Inspirations from the Funny Farm

Proverbs 18:24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Matthew 28:20 And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Loneliness has been a critical illness this year. That sounds strange, but it is so very true especially for our elderly shut-ins and our long term care patients. With the staunch efforts that are being taken to protect these individuals from contracting COVID 19, we have isolated our prized possessions…our elders. Everyone that is doing their part in the prevention of the spread of this virus is staying home much more than usual. We can’t shake hands or share hugs, and y’all I’m a hugger! It’s been hard! It’s a big old lonely world out there, and loneliness is a killer! Today, I want to remind you that there is hope for the lonely. I have hope that this virus won’t last forever, but whether it does or not, there is hope for the hopeless, and hope for the lonely!

For we know that our hope is in Christ, and scripture reminds us over and over again about the love of Christ. Proverbs 18:24 says there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. That friend is Jesus! We may not feel the comfort of human hands and hugs, but the Word reveals to us that we are never alone. We have the truest of all friends, one that sticks with us through thick and thin, and one who will be with us until the very end. His name is Jesus! Although we may feel alone and isolated, when we look up instead of around, we realize that we are not alone. We are never alone!

Yet, there are still those among us who feel that unrelenting sense of loneliness during this time of isolation, and it is up to us to shine some light into those lives. We may not be able to visit in person, but phone calls can provide great comfort. With the invention of facetime, we can even see the face of the person we are calling. We can see smiles on the faces and the light in the eyes of those we are talking to. We can send cards, texts, and emails. But most importantly, we can send love! We can share the love of Christ with those that are feeling lonely. It is so very important to share that love today and everyday.

I have a challenge for you today. I want you to think of at least one person (I’d be honored if you wanted to be an over achiever and think of more than one). Think of one person who you haven’t spent time with in a while. It could be a grandparent, a parent, and aunt or uncle, or even an old friend. Pray with specificity for that person, and then reach out. Give that person a phone call, a text, or even drop off a gift at the door. We have so much to be thankful for. God has blessed us so richly with his mercy, grace, and love. Lets share some of that love today! We don’t have to be lonely!

Psalm 138:3 When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me.

Psalm 66:19 but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.

1 Chronicles 5:20 …He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.

John 15:7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 5:14-15 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

About three months ago, I shared a devotional on expecting answers to prayers. Today, I want to share a testimony of an answered prayer. In my post yesterday, I shared the heaviness on my heart of two beloved family members. My daddy has COVID 19. I didn’t share that I was talking about him in my post, but he assured me that he didn’t mind if I shared that the prayer requests were for him. He says that he is doing well. He has been sweeping and mopping and changing linens on the beds, busying himself during quarantine. I truly appreciate all of the prayers, Peeps! I love this man so much more that he will ever know. He poured the foundation upon which I stand, pointing me daily to Christ, not only in his words but also in his actions. Thank you for your prayers!

The second heavy hearted concern I shared was my aunt’s diagnosis with a return of cancer after being clear for the past four years. Let me explain to you that the doctor didn’t just call her and say, “I think your cancer is back.” No, he emphatically assured her that the cancer was back. He even put the ball into motion scheduling a PET scan as soon as possible, lining up surgery, and planning chemotherapy and radiation. My aunt asked, “Is there I chance that when you get in there it could be benign?” He told her no. He was absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt certain that she again had cancer. We cried, and we prayed. Friends on social media began to pray. I prayed for peace. I prayed for God’s will to be done. My aunt called me at work yesterday, and she said, “KK, you aren’t going to believe this!” She went on to say that the doctor called and said that he was embarrassed to make the call, but he was very happy to call her. He said that a mistake had been made. He received her cancer marker labs back, and they were unchanged. (If you have a recurrence of cancer, the numbers should go up.) So he decided to ask a different radiologist to review her CT scans. They compared scans from this year and last year, and on further review of the scans, the new spot that was described on Tuesday’s film wasn’t a new spot of cancer at all. It has actually waxed and waned on the films, had not increased in size, and thought to be a bowel loop. She will still keep the appointment for the PET scan so that we all have peace of mind, but at this moment we are standing on the fact that she does not have cancer! Talk about a rollercoaster ride of emotions! Was this simple human error, or was it divine intervention? I don’t know the answer to that, but I’m going to say it as probably a little bit of both. That human error of misreading the CT could have resulted in a major, unnecessary surgery. But God, He intervened.

This morning I awoke praising God and thanking Him for His many blessings. In the whole scheme of things in this big old world, I’m just a tiny little speck. I’m nothing. God is so BIG! Yet God hears the cries of this insignificant little speck. He answers my prayers. He comforts me. He reassures me. And He HEARS me! He hears little old me! I will always be amazed at that thought. My faith is not big, but my God is. I only have to trust in Him and ask that His will be done….and He answers my prayers! Do you pray with expectation? When you talk to God, do you expect answers? Are you even praying? If not, I plead with you to start an immediate conversation with the Father. He wants to hear from you. He already knows the heaviness of your heart, and He wants to lighten you load. Lay those things at the feet of Jesus and wait. Let go and let God have control of every area in your life. I guarantee you that you will soon start seeing answers to the things for which you have been praying for when you simply pray, “Your will, not mine, Lord.” He will answer your prayers too! Give God a chance.

2 Corinthians 1:8 We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.

Last night, as I unwound from yet another very busy day, I read this meme that a friend shared, “Have you ever just cried because you’re tired? Not sleepy tired but tired of just being tired. That ‘I’m done trying but I don’t know what to do tired,’ that ‘I just need a long hug’ tired, that ‘I don’t want to cry but I don’t know what to say either’ tired, that ‘God, please just tell me what to do next’ tired. Just tired.” As I read those words, I thought to myself, “yes, Lord, that’s me. I’m that kind of tired.” Sometimes at the end of a really trying day, we feel as though we are only hanging on by a thread. We feel that we have reached the end of the rope, and we try to tie a knot an hang on, but hang on…there’s a lot of Hope at the end of that rope!

We were busy at work yesterday. That’s nothing new with my dear, sweet friend COVID visiting us in the clinic daily. I’ve learned lately to keep an attitude of gratitude, and that attitude is making every crazy chaotic day much more pleasant. Yesterday wasn’t a bad day, but bad news happened. Someone I love dearly was diagnosed with COVID. He’s doing great, and is very healthy so he will likely fair well. Most people are recovering rapidly and doing well, but that old devil is our fear monger and reminds us of the ones who didn’t do so well, and he tries to get us to take our eyes of of Christ and fill our heads with worry. I’m reminded of Ms. Clara’s statement (from War Room) from my post yesterday. I’m claiming it! I say look out devil, you are about to get your butt kicked. I’m keeping my trust in Christ!

Later in the day, my aunt, who is much more like a big sister, called. She was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma four years ago. She had a liver resection and treatment, and has been doing so well. She is the picture of health, but yesterday her CT showed a tiny little spot at the incision site. The doctor’s feel that the cancer has returned. They are fast tracking her for a PET scan, surgery, and putting together a treatment plan. At first glance, we see the bad news, and it seeps into our hearts and heads and we experience a full range of emotions from anger to fear, but then, God jumps in the middle of those emotions and He reminds us that we are not in this alone. There is hope. The tumor is tiny…the size of a Cheerio. It can be removed surgically. Advances have been made in treating this type of cancer over the past four years. The physicians are better equipped to treat my aunt now than they were four short years ago. Maybe…just maybe…God put that cancer at bay for four years until a complete and total cure could be given. I say look out devil. You are about to get your butt kicked again. I’m keeping my trust in Christ!

Life gets hard, and when we get to the end of our rope on days like yesterday, we have a few choices. We can tie a knot and hang on to the rope. We can recognize that this struggle is teaching us something that we need to know. Or, we can realize that as God’s children, we are going to endure suffering that is much too hard for us to handle on our own, and we learn to lean on God with all that we are. We can curse God in the storms of life or we can embrace Him. I choose to embrace Him. God has brought me this far, and I’m in it for the long haul. I’m in it to win it. I’ve already proclaimed victory in the name of my Father, and He has always been faithful.

We are all dealing with our own set of difficult circumstances with each passing day. Sometimes it feels like that rope is worn down to a mere thread, but today I remind you that there is hope at the end of that rope. Don’t focus on the circumstance. Don’t focus on the end of the rope. Focus on the HOPE. When we focus on God during these difficult circumstances, He not only sustains us, but He also fills our hearts with joy. Joy? During these tough times? How can that be? The joy comes from knowing that we are saved, and our loving Father will sustain us and carry us through. When we finally recognize that God is in control, we can let go of that rope and fall into the loving arms of our Savior…safe and secure. There is Hope at the end of the rope, and that Hope is Christ Jesus!

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.

1 Samuel 2:2 There is no one holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

With so much doubt, fear and uncertainty, there is one thing that we need to keep reminding ourselves of daily. That one this is remembering who God is. We try to run through life either fixing problems or fueling the fire, and too often we forget who is really in control. If you haven’t ever watched the movie, “War Room,” do yourself a favor and watch it tonight. There are so many good quotes and so many godly truths spoken in the movie. One clip that I really love is when Ms. Clara is shouting praises to God for a victory and answered prayer. She is shaking her fist and shouting, ” Oh devil, you just got your butt kicked! My God is faithful! My God is powerful! You can’t fire Him, and He’ll never retire! My God is faithful!” That kind of puts everything in perspective for us, doesn’t it? God is faithful. He is powerful. He can’t be fired, and He will never retire.

What if during these trying times everyone stopped being upset and angry, and instead we remembered that GOD is still in charge. He sits on the throne no matter who sits in the White House. And His Word assures us that if we pray, really pray, turn away from our wicked ways, and seek God, and ask for Him to do His will, He will! That has been my constant prayer of late. “You’re will, no mine. I trust in You, Lord.”

Proverbs 21:1 reminds us that “in the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him,” and Psalm 22:28 assures us that the “dominion (kingdom) belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.” Once upon a time, Nebuchadnezzar was considered the strongest and mightiest king of his time, but God has a way of humbling even mighty kings. He placed Nebuchadnezzar in a “time out” for seven years, and He got his attention. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to release the Jews to go back to Jerusalem. He even turned the heart of the King of Assyria to aid in the construction of the Temple of the Lord. And let us not forget all the chaos He caused in Egypt with those ten plagues as He urged Pharoah to let His people go. Yes, our God is mighty may we never forget. He is still on the throne. He is still faithful, and He is still powerful. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

So what if we ALL turned back to God and prayed…for our country, our friends, our family, the lost, for God’s guidance and His will…what if we simply ALL began to pray? A president isn’t going to make our country great again, God IS, and if God is for us, who can be against us? God can kick that old devil’s butt again and again. He has already defeated him. The victory belongs to God, not man. He is still in the prayer answering business. Today, let us reflect on who God really is and give all glory and honor to Him! Let us pray as we remember who God is!

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

The events of the past week have been a bit upsetting. Some are excitedly celebrating the election outcome, while many others are still praying for a different decision. It is quite upsetting when we don’t get what we want. It is even more upsetting when we see that our potential coming leadership of our country are not standing on biblical principles. But as Christians and Believers in Christ, we can not become part of the problem. No, my friends, this is our time to shine!

The problem of today is that we worry too much about tomorrow. When future oriented worry consumes us, we have to recognize that this is not of God. We have to diffuse that worry, and recognize that our Sovereign Lord is still sitting on the throne, and He is with us today, and He will be with us tomorrow, and always. When the worries of tomorrow fill up our minds today, we aren’t allowing God to have full control. We try to handle things on our own, and try to figure out what is going to happen, how it will happen, and what is going to happen to us. However, if we truly place our faith in Christ, our outlook begins to change. That thing called worry doesn’t have that much control over us when we allow faith to take the front seat. We must keep our faith in Christ!

Have you ever thought about why you are right here, right now, in the crazy year of 2020? I know that’s a silly question, but consider it for a moment. God placed you here at this time for such a time as this. He knew that the world needed you, and the world needed you right now. This world is a very dark place. Evil is being called good, and good is called evil. A light is needed. A light that will break through the darkness and shine brightly is needed right now more than ever. That light can be found in Christ. When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are filled with that same light. It’s time to shine, folks!

When you are really sold out to Christ, a total follower, lover of the Lord, and putting all your trust and faith in Him, you start to see things in a different light, the light of Christ. Rather than worrying about the outcome, you simply learn to trust in God’s plan. We can’t get angry about the election outcome. We can’t spew words of hate and condemnation. We can’t belittle those who believe differently than us. Christians must unify now more than ever before and shine the light of Christ ever so brightly into this dark and sad world.

It’s time to shine! Has your light gone out? Has it gotten a little dim? Go recharge those batteries. Get in God’s Word and refresh and renew. Talk to the Lord and strengthen your relationship with Him. Recharge, refresh, and renew, Peeps. Let your light shine! This world needs the Light. It’s time to shine!

James 1:12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Luke 11:28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Deuteronomy 28:2-8 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God: You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country. The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks. Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. The Lord will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

The first thing I do when I wake up every morning is pray and thank God for the many blessings He has given me. I call out my petitions of worries and concerns over sick and lost loved ones, and I spend a few minutes with God before I start the chaos that will surely soon begin as soon as my feet hit the floor. Just before I go to sleep each night, I end my day in much the same way that I begin it: praising and praying. Each day, I think about the blessings in my life, and I give God all of the glory. I recognize that without Him, I would have nothing. I would not exist. I don’t ever want to forget that I am who I am and I have what I have strictly because of the grace of God. It’s true, I have worked very hard to get to where I am in life today, but I didn’t arrive here on my own. All honor and glory goes to God.

Today, I woke up thinking about what it means to be blessed. Miriam Webster defines blessed as: 1) held in reverence, honored in worship; 2) of or enjoying happiness; 3) bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune. A few years ago, a pastor defined blessed as “feeling God’s presence in our lives.” According to the Key-Word Study Bible, “The Greek word translated blessed…is makarioi which means to be fully satisfied. It refers to those receiving God’s favor, regardless of the circumstances.” Scripture reveals to us that a blessing is anything that God gives us that make us fully satisfied in Him.

Whoa! Wait just a minute! A blessing is anything that makes us fully satisfied in God? What about our homes, cars, jobs, bank accounts, and our families. Aren’t all those things blessings from God? I thank Him for those blessings every day. I know that I wouldn’t have them without God blessing me with them so they are blessings, right? It’s true, those are blessings too. The problem is when we start boasting in our own selves and taking credit for our accomplishments without giving God the glory. But think about this for a moment. Many times we only see the blessings in the collection of “things” we have acquired through the years, but we forget about the blessings of seeing God in every circumstance and situation.

A true blessing is anything that draw us closer to our Lord and Savior. A blessing is anything that helps us to let go of the temporal things and grab on tightly to those things that are eternal. Many times, it takes a struggle, a loss, a major illness, or a difficult trial for us to let go of the temporal and reach for the eternal. When things are going our way and everything is coming up roses, we start to pat our selves on the back and praise our own accomplishments, but when we start to feel those thorns, who do we run to? We run to Christ! It is in those times of difficult circumstances that we recognize the sovereignty and power of our Savior, and we cling to Him. And in those moments, we feel the presence of our Lord. When we truly feel the presence of the Lord, we know the meaning of being blessed.

We must recognize that everything we have comes from God. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) I’ve often heard the expression, “If you woke up this morning with only the things you thanked God for last night, what would you have left?” We must thank Him for everything. Every gift is from above. Do you feel the presence of God in your life today? If you do, you know the true definition of a blessing. If you are struggling, and you don’t feel His presence, He is not far away. Call out to the Father. He wants to bless you too!

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Psalm 27:14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Four days after the election, and it hasn’t yet been called. It is looking like Biden will be the next president of the United States of America. Those who voted for Trump are either holding out and hoping for a miraculous act of God, or they are giving up and realizing the Biden has won. Me? Well, I’m sitting here chanting the same prayer I’ve been praying for the last four days, “Your will, Lord. Not mine. I trust You.”

I’ve shared this story as part of my testimony many times in the past. About thirty years ago, after finishing nursing school, I went to work in critical care and emergency services. I absolutely loved it, but “I decided” (note the “I” in that statement) that I was going to be an acute care nurse practitioner. I had an impeccable transcript. As a matter of fact I only had one B on my entire transcript while in nursing school that kept me from having a perfect 4.0. I had been an excellent student. I was working in critical care. My application was pristine. I was a shoe-in to get accepted into the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner program, or so I thought… I applied, and later I received a letter from the University informing me that I had not been accepted into the program. I’m just going to be totally transparent with you here and tell you that I cried like a big old baby. I was heart broken. I didn’t understand. Why had I not been accepted? I cried out to God and prayed. It realized that it wasn’t too late to apply for the Family Nurse Practitioner program, though I felt I knew nothing at all about that because it wasn’t critical care, but still, I applied. I soon received a letter informing me that I had been accepted into this program. It took me a while to realize it, but God was behind the scenes working in my life, and I didn’t even know it. You see, I live in a very small town, and I have a close knit family. I love my home town, and I really could never see myself living in a big city. Had I become an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner all those years ago, I would have likely not been able to find a job anywhere near my home. I would have had to move or do a whole lot of traveling. God knew I didn’t want to move, and instead, He opened the door for an even better opportunity. As a Family Nurse Practitioner, I not only get to work close to home, I get to work with entire families. I get to know my patients and their families, and I get opportunities to share Christ on a daily basis. I absolutely love being a Family Nurse Practitioner! God knew just what I needed even though I didn’t.

The same thing goes for every circumstance in life. God knows just what we need, even when we don’t. He has a watchful eye on this country, and He is still on the throne. I heard the song, “Whom Shall I Fear (The God of Angel Armies)” on the radio this morning. It was written by Chris Tomlin, Ed Cash, and Scott Cash. These words spoke to me: “I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind. The God of angel armies is always by my side. The one who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine. The God of angel armies is always by my side. My strength is in your name for you alone can save. You will deliver me. Yours is the victory.” We can’t see the big picture, but God can. He has a plan. We don’t know what His plan is, but right now, He is working behind the scenes working it all out for our good and His glory. No matter who sits in the White House as President, God will always be sitting on the throne. He will always be the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is my salvation. So I will keep praying, “Your will, Lord. Not mine. I trust you, Lord. Your will. Not mine.”

Hebrews 10:24-25 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Today I’m going to share something that has been troubling my heart for a while, but it is one of those subjects that is kind of touchy, and I wasn’t quite sure that I should approach it. However, God keeps tugging at my heartstring so here I go. The question that keeps running rampant in my brain is how do we get people to come back to church? The reason its a touchy subject is because of COVID-19. A lot of people have chosen to stay home from corporate worship, and trust me, as a nurse practitioner I get it. I have seen this ugly virus up close and personal, and it is something to be feared. I agreed with changing services to on-line for a while. I liked the idea of parking lot worship temporarily, but oh how I missed worshipping together with my faith family. We are members of a small country church, and the members of that church are truly an extension of my blood family. I love those people. The shut down was hard, and I was delighted when we were finally able to open the doors for corporate worship once more. We did it cautiously with two separate services at first to allow everyone to spread out. We watched the numbers and the cases, and we gradually returned to our regular worship hours and activities. We have continued to do so utilizing much caution. Masks are worn when gathering in close knit areas. The new staple, hand sanitizer, is available in all areas. We aren’t passing the offering plate. We aren’t hugging and shaking hands. We are, however, coming together as a body of believers and worshipping our Lord and Savior as a family of believers, and I can not tell you what a blessing it is to be able to do so after that little hiatus we had to take.

The thing is a lot of people haven’t returned. Before anyone gets mad at me, please hear me out. I completely understand not returning for worship services if you are ill or if at high risk for complications should you contract COVID 19. I get that, and I DO NOT want anyone to put their health at risk. Please hear my heart. I am not trying to shame anyone. If you are chronically ill and high risk, by all means, keep doing on-line worship and stay safe. Please! My heart message today is for those who are have just gotten out of the habit of going to church because of the changes made due to COVID 19 or any other reason, and my fear is that once we get out of the habit, it’s too dog gone hard to get back into the habit. If we can shop in the stores, dine in restaurants, and go to our jobs daily, then probably, if we think about it, we can go to church too…especially when we realize that the church is actively taking precautions to keep everyone safe. And it’s not just COVID 19 that has caused this. As a society we are way too busy, and we tend to fill our schedule up with all of the things that matter to us, but then we don’t have time for church on Sunday. We have a family trip planned for the day, maybe a golf game, a baseball game, or it’s the only day of the week that we have off to catch up on things around the house. I get it. That’s the reality of life. I’ve been there myself. I’m not pointing fingers without pointing four right back at myself.

The thing is, we all get the same twenty four hours a day, everyday. We all get 1,440 minutes, and 86.400 seconds every single day. That is 168 hours, 10,080 minutes, 604,800 seconds in a week. We all get the same amount of time, the question is, how are we using those hours and minutes and seconds? Why do we not have time for church? I think the simplest answer is that we don’t make time for church. Those of you who know me, know that I am one of the busiest people around. I am always doing something. I work like a woman on a mission all day in the clinic on my work days, and then I work like a crazy woman around the house and farm on my days off. I’m up early, and I don’t stop until my head hits the pillow at night. But you want to know something? This family does not work on Sunday. We don’t hunt on Sunday. We don’t fish on Sunday. We do, however, cook a huge family meal to share with our whole family after church, we get dressed up, and we get ourselves to church. And we do it because we make going to church and worshipping our Lord and Savior with our family of believers a priority. We make God a priority. The way we see it is that God blesses us so much more than we deserve all week long. He blesses us with good jobs, food on our table, a roof over our head, a family to love, wonderful friends, and oh so much more. We don’t deserve those blessings, but He gives them to us freely, and we thank Him for them daily. But even more so, shouldn’t we go to the place designated as His house whenever the doors are open and worship and praise Him corporately with our family of believers? Shouldn’t we make worshipa priority?

It is so easy to get out of the habit of going to church. There was a time during my college years that I made school my priority. There just wasn’t enough time for church between work, classroom time, clinicals, and studying. I kept praying and talking to the Lord during those days, but I sorely lacked in the worship department. But somehow, with His grace and mercy, He pulled me through school, and over the years drew me closer to Him. He didn’t forget me during my church hiatus. He drew me back, tugged on my heartstrings, and called me to the perfect church for my family. I guarantee you that He hasn’t forgotten you either. It is true that we can worship alone. We can worship our Savior in a dark closet or in a crowd of a thousand people. Then why do we need to go to church to worship? We go so that we can encourage one another in the Word, glean wisdom from our teachers, preachers, and elders, and in a sense we are showing God that He is important to us and that He is our priority. If you have gotten out of the habit of going to church, how about getting back into the habit this week. I just know your faith family will be so happy to see you, and I am sure that you will receive a blessing! It’s hard to take that first step, but it is absolutely worth it! Take that step this Sunday. Let’s get back to church!

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Psalm 37:7 Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.

John 16:33 “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

I’m not sitting at the kitchen table this morning. That is where I usually sit to do my morning Bible reading and write this devotional blog. Instead, I’m as cozy and snug as a bug in a rug snuggled up under a comfy fleece blanket, sitting in my recliner, listening to the crackling of the first fire in the fireplace of the season. The world of chaos around me continues to roar, but not here, not in my living room. There is the smell of fall in the air. All is well right here in this house.

However, if we turn the news on, we quickly realize that all of life is not well. The presidential election that occurred two days ago remains undecided. Corona virus continues to rear its ugly head. There are murders, burglaries, bitterness, and anger in every news clip. No, life is not good outside the doors of my cozy home, yet here I sit, cozy as can be in the safety of my home. Really though, we should feel that sense of coziness no matter where we are or what we are doing. How in the world are we supposed to feel safe and cozy in a world that seems to be turned upside down? We merely have to remember whose home we reside in…the house of Christ! It is wise to be aware of the current events around us, but it isn’t wise to allow those current events to take a hold of us.

How then can we be cozy in Christ? First and foremost, we must adjust our focus. This may be the hardest part. It is super easy to focus on the tragedies and events that surround us. We quickly get caught up in the drama of life, and occasionally, we lay down and wallow in a pity party of grief. If we focus on the bad, we are going to feel bad, but if we turn our focus onto Christ, we will feel joy, unexplainable joy. Romans 8:28 reminds us that God causes everything to work together for our good.. No matter what is going on around us, God will use those situations to grow us for our good and His glory. We can find joy in knowing that in every circumstance, God is with us. We don’t have to handle anything alone!

Another way to find coziness in Christ is by serving others. What? That just sounds crazy! Nope, I am completely serious. When we serve others, we get that feel good, cozy feeling way down deep in our heart that warms our whole being. What better time of year than now to begin serving others. We can serve others in our jobs by performing well. We can serve others by buying a meal for someone, treating a stranger to a cup of coffee, helping with storm clean up, checking on a lonely elderly person, and a million other ways. You don’t have to go very far to find someone that you can serve, and I promise you that you will feel that warm cozy feeling afterwards. “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.” (Hebrews 13:16)

When we are consumed with the circumstances of the world, it’s hard to find that cozy feeling. If we dwell on the problem and not the problem solver, we will find ourselves overwhelmed. However, if we give those troubles to Christ, we find relief. You can’t be cozy in Christ if you’re spending your nights tossing and turning, worrying and fretting. But you can rest peacefully in the loving arms of Christ if you simply give those problems to God, and go to sleep. Yes, to be cozy in Christ, we must let go and let God! And…”Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)

Finally, don’t give in to the trials of the world, and don’t give up! The troubles of the world look huge and loom over us like a big black cloud, but never forget that behind that cloud is the Son sitting on the throne. The Son is shining down on you today and every day, and that type of “Sonshine” will definitely make you cozy! And my friends, that Son has already overcome the world! “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

I pray that today you are feeling cozy in Christ. Fall into the arms of our Savior, and rest with Him. Focus on Christ, serve others, pray and give your troubles to Christ, and never, ever give up! This world is a scary place, but we can rest cozily in the arms of Christ!

Revelation 19:7-9 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.”

Who won the presidential election yesterday? I’m not sure whether Trump or Biden will be president in 2021, but I know who won the election. God did. We had an unprecedented turn out of voters for this election. God is surely up to something, and in a few days, He will reveal His plan. Regardless of the results, we have to remember that God is on the throne. We have nothing to fear. Our God is in control! The church is His bride, and He will care for His bride just as a loving husband cares for his wife.

I was reminded this morning of a mission trip we took a few short years ago to the Dominican Republic. We spent a couple of days up on the mountain ministering and providing medical care to Haitian Creoles. While there, we learned that in their culture, if a young woman and man wanted to be together, the girl would leave her home to go and be with her “husband,” and then the young man was responsible for his new “bride” from that moment on to provide and care for her. They referred to this as “jumping through the window.” After they were together as a couple for five years, they were then considered to be married to one another. While there, we met a young man who had a “jump through the window” marriage, and was working hard to make his relationship right in the eyes of the Lord.

We don’t have to jump through any windows to become the bride of Christ, but people we have to realize that a relationship with Christ is an active, growing relationship that is strengthened each and every day. I fear that all too often there are Christians that have a “jumping through the window” attitude. They jump out and make an emotional decision to become a Christian during a moving sermon, a revival, or perhaps at a retreat. This religion thing looks inviting and sweet. They want a little taste of it. They make a decision to be a Christian in their head, but they never make the decision in their heart. They want to follow Christ at that moment, but when the moment is over, they slowly return to their old ways and previous life. They do not respect the unity of marriage between themselves and Christ. They jumped through the window, but they didn’t stay with the relationship for the whole “five years” needed to make it a legal marriage and the relationship just fell to the wayside.

When we make a decision to follow Christ, it is not merely a head decision. It has to be a head and a heart decision. We have to fall in love with Christ and allow Him to rule our hearts and mind. What are the two greatest commandments? “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27) We have to love the Lord with our whole hearts, souls, strength, and minds. It’s not a here today, gone tomorrow relationship. Christ’s love for us is eternal, and our love for Him should be eternal as well.

I jumped through the window and became a Christian at the age of thirteen. Oh, I’ve not been a perfect Christian. Many times, I have veered far off of the path that God laid out for me, but praise the Lord, He keeps calling me back. My relationship with the Lord grows closer and stronger with each passing day, just as my relationship with my dear, sweet husband does. How does it keep growing? I keep putting forth effort to strengthen my relationship with Christ. I wouldn’t have a very good relationship with my husband if I put him on a shelf and pulled him down once or twice a week for a visit would I? Absolutely not! We can’t expect to have a good relationship with Christ if we are treating that relationship the same way. We can’t just be Sunday morning, Sunday night, and maybe even Wednesday night believers. We have to be 24/7 Christians, y’all!

We can’t just jump through the window and expect everything to fall into place. We have to have an active relationship with Christ daily. How do we do this? Well, just like in our personal relationships, we have to stay in touch! We need to talk to Christ daily. Spend time in prayer conversing with the one who loves us most. Spend time in His Word. Read the Bible daily. Learn who Christ is as He exposes Himself to you through scripture. Root yourself in your relationship with Christ, and each day, your relationship with grow stronger and rather than just surviving as a Christian, you will find yourself thriving for Christ!

Don’t let the fear of the election results weigh you down. Christ is on the throne, and we are His bride! Lets quit acting like we just jumped through a window, and instead, let us really shine as the bride of Christ as He desires for us to!