Call Me Gloria

 "The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything." Philippians 4: 5-6

    As the mother of four daughters, my mom had her hands full. Often would she hear, "Mom, where's my _____?" or "Mom, can I go to _____?" or "Mom, watch me!" At times when weary she would quip, "I'm going to change my name to Gloria!"

    As I watch my granddaughter grow, I am reminded of how much a child needs her mother. Lauren will send her out to play, hoping for a few untethered moments to accomplish a task, yet there's a knock at the door within minutes. "Mommy!" 

    Recalling my own childhood experiences, I'd restlessly await sleep upon my bed. Always a little anxious, I would need that blessed reassurance of my mom's presence, so I'd call out, "Mom, what time is it?" Not concerned about the time, I just needed to hear her voice.

    My morning devotional lead me to the familiar passage of Philippians chapter four, but today, it spoke to me anew: It's enough for me to know the Lord is near, just like my mother always was, and though He has far more children than four, He never gets exasperated when I call upon Him. 

    My heavenly Father is patient. He is kind and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love. He never slumbers nor sleeps, so I can call out to Him at any time of night or day. He lives up to His Name: Immanuel - God with us! 

    And when, at the close of my days, I reach the golden shore, I will look over my shoulder and say with quiet conviction, "Surely goodness and mercy followed me all the days of my life. Now I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!" (Psalm 23:6)

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

    

Dying for Telling the Truth

 "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants." Psalm 116:15

    Charlie Kirk paid the ultimate price because he spoke truth.

    He's in good company:

• John the Baptist, beheaded for speaking against immorality 
• Stephen, stoned for rebuking the stiff-necked Jews
• Simon Peter, crucified upside down for preaching Christ
• James, beheaded by Herod, trying to silence the believers
• Bartholomew, beaten to death for being a missionary in Armenia
• Thomas, suffered martyrdom for ministering in Persia and India
• Paul, beheaded in Rome by Nero's order who hoped to silence him
• Above all, Jesus, who gave His life, shedding His innocent blood as a ransom for many, including us. All praise and glory and honor to His Name, before Whom every knee shall bow!

    There's not room enough to tell of the river of blood that's been shed around the world for the gospel, and "the world was not worthy of them." (Hebrews 11:38) 

    There are two options from which to choose that are summed up like this: Life or Death, Good or Evil, Truth or Lies. In other words, God or Satan. Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15). There are no lukewarm fence-sitters in the Kingdom, only Christian soldiers.

    Sometimes when I read the Hall of Faith written of in Hebrews chapter eleven, I insert my own name. "By faith, Rachel..." As I walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, how have I completed this sentence? Am I ready to suffer as others have? Will I stand firm when the day of evil comes? 

Voice of Truth

by Casting Crowns

Oh, what I would do to have

the kind of strength it takes

to stand before a giant

with just a sling and a stone,

surrounded by the sound

of a thousand warriors

shaking in their armor,

wishing they'd have had the strength to stand.

But the giant's calling out my name

and he laughs at me,

reminding me of all the times

I've tried and failed.

The giant keeps on telling me 

time and time again,

"Boy, you'll never win."

But the Voice of Truth

tells me a different story.

The Voice of Truth

says "Do not be afraid;

this is for My glory."

Out of all the voices calling out to me,

I will choose to listen to 

the Voice of Truth.

Truth will never be silenced because it is not a concept but a Person, the Person of Jesus Christ who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) Speak truth, even if it kills you.

    

    

    

Same As Always

 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8

    In a world that never stays the same, I puzzle at the immutability of its Creator. God, who never changes, made a world that never stays the same. Though this seems incongruous, I am glad it's true.

    Imagine with me the flip side of this. What if God were always changing His mind? Just when you thought you had things figured out, He would change all the rules of the game, upending all of us in the process.

    I spent ten days visiting my eldest daughter and her family in Houston, Texas. The night prior to my departure, I made sure to check in, downloading my boarding pass and all that. I had informed my husband who was meeting my flight that it was on time and told my daughter from which concourse I was departing. I was all set to tackle the intimidating intercontinental airport.

    Security was a breeze; I had no trouble finding my gate, so I was feeling very confident until I read the sign at the gate. "Houston," I thought, "we have a problem." The next flight that was leaving from my gate was heading to Mexico! 

    I rubbed my eyes as I checked and rechecked my information, feeling my confidence ooze from me like a whoopie cushion. Praying, I sought an employee who told me the gate had been changed. Now I needed to go to another concourse. 

    "Go on down this way, turn left," the employee began with a gesture of direction. "Then turn right when you see the Auntie Anne's pretzel place. After awhile, you'll see an escalator on the right. Go up and you'll see a train. Get on board," she continued in spite of my glazed expression, "and get off at the first stop. Then go down another escalator, turn left..." 

    By this time, I must've looked like a shell-shocker cornhusker from Iowa, so my benefactor kindly repeated the instructions. With my hand in His, I found my way.

    The journey along life's way is comparable to my airport experience. There was only one gate I needed to find that provided my way home. Not just any gate would do or I would've ended up in Mexico. Jesus said, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." (John 10:9) No other gate will get me to my heavenly home. "I am the way, the truth and the life," Jesus plainly declared in John 14:6. 

    And these dependable words have not changed since He uttered them. The same holds true for all, throughout all the generations of travelers. The gate will never be changed on us, so check your ticket. Are you at the Right Gate, heading north? Or are you depending on the wrong pilot, heading south? 

Destination is crucial. 

"I the Lord do not change." Malachi 3:6