Skip to main content

Author: admin

Trouble

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge. He is a place of shelter, protection, and safety. He is also our strength. That means He is our power of resistance when attack or trouble hits.  This scripture also says He is present, not absent.

He is always present, never absent.

It’s so important to get this down in our spirit because we will have trouble. Jesus doesn’t say you may have trouble in this life. He doesn’t say that there is a slight possibility you could feel a little uncomfortable at times. He says you will have trouble.

He also says, “Take heart, I have overcome the world.” This means with Jesus as our savior, we can overcome anything that comes our way through Him.

I am so thankful God is present and not absent. I am also thankful we can overcome anything with His Help and maintain peace till we overcome.  Have a blessed Friday.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33  

New Song

I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.

Stranded

And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, Lord, have not forsaken (abandoned, deserted, left, stranded) those who seek You. Psalm 9:10

The word “stranded” indicates that we are left with no way of getting out…like being stranded on an island. When stranded, we must figure things out on our own.

I’m reminded of the show Gilligan’s Island. A small group of people went on a boat tour that was intended to last 3 hours. A storm came up and they ended up stranded on a desert island for maybe three years. (Or at least 3 TV seasons.)  They longed for ways to communicate with the world to make it back to the luxuries, food, and family/ support their lifestyles were accustomed to.

Every episode, they were in hot pursuit of getting off the Island. They were not going to give up hope of getting back to their loved ones. Ultimately, the show ends with them being rescued.

What in your life is causing you to feel stranded? God never leaves His kids stranded. He does ask us to trust Him, though. He also longs for us to pursue, search, and chase Him down in the process of our trial.

With God, we never have to figure things out on our own and He never leaves us with no way out.  WOW! I love this reminder! Have a blessed day.

And those who know Your name will put their trust (confidence, belief, faith) in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken (abandon, desert, leave, strand) those who seek (pursue, search, chase down) You. Psalm 9:10

Not Forsaken

And those who know Your name will put their trust (confidence, belief, faith) in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken (abandon, desert, leave, strand) those who seek (pursue, search, chase down) You. Psalm 9:10

Such a great scripture to meditate on. I love the word “strand” strand indicates that we are left with no way of getting out…like being stranded on an island. When stranded, we have to figure things out on our own. God never leaves His kids stranded. With God, we never have to figure things out on our own and He never leaves us with no way out.  WOW! I love this reminder! Have a blessed day.

Like a Tree

Blessed is the man
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,
Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

My Light & Salvation

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 up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.

Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

My Mom, The Pastor’s Wife

Dad accepted the pastoral call to his very first church in Lexington, Ohio, when I was just 4 years old. My older sisters were 9 & 12. When dad was called to be a pastor, mom was equally called to be a pastor’s wife. Mom had to be just as willing as dad. It takes strength and faith to sell the home you love and give up everything to accept the ministry God has for you. Mom did just that.

My mom took on many roles when she became a pastor’s wife. For a woman who didn’t often hold a job outside the home after becoming a pastor’s wife, she seemed to stay very busy. I think when God calls men into the ministry, He does so knowing he has the perfect woman by his side as a help- mate.

In those days, church revivals lasted a whole week. Mom always prepared a room for the evangelist and his wife to stay in our home for the entire week. Mom often prepared every meal while they were in town.

I remember months of Sundays mom would invite a family each week for Sunday dinner for a time of fellowship. She prepared a delicious meal each week on top of everything else she did to prepare for the Sunday service. Among other things as dad’s church secretary, (A role she resigned at least once a year) she prepared the weekly church bulletin. If there was an error, she was the one you needed to tell. (But please don’t)

She often took on the role of church custodian, groundskeeper, and gardener.

I wish I knew how many funeral dinners mom prepared and/or organized. Back in the day, it was just an expected thing to have dinner in the church after a church family member’s funeral.

I remember early morning phone calls when hearing of bad accidents and deaths where mom and dad would get up immediately and go comfort those who tragically lost loved ones.

Being a pastor’s wife (for my mom) meant being on call every day. It meant being office secretary, custodian, chef, hotel, activity director, Jr. Church Director, VBS Coordinator, groundskeeper, and gardener. She made all those jobs seem easy while maintaining her real job.

Her real job, the position of motherhood, required active duty 24-hours a day, seven days a week. She shined in this position and still does to this day.

Thank you, mom, for teaching us how to be a good mom and role model. Many have been blessed along the way to have you as their pastor’s wife, and we are blessed to call you mom.

Blessed

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed (NKJV)

Psalm 37:23-26

 

The Lord makes firm the steps
 of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely;

their children will be a blessing. (NIV)

The Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:11-18

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that however believes in Him should not parish but have everlasting life.

Jesus Arrested

47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.

50 Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”[d]

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. 51 With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

52 “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

 

  • He died on the cross and rose again and He did it willingly.

“Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18)

 

 

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

 

Hebrews 13:20

Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,

 

1 Peter 5:2-4

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, (willingly)according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

* What are we willing to do for just one?

Complete

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Consider Him

For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (NKJV)

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV)

If you want to keep from becoming fainthearted and weary, think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him. (LB)

Weight

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which so easily ensnares us,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

CONNECT WITH LORI

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

SHARE YOUR JOURNEY

If you have a story or testimony to share, I would love to know about you! I hope to connect with you soon.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

PRAYER REQUEST

If you have a prayer request you would like to share with me, I would love to know how I can be praying for you. No strings attached.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name