My Secret Place

February 3, 2016February 2, 2016 RefreshHer4 Comments

closet 2

I have a special space in my house that I claimed before we moved in – it’s a walk-in closet off my bathroom. I’ve never had anything but a tiny space for my clothes, and while it’s a blessing to have a place to hang both warm and cool season clothes in one place, the best part of this little room is what I do in here each morning. I pray.

It’s the perfect spot to close off the world. I can’t hear anything going on in the rest of the house when I’m in there. I have a(n uncomfortable) little stool that I perch on, or sometimes I just kneel on the carpet as I pour my heart out to God. This room is special to me because I meet with God here.

Closet 4

I’ve recently watched War Room again and one line in the film jumped out at me. The main character in this movie about fervent prayer is selling her house. Toward the end of the movie, a buyer comes to look at her house and when he walks into her closet that was her prayer closet (her War Room), he said, “Someone’s been praying in here. It feels baked in.” It felt Ingrained, Covered, Plastered in prayer. Wow. That’s how I want my closet to be – more importantly, that’s how I want my LIFE to be!

I fail often in prayer, but I long to be a prayer warrior. I read books on prayer so I know how to pray. I fill out my prayer journal so I know what to pray. But no matter what I cannot give up when it’s hard, or early, or seems useless. I must keep on praying, and so must you, Friend.

Who else will pray for your husband if you don’t?

Who will petition God for your child(ren) if you neglect?

Who else will beg God for the souls of your grandchildren if you are lax?

How can you offer your thanks without prayer?

How will your faith grow if you don’t trust God for the things that seem impossible?

Just yesterday I added this vinyl wall art in my prayer closet as a visual reminder that God can do anything!

closet 3

You don’t need a walk-in closet in order to pray. Find a corner of a room, or a room that you can close off. I used to put a sticky note on the bedroom door of our former house that said, “Praying,” so that my family would know that unless it was urgent, I chose not to be disturbed. Of course a ten year-old considers asking where the new box of cereal is urgent, but that’s okay, too. Because when she came in and found me on my knees, that testimony spoke to her about what was important to me.

My Secret Place is probably my favorite room in my house, as it was for Clara on War Room. This old song tells why:

In the secret of His presence how my soul delights to hide!
Oh, how precious are the lessons which I learn at Jesus’ side!
Earthly cares can never vex me, neither trials lay me low;
For when Satan comes to tempt me, to the secret place I go,
To the secret place I go.

Only this I know: I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs and fears;
Oh, how patiently He listens! and my drooping soul He cheers:
Do you think He ne’er reproves me? What a false Friend He would be,
If He never, never told me of the sins which He must see,
Of the sins which He must see.

Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow: this shall then be your reward;
And whene’er you leave the silence of that happy meeting place,
You must mind and bear the image of the Master in your face,
Of the Master in your face.

I’d love to hear about your Secret place!

Lovingly,

Step – Don’t Stagger

February 2, 2016February 1, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

The path was fairly familiar to me – it was the route from the main meeting place at camp to the back of the camp site. I had walked it many times in the daylight. I knew there were steps, a hand railing, then a sidewalk, a parking lot and another set of stairs. But at the moment that I was standing at the beginning of this journey back to my duplex, the sun had sunk down to slumber mode. The sky was as dark as a deep cave, and we had no lanterns to light our way. I was not alone, thank the Lord; I was with a sweet friend and we clung to one another, groping our way in the blackness like Hansel and Gretel, looking for home.

We inched our way along, eyes widened to catch any ray of light that may be cast our direction, though there was none. One step at a time, we moved slowly along, letting our heels scrape against the back of each step and our toes feeling forward for the next set of stairs. We did finally make it – much later than we ever thought, but we vowed we would never come to camp again without a flashlight. I’m pretty sure that whole area has lights now, and we could skip merrily back to our bunks without our major problems or hesitations we had that night!

Staggering would be the word that described our progress. We were slow, deliberate, and apprehensive.

Just yesterday I read in Romans 4:20 –

He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith,giving glory to God.

Abraham was told that God would make of him a great nation. Though he was old and his wife’s womb was “dead,” he didn’t stagger! He moved ahead! Confidently laying one foot in front of the other, he trusted God’s promise and clung to it in faith. Rather than looking like me and my friend on our dark path, he made strides, moving forward with steps of faith pounding on the pavement of his life until God fulfilled His promise to Abraham!

As I read that verse, I wrote in my journal, “Am I staggering, or am I trusting God’s promises today?” When we are going through any kind of hardship, trial, illness, test, or decision, we need to open God’s Word and find a promise to claim. Then, holding fast to it, we can lift our head and move forward. Otherwise, we will be staggering. Our hearts will be full of fear and doubt and there will be nothing but darkness before us.

Step – don’t stagger today! You’ll only do that when you cling to the promise of God!

What promise of God’s are you clinging to at this time?

With love,

Christian Life · Encouragement

Impact

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

This past weekend was special, really, really special. Our son-in-law had been studying for his ordination into the ministry for quite some time, and this past weekend was the time for him to sit before a council of godly men and give a defence for his doctrinal statement. That was on Saturday.

It was a long, grueling four or so hours as the men asked questions and Andrew gave a biblical answer about what he believes God’s Word teaches. But it was even more than just getting the right answer – it was also stating his call from God into the Gospel ministry. He didn’t just decide one day to “be a preacher.” No, as a young lad, he had heard God’s Spirit leading him to be a preacher of the Word of God.

For years he has been praying, preparing, preaching, and looking forward to the day when it would all be official, and he would be in a place of serving God full-time. That time is now, and that place is at Boones Creek Bible Church. Our church. Wonder of wonders that only God could have done. It wasn’t planned or sought after by us – it was all the Lord’s doings and we stand amazed.

Below is a picture of Alli and Andrew on Saturday. They took a break from questions to have lunch. Many sweet ladies at church provided a fried chicken dinner (what else would you serve a group of preachers?!). We were so grateful for each who cooked or served.

While Saturday was special, Sunday eclipsed it by far. Sunday morning’s service was given to the ordaining Andrew for the ministry. My husband preached a great message about why we lay hands on a young preacher, what the church’s responsibility to Andrew is, and then he challenged Andrew about his responsibility to the ministry. I cried so many happy tears that I’m sure it looked like I never applied makeup that morning! But, oh, the joy of seeing our deacons and my husband gather around him to pray God’s blessing and power for his ministry! My heart was so full of God’s blessings!

How did Andrew get to this place? It was by the impact of a praying mother who had begged God to use her son. By the impact of his faithful pastor while he was growing up. By the impact of a youth pastor who gave him the opportunity to preach when he was a very young man, and to use the gifts that God had put in him. By the impact of a father-in-law and deacons who have encouraged him and welcomed him into their church to serve, to lead and to begin again this process of impacting others as he had experienced for 24 years.

This last photo below is Sunday night. The process of impacting that I just mentioned is evidenced again as Andrew has spent a couple of months pouring into the young teens in the youth group at BCBC. He’s been helping those that wanted to prepare a short message to preach in our Sunday night service. Sunday night was the second service in which we heard young men preach.

You could hear in them the Truths they’d learned from the passage they’d chosen to preach. You could see in them the eagerness to share what they had worked so hard to prepare. You could hear in them the desire to be used of God as they preached. Andrew has had impact in their lives!

Then while this young man was preaching, he was having trouble with his lapel microphone, so my husband went up, and with hands that have hooked up a mic many, many times, he hung it on young “C” so he could be heard. I wonder if God will call this young man to the ministry one day because of the impact of others?

There’s another side to this story that I’ll tell you tomorrow. It’s my story and the work of God when I wondered where He was. I hope you’ll come back then!

Who has had impact on your life, and how are you influencing others?

With love,

Christian Life

How to Walk in Integrity

January 19, 2016January 20, 2016 RefreshHerLeave a comment

Years ago I remember watching a show like 20/20 where a hidden camera was following a man around. He had claimed that he had back problems and was unable to work, and had filed for workman’s comp. The bosses had doubted the validity of his word, so they had reporters secretly follow the man and video his actions in a typical day. What did they see? They video taped him doing heavy lifting, backbreaking digging and work only allotted to people who have strength in their back! He was caught and reported! No more handouts for that fella!

What if someone followed us around to see if what we say matches up with what we do? What would they see? In Psalm 26, we read that the psalmist (probably David), stated,

Judge me, O Lord; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the Lord; therefore I shall not slide.

²Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

³For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

David knew he had lived out the integrity of his heart, and he even asked God to test him and see! He knew he wasn’t perfect, but that he had walked in God’s ways with integrity (a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition).

I see two ways in this chapter that David was able to keep his unscathed character:

He guarded his close friendships. I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O Lord.
He was careful with the kind of friends with whom he made constant communion and fellowship. He knew that bad company corrupts good morals. So, he kept close friends with those who loved God.

Wise women will walk with godly people who will point her closer to the Lord. Her friends will challenge her and make her a better believer. We can’t think that if we spend consistent time with those who don’t really love the Lord, that it won’t effect us.
He guarded His time in God’s house. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

Where else will we be convicted, challenged, encouraged, strengthened and led to worship but in God’s house? David knew he needed to go – he must go. If we are sluggish in our heart about attending worship services, we will be sluggish in our integrity. If we attend only half-heartedly, we are the ones that will suffer. David loved the times of worship!

When we spend time in worship and the hearing of God’s Word, we will take it with us through the week. It will guide the things we do, the places we go, and the company we keep. We need to be in God’s house. Our character needs to be sharpened in God’s house!

If the cameras were secretly filming you, what would they find this week? Are you walking with integrity and character that shows in your walk and your worship? If not, realize that your integrity could be at stake. By God’s grace may we each be able to say as David repeats at the end of the chapter –

But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity

With love,

Christian Life · Uncategorized

2016 – Pray, Plan, Change

January 1, 2016January 4, 2016 RefreshHer1 Comment

On Tuesday of this week I suggested time for a spiritual check-up before the new year rolls in. If you happened to come in at the feverish end of the thermometer, don’t feel guilty, but feel hopeful! Why? Because a new year, clean and fresh lies in front of you with grace and mercies to equip you to get healthy!

Can I give you a “prescription” or two that might aid your journey?

Pray – Ask the Lord to show you where you need to change in your spiritual life. Be still after you ask. Listen to the Spirit’s tugging in your heart.
Plan – Now you’re ready to take what the Lord has shown you and set set some goals so you’ll know when you’ve arrived at the desired place.
Change – Avoid getting into a dry, stale routine that will cause you to weary quickly.
- Choose a different Bible reading plan.
- You might even want to find a new place to sit and read and pray.
- Start a fresh, new journal for your new plan!
- Use a different color pen for this year’s prayer requests, so you’ll know that they were added to your prayer journal in 2016.
- Don’t have a journal? Well, that might be another goal to set!

I implemented a Bible reading plan in December that is called Four Streams. I found it on my You Version app. I am enjoying it so much! The four streams are the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs. With this plan in one year I will:

Read through the New Testament 4 times
Read through the Old Testament once
Read the Proverbs 4 times
Read the Psalms twice

Another little tweak I’m adding is that rather than reading, I’m listening to the audio version. With my pen in hand and my notebook open, I listen and take notes as the Lord speaks to my heart. This has been a really special addition to my devotional time!

Strive this year to make the Word the central focus of your life. Reading regularly each day will enable you to do just that. The entrance of His Word gives light; allow His light to shine in 2016.

How are you planning to be in God’s Word this next year? I’d love to hear your plans!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!