My Expectation Is From Him

"My expectation is from Him."—Psalm 62:5.

It is the believer's privilege to use this language. If he is looking for aught from the world, it is a poor "expectation" indeed. But if he looks to God for the supply of his wants, whether in temporal or spiritual blessings, his expectation" will not be a vain one. Constantly he may draw from the bank of faith, and get his need supplied out of the riches of God's lovingkindness. This I know, I had rather have God for my banker than all the Rothschilds. My Lord never fails to honour His promises; and when we bring them to His throne, He never sends them back unanswered. Therefore I will wait only at His door, for He ever opens it with the hand of munificent grace. At this hour I will try Him anew. But we have "expectations" beyond this life. We shall die soon; and then our "expectation is from Him." Do we not expect that when we lie upon the bed of sickness He will send angels to carry us to His bosom? We believe that when the pulse is faint, and the heart heaves heavily, some angelic messenger shall stand and look with loving eyes upon us, and whisper, "Sister spirit, come away!" As we approach the heavenly gate, we expect to hear the welcome invitation, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." We are expecting harps of gold and crowns of glory; we are hoping soon to be amongst the multitude of shining ones before the throne; we are looking forward and longing for the time when we shall be like our glorious Lord—for "We shall see Him as He is." Then if these be thine "expectations," O my soul, live for God; live with the desire and resolve to glorify Him from whom cometh all thy supplies, and of whose grace in thy election, redemption, and calling, it is that thou hast any "expectation" of coming glory. - Spurgeon's Morning and Evening

Sometimes, in life we get so bogged down with the cares of this world. At work, we might find ourselves acting like the lost world. The printers go out, the vending machine breaks, the computer keeps shutting down, people around you are miserable... and you find yourself being miserable right along with them. You’re in a funk and you don't know why. Our Expectation needs to be from the LORD. He has given us so much! We can have his Joy.

A few years ago, I went to a seminar called "How to communicate with tough people." Basically the class was a pep talk where the speaker's job was to pump us up so we can go out and face all those "horrible" people out there. He taught us to “Fake It Till We Make It.” At one point in the talk he said something that opened my eyes. He said, “When things get really bad and you think you can’t fake it, then I want you to think of the happiest moment in your life. Whether it is when you got married or held your baby in your arms… I want you to hold on to that memory. And when things are tough, just bring that memory back to mind. And that will help you get through the tough situations of life.” While I was listening to him say this, I heard a still small voice saying “Jen, I am your strength. Don’t you see, these people don’t have that, they can’t cling to me like you can.” Then my heart broke for those people sitting there. The speaker that was still talking about how you need to look in the mirror and tell yourself you can do it. He went on saying that no one else is going to pull you up by your boot straps only you can do that. “The joy of the Lord is my strength,” echoed in my heart. That course was an eye opener, oh not because the speaker said anything helpful, but rather it showed me just how much I take for granted. As Christians, we have this awesome power from the Lord. Why don’t I realize that I have all God’s resources at my fingertips! Oh, Dear Christian Friend, our expectation is from the LORD. Expect the Lord to keep His promises. And as Charles Spurgeon wisely said: “O my soul, live for God; live with the desire and resolve to glorify Him from whom cometh all thy supplies, and of whose grace in thy election, redemption, and calling, it is that thou hast any "expectation" of coming glory.”

"Who's on First"

Once in a while you might hear in a movie a reference about “Who’s on First.” In case you didn’t know… “Who’s on First” is an Abbott and Costello comedy routine that was first performed in 1938 for a national radio audience. It is said that the routine was not scripted; Abbott and Costello made it up as they went. Over the years Abbott and Costello performed “Who’s on First?” numerous times during their carreer, rarely performing it the same way twice. They even did the routine for President Franklin Roosevelt.

Who's On First Script (for a good laugh)


The names given in the routine for the players at each position are:

• First Base: Who

• Second Base: What

• Third Base: I Don't Know

• Left field: Why

• Center field: Because

• Pitcher: Tomorrow

• Catcher: Today

• Shortstop: I Don't Care

The name of the shortstop is not given until the very end of the routine, and the right fielder is never identified. In the Selchow and Righter board game, the right fielder's name is "Nobody".[5]

At one point in the routine, Costello thinks that Naturally is the first baseman:

Abbott: You throw the ball to first base.

Costello: Then who gets it?

Abbott: Naturally.

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: Now you've got it.

Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You don't! You throw it to Who!

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott: Well, that's it—say it that way.

Costello: That's what I said.

Abbott: You did not.

Costello: I said I throw the ball to Naturally.

Abbott: You don't! You throw it to Who!

Costello: Naturally.

Abbott's explanations leave Costello hopelessly confused and infuriated, until the end of the routine when Costello finally appears to catch on.

Costello: Now I throw the ball to first base, whoever it is drops the ball, so the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don't Know. I Don't Know throws it back to Tomorrow—a triple play.

Abbott: Yeah, it could be.

Costello: Another guy gets up and it's a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don't know. He's on third, and I don't care!

Abbott: What was that?

Costello: I said, I DON'T CARE!

Abbott: Oh, that's our shortstop!

Remembering an Old Friend

Yesterday, a dear old friend went to be home with the LORD. He was my dad’s best friend. He and my dad had the most interesting relationship. They were like an old married couple. When Dale was cold, dad was hot. When Dale was hot, dad was cold. I can remember them fighting over the windows in the car. One wanted them up and the other wanted them down. People often joked with them about how long they had been married.

Dale was an old family friend. As my brother said “he knew us before we were born.” One of my first memories of Dale is when he sold us the old bus converted into a RV. Our family spent many summer days in that old bus. When I think back I remember Dale was often in our lives when we were children. Later, we would work together at Rescom. The days he came into the office just made my day. I would leave the upper floor office and come down to the coffee room and listen to him and Don share hilarious stories.

After Rescom closed, Dale moved away to Florida. We visited him a few times while we were in Florida. He then moved to Missouri. It was here were my fondest memories of Dale were formed. I never realized that Dale had so much “farmer” in him. I say “farmer” when I really should say Dale “Doolittle”. He talked to them all! From chickens, goats, horses and dogs, Dale formed a “love” for each. The days when he wasn’t so much a farmer, were those days when he would put the goats being sold into the truck. On one such day, he had the goats in the back of the truck and they were meehing loudly. Dale looked at the back of the truck and said, “You can’t say I didn’t give you a good life.” He then looked at me and said “I hate this part.”

Dale, you will be missed. Thank you for the times you let me crash at your house on my way home. Thank you for being a really good friend to my dad. We all love you Dale LeClare. We will see you soon!

My Savior's Love

The Start of Valentine’s Day... Tradition tells us that Valentine was a Christian doctor who went about doing good deeds wherever he could. Valentine became a good friend and helper to the Christians, who were being persecuted by the Roman Empire. It is believed that the doctor was eventually put in prison because of his loyalty to his fellow Christians. He was beheaded on February 14. Christians began to observe Valentine’s Day in honor of the good Doctor who died because he was a Christian.

Valentine’s Day in our time… is full of hearts, chocolates, flowers, etc. As a single gal I hated this holiday, as a florist I really hated this holiday! As a married gal, it is fun to reflect on the Love I have for the Man God has given me. I know when your single, Valentine’s Day is yet just another reminder that you are single. But I think that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be a day that you need to duck and hide until it passes. Remember, “This is the day which the LORD hath made we will be glad and rejoice in it.” Psalms 118:24. It doesn’t matter what your status is, you can still reflect on the LOVE you have in your life. So many people love us! But most of all we have a Savior that LOVES US! Just think of it! God loves us! We hear it so often that I really think we forget the awe of it! So this Valentine's Day reflect on this thought: "Almighty God loves me!"

Love saw a guilt of sin, and sought a basis of pardon.

Love saw the defilement of sin, and sought a way of cleansing.

Love saw the condemnation of sin, and sought a method of justification.

Love saw the death of sin, and sought a way of life.

Love sought – Love found! ~ Author Unknown

“I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, My Lord; I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my God: I Love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know; but how much I love Thee my actions will show.”

~ An American Folk Hymn

Chapter Seven: God’s Higher Calling - In the Midst of Doubts and Fears

“And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” ~ Matthew 14:31 Darkness and fears over took me. I was overwhelmed and could not look up. The shadows of death surrounded my heart. Wisdom faded from view and I could not trust my own thoughts. Discouragement cut into my heart like a knife and joy escaped me. The terrors of the night seized my heart. I found no peace. My prayers seemed far from me and God was not in all my thoughts. Have these thoughts ever penetrated into your heart? If so, you are not alone in your fears and doubts. There are others that faced the same thoughts. I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. ~ Psalms 6:6. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. ~ Psalms 10:4. In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? ~ Psalms 11:1. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. ~ Psalms 18:5. For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. ~ Psalms 18:28. O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. ~ Psalms 22:2. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. ~ Psalms 32:4. For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. ~ Psalms 38:4. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. ~ Psalms 40:12. Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. ~ Psalms 44:19. My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. ~ Psalms 55:3-4. In Pilgrim’s Progress, Pilgrim finds himself in Doubting Castle held prisoner by Giant Despair. He sinks down in despair unable to overcome the overwhelming thoughts of failure. Our ignorance of our sin leads us to just shut down and not deal with the root of the problem. At first, we might think we can deal with the doubts on our own. We may have the attitude that no one needs to know of our doubting. But in the darkness of our little home, the darkness will over take us. When we get this way we are now a person struggling with depression or anxiety. When we realize that we need help then we should sit down with only one or two precious godly friends and share with them what we are facing. A lot of times indifference can lead to an unmovable heart. When the LORD stops working in our lives we need to realize that something is wrong. If we don’t see that we’ve come to a wall in our spiritual walk and we are truly saved, we will become flooded by doubts. The Word of God talks about our heart being deceitful and the only one who can know our heart is God. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” ~ Jeremiah 17:9. God wants to change our lives and cause us to see our lives through His eyes. We are told to examine ourselves in 2 Corinthians 13:5. “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Here are some tips that will help us get out of a depressive state. First, we needed to play good godly music. Secondly, we need to play messages of Good Godly preachers. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” ~ John 17:17. Thirdly, we need to recognize that getting consumed with doubt is giving place to the devil. “Neither give place to the devil.” ~ Ephesians 4:27. Fourth, understand that we cannot force ourselves into some spiritual place of victory. We shouldn’t try to fix it or we’ll miss out on what the LORD is trying to teach us! There will be times when we cannot get victory over our thoughts and we may even doubt our salvation. Don’t just give in and let the thoughts have free course. We may hate them but if we don’t deal with them they will overtake us. When we do not deal with thoughts, we are letting iniquity take over. And it ends up being like a never ending vicious cycle. That will continue to drain us. Our thoughts even if they seem right and good are not necessarily God’s thoughts. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11. Our mind is not programmed to think like God. God wants to teach us and He uses the fiery trails to break us. It is when we are broken He then can begin working in our lives. “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” ~ Isaiah 64:8. Someone once wisely said, “Sow a thought - reap a habit; sow a habit - reap a destiny.” Our minds are programmed when we are born with a sin nature. And we can’t just delete the program and reinstall a new one. But yet God, who knows our thoughts and our heart, can begin to root out those thoughts and replace them with right thinking. Right thinking comes only by the Word of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” ~ 2 Timothy 3:16. Habitual thoughts will flash in the back of our minds without even our thinking on them. We may try to conduct our lives as though everything is alright. But the instability of our lives will cause those doubts to seep through. The first thing that one can notice on a person who is deeply troubled will be their countenance. “Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart.” ~ Nehemiah 2:2. We may try to hide our struggles but within weeks the darkness will be so thick that we won’t be able to see a glimpse of sunshine from God’s Word. Don’t turn everything off thinking that is the answer. There will be things that we need to turn off, but there is also going to be things we need to turn on. Turning off the television is a very good idea but sitting in total silence when your mind won’t shut off is not helpful. Ever try to hear from the LORD but can’t get past the walls. When this happens we need to call upon the LORD even when we don’t think our prayers are getting through. Our spiritual immaturity and thinking we know it all will keep us from hearing from the LORD. When we constantly come to the LORD having the attitude “Oh I know that, LORD,” the LORD isn’t going to work in our life because we aren’t opening to hearing from him. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” ~ Romans 1:21. When we long to hear from him He will give us light. “Thou hast made us for Thyself O LORD; and our Heart is Restless until it rests on Thee.” “Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust.” ~ Psalms 40:4. Romans 8 is an excellent chapter read when going through depression or doubt. God always wants to use doubts to teach us some very powerful lessons. One of those lessons is humility. Ask yourself when is the last time you thought of the cross and fell to your knees in gratefulness? Ever think of being in the presence of Jesus, what is your reaction when you think of that moment? Do you fall on your knees in tears, or do you have the attitude “that’s nice” and your heart remains untouched. When you humble yourself Christ will meet you. The doubts might yell out to you but look up! Christ will settle those doubts. Just as Salvation is of God and only God does the saving; So Victory is of God and only God gets the Victory through our lives. Claim the promises of God! “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” ~ 1 Peter 1:5. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” ~ Romans 8:16. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9. Dear friend, I hope this is an encouragement to you. Maybe, you are facing depression. Please know you are not alone. Maybe, though you have never faced depression, you now have a better understanding of how to be an encouragement to those who are. Depression is a real thing. God wants to use it for His good. The Devil wants to use it to destroy the hurting. Please don’t criticize someone facing depression, that doesn’t help the person but rather just makes things so much worse. And for those of you who maybe facing doubts and fears remember you have a good God who wants good things for you. During my depression, God in His mercy and faithfulness began to give me the glimpses of rays of light through His Word. I came across the quote “Thou hast made us for Thyself O LORD; and our Heart is Restless until it rests on Thee.” Psalms 40:4 became so precious to me. “Blessed is the man that maketh the LORD his trust.” God continued to bring Romans 8 into my life time and time again. God was trying to teach me some very powerful lessons. One of those lessons came when I was watching a video clip of the end of Pilgrim’s progress. When Pilgrim is presented to Jesus, I found myself over whelmed and began to sob. I fell on my knees, in bitter anguish knowing the LORD had stepped into my home. I did not deserve His love and tenderness. Yet Christ loves me anyway. He is the one that did the saving when I received Him. I did nothing but come to Him. I kept asking myself “Why am I saved?” Thinking to myself: “Did I have repentance, and did I have faith. I never said I trust you LORD… does that mean I’m lost?” All these thoughts and more flooded in my aching heart. But I was reminded that all I did was come to Christ and pour out my heart fully believing that if I called on Him, He would indeed save me. So now some years later, I found myself trying to have Victory on my own. But just as Salvation is of God and only God does the saving; So Victory is of God and only God gets the Victory through our lives. I had this burning desire to get closer to the LORD, but each time I tried I was hindered. The more I tried the more I felt like I was running into a brick wall. My sinful self kept getting in the way. I did not fully understand what was happening. But then everything seemed to come together. Here I was in this Doubting Castle, and all I had to do was start pulling out the promises of God. I began to claim these verses and many like them. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ~ 1 Peter 1:5. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: ~ Romans 8:16. Trusting God always seemed to be my down fall. God was testing me to see if I would trust Him even when the clouds where the darkest. I failed miserably. But the LORD in all His love and faithfulness kept chiseling out the dross in my life. No sooner was I out from underneath the darkness and another trial hit me hard. Did I look up right away? Of course not! I found myself angry and bitter. Hate flooded my heart and not love! Again I had to fall down on my knees and get lovely rebuked by my Father. I had to pray for God’s love to fill my heart. A wise friend sweetly told me that I failed to trust the LORD and to watch out because until I get it right another trial is around the corner. So another trial did come but this time I caught myself and looked up. God’s not done testing me. I keep thinking of the picture of God being the Master Potter. He Longs to mold me into a vessel of Honor. It hurts to be put through the fire and the waters that cool the clay are at times over whelming and seem too hard for us to bear. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Chapter Six God's Higher Calling - God's Design for our lives.

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:12 God’s Higher Calling isn’t a “holier than thou” philosophy. However, it is a holier living policy. We need to apply the idea of holiness into our lives. It is the only way we can glorify God with our lives. We are to Be HOLY. “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” ~ 1 Peter 1:16. We are to strive to go up higher because it pleases the LORD. God has designed our lives for a purpose. His design is for us to live lives holy and set apart from the world. “But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.” ~ Psalms 4:3. God longs for us to have a sweet fellowship with Him. But we cannot attain this relationship until we have a proper understanding of who God is. To have this proper view, we must first understand the concept of what it is to Fear the LORD. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” ~ Proverbs 1:7. So many times in Christian circles the concept of Fearing the LORD is over looked. I believe that if we truly understood this concept we would not have so many living a mediocre Christian life. This is the core of the matter! The fear of the LORD is the foundation to living God’s Higher Calling. Without it, anything we try to do in the name of the LORD is just empty show. Christians that seem to be living a higher standard but don’t have a proper understanding of the Fear of the LORD, will appear superficial. We shouldn’t have standards and be involved in service just because our church, our friends, or even our Pastor says so. We should be doing these things because we generally wholeheartedly fear the LORD and want to please Him. We need to fear the LORD above all else. The fear of the LORD and the Love for the LORD should drive us to go farther for him. So many times our selfish fear stops us from going forward for the LORD. The fear of man keeps us from witnessing. The fear of the unknown keeps us from doing God’s Will. The LORD has a precious plan for our lives but the only way we can accomplish this plan is by fearing the LORD and casting down that other fear. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. ~ 1 John 4:18. These passages are referring to the fear of man. We are not to have this paralyzing fear that stops us from living our lives for the LORD. Have you ever gotten to the place where the situation was so overwhelming that you just wanted to flee? Instead of taking a stand and being strong in the LORD, you found yourself wanting to run? Even David found himself engulfed by his circumstances. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. ~ Psalms 55:6. There are many things in this world that will cause us to fear. But that is not where we as Christians should live. So many times our comfort zone keeps us from truly being a witness for Christ. There will be a cross road that every Christian faces. Here at the fork in the road the signs point so clearly. In front of us is a glorious path that is filled with God’s unfathomable blessings and to the right of us is a darkened path. On this darkened path is a line of people stretched far as the eye can see. These people are shouting discouraging words. Intermingled with them are our own thoughts of doubts, fears and discouragements. The other path looks so clear and uncluttered. To enter this path we but need just go through the gate. That gate is the Fear of the LORD. Here is where all of God’s knowledge begins. When we just dwell on what the LORD wants us to do without caring what men think everything becomes clear. And I can say “I ,may face this trial but God is here with me and I fear him above all the petty disapproving thoughts.” You might wonder why the fear of the LORD is so important. And the answer is very simple... If I do not fear the LORD above all else then people will change my mind and I become a double minded person. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. ~ James 1:8. We end up basing our convictions on what others think and not on “Thus saith the LORD.” Take the scenario of three friends: Julie, Tom and Peter. Julie has a conviction regarding a certain issue, but her friend Tom has a different conviction regarding the same issue. Their friend Peter comes to them and asks what they think about this issue. Julie shares her conviction and Tom his. Peter is also a people-pleaser, so when Julie tells him here conviction Peter agrees with it. But when Tom shares his conviction that is different from Julies, Peter finds himself agreeing to please Tom. Peter doesn't go to the Word of God, instead he runs to his friends. Let’s face the truth, every single one of us is a people-pleaser in some shape or form. One person might outwardly say they don’t care what people think, but they really do because they run to five or six people for advice on the situation they are facing. Another person might be the overly sensitive type and anything someone says can easily upset them. Another might be a person that cares for others very deeply and they often find themselves getting walked over by others. We need to step away from being a people-pleaser. We can do this by doing one thing and that is striving to please God. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." ~ Hebrews 11:6. First, we cannot please God without faith. Secondly, we cannot have faith in God without trust. Thirdly, we cannot trust God if we have a wrong view of God. Fourthly, we cannot have a right view of God if we do not seek Him. So as we dive into what the fear of God is, I pray that you will seek to understand what the fear of Lord and why it is truly our driving force in the Christian life. God has a better design for our lives than so called “Christendom” claims as Christian living. We can live this better designed life if we but tap into the joy of fearing the LORD. A mediocre Christian does not fear the LORD. The mediocre Christian shows no remorse in living a lower standard. They look upon those with higher standards as “holier then thou” Christians. So popular in our day and age is the idea that “I’m saved by grace, and I can do whatever I want as long as I confess my sin according to 1John 1:9. However, a Christian that fears the LORD cannot blatantly sin. They don’t want to sin. They are aware of their sin nature and try to avoid situations that cause them to fall. Have you ever done something knowing full well you were sinning against God? Did you have this thought “I’ll confess it later?” I know I have been there. And at that moment I was not fearing God. Fearing the LORD is not just a point that you attain in your life never having to come cross it again. But as with everything else in the Christian life it is a moment by moment thing. One moment I could fear the LORD and the next I’m not. Why? Because to fear the LORD, I must be filled with the Spirit of God, without the Spirit I cannot fear the LORD. It is a constant state of being. The thoughts and motives must be constantly checked out, they need to be tried often by the LORD as the Psalmist said: “Try my reigns and my heart and see if there be any wicked way in me.” So what is the Fear of the LORD? It is “that indefinable mixture of reverence, fear, pleasure, joy and awe which fills our hearts when we realize who God is and what He had done for us.”~ The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges. God’s Higher Calling is only able to be lived when we have wisdom and wisdom comes only when we fear the LORD. Fearing the LORD comes when we follow God’s straight path and avoid sin. Let’s look at some verses that speak about the fear of the LORD. ~ That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. ~ Deuteronomy 6:2. If we fear the LORD we will keep God’s commandments and statutes ~ Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. ~ Deuteronomy 6:13. Because we carry the name of the LORD we must live our lives holy. We will serve Him and love Him if we fear Him. ~ And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. ~ Deuteronomy 6:24. God keeps us and gives us good things when we keep His statues and Fear Him. ~ And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, ~ Deuteronmy 10:12 If we have the Fear of the LORD we will walk in the His ways, we will love Him and we will serve Him with all our heart and soul. ~ Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. ~ Deuteronomy 10:20. We cleave to the LORD and His ways and serve and proclaim His name when we fear the LORD. ~ And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always. ~ Deuteronomy 14:23. If we fear the LORD we will tithe and offer our first fruits to Him. The Lord God will have preeminence in our lives if we truly fear His name ~ Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. ~ Joshua 24:14. When we fear the LORD it will cause us to serve Him in sincerity and truth and all things that were first in our lives will be cast out. Things such as television, other people's views, selfish desires, worldly views… etc. Fill in the blank. Put in those things that take your time away from praying to the LORD and searching out His Word. For those things must get put aside and the LORD must become our All in All! ~ If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: ~ 1 Samuel 12:14. Obedience is a fruit of fearing the LORD, rebellion is a fruit of the selfish me first heart! ~ Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. ~ 1 Samuel 12:24. The fear of the LORD will cause our hearts to reflect on God's truth and we serve the LORD and praise Him for all the wonderful things He has done for us! ~ Let them now that fear the LORD say, that his mercy endureth for ever. ~ Psalms 118:4. God's Mercy endureth forever. His mercy extends to all. If we fear the LORD, we will love those that God loves. We will have mercy on those that God has mercy on. And we will forgive those that God bestows forgiveness upon. ~ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. ~ Proverbs 3:7. If we fear the LORD will not use our own wisdom or words. We will take what we know and go to God's Word and search out if it is true or false. Many a time we think we are speaking truth but that truth is based upon what we think or feel is right and not on what God says. And if we fear the LORD, we will not maybe not someday but we will at that very moment depart from evil! ~ Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days. ~ Hosea 3:5 The fear of the LORD will cause us to return and seek the LORD. Ask yourself these questions: When is the last time I sought the LORD and He showed me something I had to give up? And did I give it up or am I still holding on to it? And if I gave it up, did I pick it back up again? "The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?" ~ Amos 3:8. A person who continues in sin and is constantly blind to the Holy Spirit's leading does not have a proper fear of the LORD. "And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land." ~ Jonah 1:9 Jonah said he feared the LORD but his life did not show it. He had all the right words but he was not living what he was saying. Are you living what you are saying? Remember your actions speak louder then words. Practical Questions: 1. When I get convicted over my sin am I quick to confess it and let it go, or do I hang on to it thinking it’s not that bad? 2. Do I see my sin as being black in God’s eyes or do I find myself justifying it? 3. Do I let the fear of others paralyze me from witnessing and living a sold out Christian life? 4. Would I rather talk about other things then of Godly things? 5. Do I think there should be a balance and that I shouldn’t have to talk about God all the time? 6. Is God in all my thoughts? 7. Do I just go forward without asking “Is this something that pleases you LORD?” 8. Do I let God guide me or do I just go by what others say? 9. When circumstances come my way do I easily get overwhelmed or do I find myself looking up? Am I quick to quit or am I quick to trust the LORD? 10. Would I rather do what I want over what God wants? Particular Answers to the Questions above. Question 1: A. Those who are quick to confess sin and let it go are showing the fruits of Fearing the LORD B. Those who hang on to sin are showing that selfishness reigns in their hearts and Christ has long been removed from the throne. Question 2: A. Those who see their sin as God sees it will fear the LORD B. Those who do not see their sin as black and wicked in the sight of God will not fear the LORD. Question 3: A. Those who fear what others think over what God says have placed man over God. People have become big in their eyes while God has grown small. B. But those who refuse to be moved from the principles of God’s Word and who care more about what God thinks over man have shown that God alone is their judge. Question 4: A. Those who would rather talk about things outside of Godly things (even if those things aren’t necessarily wrong) are showing that God is not their utmost desire. B. Those who would rather speak of God Word and proclaim what He has been teaching them exhibit that God is in all their thoughts. Question 5: A. Those who think there should be a balance show a heart attitude of “Sunday Christians but not Monday Christians” B. Those who feel that Christ should be the center of every conversation show that He alone is their life. Question 6: A. “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” ~ Psalms 10: 4. B. “Help, LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men.” ~ Psalms 12:1. Question 7: A. Those who won’t ask if their outfit, attitudes, actions, thoughts, etc. Please the LORD show that they truly don’t care what the LORD thinks. B. Those who care about what the LORD thinks will keep their thoughts in check with God’s Word, they will seek to live holy separate lives. Question 8: A. Those who take what others say without Going to God for direction and guidance are fools and simple. “O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” ~ Proverbs 8:5. B. “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” ~ Psalms 19:7. Question 9: A. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” ~ 2 Samuel 22:31. B. “In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” ~ Psalms 11:1. Question 10: A. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” ~ John 3:30. B. “I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” ~ Psalms 16:8. Are you convicted yet? I know I am. When is the last time I witnessed to someone? When is the last time God was found in my thoughts? When is the last time I really prayed over souls and for others. If we have the heart of God we will have a heart for souls! If we fear the LORD, we will be a witness to all those around us. When is the last time I cried over a lost soul? “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.”~ Ps. 126:5. This verse is a promise. And do you know that God puts our tears into a bottle and records them? “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” ~ Ps. 56:8. These aren’t tears of self-pity but rather tears shed for a soul and tears shed over a brokenness of sin. We are to shed tears of compassion. We are to have compassion towards others. Ask yourself this: have I become complacent in showing compassion to my brothers and sisters in Christ? “And of some have compassion, making a difference:”~ Jude 1:22. This has always been one of my favorite verses. The Lord gives each of His children gifts to use for His service. These gifts are not talents, they are not things that you can do on your own. You have to be filled with the Holy Spirit and living God’s Higher Calling to use them. The LORD has given me the gift of compassion. If I don’t plug into God’s Higher Calling, I find that I can’t have compassion for others and selfishness has taken over. Search out and find the gift He has given you and use it! Some of you have been given the great ability of words. You can either use those words for evil of for God. Remember this “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” ~ Proverbs 18:21. Don’t use that ability for sarcasm or for attacking a brother. But rather use that ability to witness to all those around you! My tongue and your tongue is to be used for God’s glory. God gets glory when we witness and also when we edify the brethren. “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” ~ James 1:26-27. Watch what you say! All of use struggle in the area of the tongue. It is just a little thing but it can cut deeper then any sword! “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” ~ James 3:6-18. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 A tired lonely girl stood all alone she thought, With trouble, care and fear gripping at her door. Quietly in the stillness for the Lord she sought. Her heart echoed, And now, Lord, What wait I for? A question pierced her heart, Where oh girl is your hope? She wondered at why Trust is always the center core, And how many times she on her own tried to cope, She longed as David must have to have wings to soar. Fear can grip the heart to keep that one from living, Failing to Trust the LORD will stop one from growing, But oh to have God’s Power with all it’s giving To be equipped with all the fruit of the Spirit in going. The girl then realized that she could have all the Love The Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness Faith, Meekness, and Temperance all from God above. These things are given to serve God with our Best, no less. The Love of Christ must constrain us to go Forth For Him alone, with no want of anything more Then For His Love and all it’s worth. And if we trust Him, in His steps our hearts will soar. God wants good things for His own And longs for us to have His mind And be at peace in Him Alone All things we can truly find! Little heart don’t waver when the tempest rise high Little mind don’t lean on what you think you find Little life don’t fail to be spent because of fear you might die, And little mouth don’t fail to pray for all man kind.

Chapter Five God's Higher Calling: Despite Adversity.

“Trouble and Anguish have taken hold of me: yet Thy commandments are my delights.” ~ Psalms 119:143 A note about chapter five: This chapter was written during the time I found out I had Bell’s Palsy. It was written in a present tense and not in a past tense as the earlier chapters. I was going to change the tense, but I believe I need to leave this chapter just the way it is. I pray it will be a blessing. “Moses and Daniel and prophets of old they were trusting God I’m told and He drew nearer to their troubled souls. Trials are worth more then gold. Through fire and water if that’s where HE leads I am willing go, if more like Jesus I’ll be trials are worth more then Gold.” I wonder how many songs that I have sung that proclaim this same message and I wonder how willing I am to go through adversity? Could I say as Job said in the mist of trouble? “The Lord gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD:” ~ Job 1:21b. This was Job’s first reaction to adversity. What I wonder is yours and my first reaction to trouble and trials? I know what I want to do when trials come that seem so over whelming and that I can’t bear them. I want to wallow, to have self pity and others attention. “Woe is me!” is the attitude I find myself content to have. When trials come whether it is financial, physical or emotional, my reaction is the same. I want to quit serving the LORD. In the process of the writing of this book, I learned yet another precious lesson about God’s Higher Calling. God’s Higher Calling is not just for the strong, the well, the financially set, and the emotionally stable. God’s Higher Calling is for the weak, the sick and the poor and the emotionally unstable. On August 3, 2007, I woke with a headache that I had for five days straight. I was so full of the wonderful concept that “The upright shall dwell in Thy presence.” I had no idea what would unfold on that day, but oh my Abba did. My prayer that morning I wrote in my Journal “Lord, I long to dwell in Thy presence continuously today! I ask for strength to continue in the things Thou has taught me. I pray that I will cast out all imaginations. And that I will continue to look to you throughout this day. Help me not to pass by opportunities to witness and to comfort. Help me to show kindness to those around me today. In Jesus Name, Amen.” I did not know that by night fall I would have Bell’s Palsy which paralyzed the right side of my face. My smile would be gone. “But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.” ~ Deuteronomy 4:4. My first understand of all this was that God’s a purpose. I do not know what that full purpose is, but I’m willing to trust God with this. I also, understand that I must Cleave to the LORD! He’s got me! I know I’m in His hand. “Nothing ever takes God by surprise.” I once heard this saying: “Has it ever dawned on you that nothing ever dawns on God.” So how does one face adversity? How is one supposed to live when all strength seems to fail? A friend gave me this verse Joshua 1:9 ~ “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” This verse/song sweetly filled my mind and I didn’t even realize I was humming it in my head. I’m so thankful that God gives us the right kind of Friends that encourage us with scripture. The Word of The LORD has been so precious to me over the last few days. It has been no small matter that every day my devotions have held a verse about being “quickened” in them. The word “Quickened” means to be made alive; revived; vivified; reinvigorated. God gives us the strengthen we need to face each day. He gives us the direction in which to go and guides our steps along the way. Is it any wonder that Job was able to say? “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” ~ Job 13:15. God’s Higher Calling seemed so clear to me on Friday morning, but by Saturday I found myself wallowing in self pity. Should I not rest and not do those things I know are required of me? This and such other questions flooded my mind. Saturday night, I dreamed of the “Pattern on the Mount.” I dreamed that Moses decided to build the tabernacle his way instead of God’s. And what might have seemed like a silly dream really wasn’t to me, for this idea planted a thought in my heart. My way right now would be that the Bell’s palsy would be gone and that I would be instantly healed. But God’s way for me is that the Bell’s palsy remains. Sunday morning in my devotions the LORD gave me this verse: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;” ~ Deuteronomy 4:9. God wants me to continue to go up higher even when I don’t feel like it. “You don’t want any adversity such as “Bell’s Palsy” to stop you from serving, don’t do what you just feel like… reach for God’s Higher Calling in the midst of adversity.” ~ Journal entry, August 5, 2007. Little do we know what adversity waits around the corner. We do not know what tomorrow holds. What we do know is that whether the trail is cancer, blindness, bankruptcy, the death of a loved one, or Lyme’s disease… etc, we need not quit on God. I have this quote written in my Bible from a guest speaker that preached a few years back. “I don’t want my last years, my last months, and my last weeks to dishonor God in any way for whom I’ve lived for all these years.” ~ Bro. Henderson. We are to live for God even in the mist of trials and troubles. If we quit serving, we will stop going forward for the LORD. Sadly, we will find ourselves moving backwards away from His plan and purpose. God understand our adversity and our trials. I keep having this verse echo in my heart: “Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” ~ Luke 12:27. We don’t have to worry about all that will unfold with the adversity that stands before us. The LORD has us in His hand, all we must do is cleave to Him. I don’t have to worry about when the LORD’s going to heal me, I know that in His timing He will and that’s enough for me. God’s shown me so much about His standard of living and just because I don’t feel so well, does not give me the right to become lazy. “As you exercise God’s Higher Calling you’ll find your faith increasing. Cleave to God! On this path continue to trod! Seek God’s face! Despite adversity run God’s race! Purpose to do God’s Will! Seek His purpose daily still. Keep fast in prayer! Casting to God all your care! Don’t quit on God! Persevere! Continue to faithfully trod!” ~ Journal Entry, August 5, 2007. Remember this: “God is in Control!” Nothing can happen without God’s being in control! On August 8, 2007, I received a phone call from the Doctor’s office that confirmed that I had tested positive for Lyme disease. It’s not something I wanted, but God knew that I would get Bell’s Palsy and have Lyme’s. He has a divine purpose in it all. “God will you use this situation to fulfill your purpose that Souls may be reached?” ~ From Sunday Night’s Message, August 5, 2007. I’ve already seen just a little bit of what God’s doing through all this, and I know He’s not done working. I’m comforted in that thought. I read the following Article the morning that I found out I had Lyme Disease: .................................................................................. August 8 Confidence Not Misplaced "The LORD God will help me" (Isaiah 50:7). These are in prophecy the words of Messiah in the day of His obedience unto death, when He gave His back to the smiters and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. He was confident in divine support and trusted in Jehovah. O my soul, thy sorrows are as the small dust of the balance compared with thy LORD's! Canst thou not believe that the LORD God will help thee? Thy LORD was in a peculiar position; for as the representative of sinful men -- their substitute and sacrifice -- it was needful that the Father should leave Him and cause Him to come under desertion of soul. No such necessity is laid upon thee: thou art not bound to cry, "Why hast thou forsaken me?" Did thy Savior even in such a case still rely upon God, and canst not thou? He died for thee and thus made it impossible that thou shouldst be left alone; wherefore, be of good cheer. In this day's labors or trials say, "The LORD God will help me." Go forth boldly. Set your face like a flint and resolve that no faintness or shamefacedness shall come near you. If God helps, who can hinder? If you are sure of omnipotent aid, what can be too heavy for you? Begin the day joyously, and let no shade of doubt come between thee and the eternal sunshine. ~ From C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Devotional. .................................................................................. I know there are going to be days when I’m not looking to God as I should. There might be times when I ask “Why LORD?” I wrote the following Article back when my sister passed away. Sometimes in life we face difficulties and trials. Truth is we all have stories of heartache and pain. Many times we ask God: “Why, Why me Lord?” Sometimes the only answer we receive from the Lord is simply this: “Just Trust me.” In our human heart we cannot understand why God would allow these things to happen to us or to others around us. The pain that enshrouds our heart seems to choke out any understanding or peace that we so long to have. The statement “Trust the Lord,” seems to be something that is easy to say but harder to do. People that say this to us sometimes can make us feel like they have no idea what we are facing. They could not possible understand our situation. God’s grace seems so far and distant. We can feel alone and rejected. We just don’t see what the Lord is doing. If our eyes could be open to the spiritual realm, we would see that God has turned up the furnace of trials in our life to work out the dross that has been building up. We would see that every time we cry, God gently works on us and cries with us. God says: “Trust me, dear heart, I have everything under control.” He hears our distant reply: “No, Lord! I don’t know what you are doing and the pain is too much for me to bear.” God has not truly left us; he is ever present with us. However, we still yell out: “Why me, Lord? ... Why?” The Lord is in control. He is the Great Potter molding us into vessels of honor. He is the Great Gardener pulling out the weeds that don’t belong in our lives. “What a privilege it is to know that … I am a field under heavenly cultivation ~ not a wilderness but a garden of the Lord, walled by grace, planted according to a divine plan, worked by love, weeded by heavenly discipline, and constantly protected by divine power.” ~ Charles Spurgeon. We might think something like this: “Sure this sounds all good and easy, but this thing that I am going through no one understands.” It’s true that I might not have gone through the trial that you are going through and you might not have gone through the trial that I am going through, but God knows our pain. He suffers with us. He bears our burdens. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” ~ 1 Peter 5:17. This means that he takes our pain upon Himself. He removes it from our heart, and places it on His; and in return He replaces our fears with peace. Just as a loving father protects his child, so the Lord protects us. “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.” ~ Psalms 42:8. In times of adversity and heartache, we need to continue to remind ourselves that God is in control and that He loves us and cares for His children. Remember God always gives us the strength we need when we tap into it. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9. Practical Application: ~ Get alone with the Lord, even when you don’t feel like it. ~ In times of trouble keep key verses with you. ~ Remind yourself of this truth every time you begin to question… “Why Me?” Why me Lord? Why did you allow me to hear the Gospel? Why out of Billions did you reach down your hand to me? Lord, when I think about how narrow the road is to heaven and how broad that road to Hell is, I have to question… Why. Why did you allow me passage on the narrow road? Is it not but for the Grace of God? ~ Ask God to use this trial to reach the lost around you. ~ Remember: Keep on Keeping on and Don’t quit on God! ****************************************** I know I am to continue to serve in the areas that the LORD has me serving right now. I can’t quit those things. I must hold fast in the service of the LORD. Where He takes me from here I do not know. One thing is sure; God’s design for our lives is to live in His Higher Calling. There is no other way to live. “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn of Thy statutes.” ~ Psalms 119:65.