UPCOMING SERVICES

POINT OF NO RETURN

On the Niagara River there’s a lookout point with a large sign that reads, “Point of No Return”. The summary of the post? If you find yourself swimming or fishing in the river, you had better turn yourself around right now because if you allow yourself to drift ever so slightly past that point, the current would prove too strong for you and you plummet over Niagara Falls.  

Ever been there?  Not the Horseshoe Falls…I’m talking about the point of no return.  You know, that point where you’ve gone too far and it’s unlikely you can ever turn back.  Perhaps in a toxic relationship.  A secret addiction.  Maybe it’s a decision you’ve made that conjures up nothing but regret.  Maybe it’s something OR someone you chose to trust that was a complete lie. Or blatant disobedience. 

Be wary! Early on, the currents may be subtle with smooth sailing, but sooner or later, the river narrows…and you know all too well the rest.

In that moment, do you throw your hands up in defeat, and succumb to raging torrent of the Falls?  You might say, “You don’t understand.  I can’t row anymore.  It does no good to try to swim.  The current is too swift and too strong! I’m so weary and I can’t do this!”  No, you can’t. But He can. 

And He gets it.  He took it all on his shoulders with Him to Calvary. ALL. OF. IT. And you know something else, it didn’t come to you before it passed through Him. Suffering the whip, humiliation, rejection, the scorn and pain, He came as a son- away from home- to bear your sins and mine. That is exactly my mission and message.  His-story.  You have but to reach out to the greatest life saver of them all!  Redeeming love waits.   

 

First, ask God to forgive you for your discontentment. It is Sin.  For He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” -Heb. 13: 5.  

Stop the flailing and self-pity! Fight!  Be strong! Live another day!  

And one more thing- we’re all in this-together…If you need prayer, I am here. Let your needs be known! It’s by His blood and our testimony that we CAN overcome.   Let’s tread these waters together with the One that even the winds and seas obey! 

HOW DOES MY GARDEN GROW?

 

This Spring my husband and I were driving along some back roads. Conversation was quiet as my eyes spotted something among the new green grass and seasonal buds coming on...

I noticed several properties or land that were once occupied, or houses that had long fallen in. You've seen them- abandoned structures and remnants of homes in the middle of the tall brush, weeds, briers, overgrown ivys...with fallen in roofs, cross timbers and collapsed barns. It always saddens me a little bit to see abandoned homes in this state.

But in the midst of all this decay, I also observed bursting, brilliant, green -stemmed bouquets of yellow and white daffodils and Easter lilies! Some were clumped on a steep bank; others around borders; even others- growing around an old well or in what was an original flower bed. All reaching toward the sun.

Something remained, in spite of the current ugly gray state. And it was color-rich and alive! In those OLD dead home steads!

No one had to point them out to me; I saw the evidence-jutting through the gray-scale!

Those flowers echoed, “Yes, someone lived here, but only for a little while—probably with lots of wiggling, giggling children ! I might have been a Mom-ma drawing from that well or that creek close by, where I once hung my families wash, on that tipping cross-beamed clothesline you see." "Or it may have been me, Papa, who proudly plowed up that rich soil for a vegetable garden to feed my big family.  See the old smokehouse too-that's where we butchered? We built it early on in our marriage." Could be, this old, faded home place may have been grandpa and grandma's place, where they first took up housekeeping--Remember that kind neighbor who gave us a start of those daffodils to plant on our farm?" 

Unknown to me, these left their mark behind- long after they were dead and gone.

It left me thinking... what will MY legacy be ?

Will what I have planted, make a difference in this world long after I leave here ? Will it outlive me ?

I guess they say, 'time will tell,' just as it has for those folks who came before me...

Christians, Let's Keep digging! Keep planting! Keep watering!... and Prayerfully Keep hopeful!

One way or the other, God will give the increase in His time! And like those flowers, the increase may even be well AFTER we're a memory!

ANOTHER TALE OF TWO SONS

MY MOTHER TOLD ME A TRUE STORY OF A BOY NAMED TOMMY, ABOUT THREE TO FOUR YEARS OLD. TOMMY SAT ON THE FRONT ROW OF THE CHURCH WITH HIS FATHER WHILE HIS GRANDFATHER TRIED TO PREACH HIS SERMON. TOMMY COULD NOT SIT STILL AND BE GOOD, SO AFTER MANY WARNINGS HIS FATHER TOOK HIM OUT OF THE SERVICE FOR A LITTLE “BEHIND THE WOODSHED” TOUGH LOVE. BEFORE TOMMY AND HIS DADDY PASSED THROUGH THE DOUBLE DOORS AT THE BACK OF THE CHURCH, TOMMY GRABBED THEM AND CRIED, “PRAY, PEOPLE PRAY!”

I HEARD ANOTHER STORY OF A BOY NAMED TOMMY WHO ALSO WOULD NOT BEHAVE. HIS MOTHER KEPT TELLING HIM, “SIT DOWN!” HE JUST COULD NOT DO IT, SO HIS MOTHER SAT HIM DOWN PROMPTLY.

THIS BOY SAID, “I MAY BE SITTIN' DOWN OUTSIDE BUT I'M NOT SITTIN' DOWN INSIDE!”

TWO SONS. TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT IDEAS OF CONFORMITY.

ONE CHOSE TO DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN HE WAS DISCIPLINED. HE PRAYED AND WANTED OTHERS TO PRAY WITH HIM.

THE OTHER CHOSE TO LEAN ON HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING AND DEFIANCE DURING HIS DISCIPLINE, EVEN THOUGH “OUTSIDE” HE WAS GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

WE ARE NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THESE BOYS. ISRAEL WAS NOT SO DIFFERENT.

THEY WERE TOLD BY THEIR FATHER GOD THROUGH THE PROPHETS,”I WILL ALSO GIVE THEE FOR A LIGHT TO THE GENTILES, THAT THOU MAYEST BE MY SALVATION UTO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”.

ACCORDING TO PAUL AND BARNABBAS, THEY WERE OFFERED ETERNAL LIFE AND CHOSE TO WILLFULLY GO THEIR OWN WAY RATHER THAN SUBMIT TO GOD'S WAY. THEY HAVE AND WILL PAY THE PRICE FOR THEIR REBELLION. WE ALL DO...

I GUESS BECAUSE OF MY RADIO AND MUSIC BACKGROUND, SONGS “BURN” ON ME ALOT FASTER THAN MOST. IN OTHER WORDS, I TIRE, AKA,“BURN” OF SONGS REPEATED OVER AND OVER.

FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, THERE HAS A BIG PHARMACEUTICAL AD ON TV THAT SINGS, “GO YOUR OWN WAY!” IT WAS TAKEN FROM A POPULAR GROUP IN MY DAY.

THAT LYRIC LINE MAY BE CATCHY, BUT IT IS DEADLY---ETERNALLY DEADLY.

MAY WE EVER BE PEOPLE OF PRAYER AND OBEDIENCE RATHER THAN WILLFUL DEFIANCE AND STUBBORNESS WHEN CONFRONTED WITH OUR OWN SINFUL WAYS...

WHEN OUR WAYS CONNECT WITH THE FATHER'S, THE WORD OF THE LORD CAN BE PUBLISHED THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AS HE COMMANDED. THAT IS THE RIGHT WAY!

I'M JUST ME, FRAN!

I was in my "she-shed", praying and studying for upcoming ladies meetings nose deep in one of my favorite study books. My good friend Fran had given it to me years before.
The cell rang and I answered a call from her son Tedd. He told me his mother Fran had suddenly died.
She and her husband Steve were out enjoying the sunny Spring day, (in their red Camaro), running errands, shopping and eating at their favorite restaurant.  She took his arm, as she often did mine, to steady herself to walk. She took one step and the next one into her eternal home!
I heard someone say once: "Death for the Christian is like walking from the kitchen to the living room".
I wonder.

If I could interview Fran one more time, maybe I could ask her:

"What does Jesus look like?" "What was the very first thing you saw?"
 I know your vision was bad.
"Did the hand of God wipe away your tears there that you shed here, or did you see the bottle they were in?" You always loved beautiful things. 
"I'm sure you thanked Him right away. You were one of the most grateful persons I have ever met. 
"Did you run, skip and play like when you were a girl?" I'm sure your knees don't hurt anymore!
"Did you embrace your mother? I know you missed her terribly raising your own children.
"Do you have any idea of how much you poured into my life? I wonder if you are now a part of the Great Cloud of Witnesses?" You certainly were my cheerleader here!

You told me often about our service to God, "Whatever the Lord allows..."

He allowed me the privilege of knowing you. I will thank Him for that all my life. 

"Did you tell Jesus in person what you told me about the brain tumor, the terrible divorce, the total loss of your home and business to fire and the death of your father? 
Remember what you said, ' I'd go through it all again to be where I am today with the Lord.'
Well Sister Franny, there is no doubt, you are where you wanted to be- with the Lord.
I thank God I got to hear your voice one last time the day before you left.
Oh, by the way, thank you for the get well card! .

I received in the mail two days after you were laid to rest.  Oh yeah, my daily bread that day read this too:
The Lord will give Thee rest from thy sorrow... The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart. -Isaiah 14:3 and Psalm 34:18
You and The Lord were always thinking of others.

It just makes sense you reside with Him now.  And forever...

I do my radio and voice production, studying and get alone with God here.

It doubles as a guest house too. 

SCALING--NOT JUST FOR FISH ANYMORE

MY HUSBAND, AN AVID FISHERMAN DOES IT. SPIDERMAN OR SUPERMAN ARE ALSO KNOWN TO DO IT- "SCALE" THE CATCH OF THE DAY OR "SCALE" GREAT HEIGHTS RESPECTIVELY!
HOWEVER, "SCALING" HAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MEANING OR MEMORY TO ME. LET'S MOVE ON FROM THAT WORDPLAY, AND GET TO THE NITTY GRITTY TRUTH OF THE MATTER!
I WAS ABOUT 11 YEARS OLD GETTING READY FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHURCH VAN TO PICK ME UP. BACK IN THE HOLLER WHERE I GREW UP,  WE WERE NOT PRIVILEGED WITH RUNNING WATER, BUT WE DEFINITELY HAD A HOT WATER TANK!
IT WAS CALLED A TEAKETTLE AND MOM SAT IT ON THE WOODSTOVE EACH NIGHT FOR THE NEXT MORNING'S NEEDS. CAUTION!!! KIDS DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!
BEFORE THE FAMILY WAS UP, I GOT THE TEAKETTLE TO POUR IT INTO THE SINK TO WASH MY HAIR, WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY BUMPED THE COUNTER AND POURED THE BOILING WATER ALL OVER MY FEET AND LEGS. RUSHED BY EMS TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL, THEY TOLD MY PARENTS I WOULD NEED SURGERY ON MY EXPOSED PARTS OF MY FEET AND LEGS TO RECOVER. I REMEMBER THE TERRIBLE PAIN. AND SHOCK. BUT I WAS SENT HOME WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR MOTHER TO SOAK MY FEET IN PURE IVORY SOAP IN WARM (STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT LOGIC!), WATER AND APPLY VITAMIN E TO MY FEET AND LEGS. GOOD TIMES !!
MEANWHILE, A PRECIOUS HOLINESS COUPLE AND A GENTLEMAN FROM MY CHURCH WHERE I ATTENDED, ASKED MY PARENTS IF THEY COULD COME AND PRAY OVER MY LEGS. THEY AGREED AND PRAY THEY DID!
FAST FORWARD TO MY FIRST DOCTOR VISIT FOLLOW-UP. THE PHYSICIAN TOLD MY MOTHER WHAT HE WOULD NOW HAVE TO DO. HE WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE OLD DAMAGED SKIN OFF MY LEGS AND FEET FOR MY SKIN TO HEAL PROPERLY.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS WORSE-THE EXCRUCIATING PAIN OF THAT BURN AND SUBSEQUENT PROCEDURE WITHOUT PAIN MEDS, OR MY PRECIOUS MOTHER HAVING TO HOLD ME DOWN FOR HIM TO DO IT. EITHER WAY, IT REMAINS A PHYSICAL SUFFERING AND ANGUISH IN MY MEMORY LIKE NEVER BEFORE OR SINCE!

I'VE LEARNED SINCE THAT EXPERIENCE IS CALLED "SCALING".

HOW APPROPRIATE. ALL I KNOW IS THE RESULT--THE PRAYER, THE REMEDY, AND MY PRECIOUS GOD WHO HEALED MY LEGS AND FEET. NO SURGERY. NO SCARS. JUST WHITE HEALTHY SKIN AND FEET. I KNOW PERSONALLY THAT GOD CAN AND STILL DOES HEAL! I'VE BEEN CALLED "KNOCK-KNEED AND PIGEON-TOED" BUT I THINK I HAVE BEAUTIFUL LEGS AND FEET!

BUT THE GREATEST OF ALL MIRACLES  WASN'T THAT! IT WAS WHEN THE "SCALES" WERE REMOVED FROM MY EYES UNTO A NEW LIFE! MY HEART WAS FILLED WITH BLISTERING, FESTERING DEADNESS. MY EYES WERE BLINDED BY THE SIN I WAS BORN INTO AND MY EARS COULD NOT HEAR PROPERLY UNTIL GOD REMOVED THOSE DEAD CELLS FROM MY SOUL AND I AWOKE TO A BRAND NEW CLEAN LIFE THAT ONLY HE COULD BRING! MY VOCABULARY WAS EVEN HEALED! MADE ALIVE, MY HEALED SOUL NOW RESPONDS TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN'S COUNSEL AND HIS LIVING WORD!

LET HIM HEAL YOUR SOUL! LET HIM REMOVE THOSE OLD ROTTEN SINS THAT BIND YOU TO A WICKED SLAVEMASTER AND BE FREED FROM THE FALL! YOU TOO CAN SAY THAT YOU ARE DESTINED TO SCALE GREAT HEIGHTS SOMEDAY...FAR REMOVED FROM THE ETERNAL FIRE! HE SURELY HAS THE REMEDY!

YOU'RE FIRED!

Famous words. Infamous when they're directed at you. But thank God He sees. He hears. His hand is not shortened that it cannot reach- and turn things around. I was eighteen. Fresh out of high school, Working for a local lumber company-naive and so ignorant to the hostility of this present world and it's offense to the Word of God. Jesus said it would come.

The stinging words fell on my ears through, of all things, a phone call saying something like this: “We're gonna have to let you go. The men do not like you having your Bible on your desk when they're doing business with us. It makes them uncomfortable."

Stunned and devastated to say the least, I couldn't believe my ears. It's a call I will never forget.

Fast forward seven years. Hmmm. Interesting. I think I heard somewhere about seven being identified with Complete. Finished.

I received another phone call I indeed will never forget. The man on the other end of the line asked me if I would be interested in coming to work for him.

You know what?

For almost three decades, I've been getting PAID to read my Bible to thousands everyday!

LORD, you are so good to me. I love you Jesus. I want to stand on your Word as long as I live no matter the cost, because I know IT will stand when this world is ON FIRE!