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Never lose hope, your expectation!

. . . and your children I will save. Isaiah 49:25b

Your children I will save!

Awesome words!

Powerful words!

 Promising words!

Healing, encouraging words for the parent and the grandparent.

The promises are so great!

I don’t know God’s will about my job, about which car to drive, about whether or not to replace the carpeting in my living room. But I do know His will about my children! The Bible is filled with promises about my children — so many that as I read them, I list them and often return to remind myself of God’s desires.

I know it is God’s will that my children honor Him.

I know it is God’s will that my children will be taught by the LORD, that

they are established in righteousness,

they continue the heritage of His kingdom,

they are blessed by Him,

they have plenty,

they have a secure fortress and refuge in the Lord, and that

they have great peace.

He tells me to pray. And so I continue to pray.

 

~~ ~~  ~~  ~~

You see, this is their heritage. And we, as parents, shall never, ever give up praying for their heritage.

He saves!

He saves my baby when he is sick;

He saves my child from danger;

He saves my child, lost in his sin;

He saves the ill, the weak, the down-trodden.

~~I pray for the baby.~~

~~I pray for the child.~~

~~I pray for the lost child.~~

 

~~I pray for the ill, the weak, the down-trodden.~~

Again I return to those words. I unfold those words. I cry out to God. It is my heritage.

And it is your heritage. Unfold those words. And never give up. Never lose “hope,” your expectation!

Pray the Word for your children: I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1: 17-19

 

Further reading: Psalm 24:6, 25:13, 119:130; Proverbs 14:26; Deuteronomy 28:4; Isaiah 54:13, 17b, John 14:11-14

 

 

 

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Enlighten my heart so I might know!

His Whisper to Me ~~

Kathi, I’ve chosen you – I’ve adopted you through Jesus. I’ve redeemed and forgiven you with the riches of My grace. I’ve enlightened your heart so that you might know the hope I give you, and the riches of my inheritance, and my incomparably great power. It’s for those of you who believe.

He has chosen you, too! Click here to learn more about becoming a believer.

Pray:

Father, thank you for choosing me. IMG_3150

Read:

Ephesians 1

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Please let me tell you about my perfect!?!? Christmas

A Christmas past:

Ron and I celebrated Christmas with our family yesterday. Five little ones sat around our small breakfast table; two babies were in their little chairs; and twelve of us sat around my big threshing table. The table was lined with various sizes of clear and blue Ball canning jars, each filled with snow (epsom salts) and tea lights or pine cones and red berries – all on a burlap runner. (Got the idea from Pinterest.) Friendly+Village+CollectionJohnson Bros. “Friendly Village” place settings (a gift from Ron – some years ago) covered the table. The room was filled with tiny white lights on realistic but artificial pine. (One of us is allergic to real pine!) The nativity (collected from our North Woods days) was placed nearby, a ever-present reminder of why we had gathered.

~~  ~~  ~~  ~~

beef roastI prepared a ten-pound boneless beef rib eye roast coated with peppercorns and served with horseradish cream. It was the largest and most tender Christmas roast I’d ever prepared. The potatoes were mashed from those I had dug from my garden late in the fall. Along with the salads and vegetables my girls brought, the dinner was delicious!

~~  ~~  ~~  ~~

Ron (Papa) prayed; Matilyn, our 13-year-old granddaughter, read the Christmas passage from the Gospel of Luke, and the children (young and old) rejoiced in the gifts that were shared.

~~  ~~  ~~  ~~

Memories of the day include the “abc” wad of gum I later found stuck on the butter dish, as well as the discovery of the baby crib mattress, taken from a bedroom, which I found in a battered and torn state at the base of the stairway,  where two of the children had used it to slide down the stair steps while we adults sat talking in the dining room! Later, when they all went home, shoes and jackets and tiny pieces of toys were left behind, some small gifts remained to be exchanged, and I knew that the day had passed much too fast.

Sounds like the perfect day?

It wasn’t!

The tree was decorated just a few short days before this party! Not every planned recipe was actually prepared and served. I didn’t take the photos I wanted. (Photos of the canning jars, dishes, and rib eye roast are taken from online!) Some of the family were late; some left early. Our family has struggled with outside forces and trials throughout the last three years.

This Christmas day was not a perfect day, but it was a “turning point” day. It was the first time we were all together in a year; our hearts were joined in love for each other and unity in Christ; so I felt very blessed! It was the end of another difficult year and nearly the beginning of a new, victorious year; so I was also thankful!

~~  ~~  ~~  ~~

I share my “not so perfect” day because I know that many of you, my readers, have similar Christmas days – or similar Decembers – or perhaps similar, difficult last few years, as we have. Our homes do not look like the photos we see on Pinterest, nor do our lives appear similar to the vibrant postings we read on Facebook!

When I awake on Christmas morning, I think of you women who are alone. My heart aches for you. I think of you who are grieving a recent loss, the pangs of which were replayed in every Christmas carol you heard this season. Things are not always as we want them to be. Our plans do not all come to fruition at the very time we choose. But we can rejoice in our Lord and know that He is faithful all the time and know that what He tells us in His word will be accomplished!

~~  ~~  ~~  ~~

There will be another Christmas in the future – perhaps I’ll get a chance to take some photos. Maybe we’ll have a bit more time to relax with each other as a family. Perhaps you won’t be alone next Christmas. For some of you, another year will buffer the intensity of the grief you now so heavily bear.

Let’s speak and believe the word together – the same words spoken by Elizabeth when she met Mary. Let these words remind us that we are and will continue to be blessed:

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.”

(Luke 1:45)

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Ask whatever you wish,

When I awoke this morning and came into the kitchen, Ron was sitting at the island counter, finishing his breakfast and reading his Bible – not uncommon – but I noticed he was intently involved in a passage.

“I’m reading from John 15,” he said. “‘Ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.'”

As he stood and got ready to leave, the look on his face and the shift in his body language said it all. After 43 years and close to that many trials together (or so it seems), I can read him – the tone of his voice, the look in his eyes, the agitation of his jaw, the tenseness of his muscles, the “ahem” in his throat. So I knew exactly what he was thinking and how he felt about it and what he had asked of the Lord this morning. We hugged briefly, knowing and understanding the unstated burden, common to both our hearts.

Shortly after, we said our goodbyes and I love you’s, and he was out the door to work. Later, I opened my Bible to the same passage, wanting to connect to my husband through the word spoken to him, wanting to understand what he had read and embrace the truths he had grasped.

“. . . ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

sad man 2As I read, I am reminded of the many times through our 43 years we’ve asked and it was given. I’m reminded of God’s faithfulness to Ron and me and our children, to give when we asked: provision in times of unemployment, healing in times of sickness, love and restoration in place of pain and hurt, deliverance from addiction, peace in the midst of suffering, and joy in the depths of grief.

I read John 15, thankful that I am a branch on Jesus, the vine, the source of my life; grateful that he loves me and promises that my joy may be complete; satisfied and amazed that he chose me and appointed me.

woman askingAnd once again, I, like Ron, ask. And I know it will be given. I’m a branch on His vine. My God is the gardener.

Believer, what do you need today? Ask Jesus, the true vine.

If you’re not sure you are a branch on the true vine, Jesus, click here and become a believer today.

I am the vine 2

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I have put my hope in your word . . . (healing for the baby)

I’ve been praying – for a long time – for one of my baby grandsons. Praying for the manifestation of his healing.  You see, the healing has already taken place – at the whipping post of Jesus. He bore a stripe for my baby.

So, when I pray, I thank God it’s already been done – at Calvary. And I read all about  the healing Jesus brought to so many children. They’re recorded in the gospels – the good news, and I’m strengthened to know that He healed all, and that He’s the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow – the same loving Jesus – the one who loves the children. He calls me “blessed” because I didn’t see him then, yet I believe. (John 20:29) Now I see!

Recently, my prayer has been, “Show me, Lord, what you would have me do for the baby – for his healing.” Today He answered.

“Daily Inspiration” devotions had accumulated in my email log. I opened and studied. Here’s what the Lord told me:

Day 1 – With foreign lips and strange tongues, I speak to people – this is the resting place, the place of repose. Find that place of refreshing rest, Kathi. Let the Holy Spirit speak to the Father in your behalf – for the baby. (Isaiah 28: 11,12)

~~

Day 2 – Stay in my Word, Kathi! Remember, I told Martha that one thing is needed – to be with me and listen to me. (Luke 10:42) My Word is powerful. It brings health – to you – and to the baby. (Proverbs 4:22) Hearing the word is vital. It builds your faith. (Romans 10:17)

~~
Day 3 – Nothing is too hard for me, your Sovereign Lord. I perform miraculous signs and wonders. My hand is mighty and my arm is outstretched – to you – to the baby. (Jeremiah 32:17)

~~
Day 4 – Watch what I will do, Kathi. Nothing is impossible for me. (Luke 1:37)

~~

Day 5 – I will restore a double portion of what the enemy has taken from your baby. Instead of disgrace, I give him an inheritance. I love justice. (Isaiah 61:7)

~~
Day 6 – Stand on my promises! When you are discouraged, keep the Word in your heart, where no evil will touch you – or the baby.

 

I am blessed! Because I believe!

 

I am the Lord who heals you

 

 

Click here to learn how you can become a believer.

He is your Savior – and your healer!

 

 

 

 

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A Mother’s prayers – still before God

Three of our grandchildren were living with us.

It was a joyful time, in the midst of a sad time.

Bedtimes were  part of the joyful time – a time of quiet talk – a time of prayer – an assurance of love. For Kaylee, the youngest, it included a time of singing. It was a song I had composed, just for her:

Sweet dreams, my Kaylee Joy;

sweet dreams to you.

Dream about rainbows,

dream about sunshine,

dream about teddy bears, too.

And as she fell asleep, my singing changed to humming, and the humming diminished as I tucked her blankie around her and tiptoed out of the room.

It was during one of those times of humming that the memory came.

Just two musical tones of my humming brought the memory – tones of a first, then down to a fifth. (You musicians know what I mean!)

With those two tones, I saw her – my mother.

She was young. Her hair dark, short, parted on the side, and wavy. I was a baby – how old I don’t know, but young enough that I was still in her arms. I looked at her through baby eyes. I saw my chubby forearm and hand. My hand was touching her soft cheek. And she was singing:

When I pray, I will pray for you,
For you need His love and His care.
When I pray, I will pray for you,
I will whisper your name in my prayer. 
At the close of the day, when I kneel to pray,
I will remember you.
You need help every day, this is why I pray,
And I will remember you.  
When I pray, I will pray for you,
For you need His love and His care.
When I pray, I will pray for you,
I will whisper your name in my prayer.
 
 

I knew the entire song – one I hadn’t heard sung in years, but now I heard only the first of it because, you see, the memory was so short. Perhaps only seconds. But long enough to place me back in my mother’s arms – to remember her holding me, singing to me, loving me.

The memory suddenly poured from my eyes and flowed down my cheeks.

I was glad Kaylee had fallen asleep. I left her bedroom and cherished the ever-so-brief thoughts, thanking God for that special reflection.

And I’ve since thought more about the words to that old hymn. Mama prayed for me. My faith first lived in her (2 Timothy 1:5).  And her prayers for me are still worship before the Lord God (Revelation 5:8, 8:4).

When their mothers had gone to be with the Lord, both my friend, Becky, and my cousin, Sherri, shared their feelings of emptiness with me. Besides their normal feelings of grief and loss, they both said, “I feel like my most faithful prayer warrior is gone.”

When my time came, and my mother was gone, I understood. I felt much the same as Becky and Sherri, until I realized that my mother’s prayers were still powerful and alive before God. A golden bowl holds the incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and the smoke of that incense continues to rise before God. I was encouraged and in turn, encouraged Becky and Sherri with that insight from God’s Word.

Let it also encourage you, my friend. Gain strength in that knowledge, my friend. Your mother’s (and/or grandmother’s) prayers are still before the Lord God. The fragrance of those prayers continues to rise  up to God, as sweet worship to Him!

And to me, it’s as though she’s still singing,

When I pray, I will pray for you,
For you need His love and His care.
When I pray, I will pray for you,
I will whisper your name in my prayer.
~~  ~~  ~~
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The hunt is over!

The children have gone home. Plastic eggs are emptied. Candy wrappers, whipped by the wind, litter the corners of the yard. Pieces of chocolate are smooshed on the sidewalk. The children are happy and hyper, from oodles of sugar and time spent with family. It was fun. The hunt is over. Its origins were pagan, but our celebration today is not.

The celebration today is of new life — the new life Jesus brought when He came to us — when He taught us — when He died for us — when He arose for us. This is what we teach our children.

The celebration today is one of “realization.”

Oh! This is what He meant when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he died; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Oh! This is what He meant when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him . . . Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves . . .”

The celebration today is “relational.”

We celebrate this new life in Christ, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world . . . he adopted us as his children . . . “

We remember His suffering and His death — with reflection, worship, communion. A Savior whose love is greater than all love — for you and for me, His child.

We rejoice in His resurrection. Our Savior lives! Our Father loves!

The celebration today is “unending.”

It didn’t start, nor does it end with a date on the calendar. The celebration starts when you realize that Jesus Christ is your Savior — when you become His child — when you experience new life in Him. And it never ends.

The hunt is over, friend. Jesus has come!

Link to  “Become a Believer”

John 11:25, 26; John 14:6, 11; Ephesians 1:4,5

 

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THIS is because of Easter!

THIS is because of Easter, my friend.

New Life! The celebration of our Savior’s Resurrection. The promises it brings. To you. To your children. To me. To my children.

New Life in Christ!

The old is gone! The new has come!

And it’s all because of Jesus!

This is my daughter, Amber, and my son-in-law, Jesse! This is their new life in Christ!

Click here to read Jesse’s story. Amber and Jesse 4-15-2014

You may have heard about Jesus and have wondered how you can truly know you are a believer – a Christian. It’s not by your “works,” my friend. It’s not by what you do. The “Law” given in the Old Testament was God’s plan for that time period. It showed us that no matter how hard we tried, we could not follow the “Law” completely. We needed a Savior, and that Savior is Jesus Christ!

The Bible is full of Jesus!

(Old Testament and New Testament)

Perhaps you’ve heard or memorized a well-known Bible verse, John 3:16: God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will have life forever!

Wow! Isn’t that awesome?

God loved you so much that He gave Jesus for you! Jesus suffered and died on a cross, was buried, then rose from the grave three days later. He now sits at the right hand of the Father – and an entire, awesome eternity is planned for us!

When I was young, I learned about God’s plan of Salvation through what was called the “Romans Road.” It includes some verses from the Bible that show us how to become a Christian, so I am going to use those verses (from the book of Romans) to show you God’s plan:

~ We sin. No matter how hard we try, we can never be good enough for a Holy God. (Romans 3:23)

~ We were lost, but God’s gift to us is eternal life through Jesus! (Romans 6:23)

~ If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

So becoming a Christian involves recognizing that we fail – are sinful; realizing that Jesus Christ came to save us and give us eternal life; and confessing and believing!

It’s a grace thing! God is merciful!

Say a prayer, something like this:

Lord God, I know that I’m a sinner, but I trust that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and rose from the grave three days later. Thank you for your gift of salvation. Help me to be the kind of Christian you want me to be. In Jesus’ name.

It’s not by coincidence that God has led you to this site, to His Word, and to His plan for you today. Isn’t He wonderful? When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, God sends His Holy Spirit to fill you. You are a new creation!

Now, I encourage you to delve into God’s Word – the Holy Bible – and read, read, read more about Him – and to pray, pray, pray to Him. You’re going to learn about how much He loves you and wants to bless you!

Tell someone about your decision today! I would love to hear from you through “comment” or message!

 

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This Faithful Jesus . . .

The two blind men sat at the roadside.

“Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes.  Immediately they received their sight and followed him. (Matthew 20:34)

They followed him to Jerusalem, where, a few days later, He would be crucified.

His earthly ministry was coming to an end, but, as I wrote in my last posting, we know what happens after His crucifixion: He rises from the grave. He lives!

And Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.   (Hebrews 13:8)

Dr. Thomas Constable, in his expository (Bible study) notes of this verse, writes,

“His example of faithfulness, as expounded in this epistle, should be a continuing encouragement to all believers. He is as faithful to His promises now as He ever was, and He always will be faithful to them.”

This same Jesus — this faithful Jesus — died on the cross for you! If you do not yet know Him as your Savior, I encourage you to accept Him, believing on His suffering in your place and in His Resurrection! Let Him touch your eyes, as he did touched the blind men’s, and let Him bring His light into your life. (Link to Become a Believer)

He mercifully saved me and my family! He will do the same for you!

I’ve been reading and studying and contemplating the healings Jesus performed during His ministry on earth — healings like those he brought to the two blind men. So many healings. The people crowded and pressed Him. They were desperate people, as we are desperate people. He had compassion on them, and He still has compassion — on us.  Jesus Christ is the same compassionate Savior today!

I’ve witnessed His compassionate healing upon myself and my loved ones:  from drug addiction, from broken families, from holes in a newborn’s heart, from a diagnosis of spreading cancer, from grief, from pain . . .

He is still the Lord, Son of David,  who has mercy on us!

“He is as faithful to His promises now as He ever was, and He always will be faithful to them.” (Dr. Thomas Constable)

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asks.

Yes, our faithful Jesus still cares.

cross and crown

 

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“Hosanna!”

Part 3 of Thoughts on Lent

We reflect. We ponder. We meditate upon it.  

His birth. His ministry. And now, the days leading up to His crucifixion.

Jesus sends for a donkey. Prophecy is fulfilled: “See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

He enters the city of Jerusalem, knowing what comes before Him – persecution, whippings, suffering, crucifixion.

The people come in throngs. They spread their cloaks on the road in front of Him; they lay branches down. “Hosanna!” they shout! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

As we reflect and ponder and meditate, we know what happens next. We know that after just a few more days of absorbing the teachings of Jesus, the shouts of “Hosanna!” will turn to “Crucify Him!”

But we know what happens! We know the fulfilment of prophecy. We rejoice in the resurrection.

So today, those of us who are fasting, those of us who are sacrificing something, and those of us who are contemplating the events during this time of Lent, can join together, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”