Where are You?

Teresa Poucher

 

What makes your world go around? For many people, it’s their work, so they can get that big house, a nice automobile, and an attractive spouse. Oh, you are more mature, so you say, “health, family, and love.” All of that sounds great. Yet, when I ask myself what the most important thing in my life is, I’d like to think God! I want Him to be the center of my world, the axis around which my world revolves. If God is not the center of my life, it is out of balance. I’ll start getting disoriented.

 

I desire to advance constantly, never going back to my old ways. Not just moving forward, but going straight. “…because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14)

 

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.” (Hebrews 12:2 GNT)

Even if I don’t get the fancy home here, I’ll have a mansion there.  I will be eternally healed with my loved ones, walking streets of gold in the presence of the Lover of my soul, rejoicing, worshiping, and singing.  What beauty awaits the child of God who puts Him at the center of their world!  

 

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9

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Homeless

Teresa Poucher

Chances are you haven’t been homeless, although over half a million people are homeless in the United States alone.  It is a somber thought wondering where you can find shelter from the cold or blistering heat.

 

We all know when God made himself in flesh, He was born in a stable or such since there was no room in the inn. Now he is just starting his ministry at 30 years of age. We see he Is still lacking a home. “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20)

 

  This verse brought me to tears. Jesus wants to make his abode with us, and I want to make room for Him. I don’t just want a once-a-week visit; I want Him to live in me.  

 

  Jesus made a way for us if we will repent, be baptized in His name, and be filled with His Spirit as spoken of in Acts 2:38. You don’t need money, a job, or even a home.  Just a willing heart.

 

“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)

Stones

Teresa Poucher

Remember the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me?”  I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty confident words have hurt us all.  

 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21)

 

  We read about the woman caught in adultery, and the people were ready to stone her. Those stones would have killed her.

 

“A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together…” (Ecclesiastes 3:5)

 

  If I’m going to cast away a stone, I’m hoping it’s something weighty that I need to eliminate from my life.  If I’m picking up stones, may it be to help someone or to build something to make an altar or a memorial.

 

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)

 

“And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone…” (Exodus 20:25)

 

Let’s build an altar and wholly follow the Lord.

Spell Check

Teresa Poucher

Who hasn’t sent a message when autocorrect changed the whole meaning of your subject matter?  That could be dangerous.  I’m very grateful for spell-checking technology.  My spelling is so bad at times, it isn’t even close enough to recognize what I’m trying to say.

 

  While I’m grateful for autocorrect, I don’t care to be corrected in front of others.  It can be embarrassing.  Yet I can’t think of a better way to grow.

 

“My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:11-12)

 

As I spent some time with the Lord today, He showed me some errors I had made. Sometimes, it’s not what you are doing or even saying. Perhaps it’s what you are thinking. I’m so thankful God is gentle and patient. I want the Lord to correct me, so maybe you won’t have to. Let’s grow together.

Wish Lists

Teresa Poucher

  Many of us have an Amazon account.  If not, you may sometimes get a friend to order things for you.  Since you probably have an account, you most likely have a wish list. 

 

  ‘Sure does make it easy at Christmas or birthdays.  Perhaps you won’t tell someone what you want, but you can always add it to your list without feeling guilty.

 

  I don’t know your desires, but I was wondering…

If God had a wish list, what would be on it?  Your money, your time?  I believe it would be simple obedience.  

 

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

 

  If mankind would obey these two laws, we wouldn’t have many problems on this earth.  We would be so blessed.

 

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.

 

“I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice….” (Deuteronomy 30:15, 19-20 NKJV)

 

Let’s fulfill God’s wish list.

Perfect Love

Teresa Poucher

Do you like to give gifts?  Don’t you love it when you know exactly what someone would like?  Some people know how to buy the perfect gifts but are uncomfortable accepting them.

So how is it that we can give love yet have a hard time receiving it? Maybe one doesn’t feel worthy. Whether that stemmed from childhood or a bad relationship, it should not affect how you accept God’s love.

Adam and Eve had it made until God came to visit after they sinned, and Adam said, “I was afraid,” and they hid. How can they have this wonderful communion now?

I’m so thankful God loves us. “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (I John 4:18)

Maybe you have a different reason for finding it difficult to receive love. However, fear has played a role in my life. Funny how we can’t fix something until we know it’s broken.

Fear has torment. Strong’s Concordance defines torment as “correction, punishment, or penalty.” Well, I want to avoid all of the above yet still give and receive love. Fear is a byproduct of sin. I repent of sin regularly, so there is no reason I need to fear. With God’s help, I’m casting out fear in Jesus’s name. I desire to love like God loves and enjoy communion with Him and his creation.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John14:34)

So, what is keeping you from having perfect love?

Love Hurts

Teresa Poucher

The rock band, Nazareth, recorded a remake of a song by the Everly Brothers in 1974 entitled “Love Hurts.” If you don’t care for someone, their slurs or actions might anger you for a moment, but let a loved one do something morally wrong, and it hurts.

 

  Several years ago, I was praying and said, “God, let me love until it hurts.”  I no sooner said that than I thought, “Oh no! What did I say?”  

 

I’m reading about Hosea. My goodness, what misery! Hosea learned somewhat about how God hurts. He was instructed to marry a prostitute. No, I haven’t committed adultery, but what about idolatry? We (not God) like to categorize sin as big or small. Hosea learned the heart of God. He felt His pain, so angry at times that He wanted to destroy, then a desire to restore.

 

  Yes, love does hurt; it took our Savior from glory to Mount Calvary to die a shameful and painful death.   I don’t like pain or bruising, but if it means I can bring someone to a relationship with Jesus, let me love until it hurts.

 

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34)

 

“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Bread in the Wilderness

Teresa Poucher

  I know God is speaking, yet I have not heard Him lately.  Why is that I ask myself?  Perhaps I’m distracted, or maybe I have something in my life that isn’t pleasing to God.  

 

As I heard chapter 21 of the book of Numbers read to me, I was pricked in my heart. Israel was wandering in the wilderness. We read in verse 3 they had just won a battle through God’s intervention. Then we read in verse 5, “And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.”

 

  What? No water, no bread?  God had miraculously provided for them daily.  Now they are saying they were sick of this bread.  If that wasn’t a slap in the face, they called the manna “light bread.” According to the Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon, the definition of “light” is “contemptible, worthless.”  Can I say they angered God?  God sent fiery serpents, and many people died.  

 

  Then, they came pleading to Moses, “We sinned against you and God.”  As he had done so many times, Moses interceded with God, and God instructed him to make a brazen serpent.  If the people were bit, they were to look at the brazen serpent.  The creature that would kill them would now cure them, much like Jesus on the cross.  

 

“Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever].” (John 3:14-15 AMP)

 

  I wonder how many people in the wilderness refused to look at the brazen serpent, acknowledging their sin and need.

 

  Is it because I have been fussing about my life instead of thanking Him for his mercy and provision that I haven’t heard his voice?  Yes, I repented and looked to him for his mercy and grace. 

 

“And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?” (Matthew 15:33)

 

“For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life…’” (John 6:33,35

Oh, this bread, how sweet it is

I Can’t See – It’s Dark

Teresa Poucher

“…For we walk by faith, not by sight…” (II Corinthians 5:7)

 

  I enjoy sleeping in a dark room — no night lights for me.  ‘Matter of fact, I put black tape on my standby lights.   I’m at that age where I take bathroom breaks at night. Still, no lights. I almost want to sleepwalk so I can fall right back to sleep. 

 

In Isaiah 45:3, the prophet speaks, “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.”

 

I wonder if the prophet is speaking of Gethsemane and Calvary.

 

We find Jesus in the darkness while in Gethsemane. I’ve always been intrigued by this garden. How intense were the emotions that flooded His every being: isolation, darkness, temptation, weariness, sorrow, agony, and grief. Yet He continued and yielded Himself for our sake

 

  Shortly after that, He was beaten with a cat of nine tails. Metal, bone, and glass ripped His flesh from His back.  Crucified on Mount Calvary before Jesus died, darkness covered the earth.  

 

  While the shepherds watched their flock at night, an angel brought them good tidings of great joy.

 

Yes, things are dark. We need to walk by faith because we can’t see clearly. However, we know a seed was planted in the darkness. It is growing.

  Keep walking. Even if your steps are small, when you can’t see the Lord, feel after Him.  He is near, even at the door.

Are you Feeling under Pressure?

Teresa Poucher

Pressure canning is a wonderful way to preserve food. I recently made chicken salad with chicken I had canned seven years ago.  I realize that might seem scary to some, but it was yummy.

Today you may feel like you have been in a pressure cooker, crammed into a jar that was much too tight. The lid was locked, making sure you could not escape. Then the heat was turned up.

 

  Steam builds, and temperatures rise beyond boiling to kill bacteria.  It shortens your cooking time.  Since there is no evaporation, the food has much more flavor.  If you cook chicken legs in a pressure cooker, the bones become so soft you can smash them with your finger.  

 

So don’t fret, be patient under pressure, rest in the Lord, and let Him work. This situation you are going through has brought much pressure upon you. However, it’s killing dangerous desires and evil thoughts. It is to expedite your calling. You are becoming tender and pliable in the Master’s hand. Your praise is turning into a sweet aroma that will linger wherever you go. It will preserve you until Jesus takes you home.

 

“The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” (Psalms 12:6-7)