The Greatest Love Letter I've Ever Written

This is a longer read than usual but I hope you will read it to the end..... Over the course of several months I have posted about leaning on Jesus ~ about letting Him be our confidante ~ about making Him our closest friend ~ about allowing Him to be the one we go to when we are down and in trouble. It is part of His plan ~ and, frankly, I've found out over and over again that humans simply aren't wired to handle His "friend job description."

Humans fall short ~ and it simply is not their fault. We are not strong enough to carry the weight of someone else. We are not capable of being the perfect friend. We are not able to be "there" at all times for anyone. We just aren't. And when we attempt to put an individual into any of those positions it never works. We get hurt ~ they get hurt ~ and it could all have been spared if we had just followed the perfect path. There is not a friend like the lowly Jesus ~ no not one ~ and never will there be ~ ever.

Earthly friends are a great treasure to have ~ and I enjoy having them. Folk, who know me personally, know that I love to be with people. I'm one of those folk that might strike up a conversation with you in the grocery store ~ though I don't even know you. I tend to be of a friendly sort. But the dear Lord knows I've have at times placed too much emphasis on friends in this life. I reckon that is why I post about it so often. I, very well, recognize the importance of not elevating friends to a position that they should never be elevated to. You've heard the old saying ~ "Don't put me on a pedestal because I will eventually fall off." I've learned that it is an injustice to that individual to put them on the pedestal to begin with. They cannot fulfil God's job description as the perfect friend.

For the past few months I have been weary about something ~ and it is a pretty big something ~ I won't deny it. And just maybe it is my cross to bear in this life ~ my thorn in the flesh that I must be content with for my remainder here on earth. Yet with it being a rather "big something" to deal with I have confided in some family and friends about it all. But I've come to the conclusion that no matter how much I talk about it ~ it really doesn't make me feel any better ~ nor does it make the situation better. Actually I think it makes me feel worse and it makes the situation worse as well.

I figure the folk are praying for me once I talk with them and I certainly don't minimize the profit of that. But I reckon I could have gotten them to pray for me if I had just told them I had a serious unspoken that I needed them to take to the feet of Jesus. Please don't misunderstand me. I don't believe that it is wrong to have close friends that we can confide in and lay our head on their shoulder in the darkest of times and just sit and pray and know that they are there for us. That is the making of a wonderful earthly friendship. That is a true friend. But it becomes of much less affect and can only bring pain when we replace God with them. It is a fine line ~ is it not? And sometimes a hard one to discern.

This week I really got to thinking about my "friendship" with God ~ and how I need to be treating Him like my closest friend. So three days ago I began a love letter. I've started more prayer journals than I can count ~ so I knew this had to be different if I was going to stick with it. I simply began a new folder in my word processor ~ and each time I have felt lonely and gloomy, each time I have wanted to lay my head on His shoulder and have a good cry, each time I wanted to feel the love and warmth of His arms around me ~ I have taken out my laptop and begun to write a letter to Him. As I pray I type it. And guess what? It works. It really works. And if I'm interrupted ~ I don't lose my place. :)

I will sit at that keyboard and pray and cry and type and pray and cry and type some more. Oh what a friend He is ~ like no other ~ no not one. I cannot see His face or hear His voice but I know that He is there. I cannot tangibly feel Him holding me close as He tells me everything will be alright but I know He is there.

O, 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 you written God a love letter lately? It's a great experience.

Don't Abandon Your Friends In A Time Of Need

In the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to draw very close to a friend of mine who is in need. At times in our lives we will hit a low spot. For this friend, she is in the greatest struggle of her life. The horrendous effects of pornography has ravaged her home. satan is doing that a lot these days ~ picking off Christians one by one ~ and his goal is to leave no survivors. This family has been no exception. What I've been reminded of is just how important it is to be there for people who need us.

We live in a fast paced world ~ it is so easy to be caught up in our own lives. And ~ unfortunately ~ some folk don't want to get involved. I've even seen others abandon a friend in their hour of need. I know I've had that experience myself. And it hurts like the dickens. God calls us to love one another no matter what. Jesus says in John 15; 12-13 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Christ has commanded us to love others as He loves us. And let me tell you ~ that is a a very great love to imitate. So reach out to those you know are in need ~ a phone call, a card, or even a visit ~ we can make a difference as we lay down our life for our friends.

My Sister Jo Carol

This picture reminds me so much of me and my youngest sister. We were, and still are, very close. Lately I've gotten to spend more time with her than usual and it has been such a delight. She is a wonderful sister and a true friend. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. This so applies to how Jo Carol and I have been there for each other all our lives - strongest as a pair ~ lifting each other up in prayer, in word and in deed. I don't know what I would do without her. Thank you Lord for her.

Always Remember

I recently purchased a birthday card with the following inscription by Roy Lessin ~

When God made you

He did so with a purpose and a plan

He saw all your days

Before you lived one of them

And placed over you the

Covering of His protective love.

He has allowed nothing

To come into your life

That has not first been screened

Through His love

His hand has remained upon you

To this very day

He calls you by name

You are His beloved child

The apple of His eye

The delight of His heart

Today you are in

The exact place

He wants you to be

And tomorrow He will be with you

As He has always been

In goodness, in kindness

In faithfulness

What a comfort those words are. God has numbered the hairs on my head. He knows each step I have taken. He knew me before I was even formed. He's with me today and He will be with me tomorrow.

No Matter What

I am so glad that God’s mercy endures forever. Not just for today or tomorrow or next week ~ but forever. In Psalm 118 God tells us five different times that His mercy endures for all times. And that’s a promise that I find myself leaning on a whole lot in life. Were it not for His mercy we would all be doomed.

In God’s love and mercy He looked down upon a weak people in need of a Savior and gave us just that in the Lord Jesus Christ. In our King’s love and mercy He keeps forgiving us when we have sinned and then seek His face. In Jehovah’s love and mercy He holds us in the palm of our hand ~ watching over us ~ keeping us secure ~ as we stumble through this journey called "life" ~ as we make the feeblest of attempts to serve Him. In our Shepherd’s love and mercy He embraces us in our sin-torn lives ~ directing our footsteps ~ guiding us with His staff. Oh how I love Him. Oh how thankful I am that I am His. Oh how heart warming that no matter what comes His mercy for me endures forever.

The Crosswalk

This evening a friend sent me this series of pictures entitled "The Crosswalk." It is a wonderful story of how God is in complete control of our lives ~ and while we can't see the whole picture ~ thank God that He can!

The following inscription was at the bottom of the message ~

Whatever your cross,whatever your pain,
There will always be sunshine, after the rain
Perhaps you may stumble, perhaps even fall
But God's always ready, to answer your call
He knows every heartache, sees every tear
A word from His lips, can calm every fear
Your sorrows may linger, throughout the night
But suddenly vanish, by dawn's early light
The Savior is waiting, somewhere above
To give you His grace, and send you His love.

Author ~ Unknown

Precious Sarah Meets Her Prince

This is somewhat of a long read but I think it will be worth your time. I am the director of a local home school group here in Kentucky. Recently I was given the opportunity to share how courtship has played a positive role in the lives of my family. Below is the presentation:

When my oldest daughter, Sarah, was very young (between the age of 7 - 12) I was approached three times by moms who wanted to "arrange" a courtship between Sarah and their sons. I didn’t know a lot about that word "courtship" but I knew what they were talking about was not courtship - they were talking about "betrothing." I didn’t know a whole lot about either concept but I did know I didn’t like the sound of that. In July of 1997, my family attended the CHEK (Christian Home Educators of Kentucky) Conference in Louisville. It was during this particular conference that Sarah (at the ripe old age of 12) asked her father if he would attend the "Courtship Workshop" with her. Gordon and I had been trading off watching Ashley who was still in the toddler years. That afternoon when we got home Sarah told me "I want to do courtship and my first kiss will be at my wedding." Sarah was no ordinary 12 year old. Just as she was no ordinary 2 year old or 7 year old or 16 year old. Sarah always acted more responsible - more mature than children her age. So at the age of 12, a 14 or 15 year old was reasoning inside her heart and head. I clearly remember thinking "What in the world is courtship" and "Why does my daughter want to do such a strange thing - oh well, she’ll get over it." As each year passed, Sarah did not get over it. She began to guard what the author of a book (entitled "The Seven Royal Laws of Courtship") describes as her 'eye gates.' She was careful to not stare at a boy (check him out as we might call it) or catch his eyes with her own. I kept wondering how in the world she could go on like this. She even respectfully fussed at me if I said "Oh, isn’t that young man cute" with a response such as "Mom, you shouldn’t say that." As she began to literally grow - she was becoming very tall and beautiful - I began to like this idea very well (at first, not for the right reasons). I was beginning to become "territorial" about her because of her physical beauty, because of her meek and humble spirit. So I began to use this concept of courtship in my favor as a mother. My first baby was growing up and it was nice to know that she was not in any hurry to grow up the world’s way. In essence, I didn’t have to worry about her. She remained "dead serious" about this concept of courtship - of touching and kissing her true love for the first time at the marriage altar. In her teen years different young men became interested in her. Sometimes a mother would even call and ask for permission for her son to call Sarah. I was new at this. I didn’t know for sure what all was involved in this process that Sarah was walking through. So I would ask Sarah - "Do you want to start talking to this boy on the telephone?" She would be simply mortified. One day I remember driving one of the homeschool co-op teen boys to meet his mother. He and Sarah sat in the back seat with a sister in the middle. I didn’t think anything about it. We had come to love this boy. He was a good boy. Sarah was very good friends with him. He was friendly, easy to talk to, funny - they had a brother-sister kind of relationship. But he decided that he wanted to be more than just friends. Sharing that piece of information with Sarah scarred their friendship. It would never be the same again. She knew that it wasn’t time. It was too early. She had no idea if this guy was God’s pick but the timing was not right. They were too young. It was a sad time for all of us. We loved this guy like family. But we respected her wishes and allowed her to distance herself from him. She saw it as a dangerous situation. She was determined to wait for the Lord’s timing. I remember on two different occasions when young men put their hand on her shoulder and how uncomfortable she was about it - how she moved away in a determined yet unoffending manner. I was beginning to realize that what Sarah was "walking through" was a God-given conviction and I should not be taking this lightly. I didn’t know how she was going to pull this off but I was willing to help her in any way that I could. I was beginning to see that God had prepared Sarah’s heart for this journey and this would pave the way for her two sisters to follow. I was beginning to get a little excited. When Sarah graduated from high school and headed off to Bible college she had a very difficult time. Sarah did not go to college to find a husband. She felt called to be in the Lord’s ministry full time serving on a mission field or teaching in a Christian school somewhere. Her daddy kept coaching her "Sarah, it is time. It is time for you to see if God’s pick for you is at this college." Sarah had been in the no look, no touch, no kiss mode for so long that it was difficult for her at first. To look was very difficult. I remember having late night chats at her bedside assuring her that it was now okay to get to know these college men and see if just maybe one of them was her knight on a white horse that the Lord had reserved just for her. It was exciting. Sarah began attending this local Baptist college after attempting to go to Crown College. She was registered and nearly packed and ready to go to Crown (located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains). As the time neared we had seen the joy go out of Sarah’s eyes. She had stopped playing the piano. She had stopped singing. It was breaking my heart to see her this way and I confess it was breaking my heart to see her go to another state to school (though I had kept it from her). Ultimately I wanted her to do God’s will - I didn’t want to tamper with that in any way. About three weeks before she was to depart, she came from her bedroom upstairs really weeping. She came into the living room and sat down beside her father and said, "I can’t do it. I just can’t. I don’t know why I can’t. I am sick all of the time. My stomach will not calm down - I have prayed and begged Him to give me what I need so that I can go but it doesn’t come." The next day we checked out the local college - we had never considered it before because she had thought she was to go to Crown. That night I was sitting in her bedroom talking to her. Before she got into bed she kissed me on the top of the head and said, "Thank you, Moma, for taking me today. For the first time in a very long time I have peace." In the days to follow she began singing again - and playing the piano too. Our Sarah was back. At that time we could not see the whole picture. Little did we know what God was to reveal in the short months ahead. And that is that God never wanted Sarah to go to Crown. His perfect pick for Sarah resided at another college. Gordon and I and Dan’s parents came to realize that Dan and Sarah being together was not God’s permissible will but rather His perfect will. We believe it was literally a match made in Heaven. Through the spring and summer of her Freshman year, as well as her entire Sophomore year Sarah and Dan courted. It was a wonderful experience to help oversee and chaperon this godly way they chose to get to know each other. Below are some pictures highlighting their courtship. Take note of where they started on the couch and how things finally ended as they approached their wedding day. For more information about "The Seven Royal Laws of Courtship" and "Stay in the Castle go to http://www.victorybaptistpress.com/