Category: Uncategorized

MAYBE IT IS TIME

We have been hearing the word, quarantine, all over the news. It means according to Webster dictionary: “a period during which a ship suspected of carrying a contagious disease is forbidden contact with the shore. (Sound familiar) A restraint on the movements or persons or goods to prevent the spread of pests or disease.” Thissounds familiar also, doesn’t it?This definition is not what I would think ourcountry would be saying so frequently in the news. God used quarantine in the Bible many times. Read Leviticus 14:33-57 which tells the Israelites what to do when leprosy comes into their homes and what they needed to do to keep themselves safe. The book of Leviticus is full of so many unhealthy situations that could happen to the Israelites and God tells them what to do. Usually they were told to wash their clothes and take a bath. God used these times to protect His people, to help them heal themselves and their land.

We have been told to stay at home unless absolutely necessary. I am in quarantine now. I am of an age and have underlying conditions that make me at risk. My dad, who is in his mid-80’s is also at risk. They are finding out now that younger people can get this virus also. One of my sons, uses phone & computer to do his work. He and family have gone to a farm where they have their camper parked. My Navy wife-daughter, who has four kids-three in school, is confining her little family at home. She has a teaching degree and has been enjoying teaching them from home. When my son, who lives with me, comes home from work, he takes a shower. I spray with disinfectant all doorknobs, etc., that he has touched. He and my other son have a job that is considered necessary. But there are so many businesses that have closed their doors, laid off their employees, not knowing when or if they can reopen. I know in a few weeks when I do not get a paycheck, it is going to be rough. The employees of the businesses that have closed, are going to and are hurting financially. The government plans to help with unemployment and other stimulus packages to boost our economy right now. But they need to hurry! There are so many who live paycheck to paycheck. What are we going to do? When can we all get back to normal? How long will this quarantine last? When can all these businesses reopen or even survive to reopen? When can we worship together again? There are so many questions surrounding our new normal right now, but no answers.

It is normal to question when our lives will get back to normal. It is normal to worry about the future! Most of us have never experienced anything like this before. Read Matthew 6:25-34. Verse 25 reads, “Therefore (which refers back to the fact that we cannot serve God and the riches of this earth) I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Verses 32-34 read, “…For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and, all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  It is easy to say do not worry, but it is harder to actually put that into action isn’t it? Some cannot believe in a God who allows these times to happen to us, especially here in our country. Then, there are those of us who trust in God even when things like this are swirling around us! God will take care of us. God is right by our side helping us take one step in front of the other. God has told us there will be problems in this life. But we need to realize that, even when the fear of the unknown is surrounding us, even when this invisible threat is swallowing up so many, even when many are dying all over the world, God is still in control. God is who He has always been. The great I AM!

Maybe He is allowing this sneaky virus to encircle the globe, because He needs us to turn back to Him. I know I have much more time on my hands. I work full time. I can only go to work those days of the week, come home eat a bite and then go to bed and do it all over again the next day. Maybe it is time to evaluate our lives. Maybe it is time to spend more time in the word of God, the Bible. Maybe it is time to not take church assembly for granted. We will once again be together as a church family-shake hands & hug each other. I miss my brothers and sisters! Maybe it is a blessed time to spend with our family-to reconnect with each other. Maybe it is time that we can spend with our little ones and give them memories of good in the middle of the bad. Maybe it is time to slow down from the busyness and get rest. Maybe it is time to reevaluate our lives and make some changes. Maybe it is time to realize some things are just not as important as we thought they were. Maybe it is time that we can connect through a phone call to an elderly person and see if we can help them in some way. It can get lonely day after day sitting in their homes, trying to stay away from this invisible force. Maybe it is time to realize we are not indestructible. Maybe it is time to stop worrying.  God has got this! He will give us what we need, not just what we want! God allows these things to happen, to get us to stop and remember that we do have a God!

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is 2 Chronicles 7:14. This is when Solomon had prayed to God, after he built the temple. Verses 13-14 read, “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people; if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  Wow, let those words sink in! There is a very powerful two letter word in this reading: IF. Let’s look at what we need to do in the midst of this invisible enemy.

1. HUMBLE ourselves. Our country is so use to having plenty. We are so proud of ourselves for our accomplishments that we forget to remember who let us excel. We have forgotten what it is like to be without. As my grandmother use to say, “we have gotten too big for our britches!” We need to take a step back and remember we would not have anything if it was not for God. Sure, we have worked hard for what we have-our nice home-our car-our clothes-eating out when we want to. We say to ourselves look what I have done! But God says to humble ourselves!
2. PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE. Have you ever noticed that when our country goes through a rough time, that people pray to God for help? But during everyday life, He is forgotten? Pray, not just a prayer we have heard, but a heartfelt prayer. I have found when I have gone through rough times, and I pray; I suddenly feel peace. Nothing in my life has changed but my attitude about the problem has changed because I have gone to my Father and poured out my heart and soul. I have released the problem to Him. This does not mean, like in the current situation, that I go into big crowds or do not disinfect my home or go & do what I want to and not obey the current order to stay home. But rather it means that I have put my trust in God that He will take care of me. I reach out to God through prayer and search the scriptures to find comfort.
3. TURN from wicked ways. There is a lot of evil out there. So many evil things that the world feels are their right to do because they have not had a good life. Maybe they have grown up in a home that has not respected God. Their parents have not given them a good example-violent towards each other-drinking or drugs are taken. They have seen a normal which is not healthy, nor directed towards God. But God is saying in our verses, that they need to turn from their wicked ways. Just because you have not had a healthy example in your home-even though they have reacted by doing violent things-even though they have lived their lives for themself; God wants us to turn from those evil actions. When you turn, you are leaving all that stuff behind you and going on a different path. It may not be easy but you can do it!

Then, God tells us that He will do certain things.

1. HE WILL HEAR. When a person comes to God humbly and not for self, God will hear them. That is such a calming thought isn’t it?
2. HE WILL FORGIVE. God will forgive, we just have to seek Him and ask for that forgiveness. God will forget that sin and help you to find a way to forgive yourself.
3. HE WILL HEAL OUR LAND. Wow, that is the one that makes me really think. Our land has become evil-gotten away from God. It is a world of selfishness. A world that tells us if it feels right, then do it. A world that accepts evil into their homes. God can and will heal our land when we have reached out to Him in humility, knowing that God’s way is the right way. The Old Testament is full of examples of this. The Israelites turned away from God, then another country would overtake them. Then the Israelites prayed in earnest to God, and He healed their land by bringing then out of captivity.

       In the midst of this virus, we are seeing kindness everywhere. That is how our country and others react to terrible things happening. We see there is a need and we react to help others. It helps to remind myself, that there are still good people who are living to help others not just themselves. Sure, our country is going down an evil road, one of selfishness, but also there are so many who are on the right path. Those who are not thinking of self but helping others. Times like these help us to remember that!

I read this on Facebook and want to share it with you.

I know this. When this ends-and it will-every game will sell out, every restaurant will have a 2 hour wait, every kid will be glad to be in school, everyone will love their job, the stock market will skyrocket, every house will get TP’d and we all will embrace and shake hands. That’s gonna be a pretty good day. Hang in their world.

As my mother said, this too will pass! Life will get back to normal. But hopefully we will remember to not take things for granted. When waiting in the drive thru line, don’t get so impatient. People will be able to watch their sports again and will be thankful for the entertainment. We hopefully will be thankful we have a job, instead of always looking at the clock and we will remember that in whatever we do we need to do it for the Lord and His glory. Kids will not take for granted that they have a school to go to and hang out with their friends. Once again, our store shelves will have whatever we want and need. So instead of becoming once again zoned into self, let’s remember Who gives us hope-Who gives us love-Who gives us forgiveness-Who gives us our everyday things and lives.

Maybe it is time to reevaluate ourselves and focus on what is truly important. Maybe it is time to humble ourselves and not think that it is all about me.    Maybe it is time to seek God through prayer and embrace the peace that brings. Maybe it is time to turn from what we know is wrong and go to Who is right. Maybe it is time to reconnect with our families, slow down and meditate on God’s word.

I want to leave with you a couple of passages of scripture that offers hope and peace. Psalm 27:13-14 “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see 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!” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “Therefore, (speaking of our faith and God’s grace) we do not loose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Yes, we are in quarantine. The world is at war against an invisible enemy. Not a good thing OR is it? Maybe it is time!

Till next time!               Keela

During this time of fear, hold onto the promises and worthiness of our Lord and Savior!

IS HE WORTHY by Chris Thomlin

Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)

Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)

But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through? (We do)

Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We do)

Is all creation groaning? (It is)

Is a new creation coming? (It is)

Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? (It is)

Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)

Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?

Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave

He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave

Is He worthy? Is He worthy

Of all blessing and honor and glory?

Is He worthy of this?

He is

Does the Father truly love us? (He does)

Does the Spirit move among us? (He does)

And does Jesus, our Messiah, hold forever those He loves? (He does)

Does our God intend to dwell again with us? (He does)

Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?

Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave

He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave

From every people and tribe (People and tribe)

Every nation and tongue (Every nation and tongue)

He has made us a kingdom and priests to God

To reign with the Son

Is He worthy? Is He worthy

Of all blessing and honor and glory?

Is He worthy? Is He worthy?

Is He worthy of this?

He is, He is

Is He worthy? Is He worthy?

He is, He is

He is worthy, He is worthy

He is

(comments from Keela) This song, sung by Chris Tomlin, was written by Andrew Peterson & Ben Shive.  (the words in parenthesis are echoed by the crowd) It is a song to reaffirm our faith and belief system within our hearts. Yes, our Lord and Savior is worthy to give us hope, even when we do not see any hope. God is our only true hope! Even though we are full of fear right now, thinking the shadows are deepening all around us, I feel this song sung by Chris Tomlin, reminds us that God is right by our side. He does care even though the murky mire is trying to swallow us up. Is God worthy even in the midst of this time of fear?  Deserving of our praise? Absolutely-HE IS!

(Song based on these verses in Revelation 4-5)

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

“You are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things. And by Your will they exist and were created.”

“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

FEAR

Fear coursed through my body as my teen age son, my daughter, carrying her doll, and I ran to the neighbors. A family member had threatened me. I will never forget the screeching sounds & cursing that I heard him saying on the phone. Then, he said, to someone in the room with him, “get my gun.” Then I heard him say to me, “I will be there in 20 minutes.” Then the phone call went dead. I had or have not since, heard or felt that kind of fear! My husband was at work. I had to leave with my kids.  How could this have happened? What did I do or say to cause him to threaten me in that way? He had threatened my husband many times. The family member was wanting my husband to meet him in some remote area to receive his inheritance from their mother passing. He was wanting me to convince my husband to meet him there. I think that threatening me and kids was a way he thought he could get to my husband.

Webster’s definition of fear is: “an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by expectation or awareness of danger.” There are different types of fear. The days before my husband was to have surgery, I was fearful but yet excited that this surgery would help him lead a better-healthier life. Instead, his congestive heart failure caused him to pass away. After my husband of 36 years passed away, I was in shock and fearful of how I was going to survive without him. My daughter went to college in Florida. I live in Missouri. So far away! I was fearful that if something happened to her, it would take me awhile to get to her. Now, she is married to a Navy man and lives in Norfolk, Virginia. She recently had some issues with her blood pressure and ended up having a slight heart attack. She is 34 years old and has four children under the age of 11! So far from her, I felt fear in my heart. Isn’t it true that we are most fearful when we look towards the future-the unknown? Usually happenings we have no control over.

As I write this blog, we are fearful about the coronavirus. Other countries are in lock down. We are not allowing anyone from another country to come into this country. Smart move! Our store shelves are bare. Everywhere is out of toilet paper! What? Really? Who would have ever thought there would not be toilet paper on the store shelves? Most people are feeling panic and fear within their hearts. I am fearful as well, especially for my dad and the older and younger population of our country. What does the future hold for us? Will I get it? Will members of my family and friends get it? There are no answers to these questions. We just have to be smart: wash hands often-don’t go into areas that have large crowds. We are fearful of our economy-loss of income because people are not able to work-spread of the virus-fearful because we do not know when our lives will be back to normal again! Are we doing enough to protect ourselves and those we love?

But there is something important that we need to remember and need to do. We must hold onto the truth that God is with us in this fight against this virus and the other happenings in our lives that cause fear in our hearts. Even if we, loved one or friend does get this virus, God is right by our side. We are His son-His daughter! He gave His only Son on a cruel cross for us. God does not want bad things to happen to us, just like we do not want anything bad to happen to our kids & grandkids. God loves us!

Fear can paralyze or weaken us. It can lead to foolish actions. Fear is an enemy when it robs us of strength and motivates us to make wrong choices. It robs us of our courage and faith. King Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar, was full of fear when he saw a hand writing on the wall in Daniel 5:6. “Then the kings countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.” Instead of calling for help from God, he called for astrologers, magicians and soothsayers. The queen reminded the king that there was a man, named Daniel, who had the Spirit of the Holy God, who could interpret what was written on the wall by the hand. Read the rest of that chapter and find out the tragic end of the story. When fear of anticipated evil sends us away from God, rather than to Him; then fear becomes our enemy.

Fear can also cause us to not obey God. In 1 Samuel, Saul was told to destroy the plunder of an enemy. He brought it home instead. Verse 24-25 says, “then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me, that I may worship the Lord.”  In the New Testament, Peter denied Christ three times while Jesus was being beaten and spit on. He was afraid he would be treated the same way. Matthew 26, tells us that when Peter realized what he had done, he wept bitterly.

Fear can also be good. We could drive down the road at 100 mph, but we know that either we will see flashing lights behind us or cause a tragic accident. I pulled some ligaments in my foot several years ago, trying to hang a picture. I will not get up on a ladder again for fear of falling and hurting myself. (Besides, my kids have banned me from any ladders.) The fear we have for God, is positive because it is a healthy respect for our God, who is our foundation of our faith. To fear God is to respond to Him in awe, reverence and wonder. We must serve Him through our actions-shunning evil and only worship Him.

The Bible has about 365 verses that tell us not to fear. I want to give you a few here to lean on during this crisis in our country and all over the world.

Deuteronomy 10:12-14  “…what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good? Indeed, heaven and the highest heavens belong to the Lord your God, also the earth with all that is in it. “ 

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Psalm 56:3-4 “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word). In God I have put my trust; I will not fear, what can flesh do to me?”

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.”

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

David in Psalm 27 said. “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? When the wicked came against me to eat my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.”

You may be wondering what happened with the fear I mentioned at the first of this blog. Cannot possibly tell you nor want to revisit, all that transpired. But I will say that my husband talked to him and told him to get his life right with God, call back and he would talk to him. We never heard from him again. He passed away a few years later. Did he ever get his life right with God? I prayed that he would, but that is something I will never know for sure.

This world has evil-sickness-ugliness-fear! Even in the middle of this chaos, God is there with us. Maybe we are one of the ones who gets this virus. Maybe we will not survive the sickness. We do not know the future, but we know Who holds the future!

Am I taking precautions? Yes! Have we been to the store and gotten necessary items? Yes! I am a receptionist at a very busy animal hospital. I handle money every day and interact with people. Washing hands is essential. We are taking precautions there for our safety and of our clients. Am I afraid? Yes! But I am trying my best to calm others, myself and rely on the Bible. It is full of so many verses about fear that can calm my spirit through meditation of them. I urge you to get out your Bibles-dust them off-and get back into the word of God. Look up the word fear and read what and how God gives us peace even within the fear and uncertainty.

FEAR! Rest in God-trust in God-turn to God-pray to God-you are not alone-you are a child of God!

I am ending this blog with words from Philippians 4:6-7. “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, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Be safe! Till next time!                            Keela

MY HAPPY PLACE

A couple of days ago, it was snowing. The last four Wednesdays in a row it has snowed. Looking out the window, I can look at the purity and beauty of those flakes. I love to watch it come down, from the safety of my front room, and I thank God for the white, seemingly purifying flakes falling to the ground. There is a tree out in front of the animal hospital I work at, that was so pretty. It actually looked like it had spring blossoms, of white clumps on the top of all the branches.  I told one customer if you try to not look at all that white stuff on the ground and surrounding trees, it looked like a promise of spring ahead. He looked at me like I was crazy, but smiled.

When the roads are bad, I am so blessed to have my two boys close by that they can (if works out with their work schedules) take me to work and pick me up after work. My work actually takes care of me too when the snow flies. There has been one Wednesday that my office manager called and said to stay home because the roads were too bad. We have gotten a lot of ice first and then snow on top of that. When looking out a window safe and sound inside, the snow is just beautiful! But when out on the roads trying to get around, or trying to walk, it is so dangerous! The older I get, the more cautious I am about trying to walk on the ice and snow.

If someone asked me where my happy place is, I always say on the beach watching the waves coming in and going out. (When I go visit my grandkids in Virginia, my daughter always makes it a point to go to the beach one day. So that makes two happy places at once: watching the ocean and being with my grandbabies.) There is just something about hearing that ocean water coming in and out with the tide. It somehow makes me feel at peace and helps me remember the magnitude of our God!

But on the other side, the ocean can be so dangerous. It has been known to engulf a ship and capsize it, which causes loss of life and livelihood. When a hurricane happens, it can cause so much devastation to people’s homes and lives within its path. Under the surface, there can be dangers lurking there as well. There have been several instances of people being attacked by sharks or other creatures lurking under that seemingly calm water.

These two places make me think that our lives are just like that ocean and snow. We can have so many beautifully happy times in this life here on this earth. As I mentioned, one of those is when I am blessed to go see my grandbabies in Virginia. Hearing their voices and hugging them close, brings me to one of my happy places that I just want to treasure and remember. I try to take a lot of pictures when I am with them and send them a little photo album so they can look at them and remember our happy times together.

When I am writing for this blog or a vendor at a show selling and talking to someone at an event, about my books that I have published, I am at my happy place as well. I feel like my experiences, both good and bad, have and will help others who might be going through a trial in their life. I have seen and heard comments that give me encouragement and courage to share even the darkest times of my life, that can help someone put one foot in front of the other.

On the other hand, this life can throw us curve balls. Things happen that we don’t see coming. Death of a loved one or friend bring us back to reality that life can end without warning. James 4:13-15 reads “Come now, you who say, ‘today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell and make a profit;’ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘if the Lord wills, we shall do this or that.” I remember one time, my daughter, her oldest (who was a few years old then), and I were traveling. We went by a mine and there was white smoke coming out of a pipe, which went up in the air and then it just vaporized. My grandson said, “look, nana, they are making clouds!” I thought, just like a nana would, boy he is really smart to see and think that! That smoke went quickly up into the air and then vanished. Just like our lives. We are here on earth for such a short amount of time. Then, sometimes without warning, we are gone. Our lives here on earth, vanish.

Maybe, our life does not turn out the way that we had envisioned. My husband and I were going along our lives and then all of a sudden, he became physically sick. He sank into a deep depression for two years. There were many dark times during those years. His illness made him change from the strong Christian leader of my home, to someone who felt like he had caused all of the trials we faced. My faith was tested. But then I remembered the hope that I could hold on to that we have in Jesus. I know I did many things that were not right. I know that I felt bitterness within my heart towards my husband. I had to work with God’s help to rid my heart of that. Now I can look back and see God was at work in my life. He was by my side helping me take one step at a time.  

Romans 8:18 & 22-25 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us…For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that but we also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly awaiting the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does someone hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

Even though this life can be hard, we must hold onto the hope, that only God can give us, that we have an eternal home with Him. Hebrews 6:19 tells us about this hope that God has promised us.  “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus…”  Our hope, as believers, is secure in Christ, just like an anchor is to a ship. This anchor is not dropped into the sand or this world which would not be strong, but rather the anchor is on solid rock; which is the knowledge that our Savior came to earth, died and was raised and ascended to heaven. We must serve Him, even though we make mistakes, remembering that hope. That should be our happy place even when life sends us curve balls. Somehow when life is hard, I feel closer to God and remember how powerful He is. Just like those powerful waves and the danger of the ice and snow, our hope is that the waves will become calm and that the sunshine will come out once again. This gives us hope, each and every day, to make it through. 

Where is your happy place here on this earth? Is your happy place with God? Is it anchored securely in God’s promises of eternal life one day? This hope has gotten me through some really bad “snowstorms” and “treacherous waves” in my life! Creation has so much beauty and peace for us to enjoy. Find a happy place for you to enjoy the beauty that God has created for us. But more importantly find the happy place that only God can give us! Hope of eternal life when our time on this earth is over.

Till next time!                                                  Keela

(The picture at the beginning of this blog, is the last time I was able to go visit my grandbabies! What a happy place!)

ARMS WIDE OPEN

Whenever I am blessed to be able to go see my four little ones in Virginia, I love the hallway that I walk down, after getting off the plane. My grandkids can see me coming. They run calling “Nana-Nana.” I open wide my arms and they run into my arms with hugs and kisses! That gives me so much joy! There was one time, several years ago, that I was concerned that my three-year-old granddaughter might not remember who I was. When they are so little, going six months between visits can be a long time in their little lives. But when I came down that long hallway, I started waving at her and she literally ran and jumped into my arms and squeezed me around the neck. I cannot tell you how that made me feel! (If you are a grandparent reading this, I think you know exactly what I am saying.) The joy-the happiness-the love at that moment will live in my heart forever!

I want to talk about two fathers who opened their arms wide open. Open your Bibles and read Luke 15:11-32. We have heard many thoughts about the youngest son and the oldest son, but have you ever thought from the viewpoint of the father? I want to focus on the fact that the father always had his arms wide open just waiting for the son to realize his error and come back into his arms. But before we do that, I want to remind us about the youngest son and what he did. The younger son, the Prodigal. In Webster’s dictionary the word prodigal means: “reckless-wasteful.” This son asked his father for his part of his inheritance. The father made the choice to give it to him. This son made choices after leaving home that made him void of all his inheritance. He wasted it on things of this world. The younger son, after losing his inheritance, was eating and living with the pigs.

Verse 17 says, the younger son, “came to himself.” I love that expression!  He realized that his bad choices-his selfish choices, led him to this place and caused him to stumble and fall. Read verse 20. It says “And he arose and came to his father…”  He realized that he needed to go back home-back to his father. The son actually had to put into action, he had to make an effort, to come back to his father.  I can just see his father when he saw him a “far way off” with his arms wide open, ready to wrap his arms around him! I can feel that anticipation and joy this father felt when he saw his son coming towards him. When the lost son returned home, he felt like he did not deserve to receive anything from his father or even be called his son. Verses 18-19 tell us that this son became humble & realized he had done wrong. He said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you and I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”  His father instead, brought the best he had and gave to him. (Read on in this scripture about the older son and the jealousy he felt towards his brother. He forgot that he had always had the father’s blessings and always the best at his disposal. We will save any other thoughts about the older son for another time.)

The other father I want to talk about is our Father-God. Just like this lost son, sometimes we have to reach bottom-get down into the muddy mire, before we can truly rise up and embrace the reality that there is a God who cares so much for us that He gave His only Son on the cross to die for us! Arms wide open! Just like the son, we can make choices here on this earth that are not the best for us. We can live our lives for ourselves or we can live our lives in service to our God. There might be times that we have gone so far into the world that we feel we can never be accepted by His son. Isn’t that how we feel sometimes? We feel we have done so much sinning that God will never forgive us. But that is a lie spoken to us by the devil, who is always ready to jump into our heads and pull us farther away from God, and make us feel that this world has so much more to offer. We have to wake up and realize that we are sinning-doing what is not right and ask for forgiveness. We have to look up, come back to our Father and ask God for His forgiveness. Then, we can truly run into our loving Father’s arms with complete & total joy.

So, two of the things we need to do when we come to our senses and realize that we have made choices that pull us away from our Father are: we have to realize what we are doing and then reach out to God asking for forgiveness. God chose to give us His Son, Jesus Christ, with His arms spread wide open on that cruel cross of Calvary. Jesus had His arms wide open for us so that when we fall, and yes, we will, God will be right there waiting, with arms wide open, for us to come back to Him. He gives us forgiveness and we have the amazing reality of our inheritance in heaven one day! 1 Peter 1:3-5 reads “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” God gave His only Son for us so that we can have a hope of realizing our inheritance; which is living in heaven with Him after our lives are over here on this earth. God raised Him up so we can have that hope. God gives us the choice to squander our inheritance by living with and by the world, just like the Prodigal son did, or we can realize what God did for us and we can live in service to and for Him.

I can just see the father, with his arms wide open, running to his son. Can’t you? As a parent, I can feel the joy in that father’s heart, that this lost son was coming home. Maybe you have a child that has fallen away from you and God. He or she has made choices that have sent them far away from God. But God always gives us hope and mercy, that no matter how long it might be, they can always come home. And we as parents will always have our arms wide open just waiting for them to return to us and God. The Prodigal son’s father, never lost his love for his son. Our Father, in heaven, is the same way. Romans 8:38-39 reads “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Wow, that tells us nothing can separate us from God’s love. Even if you partake of the things of this world: drinking, taking drugs, given your body for money, committed a crime and am in prison, stopped gathering with other Christians in church, do not even know where your Bible is. Those things cannot separate you from the love that God has for you! When you realize that you are in the miry pit “with the pigs,” be assured that God is always waiting for you to return to Him! Do you need to leave those worldly choices that you have made, which have made you fall from Him?  Run back to God! Do not delay! Don’t say I will do it tomorrow. What if tomorrow does not come? What if death comes your way before you make yourself right with God? Don’t choose the world and lose your inheritance in heaven. Choose God and work for Him every day! Remember, God is always waiting for you to return to Him, with His arms wide open!

Till next time!                              Keela