Typically on holidays I write a post that ties in with that day. However, today I’ve been reading Jeremiah and thinking about how holy and righteous God is. Scripture says no flesh can glory in His presence. I would add that if we knew how wretched we really were, we would tremble in His presence. 

God is looking for a Church without spot or wrinkle but His Church seems to be losing sight of the fact that they are God’s representatives on the earth. No wonder people don’t believe in God; they don’t see Him. Sure they can see Him in creation but we are part of God’s creation and many who claim to know Him don’t represent Him well. 

As I write this, I think of the old song,  ”Is My Lord Satisfied With Me?” That’s all that really matters. Am I a daughter He is happy with? Will He accept me with arms wide open or turn His face in shame? I pray to be faithful, to represent Him well so as not to cause Him shame. I want to be holy as He is holy. With Him, all things are possible. Then, as I follow Him, I want to lead others to Him as well. 

Do you ever feel like you’re in limbo, seeking God for direction but not receiving it? Lately I find myself telling God that, if I heard His voice so that I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was Him leading, I would follow. Then I wonder if He’s not speaking or if I’m too busy to hear Him or refusing to hear Him because I want something else.

Last evening as I was drawing near to God and asking Him for wisdom, my heart started singing the hymn, “Where He leads me, I will follow.” Although I didn’t get instant revelation, a peace came over my Spirit and I felt like God spoke to my heart, “You are My precious daughter. Stay close to Me and I will take care of you.” What joy to know the Father feels that way. I may be in a holding pattern right now but He hasn’t left me. He still cares. He just desires me to spend this time seeking Him and being faithful where He has me until He chooses to move me on. What a blessed assurance that is!

If you’re needing to hear His voice, don’t give up. If you seek Him, you will find Him if you seek with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13). Sometimes His answer is Wait. We need to learn to be patient. Our timing is not always His but I know from experience that He always rewards faithfulness. Feel His embrace as He gently whispers, “Child, your answer is coming in due time. For now, keep pressing on, running the race with endurance. I will be by your side giving you strength with every step. I love you.”

Back in the 1980s Scott Wesley Brown sang a song titled “Blessed to be a Blessing.” That title has stuck with me. Do I realize just how blessed I am and am I faithful to be s blessing to others because of the blessings I’ve received? 

I hope my life radiates with God’s love. I truly have been given much and I need to give back to God what He requires of me. He is faithful. May I be faithful in return. 

Canaan’s Crossing sings a song titled “Beautiful Broken.” As I listened to it yesterday, I thought about what it means to be “beautifully broken, willingly wasted, lovingly lavished here at Your feet.” When we think of things being broken, it’s a sad thing, not joyous in the least. However, when it comes to people, it’s when we are broken that God is refining us, turning us into something beautiful.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven” yet I never see people rejoice about the fact that they are poor in anything. Our society has made us believe that riches and happiness are success. Wrong again. If Jesus is the love of your life, no matter where you find yourself in life, you can be truly grateful. Don’t measure your success by the world’s standards. Read the Word and see what Jesus says truly matters. Then count your blessings.

Whether you are on top of the mountain or broken today, go out and shine for Jesus. He has you right where you are for His purposes. He loves you so much. He has not left you. Cling to Him, praise Him, and thank Him for making you beautiful in His sight. After all, that’s the only thing that really matters.

I think it fitting that we celebrate Easter in the Spring, as new life is springing up all over the place. Unfortunately, I see so many people who aren’t registering that new life but look as miserable as (or maybe more than) they are. In thinking of Jesus today, He came to give us life and that more abundantly. Why don’t we reflect that? Too often, I can’t tell the Believers from the unbelievers when I’m out and about.

As we think about Christ and everything He did for us, we should be constantly rejoicing. Greater love has no man than that he lay down his life for a friend. Christ did that for us in the most painful way you could imagine. How do you think He feels when the people He died to save act as if they have no reason to smile?

I hope today finds you praising God in so many ways. He is so worthy. If He never did another thing for me, He’s already done so much more than I deserve. Praise His Name!

“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory He shines on our way. As we do His good will, He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey.”

If you’re a parent, there’s probably nothing you desire from your children more than perfect trust and obedience. This is also how the Heavenly Father feels about His children. There is such a freedom and lightness of heart when we serve the Lord wholeheartedly but, oh, the inner turmoil when we decide we don’t need Him. Maybe we would never say that out loud or even admit to ourselves that this is what is in our hearts but how many times do we move forward on what we think is a great idea before taking time to talk to the Father and receive His guidance? Sometimes, when we do ask and He guides us in another direction, we tend to think He doesn’t understand and off we go to show Him that we were right. WRONG!

I’ve heard parents explain to their child that parents know better because they’ve lived a lot longer than the child yet we think we know better than the One who has always been?!

If you’re running from God or moving in a direction that you do not feel His leading in, take time to redirect your focus and find out what He desires you to do. You will never “be happy in Jesus” until you do so and I’d like to see you living in all the joy and victory God desires for you. Trust Him today!

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Have you ever noticed how the world at times grasps truths that Christians don’t seem to get? I often wonder if that’s why we don’t see more people come to know the Lord. They look at the way professed Christians treat each other and decide they live a better life than “Christians” so why should they give their life to Christ and miss out on the “fun” they’re enjoying while still living a “good life”? In a way, they have a point.

We who claim to be sons and daughters of God are to be setting the standard. It’s up to us to show the world the joy, peace and love that only Christ gives. Yet we walk around with frowns on our faces, complaining about our lot in life just like everyone else. When our Brother or Sister stumbles, instead of helping to lift them up, we’re often the first to throw stones and distance ourselves, deciding they’re not our problem. What happened to “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” or “Love one another as I have loved you”? If “the greatest of these is love,” why is that the hardest thing to do?

True love will take the time for our Brothers and Sisters. I know life is hectic but we were put on earth for a purpose. Too many lose sight of that as they get caught up in busyness. It’s great to be busy–I live a very hectic life–but I also know how easy it is to become too busy and have no time to do the work that GOD has called us to do.

If we are walking in the Spirit, there will be times God will ask us to do things that our flesh may not prefer to do but our spirit will rise to the challenge because it is no longer us who live but Christ who lives in us. Christ in us wants to minister to the world around us. However, we cannot reach a lost world if we don’t first learn to reach out to our Brothers and Sisters who need love and encouragement.

Make sure as you go through each day that you are accomplishing Christ’s purposes. Ask Him each morning to show you the people He desires to minister to. Then go out in the strength of the Lord and thank Him for using you. He will continue the work He’s begun in you if you allow Him to. I, for one, am so grateful. Thank You, Father, that You are still at work in the lives of your people.

Four Southern Gospel websites announced this morning that they will be merging in one week: Diana Brantley’s SGConcerts, Phil Boles’ Phil Boles on Southern Gospel, Steve Eaton’s Southern Gospel Views from the Back Row, and David Bruce Murray’s / Kyle Boreing’s MusicScribe. For now, they will be blogging at sogospelbackrow.wordpress.com.

They announced that they will be accepting suggestions about what domain they should use as their permanent blogging home. I will suggest publicly what I have suggested privately: MusicScribe is one of the most recognizable brands in the Southern Gospel blogging world. With eight and a half years of history, I believe it has been going for over twice as long as any of the other merging blogs. At any rate, David Bruce Murray is an absolute institution in the genre, Steve Eaton has the best column series ideas in this genre, Diana Brantley is the Queen of Southern Gospel on YouTube, and Phil Boles provides a welcome international perspective. So this site will certainly be a must-read.

Last week at church, the pastor preached on Luke  17. One of the points he made was how a servant isn’t thanked for the work he does but he does it because it’s his duty to do so. I admit I struggle with that. No matter how much I tell myself I’m working for God, at the end of the day, I want someone to appreciate the work that I do. 

I think of Jesus and how He took on the form of a servant. No one appreciated the work that He did. They mocked Him and eventually killed Him. Yet I’m hurt if someone doesn’t notice or appreciate what I do? As the old song says, “I would be like Jesus.” That means I must follow Him no matter what anyone else thinks. May I be faithful to do just that. 

If you’re struggling with work or family, thank God for the opportunity to serve anyway. People may not notice but He does. You will receive your reward in due time.