FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 25)

FRESH START TODAY…  What are your plans today?

Prov 11:25, 

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. NIV

I was going to delete this week’s topic, but I struggled with leaving this Scripture out of the FRESH START TODAY.  The Lord had a message through the Wisdom of Solomon, so they are important to remind us all that if we need to be refreshed then we need to be generous to others. 

I know that if I sit in my own home alone for long periods of time my mind will begin to wander towards negative thinking.  This may open the door to becoming self-absorbed and to possibly think that I have no value in life.  I need to be willing to drop the lonely feeling, step out and care about other people.  The thought here is not to go looking for someone to listen to our concerns, but to listen to what others may need in their life.  My sister and my sister-in-law have said that volunteering at a place that serves the needs of other people is a sure cure for loneliness.

Three days ago Marty and I walked over to another friend’s home to say good-bye, because they were leaving town the next morning.  We were there just one hour, but probably laughed more than we had in weeks.  I am still refreshed from the silly things we were talking about and the laughter stills rings in my heart this morning.  The laughter was refreshing to all of us.  Do you want to know the conversation?  The men were talking about how silly it is to tease cats and dogs!  I am sure you have some interesting memories of your own. Our beloved pets can sure tolerate a lot of things from their owners when it is gentle teasing.  My husband likes to tickle the toe hairs of our sleeping Sheltie.  He twitches and kicks and it causes him to wake up quickly! 

What about people that may not be able to get out because of a physical handicap? What would your suggestions be for this person knowing that being generous to others would refresh them?  Do you know of a person that you care about that needs to be generous to you?  God created us to be interdependent in our world, so that no one should experience loneliness.  When I have visited nursing homes I have found people of great value that have given me words of wisdom.  My mother-in-law is 87 years old and just last night she asked me what I was writing about now?  I told her the main theme is to decide on a FRESH START TODAY.  She said that was always her thoughts each day that she has lived.  She is now so thankful for all the new beginnings that God has given her everyday and she is more aware of His presence in her life.  My mother-in-law has been a generous lady (not with money) most of her life, but with her time to encourage other people.  I believe that is why she can reflect on memories that keep her refreshed every day now that she cannot get out of her home on her own.

What about telephone call?  Do you want to be generous today to someone, so that you can be refreshed and prosper?  Just a simple, but powerful thought from the Word of God!

 

FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 24)

FRESH START TODAY…  Remember today is a new beginning

I cannot begin to encourage you enough to see that each new day is a new beginning because you cannot change your past.  We can learn to be humble before a Holy and loving God.  I started reading a book called “Redemption… Freed by Jesus from Idols we worship and the Wounds we carry” by Mike Wilkerson.  This book was sent to Marty and I to read by a young man that we knew when he was a teenager.  He was in a Sunday School Class that I taught and was part of a group of very active teenage boys.  He is special to me!  He has made mistakes by his own confession, but has learned the power of forgiving himself with humility.  He now reaches out to others and he has reached out to our son.  He lived two houses down from us in Anchorage, AK and was part of our son’s life at that time.  God has blessed us with a reconnection with this man of faith.  A new day brings us the opportunity to make new choices. 

Something from the book brought a new light to my heart that I did not realize before this date.  The new revelation comes from the Adam and Eve documentation in the Bible.  God had a personal relationship with His created beings where He talked with them daily.  He instructed them not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  We have all heard the story, probably from childhood.  The serpent, which was the enemy of God, persuaded them to eat from the forbidden tree by telling them that they could be gods.  WOW!  This is where our self centered, self-reliant, self-promoting, self-destructive, self-hatred, self only attitudes, self ideas of being super important began and why people seem to not need God.  The persuasion to focus on self was offered by the enemy to direct them away from the Garden of Eden that was full of harmony.  We were created to have a relationship with God who had our best interest in mind.  He was willing to teach us this gentle harmony, love, peace and creativity that would bless the earth.  The Lord Jesus Christ’s message that comes from the cross is to get that harmony and relationship back that the devil and disobedience once destroyed.  The enemy has no interest in us accept to cause suffering, because this has successfully created a barrier between people and a Holy God.  The truth is that the devil wanted to be God and there is only one God through the power the God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit! 

We take too lightly the powerful message of the cross of Jesus Christ. The GRACE that has been offered to people who have accepted the truth of His death has renewed the heart to have a relationship with God.  We must humble our hearts to a pure God asking Him to forgive our rebellion, accepting the cleansing that Jesus offers and choosing to take steps to start fresh every day, to read the Word, pray and worship God with our lives.  We will still struggle and suffer with temptations from the enemy, because that is the nature of a fallen world that was once perfect.

1 Peter 5:6-9, Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. NIV

FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 23)

FRESH START TODAY ... Under God’s Almighty Hand

I spoke earlier this week about my discouragements, but I have seen the mighty hand of God at work since I shared what we were facing the next seven months.  I mentioned that we would not be attending church, but since then the Senior Pastor has told us that he plans on getting out of the heat of the Phoenix area to spend time in the cool mountains of Arizona where we will be Campground Hosts.  Maybe even more than one time!  Marty received a call from a retired minister friend of ours from Las Vegas, NV saying the same thing.  Maybe in Arizona’s favorite campground called “Aspen Campground” near Woods Canyon Lake, we will have several friends show up to relax and enjoy God’s beautiful outdoors.  One of my brothers and his wife will be hosting along side us, so we will have family with us and this too is a blessing.  I sometimes just do not like change.  Does anybody else have this problem?  Another issue that has been a discouragement is our son’s on going heartache.  Please pray for him to return back to the understanding that God’s still loves Him.  He is in bondage like we all have been from time to time. 

1 Peter 5:6-7, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. NKJV

I chose this morning the true focal passage for this week to encourage you.  You can read the verses just prior to this Scripture and the ones right after to see the bigger picture.  Peter gave a believer, through the power of the Holy Spirit, encouragement in the Wisdom of God.  He suffered many times for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, because he was obedient.  You know, from reading the Scripture, that prior to the death of Jesus, Peter was not always obedient to furthering the Kingdom of God, but furthering his own image.  Jesus knew his heart, his zeal for life and compulsive personality.  Jesus knew also what Peter would become as the Holy Spirit humbled him in the work that would continue through him after Jesus was crucified and resurrected.

I remember my own zealous personality when I first became a believer and I thought that I knew what everybody needed to know to be free in Jesus Christ.  Yes, I had the fullness of the Holy Spirit within me, but I was just drinking the milk of the Word of God.  I had not started on the steak of the Word until being broken through suffering.  One can easily have an attitude of self-righteousness.  We are all sinners and at the foot of the cross we are all on level ground.  No one is righteous accept the one on the cross that was crucified.

Do you believe that you are under the mighty hand of God?  Do you believe that He may exalt you in His time?  Do you trust Jesus Christ enough to throw all your worries and concerns at the foot of the Cross?  Do you truly believe that Jesus cares for you?  Do you believe that His passion for you is so rich with love that He would have died just for you?  You are special to Jesus Christ and I am too, as a believer.  I am equal with you in that I am a sinner.  I needed to recognize that Jesus has a deeper love for me than I can see with my human heart and eyes.  I am humbled that He sees me differently than I see myself.  I am humbled that Jesus sees me differently than others may see me.  Do you feel the same way?  Do you believe?  Through our faith in Jesus Christ and His Grace, He has given us righteousness before a Holy God.  His work on the cross and not our works!  He will lift you up as you trust in power of the cross of Jesus Christ.

FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 22)

FRESH START TODAY – Humble Yourself?

1 Peter 5:6-9, Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. NIV

The topics have been a humbling experience for me in that I do not feel worthy!  When I begin to write I never know what thoughts are coming out of my head.  Yesterday at church I heard a wonderful sermon by the Senior Pastor where we are attending and then I became very depressed afterwards. We are going to be leaving for the summer to be Campground Hosts in Northern Arizona and I will truly miss the church.  We will not be able to attend church for the next seven months due to the fact that we work every weekend.  Marty told me yesterday that we are no longer church leaders and he encouraged me to accept this transformation in our life.  My heart tells me that as long as we are alive we will be given opportunities to serve the Lord and love His people.  The roaring lion is keeping us inactive, but is He really?  Do I need to humble my heart more under God’s mighty hand?    Maybe you have had some of these same feelings?  I know that they do not honor the Lord Jesus Christ, but are self serving! We need to cast

all our anxiety on Him because He care for us.  We are to be self-controlled and alert!

My greatest gift is being able to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  I will be reading my Bible, praying for you, my friends, and talking with people that the Lord may bring to the campground that needs encouragement.  Jesus did tell us to go into the entire world and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We will be on mission with Jesus.  The roaring lion attacked me yesterday and now I know that he did.  We owe Jesus Christ everything!  I will pray for the wonderful believers at the church as we leave and I am asking for God’s blessings and protection.

When I read the Psalms of king David I am reminded that he often was frustrated when he began a Psalm and then at the end he was praising the Lord. His heart was human and needing the gentle guidance of a loving God.  When you cry out to God He knows what our heart needs in times of weakness.  (Psalm 142)

The part of the Scripture that I am encouraged by is that God will lift you up in due time.  We will find joy in the presence of a Holy God and how He lifts you up is His choice.  You know that it is the activity of God when a blessing comes that is unexpected.  You cannot out give what the Holy Spirit wants to do through your life.  When He is in control then you witness the power of Jesus Christ, because He is the ONLY one that changes a heart.  I have been praying for my son’s heart to change and his estranged wife, so now I will sit back to watch the activity of the Holy Spirit.  Right now it does not seem that there is an answer coming, but it has to be God’s timing.  Do you have a loved one that is suffering?  Pray for them first to be reconciled to God and then to change the circumstances just enough that they will know that God’s Holy Spirit is real to them in their life.

My personal prayer is that Marty and I will be able to continue to serve the Lord according to God’s will and plan.  I miss my husband’s preaching, but I have tapes that I can listen to and still be blessed.  He is awesome, but maybe it is because I love him.

FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 21) Partial author is Marty Nordloh

FRESH START TODAY…  What is being in Need really mean?

Yesterday my husband and I were casually talking about the Scripture for this week when he said that it might be interesting to talk about the living conditions the writer of these Scriptures experienced in his daily life.  What was it like in the best of living conditions or the worst of living conditions in the time he lived? 

Consider Paul’s comments about living in plenty and living in want.  In the height of his plenty he may have lived in a palace, he may have lived in a house of the time, he probably lived in one of the tents he made, and lastly we know that he did live in prison a few times.

Think about a palace; you have probably seen on TV and/or in the movies the great palaces of the Roman Empire and other opulent royalty as well.  Beautiful polished stonewalls, sometimes draped with magnificent curtains, drapes, or banners.  Huge fireplaces and elegant furniture strategically placed around about.  Brilliantly polished marble floors and large open windows looking down upon the streets below.   Allow your imagination to work for a few moments.

Think about a house; the houses of Paul’s day were made of bricks made of mud and straw.  The floors were dirt that had been smoothed, sprinkled with water, trampled smooth with bare feet, then covered or not, with furs or rugs.  The furniture was simple in nature and each usually served many purposes.  The windows were openings that were covered with curtains that could be opened during the day and drawn closed at night.  The roof was usually made of long poles with long reed grass woven into a ceiling/roof.   There would have been a fireplace built into the wall that provided heat and a place for cooking.  Again let your imagination work for a few moments.  

Think about a tent; Paul was a tent maker by trade and most likely lived in a tent for several years of his life.  Tent living of that day was not like tent living today.  The tents were considerably larger and more spacious than what we think about when we go camping.  They were more like the military tents of this day.  Living inside a tent was very much like living inside a house of the day with the exception that the walls were made of fabric or skins of some sort.  Furniture was rare.  You most likely sat on a skin or a rug on the floor propped up by a pillow of sorts.   Imagination time again. 

Think about a prison; Marty and I lived in Brindisi, Italy for 2 ½ years during the earlier years of our marriage when he was in the United States Air Force.  We visited Venice, Rome, Naples. Pompei, Bari, Brindisi and toured the backcountry in many places of this ancient country.  When we were in Rome we were able to go into many places in the Coliseum that now they have stopped the tourism due to the deterioration.  On one tour that we took we actually went down into one of the dudgeons that they state that Paul had been imprisoned in.  We climbed down a wooden pole ladder through a hole in the ground floor of a building that was about 2 feet in diameter, into a dark, damp, smelly room that was roughly circular in shape.  Around the outer edge of the room was a ledge that was used to set and/or sleep upon.  There were chains anchored into the wall that were used to shackle both feet and hands.  There were no lights, save little indentations with candles.  The guide told us that Paul wrote some of the letters to the churches here in this prison.  It was musty, dark and a person that may be 6 feet tall would have to bend over to walk around in it.

In none of these places was there fresh running water to drink.  There were no water heaters to provide for a hot shower or bath.  There were no gas stoves and skillets to fry the chicken or a steak upon.  The beds they slept in were not Tempur Pedic, Sleep Number, or Serta.  There were no forced air furnaces to keep you warm, or air conditioners to keep you cool.  Think about what you consider living in plenty or living in want today means.

Take a few moments to stop and thank God for what you do have, because what you do have today that you probably consider tough would very probably compare to the plenty that Paul was thinking about when he wrote the words of today’s Scripture.  

Phil 4:11-13,  I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. NIV

FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 20)

FRESH START TODAY… Does Jesus strengthens you in the good times?

Philippians 4:11-13, Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:  I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. NKJV

Do you believe that God can strengthen you in the good times, or do you just call on Him when you are weak?  I am asking myself that same question.  The Word is talking about our physical circumstances that we face through our lifetime.  Jesus Christ is the only one who can give us strength through the struggles and jubilation times in our life!  Why would we want Jesus Christ to give us strength in times of great joy when are experiencing being well fed?  Do we tend to forget the loving Savior when are experiencing great joy?  Do we say, “Oh, look what I have done?”  God gave the gift of life to us and all good things come from Him as believers. 

I remember when we owned a beautiful home in Las Vegas, NV and we had just had it remodeled.  I would sit in what I called my prayer chair and praise the Lord for what we had been given.  My eyes would roam across the room and see a beautiful room of pictures, flowers on the walls and the new furniture we had just purchased.  I finally had the china hutch I had always dreamed of having one day.  I praised Him on a daily basis, but I always stated that He meant more to me than these material blessings.  Marty and I decided to sell our home and furniture to buy a 5^th wheel and travel.  This was a dream that we wanted.  We traveled for about 10 months, and then Marty was called to be the pastor of a small church in Nash, OK.  We knew that God wanted us there even though it might be for a short time.  We received many blessings, but also struggled with not being totally accepted in the community.  In the eyes of some people we were considered outsiders from “Sin City” who had invaded the area, so we left after 3 years of ministry.  I look back now and know that the lives we touched were God’s plan of healing some hearts.  We left part of our hearts with those we grew to love in the Lord.  May the Lord continue to bless these special people!  The two books that have been published came from the time we lived in Nash.  Was my relationship with Jesus more than gold to me?

When we are given much then much is required as stated in this next scripture.  (Luke 12:48, From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. NIV)

We need the strength and wisdom of Jesus Christ during the times of jubilation, so that we do not fall into the snare and temptation of the devil.  Pride is a human downfall and we sometimes forget to praise and honor the Lord when we experience great wealth and honor.  Let us never forget to draw on the strength of Jesus Christ in all situations in our lifetime.  The Lord may never ask you to give up your materials blessings.

The fresh start today message is not to be prideful of the blessings that you receive, but be thankful for the relationship that you have with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who will give you strength in all that you do. The Scriptures say, “I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.”

FRESH START TODAY - (Blog 19)

FRESH START TODAY... Are you at peace in any situation?

Philippians 4:11-13, I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. NIV

The Scripture this week comes from a letter addressed to the church of Philippi, written by Paul.  It seems that Paul used to get himself in all kinds of situations as he traveled to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Before his encounter with Christ, he came from a rich family; he was a zealous Pharisee attempting to destroy the new church that came out of faith from the crucified and resurrected Christ Jesus.  Then he had a personal encounter with the Savior that changed the direction he was taking in his life.  An encounter with the Savior changes the directions of every believer’s life. The journey will be challenging, but very rewarding.  A word picture that describes this is like trying to get a child to ride a pony. This could scare them at first, but the pony ride becomes fun!  Just get on the ride with Jesus and you will be blessed.

Can you identify with Paul?  Have you taken chances when serving the Lord?  Have you been knocked down?  Have you had what seemed to be unanswered prayers?  Have you been hungry?  Have you lost a job?  Has a friend turned on you?  Have you had times when there has been money in your pocket to burn?  Have you been blessed by people recognizing that you have a gift that has encouraged them?  Life is definitely full of ups and downs isn’t it?  What has been your attitude?  Paul tells us about his attitude. WOW! How do we get to have an attitude like Paul?  He said that he had learned to be content in every situation.  This is hard to do!  He said that there is a secret and then he states the secret!  “I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM (JESUS) WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH.”  This strength comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit’s that lives in every true believer.  Are you a believer? You are the only one that can answer that question.

We worry, fight with people, we get hurt feelings, we feel neglected, we feel life has been unfair to us, so we react to these situations. To tell you truth, I really did not want to write about this subject.  This is an area where I am weak.  If you do not struggle with these shortcomings, then I congratulate you for your wonderful attitude and I praise the Lord for giving you His absolute peace!  Maybe you have not reacted to every situation well, but just a few of them? You know that I am just trying to make a point that we all are human in nature and struggle.  The wisdom that He wants to give to us is for our taking if we mentally and spiritually crawl up in His gentle caring lap.  I will join you to repent of my weakness asking for His strength.

I know when I read of the encounter that Jesus faced during His mock trial, knowing he was facing death; I marvel at the gentle turning away that Jesus had for his own life.  He knew the bigger picture, because He was God in the flesh.  He looked down through time at every face that would accept His love and He made an unselfish decision for you and me.  He loves us and I know that I do not deserve this unconditional love.  I have done nothing nor will I do anything that would merit this kind of sacrifice and love.  Choose today to start fresh with the attitude of being content in all situations.  You now know the secret to being content.  Start fresh today to draw on the strength that only the Holy Spirit gives us as we face each new day.