He Is SOOOO Worth It...

"God's works are so great, worth A lifetime of study - endless enjoyment"! Ps. 111:2

Is that not the most awesome scripture? Think about it a minute, really. Re-read it. "God's works are so great, worth A lifetime of study - endless enjoyment"! Ps. 111:2

So many of us try to find our enjoyment in things, people, money, etc... The bible says that "endless enjoyment" comes from the study of the works of God. That little word "study" tries to ruin that entire scripture for me.

You see, I am at the point in my life that I am just down right tired of it - study, not God or his word, but study. I am tired of it. But then I ran across this scripture today. Wow, studying the works of God. Now that is something I think I can hitch my boat to.

What do the works of God look like? Are they different for you than for me? I think maybe they are. When I start to focus my time on God, I think about all the Mightiness He encompasses. The strength that I have because He dwells in me, The Hope that I have because of what I have received from Him because of a personal relationship with Him. I think about the endless times that people have disappointed me; but He has never not once let me down. He is ever constant, ever giving, ever wooing me to Him. He never is more than a thought away or a prayer whisper from my lips. He holds me in His invisible arms which are stronger than any mans. He loves me when I am unlovable and always, yes always, is wanting to bless me. I am the apple of His eye, the desire of His heart. He never asks me to do anything that He does not give me the strength to do. He wants me to succeed and encourages me all the way. He has been with me from the very first day I met Him and He has never left me - that has been 44 years and counting. I can't begin to imagine, comprehend, or study enough all the ways God has been so amazing in my life. So, study the works of God - you betcha!!! Enjoyment, here I come.

Tap in dear friend and prepare to enjoy the Works of an AWESOME, AMAZING, Jesus!!!

Mixed Swimming?

I didn't think I would ever forget the humiliation that I felt the day that the Pastor, my boss, asked from the pulpit in front of the entire congregation "Is this youth swimming event a mixed swimming party"? I thought I would die. He continued further to attack me right there in church; he told me that no church group of his would be having boys and girls swimming together, "it would be a cold day in hell" were his exact words. I remember thinking, "is this 1978??? - you would think we were living in the 50's".

I remember driving home that night crying the entire way. Wondering how I, the new Youth Director, could have possibly known that he felt so strongly about this. How would I ever be able to go back to that place? How would I be able to face the kids, the parents, what was I going to say to him? We thought so differently, his views on youth ministry and mine were so totally opposite and here I was in his church and responsible for the spiritual well being and the activities of these kids - all 15 of them. I just wanted to quit, to find a new job, do anything other than have to meet with him the next morning.

Since that time, I have been on staff in 4 more churches - before meeting my husband and becoming a pastors wife. Oh for the days and problems of "mixed swimming parties". BUT, I still am in ministry and I still love serving the Lord some 30+ years. It is easy to want to quit, give up, change professions. But there is this little thing about "a calling". For some of us, the Lord set us apart for something unique. He annointed us, which personally I think means He gives us the extra special "something" that we need to handle "situations" like "mixed swimming parties".

But there is something else. We don't give up on the church. We do not let the opinions and views of others in ministry, who do not line up with ours, sway us from what the Lord has called us to do. Do we want to quit? Do we want to just change professions and do something else? Absolutely - sometimes monthly, for some weekly, daily. But I think maybe, just maybe the Lord might get frustrated with us as well.

Do we serve Him, not men, with our whole heart? Do we talk to Him, listen to Him, serve Him, and work for Him so wholeheartedly that nothing else matters?

Sometimes!!! Check your heart before you quit, He may have something really good around the corner...and remember, we only see now, He sees forever.

Are you FIXED on Jesus????

Over this past week I have encountered countless individuals who are not just burdened about the circumstances occurring in our country, but are struggling with allowing the Lord to be their "enough". As I have prayed for these people during the week and over the week-end, the Lord brought back to my heart the time in my own life when he asked me the question, "If you loose everything, even your children, will you still love me and still serve me"? WOW - that was a big one!!! My greatest fear at that time was a common fear of young mothers, that they would loose a child; and here the Lord was asking this question of me. I have to confess that I did have a struggle on my hands - I wrestled with Him about the question. As our sweet Lord always does, He waited patiently as I "grew" to the place He was trying to take me. He wasn't trying to tell me that one of my kids was going to die, He was not telling me that something awful was going to happen. What He WAS asking was "Robin, are you FIXED on ME"?!!!



These are hard days and the phone conversations that I am having with many, yes many wives, is that their husbands are burdened, some almost paralyzed by the fear (and yes it is fear whether they want to use that word or not) because of what they are hearing, reading on the internet, and listening to in the news. Ladies, rise to the occasion. Jesus wants you to be FIXED on Him even when your man is not, you need to be (hint - many a man thinks that he is fixed on the Lord and truly trusting in Him; if that was really true they could not be consumed with worry. Remember, worry is sin). I have a few suggestions for you on how to help your husband, your children, and maybe it will even help you. The Lord will work in and through your man...and yes, he may use you to do it.



1.) Are YOU on your face before the Lord...or on the phone? Don't waste your words - turn them into prayers for those you love. We all make excuses about not having enough time to spend with the Lord in prayer- but we all spend excessive time on the phone. Let's turn our "talk time" into "prayer time" for our men and kids.



2.) Let's try to lift the load they are carrying - what are the little things you can do that will make a difference in his day? My man, (he is so precious) has a tendency to leave his shoes in the den, wherever he takes them off. I am continually tripping over them (size 12) and it makes me so mad. I remember a very wise pastor's wife told me "unless you have walked in his shoes that day be very careful what comes out of your mouth. Instead, slip your feet into his shoes and as you walk those shoes back to his closet, pray for him. Pray all the way". Girls, sometimes I have four pairs to prayer walk with!!! What an opportunity - and it does make a difference in him!!!



3.) Try NOT asking for things that seem beyond his scope of possibility right now. Remember, many people truly are living in fear of loosing their jobs, not having enough income to support their families; all the you may be wanting new jeans, or shoes, or highlights in your hair it just does not seem really - " urgent" to those who are worrying about the future. Give God time to work on their "worry mentality".



Reality is that our God is in control...of everything. He is in such control that whatever is going to happen is going to happen no matter how hard your man worries or not. What God is looking for are a few good men and woman who will be so fixed on Him that no matter what circumstances come, however bad they may be, that Jesus is the focus of their gaze.



Psalm 116: 1-2 says, I love the Lord because He has heard my pleas for mercy. Because He inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call on Him as long as I live".

Ladies, or gents, "Make the call" and set your thoughts on Him. Be fixed on the only thing that will bring security in this world.

Jeremiah 17:7
Psalm 22:4
2Chron.14:11
Job 8:15