Reba Bailes-Faith Filled Inspiration

Good day, everyone. Here we are, a few days into August, and I will conclude my series on the floods in Texas. It has been difficult to finalize as more accounts pour in, as I shared in my previous post, “The Lord had been giving more pieces than I anticipated, and He won’t stop here.”

This is the time to wind this up, though, and I believe I have found a good place to do it. What better place than the first-hand account of a twelve-year-old girl, Skyler, who was a flood survivor from Camp Mystic in Hunt, TX? This young girl was on Fox & Friends News, one of our National television news stations. She told of her nightmare experience as pictures of the aftermath of her camp were being displayed behind her. Her story recounted the healing and hope that came from the inspiration to rewrite the lyrics of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” song.

Skyler wrote the lyrics with the help of her mom, Lacey Derrington. “It was very emotional and healing like song therapy,” Lacey said of working with her daughter. Does this remind you of King Saul when he was depressed, calling for the shepherd boy, David? David played his harp and sang to bring “healing like song therapy”.

Skyler sang her song, broadcasting across our nation, like a professional, while displaying courage and her giftedness. She began…

“I heard there was a giant flood

But we were washed in Jesus’s blood

And you don’t really care for my news, do ya?

On July the fourth 2025

The water rose, we went adrift”

Later in the song, Skyler sang,

 “Our faith was strong, you showed us love

Like only God from up above

Your prayers, your hugs, and your love overwhelmed us

We cried we  prayed, we did our share

You clothed us , fed us, brushed our hair

And from our lips we drew the Hallelujah.”

She ended the song with these words…

“We did our best, we left a mark

A light that shines within the dark

I told His truth, I didn’t come to fool ya’

She continued…

“Even though it wasn’t long

We stand before the Lord of songs

With nothing on our tongue but hallelujah

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Halle looooo jah!”

These words resonate in my mind, and they also bring tears. Tears for healing are always good. I thank God for them.

After her performance, Skylar was interviewed and asked about her faith. Her testimony was grounded in God’s Truth and was impactful even on the interviewers.

She also stated that she wants to be a Christian singer like Lauren Daigle. One of the hosts asked her if she would like to say “Hi” to Lauren. She looked right into the camera to say hi as Lauren walked onto the stage to greet her in person.

The surprise was genuine, and a moment this youngster will never forget. Lauren was complementary and encouraging to Skyler. One thing she said that stood out to me was, “Tragedy happens in so many people’s lives, and what you experienced was unbelievable. But you took a tragedy and you turned it into something incredible. You turned it into something beautiful.” She continued… “That, to me, is so telling of your faith. It is so telling of the hope that you have in Jesus that you could take a tough situation and turn it into something beautiful. I just want to applaud you”.

The singer also revealed that she is releasing a new single on August 1^st titled “Let It Be a Hallelujah,” a song written nearly a decade ago but never released. Lauren stated that she did not know why the delay but with this event, she now knows. There is no coincidence in the title or the song.

So, how about we give a resounding applause to our Lord? Only He can orchestrate such as this! I stand amazed and humbled at His wonderful works in the “Battlegrounds” of our lives.

  “You grip my hand, guide me through, the very one I’m desperate for.

While drenching me in Your cleansing power, You’re transforming me even more!

Now pure as blue skies, I glide with butterflies amid the beauty of You.

Thankful through life’s battlegrounds, I’m homeward bound, beyond the sky so blue!”

“Blue Skies, Butterflies, & Battlegrounds” poem, pages 56-57. Written during the destructive 2020 worldwide pandemic. God was there also.

As I have shared what I have found to be healing when we don’t understand, I pray it has accomplished or set you on that path. We first looked through our dear cousin, Kathy’s, vantage point and the emails shared by her sister-in-law, Carol. There was a clear analysis of the event from Schreiner University staff.

As I stated in this first part…

 “I believe this is a good starting place to give us a glimpse of the depth (please, no pun intended) of the pain and crushed hearts that we may never understand. Throughout this process, I hope you will see God still working in the hearts and lives of people”.

In part two, I continued with a portion of the university president’s description of the monstrous night and subsequent days. He also shared one of the most heartfelt prayers I’ve ever read, written by the Rev. Dr. Dongwoo Lee, Schreiner’s University Minister. “How could I ever add to this? This prayer describes our God… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who He is and who we are in Him. Strengthened, empowered, full of compassion, hope, and healing as we each function as parts of His Body. We commonly call it the “hands and feet” of Jesus. And remember, you don’t have to be there to contribute. And with His help, we won’t forget and we won’t stop!”

As I moved on to part three…

 “Each day, more news is coming in about the tragedy, the cleanup, recovery, and how God is allowing good to come from it. It would be impossible for us to be aware of all of it, but I believe I am to share some of what I have found that has deeply touched my heart and others’.”

Therefore, I continued by sharing a Facebook post; another source for the healing balm the Lord was spreading over crushed hearts that could not understand. The writing titled Where Was God In The Flood?, was by a man named Scott. May God bless this man for his incredible compassion, insight, and wisdom. He wrote of absolutes about God and our responsibilities as His people. I found his call to the Ekklesia (the church as a community of believers in Christianity), and his mention of the anchor, along with numerous other key words, in agreement with many of my recent posts. God is speaking to His people everywhere. Let’s take heed.

With this wrap-up post, I believe this young girl’s testimony and song will continue this process of healing, even if we were never involved in a tragedy like this. As I stated previously, many of you have experienced much worse. By taking this look together, we can gain more trust in Him and His ways, even in any type of tragedy we experience in life. The Lord has supplied more than we imagined through our look at first-hand accounts, prayers, poetry, songs, and testimonies. No doubt He hasn’t stopped here.

As we continue to pray, support, uplift, and encourage one another, we find the compassion of Christ living in us and working through us (His Body of Believers). His hands, feet, and His heart in this painful world. To accomplish this, we must break free from the Dangers of Prosperity not only in America, but in many nations around the world! Let’s agree together to do our part.

I do pray God’s blessings on each of you. My appreciation of you grows with each blog.

May God continue to spread His healing balm over your lives,

Reba

Hello, again, from the unusually hot region of Northwest Arkansas. From the looks of the weather map, most of our nation is hot and dry, more so than usual. I pray for those whose jobs require outdoor work or unairconditioned buildings. They probably do not allow themselves to get too accustomed to the air-conditioned temperatures that most of us do. God bless them, for what would we do without them?

I am drawing closer to wrapping up my blogs on the floods in Texas. Each day, more news is coming in about the tragedy, the cleanup, recovery, and how God is allowing good to come from it. It would be impossible for us to be aware of all of it, but I believe I am to share some of what I have found that has deeply touched my heart and others’.

For now, I am moving to more healing words from yet another source. This was posted on social media, namely Facebook. It is titled, “Where Was God In The Flood?

WHERE WAS GOD IN THE FLOOD? 

Written by Scott 

“Over the past few days, my heart has wrestled deeply with the tragedy unfolding in Texas. The floodwaters have swept away more than cabins, they’ve shaken families, broken hearts, and left many of us asking the hard questions. As a shepherd, I’m supposed to have answers, but sometimes, I just have tears. This isn’t a post filled with easy explanations, it’s one born out of pain, prayer, and the unshakable truth that even in the flood, God is still present.

This is the heart-wrenching tension we must sit with, one that stretches both the human soul and the theological framework of even seasoned believers.

Could God have stopped the flood? 

Yes.

Could He have preserved every life? 

Absolutely.

Did He have the power to send angels, divert waters, or awaken every camper before danger came? 

Without question.

And yet, He didn’t. Not in the way we prayed. Not in the way we hoped.

This is where we enter the sacred realm of mystery.

Even the Apostle Paul, caught up to the third heaven, confesses: “Now we see through a glass, darkly…”  1 Corinthians 13:12

There are moments in life where divine sovereignty doesn’t align with human expectation, and in those moments, our theology must not collapse, it must deepen.

We often ask, “Why didn’t God act?”, but what if the deeper question is, why does He sometimes choose restraint, even when it breaks His own heart?”

The cross is our clearest example. Jesus could have called twelve legions of angels to prevent His crucifixion, but He didn’t. Not because He couldn’t, but because there was a greater purpose at work, a redemptive plan hidden within suffering.

Could this be one of those moments?

We do not claim to know the full mind of God (Isaiah 55:8–9), but we do know this, His delay is never His absence, and His silence is never His apathy.

Sometimes God restrains His hand so that a greater Kingdom revelation might emerge, even through the ashes of grief.

This Is Not Judgment. This Is Travail.

Let’s be clear, this tragedy is not a sign of God’s judgment on these children, this camp, or this region. This is not wrath, it is travail.

Creation is groaning. The earth is trembling.

And the Kingdom is advancing through birth pains, not comfort (Matthew 24:8).

This flood did not take God by surprise, but nor was it His delight. We serve a God who weeps with us (John 11:35) and enters into our suffering with scars of His own.

What We Do Know

Though we cannot answer every “why,” the believer’s voice must anchor the people of God in what is unshakably true:

He is still good, His goodness is not circumstantial, it’s covenantal. The cross remains the proof of His love, not our circumstances.

He is still just. His justice may not be immediate, but it is inevitable, every tear will be accounted for, every injustice will be made right, every hidden pain will be healed.

He is still present. Even in the storm, He was there, in the cries, in the chaos, in the quiet miracles. He is “Emmanuel,” God with us, in the flood as much as in the fire.

He is still working. As Romans 8:28 declares: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

This does not mean all things are good, it means that even the worst thing, like a flood that takes young lives, can become the soil for divine redemption. Let’s not allow mystery to give way to unbelief, let’s not allow pain to steal our posture of faith.

This is the time for the Ekklesia to weep and war, to mourn with those who mourn, to declare the goodness of God even in the valley, to contend for a generation that has been shaken.

We don’t have all the answers, but we have a God who still speaks, a Gospel that still saves, and a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.”

Written by someone named Scott

The wisdom that this man shared from his aching heart is another example of God’s healing balm that I mentioned in each of these blogs. “The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand”. The Lord has given us more pieces than I anticipated, and He won’t stop here. NKJV Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

In my final blog on this topic, I will share the testimony of a twelve-year-old girl for whom the Lord is doing just that… “Completing the good work He began in her.” As for the ones who perished…I will quote Scott, “We don’t have all the answers, but we have a God who still speaks, a Gospel that still saves, and a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.”

As you continue with me, I appreciate every moment of your time. Someday, we will meet from all nations and join together in our praises to Him. Meanwhile, we can join together even at a distance and praise Him through it all!

Reba

Good Sunday afternoon. We had a powerful worship, fellowship, and message at our Church gathering today. I hope you did as well.

I am writing on this day that we set aside for the Lord and for us to rest. Writing because we are not finished with “When We Don’t Understand”. I know that many who were affected believe the rest of us have moved on with our lives and have forgotten them. We have not! The Lord is reminding multitudes of us to keep you lifted in prayer and support. The Lord prompting me to write about this tragedy 22 days later, and the responses to my first part of this blog are evidence of this.

Therefore, I will continue with a portion of the letter from the President of Schreiner University, Charlie McCormick. Only a portion, because he describes that fatal night that I have already shared in the first part of this writing.

Again, this is copied from the email I received from our cousin Kathy in Kerrville, TX. I will pick up where he describes the events from his vantage point at that time.

“Over the last 24 hours, several people have told me about the 1987 and 2002 floods on the campus.  Those were scary times to be on campus.  Yesterday, though, and based on no logic other than the chaos of wind and rain and river, the campus fared well.  And very quickly, the Schreiner community was able to jump into action.  Creek levels were monitored by Security and Resident Directors; buildings were checked for leaks by Facility staff; and our Western Art Academy students were carefully shepherded by their Director and student mentors.  The Vice Presidents launched “call trees” to make certain everyone in their areas were accounted for (everyone is reported to be safe at this time).  Student Affairs made sure all on-campus students were accounted for, too.  Our food service provider mobilized its team so that it stood up the Diner for full-service throughout the day and for anyone who needed it.  Other staff – and Facilities first among them – prepared the Event Center as a site for community members to shelter.  Our nursing faculty came to campus at a run to address any health concerns.    And slowly but surely we learned the terrible news.  More lives lost.  More people still missing.  Everyone you talked to knew someone who had been lost or who was missing.  And collectively, and with our friends throughout the Hill Country, we grieved the news that our long-time Board member and dear friend, Jane Ragsdale, had passed.  As the day progressed, we were asked if Schreiner could shelter some campers that had been evacuated from their camps.  The women of Schreiner – Danielle, Erica, Cindy, Bri, Anna, Megan, Caitlyn, Cayce, Emma, and Stacy among others – sprang into action and created a space where some very fragile girls who had been through hell could find peace and a place to sleep.  Throughout the night they kept watch, managing the despair of families desperately seeking information on their missing loved ones and the extraordinary reunion of each camper with her family.  Some 50 first responders stayed on campus that evening, too, grabbing a few hours of sleep before leaving again for the rescue and recovery work.   By the time day broke on Saturday, most of the campers had been reunited with their parents, and the first responders were back at work.  Attention turned at once to preparing for the out-of-town linemen who were coming to help and additional support crews that would help Kerrville and the Hill Country try to stitch itself back together.  Processes have now been developed and volunteers secured to manage the check-in and check-out of these heroes for the next several days.  And before the afternoon had barely begun, we learned we were going to be sheltering counselors from still another camp that had been devastated.   I suspect this will be the pace of life for the next several days and maybe the next several weeks.  We will turn this campus into a community resource and tend to our friends and neighbors in their hours of need.  We should expect to pivot and then to pivot again and to plan and prepare only to not need these plans and preparations.  We’ll prepare food for a hundred and feed only ten.  That is the nature of a disaster.   But what an extraordinary opportunity it has been to spend time in the company of and on the phone with and texting alongside the Schreiner community the last 36 hours.  I will never be able to express how proud I am that when the pain was as its peak, one Schreiner person after another responded with compassion and a humanity that is humbling and awesome.  You have my thanks and my admiration.  But more importantly, you have the thanks of this community.  Some days we’d like to forget.”   “But for those we cannot, let us cover the memory of that day with something that redeems it.  The Rev. Dr. Dongwoo Lee, Schreiner’s University Minister, provides us just such a covering through this prayer he wrote for us:”   “God, Be Near: A Prayer in the Midst of Flooding” “God of mercy and steadfast love, we come before you as floodwaters continue to rise and the danger has not yet passed. Our community remains unsettled. Homes are still at risk, roads are uncertain, and many live in anxious waiting. We lift our eyes to you, not because we understand all things, but because you are the One who walks with us through deep waters. Still, we don’t always know how to pray in moments like this, but we know we need you.  We pray for the people of Kerrville and the surrounding areas who are still watching the rivers and skies. Some have already been displaced. Others are preparing for what may come. Lord, we confess that many of us are afraid, unsure of what will come next, and struggling to stay hopeful. Be near to those who feel overwhelmed, especially the elderly, children, and those with nowhere else to turn. Let your presence be a calm in the storm. Let your wisdom guide decisions made in haste. Let your Spirit stir courage in all who serve on the frontlines. For those coordinating emergency efforts, those offering shelter and supplies, and those keeping watch through the night, we ask your strength. Give them clarity and compassion. Help them endure what they cannot predict. Let them know they are not alone. And for all of us, teach us to be attentive and responsive. Help us stay united in heart and in purpose. Let no act of care be too small. Let no neighbor feel forgotten.  In this time of great need, we are grateful for the opportunity to open our doors to the community, offering shelter, meals, and rest. Let this campus be a steady light, not for our sake but as a witness to your love at work among us. May prayer guide what we do. May compassion shape how we serve. And as students, faculty, and staff care for others, may they also experience hope and strength that come from you.  Jesus, you knew what it meant to live among storms. You calmed the waters with a word, and you entered into our fear with your presence. Through your Spirit, remain with us now. As the rain falls and the rivers swell, we place our trust in you. Guard the vulnerable. Strengthen the weary. Lead us not only to safety but toward a deeper compassion for one another.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our companion in the flood and our hope beyond it, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen”.  Sincerely,   Charlie McCormick President Schreiner University How could I ever add to this? This prayer describes our God… Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who He is and who we are in Him. Strengthened, empowered, full of compassion, hope, and healing as we each function as parts of His Body. We commonly call it the “hands and feet” of Jesus. And remember, you don’t have to be there to contribute. And with His help, we won’t forget and we won’t stop! The confirmation of this keeps pouring in, so I have more to share in part #3. I do hope you join me, and as always, I pray that what I write will help you through your storms of life. John 16:33 NKJV “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Be of good cheer, in Christ, Reba

Hello dear ones, now to write about the tragic loss of lives in the Texas flash floods this past July 4^th holiday weekend.

You may remember this is how I began my last blog. “The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. I will try to explain”.

This tragedy was on my mind when I began that blog, but my thoughts were quickly directed to the state of our nation as I acknowledged what we were supposed to be celebrating that weekend. My ‘Dangers of Prosperity’ series is what developed instead. As I concluded this series, my final thought was that in my next blog:  

     “I will write about the incredible, faith-filled responses to the catastrophic floods in Texas this past July 4^th. Yes, during our nation’s time to celebrate, that turned into mind-boggling, tragic devastation. Yet, more healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. No, this is more like crushed hearts that we may never understand. But we can take a look together and gain more trust in Him and His Ways even in the devastation”.

I will begin with cousin, Kathy, and her husband, Gene. You may remember that they were the ones who generously gifted us a stay in their “Little Paradise” condo after we sold our house to downsize in 2021. I wrote about it in The Gift of Little Paradise poem and the narrative in “Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds”.

Since that event, they downsized and moved to the city of Kerrville, in the county of Kerr, TX, less than one year ago. Yes, that is the county that sustained the most fatalities during the July 4^th flash floods. Our cousins were safe, but greatly impacted by the devastation all around them. It has been too sad to express accurately in words, but there have been some valiant attempts. I am taking the liberty of copying them to share, as I’m certain they were written for that purpose. More healing balm straight from our Lord, especially when we don’t understand.

I will begin with an email that I received from Kathy shortly after I inquired about their safety. This email was sent on July 5^th, one day after the tragedy.

Reba, this came from my sister-in-law, Carol. She’s on the board at Schreiner University. The writings may seem lengthy, but they describe well the disaster we have been living through. 

A clear analysis of what happened from the Schreiner University Texas Center

The July 4 Flash Flood   This is a tough email to write.   In the early morning hours of July 4, the remnants of two tropical storms—one Pacific, one Gulf—converged over the Hill Country of Texas and dumped a deluge of rain on the headwaters of the Guadalupe, Llano, and San Saba rivers. The forecast the day before had been 40% chance of scattered thunderstorms. No one saw this coming on July 3.   Apparently, at 1:15 am on July 4, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning—long after the retirees, vacationers, and young campers had turned in the for the night on this holiday weekend. Of course, this is a region known for spotty cell phone coverage which, in happier times, adds to its tranquility.   Just not this night. As cowboys and counselors, campers and caretakers slumbered on, the rain came. A jogger in Kerrville, a dozen miles downstream, might have noticed a spitting rain. But upstream, the bottom had already dropped out of the sky. It hit the rocks and drought-baked soil of Kerr County and it ran like it was power washing concrete. An hour later, it came toward Kerrville . . . heavy.  The Guadalupe River valley served as a funnel, and the once trickling stream became a roaring messenger of doom.   The river rose about half a foot a minute for an hour. Ancient cypress trees lost their grip on the earth and became battering rams heading down stream at velocity. Houses and cabins—many occupied—floated away, their terrified inhabitants trying to formulate an escape plan. Recreational vehicles carried their vacationing owners downstream to uncertain—but often predictable—fates. Some clung to trees and awaited the rotor wash of rescue helicopters.  Many would survive, some did not. The water spared no one—the young and the old, the innocent and the wizened.    As one meteorologist is reported to have posted, “nearly 2 trillion gallons of water fell across the Texas Hill Country. To put that into perspective, it could supply 11 million homes with water for one year, or fill 1.5 million Olympic swimming pools.”   And it fell in a matter of minutes.   Think about all this swift water. For a short minute, that fast water is a little more than ankle deep. Three minutes, it is nearly knee high—even higher on a little kid. The force of that water is making it hard to keep your feet. At five minutes, its nearly waist high on an adult, and your chances of keeping your feet are growing mighty slim.   If you do go down, you are racing down a roaring river clogged with trees, cars, trailers, cottages, butane tanks, siding, and assorted debris. The Gudalupe is also a very rocky stream in this part of the very rocky Hill Country.   Amidst this pandemonium, two camp owner/directors, at Mystic and Heart of the Hills, heroically surrendered their lives attempting to rescue their young campers. They knew the danger—anyone who has lived here any length of time does—but they had to try, no matter the cost.   The aftermath has been devastation. The list of dead, and missing, is long. It includes retirees who had their little piece of heaven in Texas. It included friends enjoying a holiday weekend that would be highlighted by a Robert Earl Keen concert and fireworks show at Louise Hays Park in Kerrville. It also includes young families—mom, dad, and the kids—who have vanished.    This storm was a killer, a destroyer. Not just in Kerr County, but across the middle of Texas. And it still is.   We at The Texas Center are high and dry. Schreiner University has served as a reunion station for people separated, or who lost everything they owned in the world. We are now transitioning to a staging area and housing facility for the hundreds of emergency workers who had rushed to the aid of their fellow Texans.   This also hits close to home. Dallas Meadows, one of our own here at The Texas Center, has a nephew missing. No word one way or the other. He was asleep in a cabin on a ranch upstream. Dallas is our in-charge for the annual Western Art Academy, and she is throwing herself into her responsibilities to keep her mind off of the great unknown. In an interesting twist, Dallas’s nephew came out a few weeks back to lend a hand as a model—since he is a real-life buckaroo. Now there are student-artists from Houston, unaware of the gravity of the chaos just miles away from the safety of their studios and campus apartments, using his image as a model for their painting projects.    Hope remains that he is yet alive, and simply has not been able to check in. Time will tell.    The sounds of helicopters going overhead, and the sight of emergency vehicles—especially ambulances—driving slowly just reminds us that this massive debris field (trees, cars, trailers, etc.) may be slow to give up its secrets.   There is a fund at the Community Foundation of the Hill Country to help the thousands of people who lost much, if not all, of their possessions get their feet back under them.   Pictures of the aftermath were shown that I did not include here. The gorgeous riverscape of Kerrville is now populated with splintered and broken trees.    Well, there is nothing for it now. To quote Governor Greg Abbott, Kerrville has proven to be “quintessentially Texan” in our response to this crisis. Or, as Secretary of Homeland Security echoed, Kristi Noem said, “you are an example for the nation.”   Sometimes, you make history. Sometimes, history makes you. Both of those forces are at work here in Kerrville right now. They probably always have been.   Thank you to all who have inquired. We have caught our breath, rolled up our sleeves, and are getting about the tasks at hand.   Like Texans.   (And I say like AMERICANS!)   Hard to write indeed, but the writer pressed forward! The writing was so articulate in painting a picture of the step-by-step unknown disaster brewing just ahead. Pause for a moment and think of the anticipated fun-filled days ahead, that so swiftly and unexpectedly transformed into their worst nightmare, as the writer’s word picture portrayed. The picture was monstrous, just as the storm. So many of the innocent were soon to be victims. The raging waters were no respecter of persons, animals, or earthly things. Just to envision the fear, panic, and chaos they experienced would break even the coldest of hearts. And then the writer honored the two who surrendered their lives in a fatal attempt to save others. “They had to try, no matter the cost.” No greater love than this! Then we move on to the helping hands. The comfort, hope, and sacrificial service as they were suffering as well. Texans as Americans, pulling together as the heart, hands, and feet of our Lord. I find it interesting how the Lord can take what the enemy intended for bad and turn it for good. Good in that we turn from our selfish ways, reach out to others, and realize that we could have so easily been victims ourselves. I believe this is a good starting place to give us a glimpse of the depth (please, no pun intended) of the pain and crushed hearts that we may never understand. Throughout this process, I hope you will see God still working in the hearts and lives of people. People of a nation that, in many ways, have gone their “own” way, as in my most recent blogs. America was founded to be God’s light to all nations, and God is not finished with her, even in all her straying, as the prodigal son or the lost sheep. And as the most frequently quoted verse in the Bible says in John 3:16 NKJV “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “Emphasis mine. That means you, no matter where you are.   In my next blog, I will continue with more faith-filled responses to this tragedy with a letter to the University Campus from President Charlie McCormick of Shreiner University. I know many of you across the globe have experienced tragedy like this (in some cases, much worse) and need some hope and healing from things we cannot understand. By taking a look together, we gain more trust in Him and His ways, even in the devastation. I’m reminded of the metaphor that the Apostle Paul uses in Romans 8:22 NKJV: “We know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now”. There is a universal groaning, not just within humanity, but throughout all creation as it awaits the ultimate redemption and renewal with the return of Christ. Our hope of future glory and liberation from the effects of sin is in Him alone. God bless you and remember that He loves you more than you could ever know. And He is good all the time, no matter the circumstances. He is returning to make all things right. Are you ready? Reba

As I said previously, “Dear Lord, I sure need your help here”! As I do in all things.

You may have some misgivings about what I have written thus far, but I am asking with genuineness of heart that you consider allowing the Lord to search your heart as you search the scripture. Ask yourself, is He speaking to you about the dangers of prosperity? Allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide.

With His help, as I approach the final part of this series, I believe we need to revisit the beginning, again, back in the Garden of Eden, to Adam’s disobedience and Eve’s being deceived. We will do this as we take a look at the “church” and where it is today.

The Church, the Body of Christ, all followers of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior across every tongue and every nation, His family, that’s who we are in Him. We gather in buildings that we call churches to worship, praise, pray, learn together, and equip us to go into the world to spread the Gospel of Jesus, adding to His Kingdom.

But some churches have been deceived into spreading a gospel other than the Gospel of Jesus Christ. By that, I mean they teach that there are other ways to the Father than Jesus. John 14:6 NKJV “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” Some reject the Holy Trinity: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives the Great Commission and is very specific about the Trinity. “ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” NKJV. The Trinity is a core Christian belief! Some twist, delete, and water down the Holy Scriptures to meet their agenda. They do not teach the Truth out of fear of losing numbers of people and the revenue they bring. They allow “anyone and everyone” to be leaders in the church instead of following the requirements of Church leadership taught in the scriptures. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound doctrine, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Has that time come?

Remember what the church I’m speaking of is: a place for individual followers of Jesus Christ to gather in corporate worship, praise, pray, learn together, and equip us to go into the world to spread the Gospel of Jesus, adding to His Kingdom. No wonder the enemy works so hard to deceive us, and our human flesh follows him in disobedience! Just like Adam and Eve!

And what about those of us who judge others’ sins while our hearts are just like the Pharisees?

Looking at the Church today could be condemning, but recognize that condemnation is from Satan himself, also! We must remember that God never condemns us. He lovingly corrects us as we have all gone astray. He is the Good Shepherd, and Jesus made the way back to Him. Just as the prodigal son in Dutch Sheets’ prayer for our nation…

“But also like the prodigal, we believe in Your mercy. We believe in the power of the blood of Jesus. We believe it cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. And we believe in restoration. We believe that You are restoring America to You and to our calling. We place our faith in Christ’s blood and boldly declare, “America shall be – and is being – saved!”

As the Lord reveals my times of going astray in my sinful nature, and judging others, I thank Him for making the way for not only me, but all of us to come back to Him.  Hopefully, you have seen a glimpse of my confessions throughout my poems, narratives, and blogs. The Lord does not bring our sins to the Light for condemnation, only for correction for our “good” and His Glory.

I stand on the words I wrote in “Casting Stones” and the associated scripture. This is in “Blue Skies, Butterflies & Battlegrounds”. It begins on page 149 and ends on page 150. I hope you will read it in its entirety and the narrative, as well. This is our warning not to “cast stones” of judgment on others.

When regarding others, do you have a bit of smirk

And your critical eyes around corners still lurk?

Do you gossip, ridicule, and point the judgment finger

And when you’ve departed, your hurtful words still linger?

You might say no to any or all of this

But your view of yourself could honestly be amiss…

Only our Lord knows what  is in our hearts;

It is there where this evil in each of us starts.

He reveals things in my heart I did not know,

To show me the stone is not mine to throw!

We must not “blame” or “cast stones”. “Disobedience and blaming, what misery they bring”… “No stones will He cast; Only forgiveness He imparts”!

His healing balm, His Word, His Truth, His way back to our relationship with the Father, is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore.

As we apply it through reading, studying, and obeying it, His Word does what He says it will do. We, as believers, our families, governments, schools, and our nation will function and serve their purpose as designed by God.

So, with my mixed emotions, I approached my keyboard. And piece by piece, He has given messages for the healing of the hearts of those of us who mourn over the direction our great nation has chosen. Have we forgotten those who fought so fiercely and sacrificially for our freedoms? Worse yet, have we forgotten the price our Lord paid with the sacrifice of His only Son? He made the Way back to the Father through Jesus Christ, the only way! He made the greatest sacrifice ever for all mankind. There was no other way!

I thank the Lord for helping us examine the dangers of prosperity because it helps clear our minds to understand how we have been deceived into believing that our way is the better way, and that somehow, God is withholding “good” from us. I, for one, move from the sadness, discouragement, and shamefulness of what we’ve done. With humility and confession, I receive the Lord’s forgiveness and walk in His Godly prosperity, not man’s prosperity.

As I will continue to profess, “His Way is always the Better Way!” And He certainly has “The Perfect Plan”, pages 104-105 in Blue Skies, Butterflies, and Battlegrounds. I hope you will read it and be encouraged. For those of us who know God’s Love, Grace, and Mercy, this is more than encouraging. It gives us hope for all of us and the future of our families, governments, schools, churches, and every area of our lives.

Romans 12:2 NKJV “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. Emphasis mine.

In my next blog, I will write about the incredible faith-filled responses to the catastrophic floods in Texas this past July 4^th. Yes, during our nation’s time to celebrate, that turned into mind-boggling, tragic devastation. Yet, more healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. No, this is more like crushed hearts that we may never understand. But we can take a look together and gain more trust in Him and His Ways even in the devastation.

God bless you and thank you for sharing in my journey, through my mission to glorify God through writing, sharing His Word, and my life experiences, communicating the love of Jesus Christ to add to His Kingdom.

Reba

Good morning, I am eager to continue writing about this important message, although it is far deeper than I could ever cover, much less in these few blogs.

As we took a glimpse at the foundation of our nation, I realized that many have not been taught that God has chosen the United States of America to accomplish “His Good Will.” “One nation under God with liberty and justice for all”. God’s plan and purposes for making us prosperous were certainly not for dethroning Him with self-indulgence and man-made idols.

 Dutch Sheets shared some all-important truths about our founding fathers in his podcast “Give Him 15.” If you doubt our Judeo-Christian roots or need a reminder, you need to listen to his July 10^th podcast titled “The God of Providence”. Dutch also references his podcast made on July 2^nd. I saw how little I knew, and it honestly brought me to tears to recognize how this truth of our foundation has been suppressed or, in some cases, omitted. But He is the God of Providence!

I am sharing this portion. He was referring to Benjamin Franklin:

“Without question, Franklin and those gathered with him at the Continental Congress believed that God wanted and needed to be involved in the birthing of America. On that specific occasion, they asked for His help in fashioning the Constitution of the United States of America. Just let that sink in. God was involved in every facet of forming this nation, including our Constitution. In this challenging time when some are trying to remove the influence of America’s Judeo-Christian roots, keep yourself reminded of this”. 

NOTE: I used this picture and quote that I found online among many of Benjamin Franklin’s faith-filled quotes.

Then I joined Dutch and his followers in this prayer. And if you are a Christian and an American citizen, I hope you will too. And all of you from other nations, you need America to be strong in the Lord because He is using us for your benefit as well! His “Good Will” for us all. He did not forget about or exclude you!

Pray with me:

Father, it is an indescribable privilege to be part of a nation created by You to propagate the gospel of Your Kingdom. You birthed America, and You have prospered and blessed us beyond measure. Our Founders knew You were involved in our formation; they knew and honored You as the only King. They worshiped You, honored Your Word, and believed in Your Son, Jesus Christ. And they led with “servant hearts” and unselfish motivations.

Over the many decades since then, America drifted far from You. We have dishonored and disrespected You, Your Son, and Your holy Word. Many of our leaders have been educated fools, leading America down a path of rebellion and wickedness. Like the prodigal in Scripture, we squandered our inheritance and wasted it on sin and selfish desires.

But also like the prodigal, we believe in Your mercy. We believe in the power of the blood of Jesus. We believe it cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness. And we believe in restoration. We believe that You are restoring America to You and to our calling. We place our faith in Christ’s blood and boldly declare, “America shall be – and is being – saved!”

 I say a resounding AMEN!

Dutch’s podcasts confirmed the topic my blog was directed to earlier this week. Now I understand why. His podcasts take what I have written to the next level. Thank You, Lord, for Your direction, confirmation, and using brothers and sisters in Christ.

Now we will move on with what I wrote and decided to divide into Part 2…

Our government, our educational system, and, yes, even our churches have been straying from God as well.

It is said, “If a nation refuses to be governed by God, it will be governed by tyrants!” We allowed our history books to be revised, as citizens and non-citizens burn our flag and tear down and deface the Founding Fathers’ monuments. Far worse than that, they are allowed to destroy the Ten Commandments and quoted scripture monuments. Lawlessness is rampant. Our Nation has been invaded by enemies whose determination is to destroy us.

Our educational system has become an “indoctrination” system as it strays from its original purpose, and as our children come from fractured homes. We have allowed evil to take control of our children’s minds, to the point that they don’t know if they are male or female, gay or straight. Their gender is based on how they “feel” or imagine themselves, rather than the reality of how our Creator created them. They are told they can change genders by having body parts removed or added without parental consent. To me, this is evil to the core!

So we looked at the first family, Adam and Eve, and examined where families in America have strayed and why. In that examination through His Word and poetry, we got some of His healing balm for our families.  Now we’ve looked again at governments and then briefly at educational systems.

With God’s direction, we have a godly man’s podcast to help educate us and pray with us for the healing of our land. I add one more scripture of God’s healing balm through His Word in 2^nd Chronicles 7:14 NKJV “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and heal their land”.

“My people, who are called by My name”. He’s talking to believers, His Church, His Family, here, my friends.

Therefore, the third part of my series will be the churches.

Dear Lord, I sure need your help here! And as always, I can rely on You. You are trustworthy.

Have a blessed day, my friends. You have stayed with me this far, so please don’t miss Part 3.

With love and appreciation for you,

Reba

Today, as I approach my keyboard, my emotions are somewhat mixed. The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand. I will try to explain.

This past weekend, our nation once again celebrated the freedoms that we have enjoyed for 249 years. This freedom did not come for free! An enormous sacrifice was made. A price was paid. Countless lives were lost in battles, through disease, and while prisoners of war. Again, freedom is not free!

Our nation has enjoyed privileges and prosperity that are rarely found elsewhere. God has, no doubt, had His hand on America from its foundation. Our forefathers built this nation on Godly principles. But as we have turned from His ways to our ways, “The American Way” (more is better, climbing the ladder, keeping up with the Joneses, my children will have more than I did, etc.) there has been an erosion of morals, character, liberty, and justice in our nation that is destroying us from the inside out.

By believing “The American Way” is better than God’s way, we got caught up in this never-ending pursuit of “more is better”. As we dedicate our time, energy, and money in pursuit of these material things, we become idol worshippers (anything that we place before God). Fathers (if there is one in the household) and Mothers (if she hasn’t left yet) are exhausted with the never-ending demands at work, and weekends are spent trying to catch up on bills, yard, and household duties.

The pressure grows even greater as inflation, taxes, and everyday cost of living soar to all-time highs. The children are left with their “devices” on their own, babysitters, or grandparents who are trying to “parent” rather than the joy of being Grandparents. Church, who has time for Church?  Our families become more fractured and dysfunctional, and the American Dream is becoming more like the American Nightmare. Sad scenario, I know. But I believe most of you know exactly what I’m talking about.

This began by making the same choices as in the Garden of Eden. We believed that God was holding back “good” from us, so we must “reach out and grab it” for ourselves! Is this where that saying came from?

The Garden of Eden is where it began with the first family that God created, Adam and Eve. This was the first fractured relationship with God in their battle of good against evil. Just read in Genesis (beginning or origin), where the Lord told Adam not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Eve was deceived by the evil one. He convinced her that God was withholding “something good” from her (notice the enemy’s first temptation was food, hmm). Adam was with her, and instead of protecting her, he was in direct disobedience to God. Eve “reached out and grabbed it,” and Adam ate the fruit with her. This is why the Word tells us that sin came to mankind through Adam’s disobedience.

I was telling of this in my poem “Nothing New Under the Sun”. Here are a few verses…

There’s nothing new under the sun

In the Garden of Eden, where sin had begun.

Eve blamed the serpent, and Adam blamed Eve

When she listened to the lies, Eve was deceived.

Adam was told by God, but chose to disobey

Mankind has done the same, to this very day.

Disobedience and blaming, what misery they bring.

Does this sound familiar in our lives today? By believing God was withholding something “good” from them, they made the worst choice in the history of mankind! Thank God He gave the way back to our relationship with Him, healing balm…

But God made the way to bring us back to Him

Forgiven and restored, a new life to begin.

So think of the choices made in the Garden

And obey the Father, through His Son, receive His pardon.

AGAIN, FREEDOM ISN’T FOR FREE! Jesus made the greatest sacrifice and paid the ultimate price for our freedom from the enemy and our way back to the Father. This is more of the healing balm I spoke of in the closing of my poem. It says…

Although in this world, nothing is new under the sun

Trust in our Father to complete the work He’s begun

By living outside the Garden, EVERYTHING is new under His Son!

As I sat down to write, I had no intentions of writing about this topic. But this is the direction it has taken, so I believe it needs to be said. To see the pitfalls, deception, and tactics of the enemy is a great place to start (in the beginning). We also know that we were given the ability to “choose” obedience or disobedience and the consequences thereof.

 I have spent two days writing about this, and again, it became obvious it was long, too long for one blog. As I began, I stated that,” The Lord has been giving piece by piece messages that are like a healing balm for aching hearts and clearing minds that cannot understand”. Therefore, I do hope you will join me for the next piece of the message with its healing balm.

Up next is a look at our Government and Educational System.

It is getting late here in Northwest Arkansas. I will say goodnight, and God bless you,

Reba

 

Greetings, my friends, I am continuing today what was revealed during my closet cleaning. As I mentioned previously, it is incredible how God uses even seemingly mundane tasks to teach us and to speak to our hearts. Maybe we should clean our closets more often, right?😊

I hope that you connected and benefited as you read about the shift in my thoughts on our “seasons of life”, through the clothing items I was sorting.

Now, for the next thought during my cleaning and sorting…

My closet is unlike the one I showed in my previous blog in that it doesn’t have a window to let in natural light, let alone that amount of clothing. But it did look as though someone was sorting into piles to hopefully purge it of its clutter! Lol! And there is the one messy little word that brought me to my next thought, and you guessed it, a poem. Clutter! Cleaning Out the Clutter in “Inspire Me” pg 22. Only this time, I was referring to the clutter in our hearts.

How do we rid ourselves of the clutter in our hearts?

What is it? Is it there? Is this where we need to start?

Clutter is our sinful ways, which burden and impede

Without true repentance, in darkness sin does breed.

Most of us are good at putting up some “walls”

My closet is very dark until I turn on the light, exposing what is there. And honestly, there are times I could believe that my clothes and clutter have bred!

Confined in the darkness, when to light LIFE does call.

In our hearts, there are chambers, where darkness loves to hide

And all these secret places our clutter does reside.

We think that we’re so clever, in darkness tucked away

Without ever realizing how much our clutter weighs.

Have you ever loaded the closet pole to the point that it couldn’t hold the weight and pulled from the wall? Another of my confessions. And mentioning “hide”, my clutter is a great place for my treasures to hide. Hide even from me! Again, maybe I should clean my closet more often or buy fewer clothes. Another topic to write about.😊

As we continue in that condition…

We drag about with burdened hearts, our yokes begin to sag

Boasting of our treasures, while life just seems to lag.

Then one day it happens… we reach that broken place

Now our hearts are ready for light and the Father’s Grace.

We move forward with the solution…

Asking His forgiveness, He’s cleaning out our clutter

While giving us pure hearts, nothing like the other.

I wrote that poem on February 2, 2017. The Lord has continued to use it to bring me to the realization of my heart’s condition. It can get cluttered as quickly as my closet if I don’t let Him bring the light to those dark places so that He can clean it up. And I certainly don’t need to wait for the seasonal changes…

Daily when we’re humble, repenting to our King,

To those darkened places, His Glory Light will bring!

Matthew 6:19-21 is a reference I used, although there is a typo (it is 6:19-21, not 6:21-19). In the NKJV, it says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.

This seems to be a simple solution to so much clutter in our closets, or any of our possessions, should be included in this. And most importantly, the Lord has the simple solution for cleaning out the cluttered, dark, sinful ways that weigh our hearts down. By inviting Him into our closet (heart), He sheds light on those hidden sins that are weighing us down. As He exposes these things, we humbly ask His forgiveness. He is faithful to forgive us and give us pure hearts, “nothing like the other”. Now with the burdens of our hearts “cleaned out,” we are filled with His life again! That’s the heart I want to carry within me because it is lighter, brighter, and filled with joy. It’s the heart that He made the way for.

Thank you, Lord, for using the simplicity of routine tasks and Your Word to speak to us and show us the Better Way with uncluttered hearts.

Thank you for reading this. I hope it has touched an area of your heart that needed to be exposed and cleaned up, also.

Now I need to get back to my next cluttered space. 😊

God bless you,

Reba

Hello again, here it is the last few days of June, and summer is upon us. The past month has passed quickly with Spring cleaning, yard work, and a trip to Texas. Every day reveals topics to write about. Now, the determination to focus on one main topic by hearing from the Lord, and the discipline to write.

So, I will begin with one of my thoughts during my Spring cleaning, namely my closet. This picture is not of my closet, but you get the idea.

As I work through the change of seasons, I sort my heavy winter clothes into two categories, one to donate and one to store or move to the back of my closet. My task is a reminder of our love for the seasons of the area we live in. We have four seasons of weather, and both David and I have always enjoyed all four. That is, until recent years, winter has had a bigger impact on our aging bodies. Then we begin imagining a winter escape. 😊

My thoughts on our weather seasons quickly shifted to our seasons of life, aging bodies, purpose in life, and, as usual, a poem. The specific poem is in my first book, “Inspire Me.” The title is God in Our Seasons. This poem is the second one I was inspired to write. I would like to share with you how this came about.

As the Lord had fulfilled my desire for a poem for my youngest sister’s birthday through Expressions of His Endearing Love, I thought poetry for me was “one and done.” But God had other plans.

As I was preparing for our ladies’ upcoming Bible study, I was remembering the theme of a song I had heard approximately 35 years earlier. I had heard it one time, didn’t know the title, or the artist. But I knew the theme was exactly what I needed to encourage our ladies to spend more time studying God’s Word in all seasons of life. The song was laced with our excuses for not spending time with the Lord.

So, I started my relentless quest to find this special song to play in our church for the announcement of our study. I searched Google with every keyword I could think of. I searched music libraries, spoke with numerous members of worship teams, and with different ones from that era. Each search was fruitless. The theme was as far as I got. Sounds familiar if you have read how I began writing poetry, right?

I gave up my search for the song and decided I would do my best to convey the message by telling the congregation about it. Again, the Lord was patiently waiting for me to give up on my plan because He had a better one. One morning, as I sat quietly before Him, He gave me the words to write in “God in Our Seasons”. The poem can sound as if I did not spend any time with the Lord. That is obviously not the case. But it does bring the intended message to put away the excuses and stop waiting for the “ideal” circumstances for a deeper relationship with the Lord. It also tells of God’s faithfulness:

Your love through the years, You have faithfully showered

In Your Word for each day, You strengthened and empowered,

When I reached out to You, in my most difficult hour.

    And it goes on to tell some of the benefits of more time with Him:

You wanted to guide me, comfort me, and carry my load

In this life’s daily journey, the long narrow road.

You were there to teach me, love me, and to be my all

My time with You would have made my struggles so small.

    It ends with forgiveness freely given and my purpose going forward.

Forgive me, dear Lord, for not making more time with You in my seasons

I was so busy with life’s excuses and so many lame reasons.

Now with the forgiveness You have freely given me

I will take time to share my seasons, to help others see,

 And encourage them to take time with Thee.

For our time with our Maker makes our burdens light

If we choose the Giver of Time, in all our seasons of life!

Proverbs 16:9 is the first scripture I referenced and it speaks volumes to the path I was taking with the song I searched for.  It reads in NKJV “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps”.

His plan and ways were better than I asked for. It was evident when I read the poem to our congregation. There were big tears as it touched many hearts, and we had a good turnout for our study. I pray that these words will serve as a reminder to stay on track with Him and His Word.

Now, as I examined my clothing items for the coming season, I needed to let go of some and move others back from the past season. Like the winter clothing as I prepare for summer, each season of my life, it is revealed that what the Lord had me do in the previous season is not necessarily what He would have me do in this one or even the next. We change with the seasons, and when we allow the Lord to direct our steps, carry our burdens, strengthen, teach, provide, protect, and comfort us, He will be our ALL. We will transition and transform with ease and grace. It is very difficult to move to what the Lord has for us in our next season while holding on to the last.

I mentioned a recent trip to Texas. A couple of the events in this trip were perfect examples of these seasons revealed in my closet.

Our first stop was to celebrate our friends’ 55^th wedding anniversary and the completion of their house they had been working on for many years. These particular friends are near and dear to our hearts. He (George) was our Best Man in our wedding, and he and Linda (his wife) named David and me as Godparents to their three children.

The party was one to remember fondly. They, and their children, spoke of the many challenges they faced and always gave the Lord praise for the blessings in moving through the numerous seasons of life they have shared. Their adult children worked tirelessly to put together a fun-filled, food-filled, and yes, even tear-filled event (good tears, of course). They realize the season of life their parents are in and stepped up to make it all happen beautifully.

The long-awaited completion of George and Linda’s house has certainly paid off. It was so good to see them enjoying the fruit of their labor, God’s provision, and their patience. We were able to present them with a surprise gift for both events. We had the words to my poem, Our Home, and their name and year, laser-engraved onto a wooden plaque. Their response was priceless.

Our next stop was to visit my eldest brother Tommy, and my two sisters and their spouses. Tommy is suffering a significant decrease in his heart function. He is facing one of life’s most challenging seasons of life. As we gathered and visited with him, this season of his life came up frequently. In one visit, my youngest sister had us read Ecclesiastes chapter 3. I had just referred to that chapter in an earlier conversation with Tommy. The Lord was consistent with His guidance in what we were to focus on. We are certain that the Lord will lead our brother in this season and on into the next. We would all do good to read this chapter frequently.

And my sister Denise and her husband Mike are there for our brother Tommy to assist in any area of need, while making us feel right at home, and continuing to serve in their church. It is a sacrificial love that requires hard work and dedication to be a caregiver, and they have certainly stepped up to the plate.

Then we moved on to my youngest sister Karen and her husband Mike’s next season. Mike will be retiring from his job this fall. They prepared by downsizing their home, much like David and I did. They let go of many things from their previous home to move with God into the next. Their ministry work is expanding, and they are continuing their bike and bar ministry. I believe their motto is, “ We have a motorcycle habit with a bar ministry”. Pretty incredible testimonies come out of those bars consistently.

We gave them a customized plaque for their new home as well. Her response was… “You always make me cry!” Lol! Maybe I should give her one of my vintage handkerchiefs. 😊

So, as you can see, the topic of this blog began with a simple Spring cleaning and what my closet revealed. It continued to have more meaning as the month unfolded. I thank God that He sometimes uses the simple and mundane to reveal something of great importance to us, such as seasons of life.

In my effort to stay focused on “one main topic,” I will continue in my next blog with what else was revealed during my Spring cleaning. You might be thinking, “Her house must be immaculate!” That would be leaving you with the wrong impression. I haven’t made it much farther than my closet. 😊But I assure you that I am trying! Lol!

Our time with Him, He desires so dearly. And thank you again for spending time with me,

Reba

Good day to you. Before I start with today’s topic, I will mention my last blog, “Front Porch Soaking”. Today, as I was thinking of you spending your valuable time reading what I have written, I thought of my blog, Tarry With Me, January 28, 2025. In Tarry With Me, I had already recounted my front porch experience, except with fewer details. Evidently, it needed repeating.😊 Also, that entire blog was to follow up on two previous blogs, “If” a Big Two Letter Word, and Defining Moments.

As I looked back at those blogs I had written at the beginning of this year, I noticed I wrote of a time in my early years as a Navy wife, when I questioned how I could spend an hour reading my Bible and praying. Then I explained,

“During those earlier years, I also had the misconception that I was saved for eternity, and from then on, I was to do the best I could with what I was given.” (After all, wasn’t it my responsibility to figure life’s challenges out?) “Thankfully, I stayed in Church, Bible studies, and experience with the Lord, which He used to correct some of my misconstrued notions and false sense of responsibilities”.

In a recent early morning conversation with my husband, David, we observed that this is how many Christians live their entire lives. As we acknowledged the honesty of other Christians who had openly expressed their likewise “misconstrued notions and false sense of responsibilities”, David said, “There’s your next blog”.  

By the Lord sending me back to review blogs I had written almost six months ago, He got my attention on what my husband had suggested several days ago, that I write about today…

I will begin with some common quotes of our misconstrued notions you might be familiar with. “I’m just doing the best I can with what I’ve been given”. “I’m barely hanging in there”. “I’m just getting by”. “I’m barely scraping by”. “I’m making do”. “I’m hanging on by a thread”. “I don’t know how I will ever get through this”. “Somehow, I will get by”. “I’ve been dealt a bad hand”. “I must have been snake bitten”. There is a goofy song that says, “If it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all”. But sadly, some believe it is true for themselves. I could continue, but I think my point is apparent.

So, let’s look closer at why we Christians would live like that.  

I will start with the meaning of misconstrued notion (you know, where I was and where many of us stay). Misconstrue means to interpret something wrongly, often due to misunderstanding or a lack of full information. It implies a faulty or inaccurate interpretation of words. Notion is a conception of, an idea, or a belief about something.

I doubt that we have ever been without some kind of misconstrued notion. Therefore, I know you can relate.

From what I have learned from God’s Word, and my open and honest relationships with other Christians, I believe many of us have had a misconstrued notion of the meaning of Salvation. If not, we wouldn’t be saying the things we say and living like we believe this is all there is in Salvation. Do you agree?

So I think it is good to look closer at what Salvation brings. First of all, it does bring eternal life in heaven, just like I thought as a young girl when I accepted Jesus as my Savior. If you have never heard the Romans Road to Salvation, here are some of the scriptures used to receive the Salvation of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:20-21; 3:10; 3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10; 10:13. For there is only one way to receive salvation: Faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. I pray that you will read those scriptures and know for certain you have settled the most important decision of your life. I cannot emphasize that enough!

But what next, you may ask? If the goal is to be in Heaven with God and Jesus settled that for us, then why are we left here in this world? That is where the rest of Salvation enters.

Jesus explained to His disciples when He was preparing them for His return to the Father.

John 16:7 Jesus tells us, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

 And in John 14:15-18 NKJV

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

My friends, these are only two verses that can resolve my first misconstrued notions: I didn’t have time to spend an hour “Tarrying” with the Lord, and I had the responsibility to “figure it all out”. If that were the case, why would Jesus send the Helper to abide with me forever, dwell with me, and be in me? He is the “Spirit of Truth”, right? Who among us doesn’t need the Spirit of Truth?

So, Jesus tells us if we love Him keep His commandments. Just starting with the Great Commandment gets us on the right path, and we will grow from there.

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

If I were to love the Lord like this, how could I question an hour with Him? How could I do anything the Lord has called me to do if I don’t spend time with Him in His Word? All the while, the Holy Spirit Helper is there with me to lead me and guide me into God’s Truth.

I don’t know about you, but I believe that spells a life walking in the Spirit with the fruit of the Spirit… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. These are the qualities that develop in a person’s life when they are led by the Holy Spirit, as they are stated in Galatians 5:22-23. A life of abundance of all things good. No more just getting by.

No wonder the enemy wants us with a head full of misconstrued notions. Too busy trying to figure it all out that we don’t have time with the Lord in His Word. Too worn out and weary, trying to hang in there, scraping by, making do, and living with only bad luck. How sad!

Therefore, I will go back to the meaning of misconstrued notion: When combined, a misconstrued notion refers to an incorrect understanding or interpretation of a conception, an idea, or a belief.

Do you agree that this could explain why Christians often find themselves lacking direction, guidance, purpose, fulfillment, and most of all the Fruit of the Spirit? I humbly admit that I am lacking in some of the qualities that develop by walking in the Spirit. The Lord knows my heart. I desire more growth, and my Holy Spirit Helper doesn’t give up on me. Through my obedience to His Word (I do have a choice), as Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

I have a friend, Linda Dunn, whom the Lord brought into my life as a Spiritual Mentor over 35 years ago. Recently, we have been able to stay connected through texting. She shared this with me.

Unbelief is why we don’t obey.

The key to prospering is in the Presence of the Lord.

The key to the presence of the Lord is Obedience.

The key to obedience is Faith.

The key to faith is hearing the Word.

I ask you to ponder these words along with some of the verses in a poem I wrote in 2017. The Lord clarified these principles even more through “Body Builder Food” in Inspire Me. Here are a few lines starting halfway through the poem…

His Church, His body, becoming what it’s meant to be

Starting with His Word growing us individually.

Therefore, we must feast on His daily bread

Or be malnourished, downcast, and feeble instead.

Hunger for Him; the Lord gives us a choice

Serve Him, love others, actions give His Word a voice.

So, are you starving yourself not feasting at His table?

Surrender your will, Holy Spirit makes you able

To be strong in the Word and the Spirit of Life

Nourished and filled your light shining bright

Building the Body to fight the good fight!

I do hope you feel that your time with me has been well spent. Most importantly that this time has revealed more of His Salvation by living by the Spirit. All we’ll ever need and more than we could ever ask for.

God bless you, my friends,

Reba