Posted on July 5, 2024 by vickie j blair
There’s a large field next to the seafront where our dog, Jack, loves to go running. He has run up and down the rows of wheat, jumping over the rows until they became too high, then he would zoom up and down through any gaps he could find. The other day he was thoroughly enjoying this zooming experience. Every now and again he would lift his head above the rows of wheat to look at me. “Good boy, Happy Jack,” I would call out, causing him to run again, showing off his great speed to my continued praise. During this escapade he happened to run further and further away from me. I saw him poke his head above the shafts of wheat but he didn’t see me. I watched to see what he would do. The smile on his face had faded. His searching eyes filled with some alarm; but wait, he sees me again! Oh happy day! He runs closer once more, tongue hanging out, ears flying back. He is happily near me, and the praises of his zooming abilities continue.
I surmised that this is how we are, at times, in our relationship with God. We are happy, running in His presence, listening for His voice which fills us with gladness. Then, in our exuberance, we are becoming so busy in our personal pursuits, that we have stepped away from Him. It wasn’t an outright sin. We just got totally absorbed in what we were doing. Life provides endless opportunity to get caught up in busyness that pushes time with our Heavenly Father towards the back door.
When that happens we begin to feel a restlessness. Something isn’t quite right. We raise our head above our piles of busyness and look around. Oh! There He is! The Lord is waiting with tenderness in His eyes. We run to Him again, and His arms stretch out to hug and soothe and to encourage us in our pursuits once more. Our purposes are always more fun-filled and fulfilling, too, when we take care to always run near the Shepherd, close enough to easily hear His voice when He says, “This is the way, now walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21 NIV).
May your every pursuit be God-led, God-blessed, and always in the nearness of His presence. There is no other place to be that can bring a greater joy.
Posted on June 28, 2024 by vickie j blair
Years ago I had the immense pleasure of spending some time in Tanzania, Africa. The landscape and the animals we encountered are magnificent scenes etched in my memory. While there I met a group of people who were preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Some had already been and were ready to go again. They explained that the views from the top were amazing. I had no doubt of its beauty, but I also had no personal desire to make this trek. The sights I could see on the ground was already a splendid experience.
It’s alright not to take up mountain climbing in our physical worlds, but I encourage us all not to avoid the spiritual encounter of climbing upward. In our spiritual worlds, it’s not just reaching the summit that brings joy, but it’s also the climb that is of utmost benefit to us. A mountaineer feels pain in muscles as the climb steepens. The Christian feels pain of emotion as rocks of difficulty slows our pace, as life’s chasms to be crossed brings fear seemingly impossible to overcome. We may falter in our determination, grow weary of heart in our quest, feel as if we will crumble and fall should the path be any longer. However, with every step that takes us forward, we are becoming stronger in spirit. We are changing from a baby in Christ to a child of His who knows what it is to take the strength He offers. We feel pain but He gives joy that overcomes the adversity. We sense loss of inner peace, but with each step upward, the loss is quickly replaced with holy tranquility passing all human understanding. We feel weak and inferior with every slip along the path, but we grow in faith as God’s strength never fails to pull us up time and time again. As the journey goes on, and as we choose to go on, too, we sense a change taking place. What’s happening?
At last we reach the summit, and we see magnificently, not the views from the top, but our own face reflected in a pool of water, looking remarkably like the face of Jesus. We smile. We kneel. We thank Jesus for the journey, for every rock, steep path, and gorge to navigate, for it is in that moment we realize, taking the journey has changed us a little bit more into the family likeness of Jesus. We are more Christlike than we imagined we would become before the painful journey began. We praise Him. We breathe in the aroma of His peace. Then, we stand before Him, knowing with blessed assurance — we are ready for the next mountain to climb.
I look up to the mountains — does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2 NLT)
Posted on June 22, 2024 by vickie j blair
Life is full of mishaps and no one is exempt. Some of you know I experienced my own such misadventure last weekend. I was walking Jack when an unseen tree stump sent me crashing to the ground face down. My nose was swollen to comic proportion, (thought it was broken) purple patches appeared beneath my eye, blood trailed down my cheek from where my glasses dug into the bridge of my nose. I was not a pretty picture. For several days I was lightheaded, but I had people around to help, and countless prayers on my behalf. Less than a week later I am fully recovered and have been cleared for takeoff by my personal nurses who have been advising and keeping an eye on me.
This incident led to my thinking of I Corinthians 15:51-52, “…we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye…” All the signs of Jesus’ return are before us, taking place on a daily basis. It’s all just as Jesus told us in Matthew 24. Have a look for yourselves. It grows more exciting with each passing day. Yes, it’s troubling to watch evil unleashed around the world, political upheaval, economic chaos, unprecedented weather patterns. All of these things happening AT THE SAME TIME. This is what excites so many Christians. There have always been signs — a war here, a catastrophe there — but all of these things are happening now at the same time. Importantly, we must not forget the aligning of nations. This is also foretold In Scripture.
The return of Jesus to set up His Millennial Kingdom is upon us. During that time, when Jesus sits upon the throne in Israel, the world will know peace such as it has not known since before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Those of us who have received Jesus as our Savior will reign with Him. Before that time, the Rapture will take place. Those of us who are alive, living today with pain, sickness, grief, financial struggles, emotional woes, swollen noses from unplanned falling onto the ground — “we will be changed.” There will be no more of life’s mishaps, no more tripping over life’s tree trunks, no more pain in our bodies.
What we suffer now is temporary. Eternity, face to face with Jesus, is our promise. Soon and very soon, as the song by Andrea Crouch reminds us, we are going to see the King. I hope you know Him. He is always waiting for anyone to reach out to receive His gift of salvation. His gift only a prayer away.
Posted on June 14, 2024 by vickie j blair
I have heard stories, and probably you have, too, of hikers who got lost along the trail. Maybe they took a wrong turn. Maybe they met with accident. Somehow they couldn’t make it back to their starting point. It must be so scary as provisions run out. Hunger and thirst grows, especially if one is lost in the desert with scorching sun beating down hard upon the earth. Imagine that lost person seeing someone in the distance. As they draw near, they see the other person has water. The person offers water, but the lost person declines to drink. They turn and walk away.
What an unbelievable scenario, but sadly, it happens in our spiritual worlds everyday. Someone has lost their way in life. Perhaps they feel there is nothing worthwhile to even make them want to live any longer. Despondency grows. A personal sense of failure sets in. Feelings of being unwanted, even unloved takes root. Even Christians, once so full of joy and purpose in life today, basking in thoughts of life in the hereafter, can suddenly feel themselves plunged into emotional darkness. What happened? They have failed to drink the water that is offered to them. They have turned and walked away.
There is a rescuer who calls out when we walk in the desert, when we are thirsty for inner strength, for reason to carry on. He offers water from a well that will never run dry. His water gives joy that bubbles over our tear stained cups, washing away burdened filled hearts weary from wandering aimlessly in deserts of dissatisfaction.
This rescuer is someone you have probably heard of before now. He offers the purest of water to all who will come. He calls out constantly — Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink…come to me with your ears wide open. Listen and you will find life (Isaiah 55:1&3 NLT). Yes, the invitation is for everyone. It comes from Jesus. It doesn’t matter if you have been running from Him. He has been pursuing you with His love that never runs dry. It doesn’t matter if the cares of this world caused you to forget Him for awhile. He has been calling for you. He loves, He longs, He waits.
Are you thirsty for inner peace? Then drink of Him. Are you thirsty for comfort? Then drink of Him. Are you thirty for purpose in life? Then drink of Him. Are you thirsty for joy like nothing else can give? Then drink of Him. The love of Jesus never runs dry, no matter how harsh and dry your desert. Whatever you need today; whatever creates your thirst, please drink of love, joy, peace, and meaning. Drink of Jesus. His water is the purest of love and satisfaction.
Posted on June 8, 2024 by vickie j blair
As we continually observe a world of increased crime rates, faltering economies, one weather disaster after another, nation against nation , and corrupt politics, it’s easy to wonder why the evil seem to triumph while the good slog along through one disaster after another. God is Almighty, so why doesn’t He do something to stop all the chaos?
To those of us who have accepted Jesus into our lives, we must remember, time is measured differently in God’s view. We are limited by 24 hour days and 12 months in a year. God sees everything at the same time. He stands outside of time. He can see our past, present, and future all at once. It’s impossible for us to fully grasp such a thing. It seems almost science fiction to our finite minds. Therefore, when we read God’s promises, we want them to come to fruition — right now! Waiting has never been the easiest for most of us.
God has promised that all of His children, those who have gladly received His gift of salvation through His Son’s death on the cross, will live with Him in the City of God forever. It’s a place of no more death or tears, sorrow, or pain of any sort. When will it take place? There are many signs happening all around us that point to Jesus’ return. Until then, we must engage in that difficult task of waiting, but what can we do to alleviate the frustration of our hearts calling out, “How long, Lord, how long?”
The most important thing: be a light that shines in the darkness of this world’s evil. Tell others of your hope in life ever after in that place called Heaven. Help others to find that way, too. Be the hands and feet and mouth of Jesus everyday. Reach out and help those in need, run to assist those who are falling, speak kindly to the grieving. Love each other in action as well as in word. Jesus said in John 13:35, Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples (NLT).
The just and the unjust will reap what is due them. A time will come when war will be no more, no one will suffer hunger, tears will never fall again. That promise from God will take place. Until then, take care not to focus on the evil and ruin of this world; be the light as you focus on The Light, for then all of His peace, strength, and joy will flow in you like a fountain that never runs dry.
Posted on May 31, 2024 by vickie j blair
There is a touching story in II Samuel 9. Many of you will recall the deep friendship between Jonathan and David in the Old Testament. Jonathan’s father was King Saul who desired to kill David. When Saul and Jonathan were both killed in battle, David became the next king. Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth who happened to be lame in both his legs. King David desired to show kindness to Jonathan’s son for the sake of the friendship he had shared with Jonathan.
King David instructs that Mephibosheth be brought to live with him and to eat at his table. This was a great honor. When Mephibosheth is brought to King David, we read in II Samuel 9:8, “Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, ‘Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?'” Can you sense the lowliness Mephibosheth felt? Perhaps there was even self-loathing because of his disability. Yet, King David loved Mephibosheth, and treated him as one of his own sons. When King David would look at Mephibosheth, don’t you know he saw in his face reflections of Jonathan. Therefore, what a sweetness David must have felt to gaze upon the countenance of Mephibosheth.
Do you ever feel as Mephibosheth did, like you are nothing better than a dead dog? Do you ever find yourself caught in a trap of self-loathing because of your failures and inadequacies? Please take heart. When God Almighty looks upon your face, He sees Jesus reflected in your countenance. Therefore, you are counted worthy, and because of Jesus, you are invited to sit at the King’s Table.
Jesus Himself is preparing a place for each of us who knows Him. One day, we will sit at the Wedding Feast, and we will eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life. Until then, we are invited to daily feast upon His Word. Daily we may feed upon the pleasures of Jesus, gaining strength and peace needed to face all the troubles of our days. Mephibosheth was counted as a son because of Jonathan. Today, you and I are counted as the children of God because of Jesus.
Take care not to loathe the face you see in the mirror. The reflection you see is a child of the Almighty, invited to sit at the King’s Table.
Posted on May 24, 2024 by vickie j blair
Our dog, Jack, looked at me with those beautiful, shining, brown eyes. They were full of hope and joy. He had just enjoyed a peanut butter bone. He was still licking his lips with that long pink tongue gliding from one side of his mouth to the other. He knew and I knew, I was going to say, yes, he could have a second peanut butter bone. As I lifted his bone from the floor to fill it with another spoonful of peanut butter, His front paws did a little up and down dance of anticipation. It filled me with great happiness to see Jack so excited at what I was preparing for him.
Can you guess what I’m going to say? I want to be just as excited as Jack, at what Jesus is preparing for me, and for all who have received Him into their lives. Jesus said something extraordinary in John 14:1-2, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you” (NKJV). Jesus had begun preparing His followers for what would happen after He was crucified, risen again, and returned to His Father. He would be, and is right now, preparing places for all of us in Heaven. While we don’t know all the details of Heaven, Revelation 21 and 22 gives us a peek into what is to come.
We already know there will be no more tears or death. We are also told that the place Jesus is preparing for us is a city of gold, clear as glass, with walls of jasper. The city itself is square, a measurement of 1400 miles in height, width, and length. We don’t know how many floors are in this city, but we can already tell it will be grand. The River of Life will flow from God’s throne, with a Tree of Life on each side of the river. Twelve crops of fruit are renewed each month. The gates are made of one giant pearl each. Inlaid in the walls are a myriad of precious stones. Are you dancing in anticipating yet?
As we see in our world today, the signs of Jesus’ return coming to fruition, we know it won’t be long now. As weather patterns change, nations go to war, people turn away from God to other pleasures, diseases grow in number, then we know, as Jesus told us, “When all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation in near” (Luke 21:28 NLT)! When I think about what it will be like to look into His face, I get tingles of excitement.
Like Jack, who knows beyond any doubt I’ll give him another peanut butter bone, we also know Jesus is surely coming again. Let’s be ready. Stay focused on Him. Stay obedient to His instructions that are always for our good. Then, when we see Him face to face, we will have no embarrassment that He caught us living sinfully; but rather, He will find us dancing in anticipation.
Posted on May 17, 2024 by vickie j blair
My mother has always been a wonderful cook. I remember the days of my childhood when it would be time for the evening meal. Mouth-watering aromas filled the air. When my father, sister, and I heard the words, “Suppertime!” we would head for the dinner table in pleasureful anticipation. We were never disappointed. There would be bowls and platters filled with succulent delights. Not one time did my mother call, “Suppertime!” and lay the table with empty bowls.
If we know our earthly parents would never be so cruel as to call us to a meal, then serve nothing at all, why do we treat our Heavenly Father as if He might do that very thing? Our Father’s table is always plentiful, overflowing with everything we need. Why do we shy away from asking forgiveness when His table is full of grace and mercy? When we are hungry for something to ease away our worries, why do we look elsewhere for our sustenance when our Father’s table has His own sweet comfort ready for us to devour? When we are perplexed, having no idea which road in life to travel, why do we seek worldly counsel, when our Father’s table has platters of direction that is without mistake? When we are saddened, grieved, or hurt in any manner, why do we languish in despair when our Father’s table serves inner peace to bring healing to all our painful wounds?
My mother’s table was always filled with fresh, deliciously cooked food for her family. I never doubted what she prepared for me, and often, there were leftovers! Ummm! What fun to be able to go back to the fridge at a later time in the evening, knowing I was welcome to have another taste of my mother’s yummy dishes.
Our Heavenly Father’s table is always full. His bowls and platters of manna are forever fresh and bountiful. There is enough for everyone. His provisions never run out. We are all welcome. Come to His table and eat. No one will be disappointed in doing so; only gladness and joy unspeakable is found at our Father’s table.
Posted on May 10, 2024 by vickie j blair
A few days ago, mid-afternoon, I was taking our dog, Jack, for a walk beneath an avenue of trees. The ground was no longer muddy, as it had been from lots of recent rain. The wind was gentle, squirrels were leaping from one tree to another. Jack was trotting along happily in sniffing pursuits, criss-crossing from one side of the wide path to the other. It was in the midst of this peaceful scene that sudden fright made me stop solid in my tracks.
Just ahead, a man was crouching behind a tree, staring at us. I could feel my breath coming in shallow intakes. “Come on, Jack,” I called, trying to sound nonchalant. “Time to go.” Jack stood looking at me as if I had lost my mind. It couldn’t be time to go. We hadn’t gone the length of the path. Even so, when I turned to go, Jack zoomed past me, still happy in his pursuits. Occasionally, I glanced behind to see if the man was following. I saw nothing but did’n’t slow my pace. After all, he could be coming, darting from one tree to another. When we reached the car, got in and locked the doors, I felt my tense body relax into relief mode.
A few days later, Jack and I returned to this much-loved path, happily beginning our trek again. I felt no sense of danger, but as we neared the tree from where the man had been hiding, lo and behold, there he was again! What? Now something was definitely fishy about this. Fear of earlier days was now replaced by curiosity. Determinedly, I walked toward the tree, with the man still crouched behind it, only to discover, it was a bush! I laughed at myself, feeling relief and silliness at the imagined dangerous man I thought had been there to cause harm.
We all deal with such fears as we go through life, don’t we? There are very real fears, even healthy fears, such as not going too near a fire for fear of getting burned. There are emotional fears: how to pay the bills when there’s no more money in the bank, close friends have slipped away, your spouse seems preoccupied with other things, work demands are becoming impossible to face, health of a loved one is failing, grief for one no longer here is at times suffocating, and on top of it all, God seems far away.
Fear of the unknown, not being able to guess what tomorrow will bring, is one of the most frightening fears of all, but it’s speculative and dangerous to spiritual and emotional health. When we spend time running away from imaginary men hiding behind bushes, we lose, both inner peace, and the joy of what the lost moment could have given. For every child of God, when fear takes hold, and our minds begin to speculate about what tomorrow may bring, that’s when we must, for sake of good mental spiritual health, remind ourselves of just where God is in our every moment. He’s right there: in your past, your present, and future — all at the same time.
He sees what is coming before it begins to happen. In the Old Testament, when Joshua was appointed the next leader of the children of Israel, Moses gave him the best of advice. He said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you or abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT). That promise applies to us today in whatever we are going through. Fear may come, but it need not take over. It need not shatter our peace. It need not destroy our joy. It need not confuse direction for us. Whether real fear, or imaginary men behind bushes, our loving, Heavenly Father is already there. He has never left us, nor will He ever do so.
Therefore, walk on. Continue in those things you know to do: talk to your Heavenly Father about everything, take time to listen for the Holy Spirit to say, “this is the way, now walk in it.” Meditate upon the words of His love letter to us, because it is alive and powerful, going into our most innermost being, bringing healing to all our hurting places. Praise Him for all He has done for you; praise strengthens our trust. Since nothing is impossible with God, then nothing we fear is too much for Him to handle, and handle it He will, with great love for each of us.
Let us not be slowed by fear of what the next moment may bring; let us walk forward, head held high, as we soak continually in our Father’s love, direction, and inner peace.
Posted on May 3, 2024 by vickie j blair
Just last night, my heart was warmly touched by our dog, Jack. It was time for bed, so my mother, Jack and I, all began to head that way. I helped my mother into bed, and then went back to the kitchen to get a glass of water for her bedside table. Jack was at my heels. I returned to the kitchen to get some cough syrup for her, as she has had a terrible cold, but improving each day. Again, Jack was at my heels. I made three or four trips to the kitchen and back, with Jack at my heels every step of the way. Only when I said, “That’s all Jack. You can go to bed now,” did he jump up to settle at the end of my mother’s bed.
I went to my own room, sat on the side of my bed, and reflected on Jack’s faithful following me. I fully believe, if Jack could understand every word I spoke, and if I said to him, “Jack, I’m going to dig a hole and pull out 100 bones,” that he would respond with, “Can I help? I’ll start digging.” I was warmly touched at Jack’s faith in me, while at the same time, challenged in my own faith in My Heavenly Father — or lack thereof.
When God says, “Go this way,” why do I, or any of us, ever question the possibility of it? Why do we question the timing? Why do we question the method? Has our Father ever made a mistake? Of course, we all answer a resounding, “No!” So, the question comes again, when God tells us to do something, why do we ever question its feasibility?
Jack never doubts me. In his world I make no mistake. Where I walk, he walks, too. What I prepare for him, he eats. He trusts the water I put in his bowl. If I trudge up a steep path, he shows no fear to go up also. If I sit beneath a tree to rest and enjoy the beauty around me, Jack happily enjoys sniffing pursuits, never leaving my presence.
As I reflected upon all of this, I thought of what Ruth, in the Old Testament, said to her mother-in-law after both their husbands had died, “Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live” (Ruth 1:16 NLT). I always want to have the attitude of both Ruth and Jack. I want to be at the Lord’s heels as he leads the way — and should the Lord say He is going to dig a hole and pull up a 100 bones; like Jack, I hope I don’t question. I hope I simply say, “Can I help? I’ll start digging.”
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