads about where their next job would come from. They probably won’t even have a head to worry about! The royal chefs and bakers whipped up some of their respective king’s favorite comfort foods. The members of the entourage kissed their loved ones good- bye as the date for departure arrived. And the gift…yeah, the gift…what to bring the newborn king? Each wise man secured the exquisite gift they chose and delivered it to the hands of their most trusted servant.

After days of grueling journey, they found themselves in the outskirts of a humble village. The night sky seemed black as midnight with the exception of a single starry diamond illuminating planet earth. Tonight felt different. Maybe this would be the day all of their effort and sacrifice would be worth it. Perhaps this would be the night they could find the king they had come so far to honor. Suddenly the head guide shouted, “Hold up everyone.” The command passed back through the group and the camels slowed, circling the area. “This is it! ”

The Wise men looked around and then glanced at each other with a raised eyebrow and repeated, “This is it? This? Are you certain?” One could almost hear the dust mites in their snug dirt huts as everyone held their breath for the confirmation. The guides hopped off their beasts, spread out the map holding the torch close enough to see. Instinctively the head guide looked up to the heavenly marker as the rest of the group followed suit. “Yep. No mistake folks. This is it!”

This…is it? This is the chosen destination?

The countless hours, the manpower and the risk lead us to “this”? I honestly don’t know what the Wise men expected, but I think it’s pretty safe to say they didn’t exactly expect “this”. Were they expecting to be greeted and courted to a fine feast and luxurious accommodations? After all they had sacrificed to make the journey, it hardly seems an unreasonable wish. While we don’t know all that happened, we do know they didn’t let the “this” in their life stop them from giving their very best. We know they didn’t turn around in a huff and go home. We know they found the Christ Child and offered their very best; gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Can you relate? You’ve had times you’ve given and sacrificed. And although you don’t really say it out loud, deep in your heart you wish God had something better up his sleeve for you; a better role, a more exciting task, a greater influence, a prettier spot, a better salary, a happier marriage or even just a husband! But you find yourself with wrinkled forehead as you ask, “This is it?”

May the example of the Wise men encourage us not to hold back our best when our “this” is not what we expected. What I love about this thought is that the Wise men understood the gift for Jesus would mean the same to Him in “this” spot as in the one they had imagined. So it is with us. Don’t hold back for a better day or a better “this”. Give Him your all in “this” place today!

Merry Christmas everyone! As you give and receive gifts this year, let them each be a humble token of the greatest gift ever given.

Hope & Glory to You!

Rebecca

I want to be one of those...

Howdy All ~

I've been dealing with a wart this week. Yuk. I know. Not the skin kind; the worry kind. I'm ashamed to admit that. You'd think after all I know about God and all I know about His word, I wouldn't get caught up in it anymore...but I did this week, even messing up my sleep. Generally all I have to do is get near my pillow and I'm out! But not this week. Why? I was trying to solve all my concerns by myself without factoring in my God who loves me and has sufficient grace to supply my need.

One of my issues has been the barrage of bad news about some dear people around me; people who know God but choosing to walk away ...breaks my heart. But even in the midst of disappointment, God will always have His remnant. Like a bright splash of color in a dull black & white picture, I heard the following true story recently.

An ice cream shop up North provided a great local hangout for kids wanting something fun to do without getting in trouble. The only problem was this shop, along with many other local businesses, took a huge economic hit with the financial down turn. The owner struggled as long as he could but finally announced he just couldn't make it anymore. He'd have to close up shop.

A local youth group heard about this man's dilemma and came up with a plan to help. They agreed to work for the man without pay to help ease his financial burden until he could get back on his feet. A local business man, Inspired by the young people's example and kindness, wanted to join in the blessing. He sent a check to pay for a month's rent. Together, this community pulled the shop through the lean months and the man managed to get his head above water and keep his business afloat! What a great story, eh?

I encourage you this week to remember even in the midst of a wacko world, God has His remnant of people who will still do right, who will still sacrifice their own comfort for the well being of another, who will still love the Lord with all their heart, all their soul and all their mind!

I want to be one of those, don't you? :)

Hope & Glory! To You ~ Love

Rebecca

PS ~ Love on someone today :) You never know what it may mean to them!

Courage

Song of Solomon 7:10

Hello Everyone ~

Several weeks ago a special speaker challenged a group of women with a statement I haven’t been able to forget. He said, “I pray God will grant you the courage to believe every single thing God says about you...(My heart cringed a little because I knew I needed the guts to take a good hard look at my heart and remove or add whatever didn’t match His words) - but then he continued, “…no matter how good it is”. What? Believe every single thing God says about me, no matter how good it is? Wow, I hadn’t thought of that before. I suppose believing the good things merits equal importance to believing the corrective words, right? So what exactly does God say about you & me? Here are just a few:

Zephaniah 3:17~ “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Ever sang over someone or to someone? Can you just picture God singing over you? Wonder what it sounds like!

Jeremiah 31:3 ~ “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee.” Wish you felt worthy to be PURSED by someone important? The God of the universe loves you and wants you...that’s why He Draws you...don’t resist Him!

Isaiah 54:17 ~ “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue [that] shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This [is] the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness [is] of me, saith the LORD.” Vulnerable & Alone? No! Your heritage, as a servant of God, is not destruction...no matter how it may look

Isaiah 49:15 &16 ~ “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me.” If you have no paper (or I-phone!) where you do write down something important? On the palm of your hand! You are engraved on God’s!
Your family may forget you, but God will NOT!

Psalm 138:8 ~ “The LORD will perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] forever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Perfection takes time and commitment. God will not leave you 1/2 done or unfinished! He is committed to you till the end.

Romans 8:26 ~ “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” When was the last time someone groaned out intercession on your behalf? Did you realize the Spirit does this for you?

Song of Solomon 7:10 ~ “I am beloved’s and his desire is toward me.” ‘ nough said!

May God give us the courage to believe every single thing He says about us...no matter how good it is.

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love Rebecca

It’s So…Daily

II Corinthians 12:9

Hello All ~
Life is so...daily, isn’t it? I mean, just about the time you get all the laundry done, it’s time to mop the floor. When the floor is done the bushes need trimming. After the bushes are done, you discover there’s no food in the house so it’s a trip to the grocery store. (Why do I hate the grocery store so much? Anybody else?) You get the groceries put away just in time to iron that shirt. Then before you know it, the laundry basket is full again! And that’s just an example of homecare duties; it says nothing to all the other “hats” we wear.
Those burdens all sounds so trivial compared to the recent conversation I had with one of my dearest friends in world. She’s facing surgery, intense radiation and six weeks of chemotherapy. She will undoubtedly loose all her hair...again. Yes, she’s been through this before. But my friend has decided to depend on God. She’s been focused on a principle Corrie Ten Boom learned when she was a little girl.

As Corrie prepared to take a train ride with her father, she worried daily about not having her ticket in her possession. She nearly pestered her father to death. Finally, her dad had had enough. He sat her down and explained, “Corrie, stop fretting. I’ve got it covered. When you get ready to board the train, I will give you your ticket. I promise. You don’t need it till then.”

Sometimes, like Corrie, we get twanged out because we don’t have enough strength or resources for the future obstacles in our lives. (guilty)We can’t possibly see how we can make it through the week or the months ahead. But my friend reminded me that just as Corrie’s father would give her the train ticket at the essential moment, God would deliver the ticket of grace to her exactly when she needs it...and not one minute before.

So whether you’re conquering a full laundry basket, dealing with a difficult relationship, or loosing your hair, His ticket of grace is so... daily. Wait for it. He will not fail. He promised, “My grace is sufficient for you…” II Corinthians 12:9
Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love
Rebecca

Help! I"ve Fallen and I Can't Get Up!

Psalm 23

Howdy~
Remember that commercial! I guarantee you the group who came up with that little phrase had no idea that years later people would still be referring to it! For all you youngins out there – that commercial advertised a panic button for the elderly who lived alone. It was a low budget commercial of an elderly person sprawled on the floor with their walker tipped over and out of reach. But lucky for them they had the all-important panic device hanging around their neck. They would simply just speak into it the famous line, “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” Assistance was on the way in a jiffy! Actually, I think it was a wonderful invention. I hope it’s still around when I’m elderly...
Ever wish you could have one of those now; maybe not for feeling physically helpless, but maybe emotionally or mentally or even spiritually? You know sometimes...a lot of times... we (I) feel cast down. The term “cast down” is used for sheep when they have fallen and somehow end up on their backs. Their stomachs become hard, their circulation is cut off and their windpipe closes up...and if no one comes – they die. They truly are helpless. BUT if they have a good shepherd, he will come and tenderly massage their legs and stomach till the sheep is able to be placed up right again.

Great news! We have a Good Shepherd who tenderly cares for you and me. I love Psalm 23. “The LORD is my Shepherd...he makes me...lie down in green pastures...restores my soul...leads me beside still water...leads me in paths of righteousness... Corrie Ten Boom said, “Never be afraid to trust a future you don’t know to a God you do know!” Well...I needed that today ~

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love
Rebecca

Puppy Love

Puppy Love

Zephaniah 3:17

I actually wrote this a while back, but I needed the reminder...thought maybe you could use one too!

Good Morning All ~

We got a new puppy last week. You know – a new one as opposed to an old one. It’s been almost a year since we lost Buddy the Wonder Dog, our crazy fun-loving black lab. So it was time, we thought. Our new pup is a chocolate lab named Herschel Walker – (If you understand Georgia football you’ll understand the name) Since I’m home the most; I take care of him the most. I’ve had to get up with him all hours of the night, play with him, and clean up his messes – gross! That first week I was ready to sell him for free! He was all consuming. I was wasting my valuable time on this pooch. Ronnie tried to appease me and compare it to him taking care of his son, Chandler. I stopped him right there. I said, “Uh… no. A child has eternal value, but a dog?” That was not the way to make me feel better.

As aggravated as I’ve been with the pup, I can’t help but be a little attached to him. He thinks I’m amazing. Every time he sees me he wags his tail and his whole body wiggles. He’s convinced my whole purpose in life is to take care of him. Right now I’m beginning to wonder if he’s right…not exactly what I thought I’d be when I grew up. But when I walk by his kennel, I catch myself stopping to watch him as he sleeps. As much as I hate to admit it, he is a darling little thing.

The other day he was outside and he thought he was alone. He was whimpering that - I can’t believe you left me- whimper. He had no idea I was watching him to make sure he was o.k. I saw everything he did. My heart wanted to go out and comfort him, but wisdom said I needed to finish what I was doing first. My strong sense to protect and comfort him took me by surprise. Bottom line - I love the little chocolate thing. I keep telling myself, but he’s just A DOG!!!

If I love Herschel this much, I couldn’t help but wonder how much more our Father in Heaven loves us. He knows our every move. He understands our every whimper. He cares for us in ways we’ll never even comprehend. Even now, He’s looking down on you with tenderness and delight. He is El Roi – the God who sees. If He cares for the sparrows, how much more He cares for you! Read Matthew 6 and Zephaniah 3:17 and believe it!

Hope & Glory! to You ~ Love

Rebecca