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GOD IS SO GOOD

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

-Psalm 136:1-

This is the time of year that we remember to stop and thank God for our blessings! We buy the turkey, make the pumpkin pie and all the other yummy foods that we fix for our family and friends. I had a great-uncle who would eat, go into the living room, turn on the football game very loudly because he had hearing issues, and then, commence to go to sleep and start to snore. That may happen at your celebration too! What a blessing if you have family and friends to surround you to laugh, eat and pray.

Maybe, we don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving Day to be thankful to God. We always remember to thank God in the big blessings like: a much-needed job-an anticipated wedding-new baby-you have enough money to pay for the utilities and some even left over-cancer free diagnosis. But maybe we should also be thankful for the small, little everyday blessings that are right in front of us: your precious baby who is laughing-freedom to sit on your patio, enjoy the sunshine and hear the birds-you are less painful today-your dog is running through the house squeaking a toy and making you laugh. (That last one is what is happening right now for me. I take care of my son’s golden retriever every day and he is having an “attack” of energy.)

What would you say if I told you, we need to also be thankful for: the hard times-the everyday trials- the negative emotions that overwhelm us-the times our heart is breaking? You might think I am crazy to say that. But I heard a song by Brandon Lake the other day called “How Good God Is,” that made it clear to me that we should be thankful in the hard times too! Something usually happens because of those tough times. We become stronger. We are able to help someone else who goes through the same type of situation. We can see a new perspective and it help us move forward even when we don’t feel like it. We become more faithful; it is said we don’t truly know what faith is till we have it tested. We become closer to God. Hard times make us realize, if we look hard enough, there is always a blessing in the darkness.

Here are some of the lyrics from that song by Brandon Lake.

“I didn’t know the Healer ‘til I needed healing, I didn’t need a Savior or some kind of anchor ‘til I lost my way…I didn’t see the light ‘til He opened my eyes in my darkest hour…thank God for the anger that forced me to pray, thank God for the silence that taught me to wait…thank God for the weakness that showed me His strength, thank God for the fire that forged me with faith…no, I never would’ve ever known how good God is…thank God for His kindness to give up His Son to sit there and watch as He says, ‘It is done’ If He spared Him from thorns and the nails through His wrists, then I never would’ve ever known how good God is.”

Now, in this season of my life, I can look back at all those hard times, that tried to pull me into darkness. I truly can say how good God was during that time and how good He is in my life now. And how good God is going to be in my future. Those hard times were not easy by any means, but because of them, God has given me purpose for the rest of my life to share: how I could take one step in front of the other with God holding me up-how God used others to help me-how I found peace in the chaos-how God helped pull me out of the darkness-how God lifted me up when I stumbled-how God gave me what I needed at the time. When we are on the rough roller coaster of life, we need to find the blessings, even in the times that threaten to pull us down. Those blessings will help us maneuver through the pain.

Joshua 1:9 reads “Be strong and of good courage, do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

This is the time of year we pray and thank God for His blessings. We remember that God is so good! Try to find Him in your everyday and thank Him for His goodness, even in the seemingly little things. And remember, to reach out to God in the tough times also, that threaten to “eat you alive.” There are blessings in those times too; whether you can see them at the time or not. Look for them. By looking back at my life now, I realize that God was and is always so good all the time!

Thanksgiving seems hidden under all the tinsel and lights of the holidays. I am watching Hallmark Christmas movies and making plans for all the fun the holidays bring. But I am also trying to remember the very important season and day of Thanksgiving! A time to be grateful and remember the blessings. Be thankful every day, no matter what is going on in your life. If you are blessed to celebrate with family and friends, don’t take that for granted! There are so many who are all alone. Remember, to pray for them that they can find peace in the knowledge that God is so good!

I wish all a blessed Thanksgiving season!

Till next time!

                                                   Keela

IN THE STILLNESS

Don’t know about you but the last couple of weeks have been super busy for me. So thankful for my calendar that keeps me where and what I need to do. Not too much time to be still. Let’s start our blog, with some verses from the Bible that talk what happens when we take the time to, and ARE in the stillness.

Psalm 46:10 God tells us, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Isaiah 30:15 reads, “…In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength…”

1 Kings 19:11-12 reads, “Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”

The first two quotes tell us that if we are still: God’s name will be exalted above anything on this earth-with rest we will be saved from the busyness of this earth-we will have peace and confidence that will bring us strength to deal with the things of this physical life-and then in 1 Kings, if we are still and  quiet with just God; instead of  the stress, anger, noisy technology in our faces world, we can be close to God just through rest and stillness.

I love the passage here in 1 Kings. (Read in your Bibles the story of the great Elijah-there is so much to learn from him.) The scripture is about Elijah when he was threatened with death by Jezebel. So, he ran and sat under a tree feeling depressed and all alone. He prayed to God to take his life. Then, after an angel gave him nourishment, he traveled and went into a cave. God basically asked him what in the world was he doing! Then, the verses above. God let him know that he (and we) cannot find Him in all the huge, noisy things of this earth; but rather when we stop, be still and focus on God, we can truly find Him.

I know my hand reaches for my phone all the time to check Facebook and my emails. I can get stuck in all that for 30 minutes easily! Nothing against either one of those, but what I have to remind myself, is, I need to put technology down and pick up my dusty Bible and read about the great people, like Elijah. They can give us: courage-strength-focus on what is really important-the realization that we are not alone in the feelings we have-to stop in the stillness and feel God’s love, peace, forgiveness and rest in Him; to give us comfort!

On Facebook, I get the posts from “She Loves Boldly.” They are such meaningful messages. Here is a quote from the last one, I read. It says exactly what I am trying to say today. It also had more but do not have the room here to add to this blog. Here it is.

“Be still does not mean do nothing. It means cease the striving that keeps the heart restless. It means releasing the need to fill every moment with productivity or explanation and choose instead, to know that He is God. When we are still, we make room for the truth of who He is to settle deeper than our circumstances. Quietness is not passive. It is an active trust. It is the decision to stop measuring our days by what we accomplish and to measure them instead, by how attentively we remain before the Lord. Rest is not optional in this place. The body and soul both need space to breathe. When we honor the need for rest, we are not neglecting our calling. We are positioning ourselves to receive strength that cannot be manufactured by effort. Quietness and trust become the very means by which strength is restored. In the silence, the Lord is not distant. He is near. He speaks not always in the wind or the fire, but in the stillness that follows, when we finally stop long enough to listen (each) season is not wasted…the Lord is teaching the heart to recognize His voice above every other demand…refining focus.”

God is always there for us. We need to remember to stop and put ourselves in the stillness, away from this world, and meditate on the scriptures. We need to sit outside or walk in nature and remember Who God was, is and will always be. We need to learn to rest in His arms to give us strength to go on and rejuvenation to be able to take a big breath and put our focus on and in our God and Savior!

What are you doing in the busyness of this world? Are you taking time to include stillness into your day? When you do, the peace only God can give, not the world, will fill your mind and heart.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds; through Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 4:6-7

Till next time!

                                        Keela

FORGIVENESS

To forgive means: to pardon or absolve of wrongdoing-to cancel a debt-to give up resentment-to stop blaming or wanting to punish someone for a wrong action, mistake or injury they have done to you or you yourself have done.

The person who has hurt us does not have to say he is sorry, for us to give him forgiveness. Forgiveness does not depend on whether the person being forgiven deserves it; but it is a choice made that is an act of obedience to God’s Word. We are commanded to forgive. Mark 1:25-26 reads “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him that your Father in Heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in Heaven forgive your trespasses.” We need to release-let go of, the hold someone has on us and give it to God.

Forgiveness does not change what happened or take the situation totally out of our mind. Instead, it changes the way we remember it, causing less pain. Forgiveness is something we do for ourselves. To forgive does not mean we are accepting or condoning what they did or we think it was ok, but rather forgiving sets ME free, releasing ME from the hurt. If we don’t forgive what happened, we are held hostage. We can’t go into our future because we are holding on to the past. We are stuck!

Unforgiveness poisons anyone who holds on to it, causing bitterness-anger-the desire for revenge. It is impossible to be bitter and get better at the same time.       We have to make the choice to forgive others and not give those hurtful words or actions the permission to make us not want to forgive.

Unforgiveness zaps us of energy and strength to do the service God has planned for our lives. When you release a person, by forgiving them, it is not because they deserve it, but because YOU deserve to be released from that hurt they have caused. Forgiveness doesn’t mean the other person is right. It means YOU are right with God. Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

The person who has hurt you has freewill just as you do. You cannot control them, but you can control your thoughts and your free will to forgive. When we forgive a person who has never even asked for it, we are releasing that hold the person has on us that is strangling the very breath we are breathing. If we do not forgive, we leave our hearts open to the attacks of the devil. 

Forgiveness is difficult because the pain is real. When someone hurts us, our natural instinct is often to protect ourselves, hold onto resentment or wait until the other person makes things right. Jesus calls us to something better. He calls us to forgive, not because the hurt didn’t matter, and not because the other person has earned it, but because we have been forgiven by God. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 

Jesus understands what it feels like to be hurt by others. He experienced betrayal, rejection, mockery, physical pain and deep emotional pain. Look at what He said as He hung on that horrible cross. Luke 23:34 “Then Jesus said, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.” If Jesus can forgive all those hurts, how come I can’t forgive when I have been hurt. Jesus suffered, He understands our hurt completely. When we bring our pain to Jesus, we will find comfort, compassion, strength and the ability to forgive others.

There is not enough space to tell all that happened, but I had a time when I had to forgive my brother-in-law. He wanted me to convince my husband to meet him in the middle of nowhere, so he could give my husband his inheritance when their mother passed away. I refused, because my brother-in-law had threatened my husband many times. Well, when I told him no, he threatened to kill me. He never apologized. He never admitted he had done anything wrong. He never asked for forgiveness from me or my husband. But I HAD to forgive him. The reason I had to do that was for ME, for my well-being, to guard my heart-to not let him control me and my mind and to be in obedience to God. Forgiveness is to free me of the hurt, not the other person. If we don’t release ourselves from lack of forgiveness, it will rule our hearts and minds. Basically, the devil moves into our thoughts and heart.

I don’t know why, but it is always harder to forgive myself than another. I find myself praying and continuing to ask God for the same forgiveness over and over. We continue to punish ourselves because we feel we have not received God’s gift of forgiveness. But God forgives us the first time we ask. When we keep holding onto what we can’t forgive ourselves of, it is like continuously picking at a scab. It will not heal. We will never truly forgive ourselves, if we don’t remember God’s promise of forgiveness. Not forgiving things in our past will never free us of the past, only keep us stuck there. If you don’t forgive yourself, you will teach your children that they can’t make mistakes.  If we don’t forgive ourselves, we are not going to ever move forward, because it will be like a weight is around our ankle holding us back.

I want to point out, it is possible and very important, to forgive someone fully and still set healthy boundaries. There are so many who are suffering abuse of one sort or the other and need to get out of the situation they are in. With my situation with my brother-in-law, I had to forgive him, not for him but for ME.      But I didn’t have to talk on phone to him-I didn’t have to be where he was-I didn’t ever have to see him again-trust him-not let him hurt me, my husband or my kids anymore. It is hard to forgive someone when they don’t ask for our forgiveness. Nowhere in scripture does it tell us that they have to ask for forgiveness, before we forgive them.

Forgiveness and trust are not always the same thing. That is why we have to set up those boundaries. Forgiveness can be given immediately but trust is rebuilt over time. Trust cannot be forced, because it requires the offender to prove themselves. The only person who we can truly trust is God. Holding onto hurt and not forgiving, often keeps us trapped in anger and pain. Forgiveness, on the other hand, opens the door to healing, freedom and peace for ourselves. When we remember how much God has forgiven us, we find the strength to forgive others. Loving like Jesus means extending the same grace and mercy we have received. It is not easy. But it is commanded. Me forgiving my brother-in-law had nothing to do with me trusting him.

You will know you have truly forgiven a person when you genuinely want the best in life for them and can sincerely pray for God to bless them.

Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive our trespasses.”

Colossians 1:12-14 “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

Till next time!

                                             Keela

JUBAL’S MUSIC

Genesis 4:21 reads “His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.”

Have you ever heard of Jubal? His father was Lamech. (This is not the same Lamech mentioned in Genesis 5, 1 Chronicles 1 and in genealogies to Christ in Luke 3. This Lamech practiced polygamy and boasted about murder.) Jubal had a brother named Jabal. (When I saw that, I laughed and thought of my one first cousin (yes, I only had one) whose name was Keena. When my grandmother would call for one of us, we both went. Now as a grandmother whose first four older grandkids names start with an A, I understand the confusion my poor grandmother had.) Jubal is in the genealogy of the family of Cain, who killed his brother, Abel. Jubal’s genealogy was marked by violence.

Jubal was never mentioned again in scripture. Just mentioned that he existed, created and used the talents he had been given. Most of Scripture is about quiet lives, ordinary callings and people who fulfilled their God guided purpose, in the life season they were in.

Maybe, Jubal lived in a family who thought that nothing good could come from Cain’s lineage. The world did not look anything like the garden of Eden, where it had all started. But here was Jubal, who created and picked up an instrument and made music with it.

We don’t have any idea if he struggled with the weight of his genealogy. There is a lot we don’t know about this man, but we know that he did not feel insignificant, because of his past family’s history. He created, picked up a harp and flute and did what he could. He didn’t wait for perfect conditions in his life to use his gifts. He didn’t let his families past hold him back. He didn’t put his calling on hold waiting until everything made sense. He just started. Took step 1. Some might say they will retire before they concentrate on working for the Lord. Is there a certainty that they will live until retirement age?

We can’t see the entire picture of our lives, but we need to get busy and do what we can now. Jubal’s example to us is to be faithful in the present, in the time that is right in front of us. Jubal’s smaller story is just mentioned quickly in the larger story of Cain killing Abel. God doesn’t ask us to see our whole story on this earth, before we obey Him. God just wants us to actively trust Him and serve Him today.

God’s timing is not like our timing. God moves in ways that don’t make sense to us. Proverbs 3:5-6 reads “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” He uses the different seasons in our lives to prepare us for our future. Those are not wasted seasons but times for us to grow deep in our faith to God.

Our world today shows us we only matter, if we are in the spotlight. But God tells us we do matter and are valuable, in the every day happenings. We are all loved and significant in God’s eyes. Luke 12:7 reads “…the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Psalm 56:8 reads “You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle…”  

Jubal became the father of music. Think of David who played the harp and soothed king Saul’s soul. (1 Samuel 16:23) Jubal started music that had beautiful effects for the future. His work did not change the world. His gifts didn’t show the path to our Savior Christ. But for those who love to play instruments and love music, he did create something very important.

We don’t have to see what God is using us for in this life. The point is we just need to have complete trust in Him in the waiting and serve Him today. Since I am older now, I can see that God has used my different seasons of life for a specific purpose at that time and for a reason for my future. We need to use what we have in each stage of our lives to serve the Lord and fulfill our purpose. We might not think our life is of any significance or what we are doing of any consequence. But God has a mission for you, even though you can’t see it. We don’t have to understand. We just have to have faith that God’s timing is perfect and for our good. We just have to keep on putting one foot in front of the other, trusting God that He is with us and helping us along our path. Doing the best that we can!

As far as I can find, Jubal is never mentioned again. We don’t know how long he lived-what type of person he was-if he had any children-nothing else. But we do know that he created music through the harp and the flute. (You might turn to this passage and look at his brother and half-brothers. They were also very talented like Jubal was. You might also notice that these verses name their mother’s names and sister by name. Something very rare at this time in Bible history to list women’s names. Just some things I noticed and for you to think about.)

The point of this blog, is for us to see that God counts us important, even when we don’t think we are of any significance. We can’t see our future and what it contains. God may be using this season in our lives to prepare us for God’s purpose for us in the future. Maybe, our lives have several purposes. We don’t know for sure, but we have to trust and continue to have faith: in God’s timing-in our waiting-in our difficult circumstances-in what we think are unanswered prayers-in the mundane every day happenings. Whatever age you are now, use it for service to God and keep the faith that your future holds the unseen joy of a home with God.

We are not insignificant to God. God created Jubal, who had a talent to create music! Jubal is only mentioned in two sentences in the Bible. But look at what he accomplished. We need to trust God in the waiting. Our purpose may feel unclear and our impact seems so small and insignificant. We fit into God’s plans, even when we don’t see it or realize it. We serve Him in the quiet, simple moments of every day.

Had you ever noticed before, the name of Jubal and that he was the father of music? I sure hadn’t. But we sure have now!

Till next time!

                                            Keela

THE HATS OF GRIEF

There are many hats of grief. So many different reasons for grieving. Our congregation has many “sizes, shapes and styles” right now. We have people who are fighting against the hard word of cancer. We have a precious saint who goes to dialysis three times a week, waiting for a transplant. We have a woman grieving the loss of her husband. Me, grieving the loss of my dad, who passed away a couple of months ago. One member, the loss of a precious pet. One family who is grieving the loss of the husband’s job and the many bills piling up and no fathomable way to pay them. Many who have lost their ability to, go even one day, without pain. Several who have become “prisoners” in their home because of age. Many who are still grieving the loss of a child. Others are going through the grief of depression. Some, because of storms, property is lost. Another is grieving because of bullying. One of my personal griefs today is for, my daughter, Navy son-in-law and family, who lost everything they owned in a semi-moving truck fire, as it was moving them to the complete other side of the U.S. (From Virginia to the state of Washington.) They arrived safely, but only with what their two cars could hold and what was on their backs. She is trying to set up their new home and every day brings another precious treasure that has been lost in the ashes. Right now, she is making lists and lists of all that was on that truck, for the insurance. It is reliving that fire every day! She is only spending an hour a day, because it is so painful to spend more than that.  (I want to say here, thank you for all of you who have helped them. They will be ok. Their faith in God is strong! But please keep them in your prayers!)

Even though it has been almost 17 years since I lost my husband, at times it seems like yesterday. Other times a lifetime ago. Today, while writing this, I am reminded he would have turned 75 today. The quote, below, I read on the ‘We Are Widow Warriors’ post, on Facebook. If you are experiencing the fact of losing your husband, I recommend it highly.  Below is a quote from it that made so much sense and is so true. If you are experiencing ANY type of grief, it will help you to understand all the emotions that are running through your heart right now. (I want to point out that it is ok to be feeling these emotions.)

“Grief has many physical symptoms. What we feel in our heart, our body feels too. You are not imaging it.

• Exhaustion-Deep, overwhelming tiredness that rest doesn’t always fix.
• Sleep Problems-Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or sleeping too much.
• Headaches-Tension and stress can cause frequent or lasting headaches.
• Body Aches-Grief can show up as unexplained pain.
• Stomach Issues-Nausea, loss of appetite, butterflies, or a heavy feeling.
• Weakened Immune System-You may get sick more easily.
• Chest Tightness-That heavy, aching feeling in your chest.
• Shortness of Breath-Grief can take your breath away.
• Heart Palpitations-Your heart may race for no clear reason.
• Brain Fog-Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

Your body is not weak. It is carrying a very heavy load. Be gentle with yourself. You are doing the best you can.”

 Those of us who are grieving for ANY cause, are on a new journey we have never been on before. Our lives are changed forever. Grief isn’t just missing what was. It’s learning to live without what will never be. We need God given courage to keep on taking one foot in front of the other. Below are some verses from the Bible that help us remember that God is right by our side and helping us through the pain and loss.

Joshua 1:9 “…Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” and verses 13-14 “I would have lost heart unless I believed in the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Psalm 34:17-18 “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”

There are so many passages in the Old and New Testaments to give us assurance that God is by our side, helping us walk and sometimes crawl, through the devastations of this life. Have faith in God even when it feels so hard, because the answers to your prayers are no! When you don’t understand why these things happen, keep your hope in God’s promises. When we ask why, reach out in trust to God. When we feel like giving up and just want to fall into the world and its seemingly easy answers to the pain, keep your faith in God! God has not changed. He has been with us in the past, present and will be in the future!

Look up the lives of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in Daniel 3. They still had to go through the intense fire, but yet God was with them in it. God has never promised us “an easy ride” on this earth! We will have struggles on this earth. When we go through these trials, we see our faith and trust in God actually making us stronger-giving us peace-helping us to breathe through the struggle.

Hang in there, especially if your grief is fresh and raw. Sometimes, all we can do is to take one step at a time. But remember, God is the only way to forge ahead into the future. John 16:33 reads “…in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  

‘At my lowest, God is my hope. At my darkest, God is my light. At my weakest, God is my strength. At my saddest, God is my comforter.’ -Kelly’s Treehouse-

Grief is a personal journey. It doesn’t have to be like any one else’s or in the same time frame. Hang on! The only way to get through each step is to lean on God and His promises! It is normal to isolate and not reach out. I have wanted to stay “in my bubble.” I understand! That is ok. But, don’t stay there. Try to reach out to someone who will listen, keep your words to themselves and help you through the rawness. There are many types of Christian grief groups out there. There is nothing wrong with reaching out to them. But also, remember, reach out to God for His help. Dust off your Bible and read how God consoles the grieving.

 I will leave you with the verse I turn to, for help, when I go through grief or when someone reaches out to me, in their pain.                            

 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Grief never totally goes away. But does become softer.  Be graceful to yourself to let yourself grieve, in your own way. Never give up! You will find happiness in this life again. Keep the joy of the Lord in your heart. Turn to God. With trust, faith, hope and love in the Lord, you can walk through the grief journey you are on. May God bless you on your journey of the “different hats of grief!”

Till next time!

                                       Keela