Seasons change from "His Kindness Year Round"

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ – welcome to December!  I've missed you.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens;”

Autumn has truly been a busy season; a season with many, many unexpected occurrences.     

In November, one of the most special women the Creator ever put on this earth departed to heaven.  My mother passed away very peacefully at the age of 85.  She is with Jesus, happy, healed, singing and rejoicing!

There is an expression I have heard several times:  if you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.  That defines the past three months well.  As my calendar for this period was well booked with ‘my plans’, I learned how quickly those can change, and the need for adaptation and flexibility began.  But specifically, the need to strongly exercise my faith.

With recent happenings still ongoing, this Christmas season for me will be extremely different than for most people.  There will be no decorating or baking or card sending or gift giving as I would like to do.  I hope to be in the fellowship of my siblings in Jesus, as I know the Father desires for me to be with His children this time of year.  At first, thoughts of my situation caused me to have a brief period of ‘poor me’.  But very quickly I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that the Christmas season of 2014 will be one of true, intense focus and concentration on the real reason of the season – Jesus.  Christmas is Jesus.  (Please understand I’m certainly not objecting to the traditional festivities of this time of year at all!)  God is gently holding me close.  God is surprising me with firecracker blessings, wonderful reminders of His presence and love. God is good.

There are many blessings and promises of the Lord to occur.  I’m still holding on.  I won’t let go. Even positive changes can sometimes feel stressful, but I know I am on this trip with God, and He is bringing goodness.  At times, when God moves, He moves "SWIFT".

Romans 8:25 “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “The One Who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”

It’s a beautiful season, even if some circumstances may not seem to be.  It’s a time for celebrating the birth of our Savior, the real reason for the season.

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”

Prayerfully, your sister in Jesus,

Robin

Did you hear that? from "His Kindness Year Round"

When the Holy Spirit guides us to do something, don’t delay or disobey. 

When He speaks, listen.  Promptly act upon His request.  Procrastination in obedience to the Lord’s message will delay your blessing and breakthrough.  His timing is always accurate. 

Psalm 37:7 "Be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him to act."

Listen for His voice.  You may not see the urgency in His direction, but He knows His plan for you.  Follow Him without hesitation or avoidance. 

Sometimes His messages are for such a time as this. 

Matthew 17:5 "While He was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.  Listen to Him!"

Jonah didn’t immediately obey the Lord, but fled in the opposite direction.  And God’s ‘gentle’ nudge brought him back to where the Lord wanted Him. 

Jonah 1:2a "Get up and go . . . "

Don’t wait to be swallowed by a large fish to bring you into His submission. 

Your sister in Christ,

Robin





 

Are you a resident of Tuckered Town? from "His Kindness Year Round"

I read a book several years ago by Max Lucado entitled "Come Thirsty". A particular chapter entitled, "Hope for Tuckered Town" really resonated on my mind at that time, and it has recently come to mind again.

Sometimes when I go through trials, I will tend to focus on the circumstance, rather than the Father.When conditions seem to pile up higher and higher and higher -- I tend to see the situations, rather than the Father on the throne far above the circumstances.

Just a couple of weeks ago I remembered this particular chapter of Lucado's book. He explains how in Tuckered Town, people would get up each morning, start their cars, put then in neutral, and get out and push their cars. Sounds strange, and personally I think it is strange. His illustration was telling us God doesn't want us to push our cars. He wants us in the passenger seat for the ride, while He drives us according to His plan.

Galatians 3:3 "Are you so foolish?  After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?"

I’ve realized for the past several months, I was no longer allowing Him to drive my car, but I was revisiting Tuckered Town, starting the car each day, putting it in neutral, and pushing. (No wonder I've been feeling tuckered.) In reality, that's a very ridiculous idea. And in our spiritual lives, it's also very absurd. We have a Savior Who desires to drive for us through life, and rather than accepting His wonderful guidance and will for our lives -- His ideal plan for us -- we put Him aside and push our cars. And then wonder why the trial FEELS like a trial!

If you are trying to solve life's issues yourself, stop. God provided the Holy Spirit to help us in every capacity. Don't start your own car each morning and push. Don't put God into the passenger seat while you try to drive because the direction He's driving is not 'your' direction. Don't put Him in the passenger seat because you believe He's not driving fast enough to get you through the trial. He has us covered. He knows what He is doing. He is an all knowing God. He knows His plans for us. And they are the plans to keep us in obedience to His will.

Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me."

Depend on God completely. Exercise your faith.  Let Him drive.  Throw your duplicate set of keys away, and sit in the passenger seat beside Him.  

Jeremiah 17:7 "Blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence."

Your sister in Him, riding along with the Father,

Robin

Sing a song from "His Kindness Year Round"

The Lord has been filling me with songs of old and new.

Anyone feel they have a trial or difficulty?  Several weeks ago I began singing the words 'Burdens are lifted at Calvary'.  Our Jesus died for our bodies, souls and spirits.  He took it all.  All our cares and burdens were taken care of, stamped 'paid in full', at the cross over 2,000 years ago.  Leave them there.  They are not ours to pick up today and carry.  What 'Amazing grace'!

Want to claim the 'Victory in Jesus, my Savior, forever'?  Because there is 'Power in the blood'.

John 16:33 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

As the Father reminded me of what His Son did for me, He also placed many songs of praise and worship as a reminder of Who He is and what He has done for us.

To me, 'Jesus is the sweetest name I know'.  And 'Everyday with Jesus is sweeter than the day before'!

And, oh, so 'Worthy is the Lamb, seated at the throne'.

Matthew 22:37 "Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

As I recalled an old hymn and began listening to its words, I cried.  As I began to experience the words of the song, I did as they indicated:  'I bowed on my knees and cried "Holy, Holy, Holy".

Never forget 'Jesus loves me', and you.  He loves us like none other.

Do we truly exalt the Lord as we should?  Do we stop to absorb His magnificent glory?  Do we continuously praise Him, thank Him, worship Him?

For 'My hope is in the Lord'.

Psalm 30:4 "Sing to the Lord, all the godly ones! Praise His holy name."

'Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God forever',

Robin

Do you share as you should? from "His Kindness Year Round"

While Jesus walked on earth, He commissioned us to be disciples and spread the gospel through the world. My greatest passion is God. He's the One I love most, try to please most; He's my best friend.  He is my reason for being.

Matthew 22:37 “Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

But do I share Him as I should?

Several months ago I spoke to a friend the day before her birthday.  I know in recent years she had been attending chapel and Bible studies.  On occasion we’d briefly discuss our Bible studies and prayer, but I never asked her if she had a relationship with God.  Not just the experience of religion with chapel, studies, or friendship with a chaplain, but if she was saved by the blood of Jesus and had a relationship with Him.

Three days after our last phone conversation, I was told she had a life threatening illness.  Nine days after my last conversation with her, she passed away quietly and peacefully at home with family at her side. Obviously, I'll never have the opportunity now to ask her about her relationship with God, or if she would spend eternity in heaven.  

Ask yourself that important question:  Do you have a relationship with the Father in which you will spend eternity with Him?  Do you know if others in your daily circles are followers of Jesus?  Who do you need to be asking that important question to?

Fuel your fire for the Lord. Make Him your passion. Share Him with others.  Because one day, it's going to be too late.

Joshua 24:15 “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Your sister in Him,

Robin

I have a new FROG in my life! from "His Kindness Year Round"

Several years ago, I dearly held onto the word FROG. As a reminder, I have several little ceramic or glass frogs, stuffed animal frogs, froggie earrings, etc. People have their own version for the acronym, but I chose: Forever Rely On God. (I've seen Fully and Faithfully also.)

Well, I have a new FROG in my life.

Sometimes the situations and circumstances in life seem to occupy too much of our time and minds. To help me stay on tract as to WHO is most important and should be first and foremost in my thoughts, I think of my new FROG . . .

F helps me to remember to immediately take a thought from away from a circumstance, and Focus on the Father. He's the answer to all the trials. He's my Father -- I'm His daughter -- I'm a child of the Most High! That's something to shout about!

Galatians 4:6-7 “Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’. So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are His child, God has made you also an heir.”

R encourages me to Rejoice in everything! As someone recently shard in a devotional, release our faith in the Father by praising Him, telling Him we know He already knows the plan, the answer, a plan for a future and hope. Rejoice!

Psalm 64:10 “The righteous will rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him; all the upright in heart will glory in Him.”

O reminds me to Offer all burdens to Him, because He's waiting and very willing to accept them. Think about it. If a family member or friend or neighbor or co-worker or stranger offered to take your burdens, wouldn't you gladly give them over? I would! God is telling us to cast our cares -- give our burdens to Him. So why should we hold onto them?

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for you.”

G again urges me to Glorify God!  He is worthy of all praise! Blessed is His name!

Psalm 63:6 “Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”

FROG in every situation of life!

Your sister in Him,

Robin

Jesus really does love me! from "His Kindness Year Round"

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

I fully understand from John 3:16 how wonderfully God loves ME.  He loves you, also, of course, and He loves ME.  To sacrifice the life of His Son so I may have eternal life, He obviously loves me, always has and always will.

From a well-known childhood song:

"Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
The Bible tells me so."

2 Timothy 3:16a "All scripture is God-breathed . . ."

The Bible repeatedly tells us that God loves us.  Timothy tells us the Word is directly from God. And we know if it's in the Word, it is truth.  Deduction:  The Bible tells us of His love; the Bible is directly from God; therefore, JESUS LOVES US!

Romans 8:38-39 "For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God.  Death cannot!  Life cannot!  Angels cannot!  Leaders cannot!  Any other power cannot!  Hard things now or in the future cannot!  The world above or the world below cannot!  Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord."

No matter what the circumstance, never forget that Jesus loves you!

1 John 3:1 "See what great love the Father has for us that He would call us His children.  And that is what we are.  For this reason the people of the world do not know who we are because they did not know Him."

WOW -- we are HIS children!  How amazing is that!  And He is our Father.  Hold on to that realization.  It's a love beyond my thoughts. 

Jesus loves me, and you.

Prayerfully, your sister in the Father,

Robin