I'd Rather Not Get Involved

In years gone by the old phrase "I don’t want to get involved" tended to apply to situations like reporting a crime in the neighborhood or picking a hitch hiker up on the side of the road ~ you know, those bigger things in life. "Things" that we might be afraid to get involved with. But what I’ve found out is that these days it takes far far less for folk to walk away from someone or something and say "I just don’t want to get involved."

For the past two weeks I’ve been encouraging this awesome group of home school moms that I direct to really make a difference ~ being a good listening friend ~ being a comforting friend ~ you don’t have to have a degree in counseling ~ just reach out and be there for folk. No one expects us to solve their problems ~ they just want to know that we care about them.

It took a tragedy to open up my eyes that I, myself, have been slacking in this department. And I know better! The lessons from my moma run deep to be of help to folk ~ loving them along ~ praying for them and with them ~ giving of my time ~ forgiving no matter what. I believe I came away with a strong dose of the fundamentals of being a servant to others. And yet I’ve failed. I do not think I could ever be the excellent example that my moma has always been but I certainly have been equipped with how to be like her ~ and it is up to me as to whether I utilize those lessons to help others.

So for the past five months I have been reminded again and again ~ first hand ~ how tremendously important it is for Christian folk to reach out. And what I’ve found out is that people are not reaching out like they should ~ even to their brothers and sisters in Christ. Folk don’t want to get involved. They don’t want to take the time. And that is so very unfortunate and sad. Have you ever been in that situation? You just needed someone to talk to ~ someone to say "I love you and I’m here for you ~ I can’t take away your pain but I will pray for you." We need to be doing more of that. Because there are a whole lot of people hurting out there.

Just today the ladies in the group asked prayer for a young couple that just had a baby shower in anticipation of their firstborn ~ a few days later the baby was declared dead. That mother will have to deliver a still born child. And then there is the young man who was driving a long and an ATV hit him head on. The boy riding the ATV ~ an only child ~ was killed. Technically it was his fault but the life of the young man who hit him will be changed forever. And then there is the young man who is nearly bedridden with pain ~ doctors cannot determine exactly what is wrong with him ~ and he has no insurance. And what about the family that has become victim to pornography in their home. The lives of the wife and children are in complete turmoil now. And then there is the woman who asked prayer for her parents ~ both which have been diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

And all of this goes to show that people need people to care. People need to be loved, to be prayed for ~ people just need us to listen ~ give of our time ~ reach out and behave in a way that would be pleasing to Jesus. I must admit it is very frustrating to me to see the complacency of so many Christians because "they don’t want to get involved." And yet I can’t be too critical because I once was in their place.

Drop someone a card, an email, give them a call ~ check on them and see how they are doing. We all know someone who is going through a dark time right now ~ reach out and touch them!

A note about the picture: This trio is my sweet moma, myself, and my oldest daughter, Sarah, on her wedding day - just three years ago.

Moon River ~ A Simpler Time

When I was a little girl I remember Moon River playing on the radio. To this day it is still a special song to me. When I hear it play I go back to a time when, in many ways, things were just a whole lot simpler.

Today I was made aware of yet another family where the use of pornography in the home has taken its devastating toll. Christian folk may not want to talk about this dirty little secret but it seems to be one of satan’s number one tools to ravage the Christian home these days. In Luke 22: 31 it says And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat. And that is exactly what he is doing. It is reality and it is happening more and more often. And not talking about it won’t make it go away.

The internet has made it so easy for folk to look upon things that they have no business looking upon. While the world wide web offers so many wonderful and positive opportunities, I can’t deny that when I get news like I received today it makes me want to take a sledge hammer to my computer. Oh Christians, be careful what you watch. Be careful what you listen to. Don’t forsake reading the Bible. Don’t forsake praying. Don’t compromise your walk. There is no compromise between light and dark. They can not co-exist. You cannot serve two masters. God says it is impossible. Matthew 24:6 says No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammom." I fear the moon river days are over. Christ is coming back. And with the shape of this world ~ it doesn’t appear to be far off. Make no compromises between light and darkness. Work harder than ever before ~ for the night is coming for those who do not know Him.

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

I Surrender All

When I was a teenager, I remember going into the basement at home and trying to bang out a tune on our old upright piano. The one song I could play really well was I Surrender All.

I had always dreamed of being a concert pianist. So in my freshman year of college I decided to take piano lessons. I reckon it was already too late for me ~ kind of like teaching an old dog new tricks. I just couldn't seem to pick it up ~ except for that one song I Surrender All. I still have dreams of being a concert pianist but that is all they are ~ just dreams. And to this day, hearing the piano play is still one of my most favorite of things to listen to.

Recently when I was updating my music playlist for this blog I came across none other than my one song ~ that which you hear playing right now. It got me to thinking about that night long ago when I was just 12 years old when I surrendered my life to Jesus in an old time revival meeting.

How time flies. It seems like just yesterday when I walked the aisle in that little Baptist church in southern Kentucky and asked Jesus into my heart. Just like yesterday ~ but it wasn't just yesterday ~ it was nearly 38 years ago. And the highlight of my life has been surrendering my life to my Lord. I can't tell you that I've always walked the straight and narrow in the past or present. I can't tell you my life has been without heartache and disappointment. I can't tell you that I have done all I could for Him. But I can tell you I wouldn't change the journey for anything.

In closing, here's the words to my song ~

All to Jesus I surrender ~ All to Him I freely give

I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.

All to Jesus I surrender ~ Humbly at His feet I bow

Worldly pleasures all forsaken Take me, Jesus, take me now.

I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Jesus I surrender ~ I surrender all.

Wait ~ He Will Strengthen You

Oh 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 ~ the great words of Helen Lemmel who wrote this song in 1922 ~ Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus! Does it seem I often write about those who are weary and troubled? Well, there is a reason for that ~ because weariness and emptiness and loneliness are not respecters of persons ~ they plague Christians, non-Christians, people living for the Lord, people away from the Lord. We are ALWAYS going to know someone who is in the valley.

Right now I know of a dear sweet lady in the deepest of valleys. Sometimes the best thing we can do is have a broad shoulder, a listening ear, and then hit our knees in prayer and beg God’s mercy on their situation. I’m right there tonight ~ wishing I could wipe away the tears ~ yet knowing that the only One that can do that is my Lord. Below is a "repost" of Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. May it be an encouragement to us all.

I’ve been quoting the words to that old hymn tonight - Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. There is a precious soul who’s heart is hurting. I told her, "Don’t look at the circumstances ~ look at your God. He is big. He loves you. He is much bigger than this which you are facing." Love her heart ~ why is it that in the midst of a huge trial that it can look so big and our faith can seem so small. And that is just the way satan wants it ~ not keeping our eyes looking upward ~ but rather focusing on the hardship and pain. The ole scoundrel lives to shackle Christians with disappointment. We’ve all been there, haven’t we..... In those valleys that seem so low and so deep. But God is so good and His mercies are new each morning. We must claim Psalm 27:14 Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart, wait, I say, on the Lord. It will make all the difference.

I know all to well being in the deepest of valleys and seeing no way through it. But I can with all candidness say that though I still struggle with some pretty large obstacles in my life I am the happiest that I have ever been - short of the day I accepted Christ as my Savior. I am a walking testimony that it is possible to have a joy in your heart despite the giants looming around you. And God's Word is the key ~ the anedote ~ the cure. If you will let Him, His Word can come alive in your life in a way that is hard to put into words.

So keep looking up my friend. Look full in His wonderful face and these things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. Claim His Word, claim His promises!

"Pastor Dan Quote" ~ Sunday, October 19

I've decided that once a week I will share one and two line snippets that Pastor Dan (aka my son-in-law) quotes during his sermons. You may have heard this one before ~ it is certainly a profound challenge.

Pray as if it all depends on God
Work as if it all depends on you.

Pastor Dan has been encouraging us to really get out there ~ working hard ~ telling others about Jesus. He has been greatly stressing the power of prayer and the power of "hitting the pavement" to reach others before our Lord returns.

Thanks Susan

A big thanks to Susan at ........Susan's Space for guiding me to get a pretty blog background from the same place she got her's. Lord Bless You!