Don't Lose Heart!

Happy New Year!!! I know…I’m only the 900th person to tell you that, I’m sure. We spent our New Year’s Eve in a hotel room, huddled in two beds, watching both the “ball” and the “peach” drop! It was the first time that all the kids had stayed awake past midnight, so it was a pretty neat experience.

Speaking of the New Year…I have one wish for you. Actually, it’s not a wish at all. It’s a promise. A long time ago, I memorized a verse of Scripture that the Lord has whispered into my heart over and over again. I don’t recall why I memorized it, but it sure has been a huge blessing to me - Galatians 6:9 – And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in good time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.

Now that’s something to rejoice over in the year to come. God tells us that if we don’t lose heart…if we don’t give up, we will reap a benefit. Something good will come from our perseverance.

Now, sometimes when I am having a hard day with my kids or with my own self (am I the only one who gets on my own nerves?), God encourages me with this verse. He reminds me, “Belinda, don’t give up. Don’t quit doing good, no matter what. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you from what you are supposed to be doing because I have something so great planned in this. No, you can’t see it right now, but oh how I can’t wait for you to see it soon. You will reap, Belinda. This ordeal will pass and as you struggle through it, doing just exactly what you are supposed to be doing, you will see it. You will see the reason…the purpose…you will reap, Belinda. Just don’t give up.”

So as the New Year begins, may I comfort you with the same words with which I have been comforted. Don’t lose heart in doing good on your job, when it seems no one is noticing. Don’t lose heart in doing good while raising your kids, when you don’t see results. Don’t lose heart in doing good to those who hate you and would love to see you fall. Don’t lose heart in doing good…period. For if you don't lose heart, Scripture promises that you WILL reap something good from sowing something good. Things may not turn around instantly for you. It may take a while, but the promise of God is still there. Let God handle the outcome…you just continue “doing good.”

Thank You, Father for never giving up on me…for never growing tired or weary in doing good for me and to me…for never losing heart. May I mirror that aspect of Your image, even today.

Be blessed in 2011, my brother and sister and may you never-ever-never-ever lose heart in doing good.

They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings as eagles. They will run and not GROW WEARY. They will walk and not faint. (Is. 40:31)

Don't Miss It

The inn keepers missed IT. The weary travelers missed IT. Who could blame them. After all, both groups were very busy. The inn keepers had people to take care of, animals to feed, bread to make, etc. The guests had appointments to be kept, taxes to be paid, things to be done. Yes, I'm afraid both groups missed IT - they missed the birth of Christ.

But the shepherds...well, they did'nt miss IT at all. They got all Christmas had to offer. They got the angels. They got the glory of God. They got Jesus.

Luke 2:15 tells us that after the angels went back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger."

Did you get that? Did you ever notice that the shepherds didn't simply praise God out in the field for the birth of His Son? They didn't consider themselves to be too busy to worship. Nope. Instead, they "made haste" to go see this thing the angel had proclaimed to them.

The shepherds got it. They got the wonder and amazement, the miraculous and the importance of Christmas. They might not have understood every implication of this event, but they still celebrated it just the same.

It's often my prayer this time of year, "Lord, don't let me miss Christmas. Don't let me miss Your birthday. Let me celebrate it the way You want it to be celebrated. Let it be about You and not about me!"

This Christmas, let's make haste to see Jesus, so we don't miss IT. Let's not allow the having (or not having) the perfect presents, the perfect family and the perfect emotional state of mind to keep us from missing Jesus. Let's not stay out in the field of busyness and miss celebrating the birth of the King. Let's instead, make haste to Jesus...make haste.

Let There Be Light!

Living in a "holler" in south MS was great fun, but it sure did get dark...when it got dark. There were very few lights and if no stars were out, you could barely see your hand in front of your face. I didn't like the dark that much. It was too scary...too uncertain...you didn't know what was lurking just around the corner of the porch, much less just beyond the cars parked in the back yard. Darkness at my house growing up was, for lack of a better term, dark. And guess what??? It still is!

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about that...about darkness, and I've come to the realization that life would be miserable without a respite from it. You see, it's Christmas, and at Christmastime, lights are everywhere...on trees, on roofs, on plastic reindeer in the front yard. They're draped over bushes and hung gingerly across porch fronts. That's because lights are an important part of Christmas-time, and it just wouldn't be the same without them. Can you imagine a Christmas without lights? How about LIFE without lights?

There was a time when life on earth did exist without light. No, I don't mean that everyone's electricity went out at the same time. I'm not talking about electricity at all. I'm talking about life without Jesus.

Before Christ was born, it had been over four hundred years since the Israelites had heard ANYTHING from God. He'd not spoken through prophets, through miracles, or even through His priests. To them, the silence of God must have been deafening. I'm sure the Israelites began to wonder whether or not He really existed. I'm sure those that did continue to believe in the old traditions, thought maybe God was still angry with them for their disobedience. I'm sure some were saddened, thinking He'd forgotten them. Can you imagine...life with no hope, nothing but darkness for your future...knowing that nothing would ever get any better? Life in total darkness - talk about scary.

But then God, in the mist of total darkness said, "Let there be Light," and Jesus was born. He'd uttered those words before at the very beginning of time, but this time, the Light was of a different nature. Not only did this Light illuminate, this Light saved. This Light brought eternal hope. This Light broke the darkness of the separation between God and man. This Light came and changed the future of mankind...forever. Jesus, the Light of the world, dispelled darkness and invited light into the lives of the Israelites and us today.

Several years ago, God spoke into my heart those same words. With a big smile on His face, the Father said, "Let there be Light," and there was Light. The darkness and sin that had long held me in fear was dispelled. I now have Light in my soul. Do you? If not, know that Jesus loves you. Know that He didn't come to this earth to condemn you, but to make you right with God. Accept the gift He wants to give you this Christmas. Accept His Light.

Father, I pray for those who need you now. I pray that You will open the eyes of their hearts that they may have a full knowledge of You. I pray also for those of us who have forgotten that we need You. Open our eyes, Father, that we may see the overwhelming need for the Light of Christ in our lives. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for coming to earth to give us Light. Thank You.

This Christmas season, don't forget the wonder of the Light. Remember Him, and be thankful.

Be It Unto Me

Be it unto me, according to your word. Those were words of surrender spoken by a young 13 or 14 year old girl over 2,000 years ago. Mary uttered those words after the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she was to be Jesus' mother. Now, before we get some vision in our head of how awesome and glorious that life would be - mother of the Savior of the world - let's stop and think about how difficult this calling would be for her.

First of all, consider the complications of Mary's new-found identity. Can you imagine having to tell your Mom and Dad the news that you were pregnant with God's Son? Can you imagine their response? Her parents probably thought she was crazy and that she was trying to cover up some disobedient behavior.

What about Mary's friends and peers? How do you think they responded to the news of her being unmarried and yet, pregnant? I'll tell you what. That news is a lot different today, than it was back then. In Jesus' day, being unmarried and pregnant was shunned. I'm pretty sure Mary was teased and ridiculed harshly for a long time...as was her Son.

Finally, think about Joseph. Unlike the other two scenarios, we know how he responded, don't we? Scripture says that when she told him, he didn't want to marry her. Humanly speaking, who could blame him? However, after a visit from the Angel Gabriel, he changed his tune.

I think we just fly past all those complications Mary had to endure when we think about her visit with the angel. Instead, we picture her life as being full of dignity and honor. In our mind's eye, it's only at the cross that we picture her as anything less than pleased with life. In reality though, Mary's new found identity, gave her very little dignity and honor - at least here on this earth.

With that in mind, let's look back at Mary's response to the angel. Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Be it unto me according to your word. Her response - she didn't flinch. She didn't complain about becoming an outcast in her hometown. She didn't ask the angel to tell God to wait until she had gotten married, so all of this wouldn't look so bad. No, in complete trust and with TOTAL surrender, Mary gave her life over to God to use as He desired, whether that meant a difficult road ahead or not.

Can you honestly say those words with Mary? I'll admit I have a difficult time saying them, myself. Instead, my phrase sounds something life this - Be it unto me, Lord, according to Your Word, as long as it makes me happy and keeps me comfortable.

I hope I'm the only one who thinks stuff like that, but if I'm not, let's make a deal. This year for Christmas, let's give Jesus a gift - the gift of a trusting, believing, surrendered heart. Let's make be it unto me, according to Your Word, the motto of our hearts, regardless of our happiness or comfort.

Be it unto me, Jesus. I trust that You are good. I trust that You love me. I trust You are doing what's best for me. I trust You are molding me into the image of Christ. I surrender, Jesus. I surrender.

Come to Me

Humor me for a moment. Let’s say this past year’s been tough for you and your family. It’s taken everything you have just to muster enough courage to continue on “doing life.” Your patience is wearing thin, but you’re banking on your vacation to give you a little rest from the rest of the world.


Before you know it, it’s here. It’s finally here. Your bags are packed, your tank is full, and you’re on your way. As you’re driving along, out of nowhere you see this amazing place: palm trees swaying in the wind, exotic birds and butterflies floating through the air. There’s even a huge waterfall spilling over the side of a lush embankment. This place seems almost magical.


You pull in, knowing there’s no way you can afford to stay, but wouldn’t it be great if you could? You get out of your car, close the door, and strangely feel as if the world is new again. Hope surges within you, and you find yourself whispering, “Please don’t wake up. Please don’t wake up.”


As you walk into the lobby, the smell of coffee and chocolate fills the air, and the bubbling sound of running water draws you in, even deeper. What a perfect place. What an amazing place to spend some down-time. What an impossible dream in the midst of your reality.

All of the sudden, someone touches your shoulder, and you’re jolted back into your reality. With a smile on his face, he asks, “Can I help you?” You smile back politely and say, “I don’t think so, but I wish you could!” The attendant laughs and asks a little more intently this time, “Can I help you?” With hesitation in your voice, you turn your head and say, “How much is your smallest room here? I would love to stay. I really NEED to stay, but I don’t think I can afford it. Besides, I’ll bet you’re probably booked already.” The attendant shakes his head and says, “Well, you might be surprised. We have very few people staying here this evening. Don’t get me wrong, we have people come in here all the time. They stand around and look at all the things we have to offer…the spa, the heated indoor pool, the weight room with a personal trainer. Yet, for some reason, they always walk out. They don’t even ask to see a room. It seems they’re intrigued by this place and really want to be here, but they never end up staying. That always amazes me. It can’t be the cost of the room, either. You see, a long time ago, the owner of this place decided that everyone should be able to have a place of rest…a place where they could go to find renewed strength for their journey. So, the owner created this place. “Free for the weary,” has always been his motto. It’s all free…free to anyone who wants or needs it. But the strange this is, few people really ever stay around long enough to accept the offer. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that if you are looking for a place to stay, these doors are open. Cost is not a consideration. That’s already been taken care of. You just have to choose to accept the offer.

With enthusiasm and anticipation practically taking over every fiber of your being, you ask, “Does that mean I can stay?” Beaming from ear to ear, the young man answers, “Please do! Come, I have just the place for you.”

“Come,” Jesus says, “Come.” Why don’t we get it? He’s given us an open invitation to come and rest, yet instead we look at Him in our wishful thinking and sadly turn away. Is it because we think it’ll cost us too much? Is it because we don’t feel worthy to be at rest? I don’t know, but I do know that Christ says, “Come. Come; enjoy the beautiful place of rest. Come; enjoy taking those heavy burdens off your shoulders. You weren't designed to carry those anyway. Come;" Jesus says,"Let Me show you to your room.”

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Real Joy has Nothing to do with Chocolate and Everything to do with Choice!

I've made a decision. It's been a long hard road for me and my canister of chocolate chips, but I've finally come to the conclusion that joy...real joy...has nothing to do with chocolate. It's a choice; simply a choice.

That thought twirled around and around in my brain the other night. Our ladies' group at Selma Baptist was having a meeting and there were so many women in attendance that the owner of the home ran out of seats for everyone. So I squeezed my way into the dining room, found a comfortable spot against the wall, sat down and stretched out my aching leg.

It was actually kinda nice - being on the floor. I was hidden from most of the crowd, which afforded me the opportunity to really focus on what was being said, instead of focusing on what I looked like while my friend said it! I closed my eyes, many times, confessing my own ungratefulness of the day...confessing my own lack of true thankfulness for all the Lord has done for me, to me and in me.

As this beautiful lady spoke of being diagnosed with cancer and the treatments that followed, you could feel the whole room hanging on her every word. Ginger Smith told us stories of how God had intricately woven her life together and how He had ministered to her over and over again the last couple of years. She told us how the prayer blanket that the ladies' group had given her had touched not only her life, but the lives of those around her in the treatment center. She talked about how cold it gets sometimes when she takes off her wig and how funny it is when people comment on how good her hair looks, thinking she's gotten it trimmed.

We all just sat there...listening...sympathizing...rejoicing in her life. And as we sat there, we could sense (at least I think I wasn't the only one) that there was something truly different about this lady. It wasn't her cancer...many people have that. It wasn't her chemo treatments or even her wig. I have to say, the thing that grabbed most of us by the throat and shook us to tears had nothing to do with THINGS, with the circumstances of a hard life. Instead, it had everything to do with Jesus and what He can do in the life of one of His kids who has chosen to NOT take every day for granted...who has chosen to NOT accept anything less than joy...who has NOT chosen to let something as heartbreaking as cancer, break her spirit.

Oh that I would be more like my friend and every day make the determination in my heart that "This is the day the Lord hath made. We (I) will rejoice and be glad in it." (Ps. 118:24)

Lord, help me do that today and everyday for the rest of my life...to CHOOSE to find joy in my day...purpose in my heart to seek it out...simply because it is the day You have given, and I should choose to rejoice in it.

Thankful

I am thankful today..thankful that my God is with me...that He is mighty to save me and takes great delight in who I am. I am thankful that He quiets me with His love and beyond my comprehension, rejoices over me with singing.

I am thankful that I can lie down and rest in peace tonight for He is with me.

I am thankful that He doesn't reward me according to my sin and the gunk in my life, nor does He punish me in my iniquity. I am thankful that He made Jesus who knew no sin, to be sin for me so that I can be the righteousness of God through Christ...that there is no condemnation for me in Christ Jesus.

I am thankful that He alone is my Defender and surrounds me as with a shield.

I am thankful that He who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it.

I am thankful that He hears me...He sees me...He knows me...and He loves me anyway. I am thankful...truly thankful.

What about you?