Tear Stains

The other night our group got together and one of the things that was said has really stuck with me for the last week. It was what Pete Briscoe had said in his sermon. He prayed that what broke God's heart, would break his too.
Today I had a strange thought. What if tears were ink instead of water? What if we couldn't wipe our tears away and they left behind a mark on our face? Then I pictured all the inky faces I would see on EVERY person I saw! Including mine!
What would happen if tears were out in the open? Would we realize how common tears are? Or would we just grow used to them, not even noticing anymore?
I don't need to see people's tears to know that they have cried. I want what would break God's heart to break mine too. I pray that I become more sensitive to the invisible tears around me.
God asks us to weep with those who weep and laugh with those laugh...rejoice with them. Jesus always shared concern, sympathy, empathy with those who wept. And he also shared joy, hope, and laughter.
Let's each pray to see beyond the surface and to minister to those whose tears are invisible and to increase the joy of those around us by being joyful with them.

The TWO sides of being ALONE

To express the pain of being alone is "loneliness." To express the glory of being alone is "solitude."
Loneliness is pretty common these days and is increasing more and more. As common as single parenting is, many kids are lonely because their parents are busy working. Many elderly people are shut in their homes and are alone and lonely while the world outside keeps moving. There are many causes & reasons people isolate themselves and the result of that is loneliness. We were created to be relational and loneliness is not okay within us.
Solitude on the other hand, is when you finally get home from a busy day and turn down the noise and curl up with a good book. The joy of being alone is time for yourself to unwind & relax. A young mother looks forward to having some alone time after the kids go to school or when they go to bed in the evening.
Jesus often went off alone to pray and to meditate. He did this not just to get away from people. He did this so that He could be with God. He sought out his heavenly Father, he listened to him, he communed with him. We would do well by following his example. He beckons us to do the same. Not just for seeking times of solitude, but also when loneliness tries to invade us.
Jesus himself is never alone. He is not all by himself. He never feels loneliness, because God has always been a fellowship. He has always been Trinity- the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promises us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. With Him we are never alone.

The Firm Hand of the Father

My daughter told me that my grandson refuses to hold her hand. Still, she reaches for his hand and gets a firm grip and he struggles to break free of it so he can move ahead to do what ever he wants to do.
When my grandson came to visit with us, there were many circumstances that he needed for me to hold his hand. When walking around the swimming pool I held his hand, when we went walking down the sidewalk I held his hand, & when getting up and down on the kiddie rides at Chucky Cheese I held his hand.
He sure didn't like anyone to firmly hold his hand. The little guy is not even two years old yet! YOU HAVE TO HOLD HIS HAND!
From the day we are born, we spend alot of time trying to do things our own way. It seems that during the most difficult times we fight the hardest to be independent.
That's when God reaches out and holds onto us even tighter. He knows when we need His hand the most, and he refuses to let go of us.
Have you come to understand His love for you to the degree that you understand the protection in His hand and instead of feeling restrained, you ask for it on a daily basis?

Faithful until the End

Have you ever watched a football game or some other kind of team sport and all through the game one team is way ahead of the other team except during the last 60 seconds? They got over confident and lacked in dedication and lost. That is such a drag!

Lots of us have been there. We have lost because of our unfaithfullness or overconfidence. It brings feelings of frustration and sadness.

Lots of things we do in life start out well, then after a time we can get distracted, we slip and finally fail. We start out doing our very best but then we grow indifferent and unfaithful. It happens with college students, a new job, a new marriage, a team game...

I read this in Eccl. 7:8 "the end of a matter is better than it's beginning, and patience is better than pride." The Lord Jesus has said ," Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life" Rev. 2:10

What are You & I believing God for?

Let's get to the specifics. What are you & I believing God for? He knows the beginning and the end. It's already in the past what your believing God for! He said he is only interested in your good and that when you have your eyes focused on Him, He can move mountains. I mean, He put the moon and stars in space. He created the heavens & the earth and everything in it. He only has to say ONE WORD ..and it was spoken into being. He is the WORD that became flesh and walked among us.
Pray as if it already is a reality. It's not God's will that someone should die of cancer. It's not God's will that we should be filled with fear. Do you have faith as small as a mustard seed? Do you believe God is bigger than any of your problems? Do we want to wonder around wondering for 40 years if God can do what He says He can do & miss the Promised Land? Why I ask...do we have such a hard time believing? It's a matter of trust...it's a matter of little, great, or perfect faith in God. Little Faith says "I will pray about that." Great Faith says "I believe God can do that." Perfect Faith says " It's a done deal!"

I'm making a declaration right now! I'm believing in Perfect Faith that God will move what He knows needs moving in our lives. I'm believing God for all the things my husband & I prayed about tonight. We wrote them all down on paper & tucked them into our bible to give to Him, and as visual reminder for us. I'm believing The Brook Ministries Golf Tournament & Motorcycle Tour will be a huge overwhelming success and glory upon glory....victory upon victory God reigns! All for His Glory! We will be overwhelmed of how his plan unfolds as He makes our way to Costa Rica !
We believe Him! I'm believing in the plans He's got in store for me and my household & The Brook Ministries. One day we will be looking back to marvel at the work of the Lord & all that He set in place for The Brook. It's so exciting what is happening now! I'm praising Him NOW! Pastors will come from all over the world to receive what they need from the Lord after having spent time at The Brook.
I also believe there is no accident in your reading this. What are you believing in God for?
Just remember, sometimes the teacher does no talking when the test is given out!


Mark 11:23
"Have faith in God," Jeus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, "Go, throw yourself in to the sea", and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Romans 4:17
The God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

Hebrews 11:6
Without Faith it is impossible to please God