Narrow path

In my job as a truck driver I would much rather take the big interstate roads than the smaller two lane highways. It makes my job easier when the roads are wider and straighter.

But when it comes to our spiritual lives, the narrow way is the way we are told to go. 

We are not to go with the flow and glide down the Broadways.

Our way will be treacherous. It will not always be smooth. Sometimes we may have to suck it in and squeeze through. 

Along the way, many will give up and turn back to the interstate. The Bible tells us that FEW will make it the whole way along the narrow path. But the end and what waits will be so worth it. 

Let's help keep each other on course.

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14 NASB)

The Rock

Sometimes life really is a matter of perspective. Sometimes our busyness or the sameness of everyday life begins to feel like it is weighing down on us. 

Although I don't believe that you can run away from problems, I do think that we need sometimes to step out of our troubles and gain a new perspective. 

This is why going for a walk or a drive, or holding a baby, or playing with puppies, shopping or visiting a nursing home, or.......well you get the picture.

Just a simple change of routine can make a difference.

And not only that, some alone time to speak to God is always good. 

Do not confuse this with solitude. There is a difference between alone and lonely. You can be lonely in a crowd, and alone doesn't mean lonely. It means by yourself, with yourself yet with God.

Jesus went alone to the garden to pray.

If you are weighted down today by a problem or worry, do something different. Shake up your routine. And use some of the time to be alone with God. Tell Him your worries. He is A Rock. He is bigger than your problems. Seek Him.

Married Couples

This Valentine’s Day remember that a night of romance and fun is a surefire way to keep the flames of marriage burning brightly.

Married couples who schedule weekly dates keep their love and passion alive and also dating can recalibrate a husband and wife’s relationship around love and laughter. Dating was fun before you got married and dating can even be more fun after you are married.

A date should be free from distractions (no electronics) and mental clutter. So put work and children and problems on pause or hold during this time of intimacy, 
No one can give you more meaningful approval than your spouse who should also be your best friend. If he or she seeks approval from someone else, you are in danger of emotional estrangement. Dating gives you an excuse to pursue your precious marriage partner with romantic anticipation. You clean up and dress up just for them. Perhaps you take turns planning the date experience, so it stays fresh and exciting. Or just surprise him or her.
Date night does not have to require a huge financial commitment, but budget accordingly. There is a cost, but you can’t afford not to invest in your most important relationship. It’s less expensive than a counselor or divorce. Be creative: a coffee shop, bookstore, walk in the park or park the car and quietly watch a sunset. Use date night as an excuse to buy new shoes or get a haircut. Do something special just for your special person. Conversation and connection can lead to physical intimacy—which is of course my favorite part.
Plan to date weekly.
Your weekly date night can be a remedy for getting stuck in the crazy cycle of no conversation and growing apart. Focused time with your sweetheart honors them and honors the Lord.

<°)))><

 Pat Pennington

San Antonio, Texas

Day of Love

For God loved the world so much that He GAVE His only Son, so that anyone that believes in (follows and obeys), shouldn't die eternally but live forever with Him.

God loves you. He wants us to live forever with Him in Heaven. But because of sin it would be impossible if He hadn't given His Son to die in our place.

He GAVE what was precious to Him because of His love for us.

Love is giving. Love is sacrificing. Love is all about the other person or people. Yes, love is giving of yourself for another. Love is for giving.

Love is forgiving.

Give for love.

In the cave part 3

Part 3

Twice God asks Elijah, what are you doing HERE? Both times Elijah answers, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." 

He is saying, "I am frustrated, I am working so hard for the salvation of the people and they don't care and now I am afraid that my life will be taken and I don't want that to happen."

That is a strong paraphrase. But I believe that is the essence of it. 

Elijah ran away out of fear. But God is helping him to use the time in the cave. He is being strengthened both physically, emotionally and spiritually.

So He (God) said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. (1 Kings 19:11, 12 NASB)

Many people think that this demonstration is to tell us humans that God is mighty and big, but it is the still, small voice that we need to hear. But actually re read the scripture. God was not in the wind, God was not in the earthquake, and God was not in the fire, but neither does it say that He was in the gentle blowing. 

This biblical example  is not so much about how God speaks to us, as it is about why God DID NOT speak to Elijah, and what he told him to DO instead.

It is, a call to simply go back to work, doing what God has called us to do, relying on his promises; trusting that the work is His and not ours to define and achieve.

I believe that in His silence God was telling Elijah, "Get  yourself out of the way. Life goes on, big things and small things will happen. I want you to be a part of those things but you need to get yourself together. You have been refreshed and ministered to but now it is your attitude that is in the way. Put that aside and let's get busy."

Being in the cave is our choice. It is down time. It is a chance to grow. It is a place to reflect on being grateful for the opportunity to be used by God for His purpose. 

Use the time to be strengthened, renewed and refreshed and then get out of the cave.

After the wind, after the earthquake, after the fire, and after the gentle blowing; The Lord said to him, "Go,"

And Elijah went.

Sometimes it is in the cave where God will find us and rebuild us.

In the cave, part 2

Part 2

God sent angels to minister to Elijah. 

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O Lord, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers." He lay down and slept under a juniper tree; and behold, there was an angel touching him, and he said to him, "Arise, eat." Then he looked and behold, there was at his head a bread cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, "Arise, eat, because the journey is too great for you." Then he came there to a cave and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." (1 Kings 19:4-7, 9, 10 NASB)

It is frustrating to be about the Lord's business and feel like it is in vain; to feel like everything you are doing and saying to represent God is being ignored by stiff necked, defiant people. 

I am sure that Noah felt that way, and the Moses and the prophets and yes, even Jesus. And in this world I see so many good, God loving, God serving men and women feel defeated in the same way. 

People would rather be dazzled and enthralled  by falsehoods and mockery. Oh, yeah, it looks real and sounds real, but remember even Satan used scripture when trying to tempt Jesus.

So I understand Elijah. I feel his discouragement, I feel his fear. He was hated, despised and hunted for his work for God. Could you endure any of it? So he ran. He hid, in a cave. He felt alone and frightened and wanted to die. 

I have been in that cave. It is dark, it is lonely. It is cold. 

But God can find you anywhere. And I like this verse from Psalm 139:12 that is talking about God and praising Him and it says, "Even the darkness is not dark to You."

Yes, that's right, God will find you in the dark and it won't be dark for He is light.

He will bring you out and send ministers to you, people who can comfort, hold you, encourage, strengthen you and build you back up. I have them God sent them to me. It might have been you. And maybe at one time I ministered to you. We are all ministers.

Notice above in the scripture, Elijah got up and was nourished, but then he lay down again. There is a huge lesson here, don't miss it.

 A. Elijah, although strengthened was not yet ready.  

 B. The angel(up lifter, encourager, one who brings strength) did not give up on Elijah after one visit. 

Are you Elijah today? Or are you the angel? What will you do? How will you respond?

Meditate on this today. I have more, I will post in the following days. Just know this. Sometimes it is in the cave where God will find us and rebuild us.

In the cave

In the book of 1 Kings we read the account of the Prophet Obadiah sending another prophet, Elijah to an encounter with the the King. The kings name was Ahab and his wife's name was Jezebel. They were very wicked and did not fear God.

Elijah challenged Ahab to a test on Mt. Carmel: Ahab's gods against the One, True, and Only God. Do you know the story? 

Anyway, let's just say, God and Elijah won the challenge big time. 

Here is the accounting.

Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God." And all the people said, " That is a good idea." So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it. " Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, "O Baal, answer us." But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made. It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened." So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, "Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." And he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time. And he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water. At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, "O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again." Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God." Then Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape." So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. (1 Kings 18:21-40 NASB)

Wow, not a small defeat!

Immediately after this Elijah fled to the mountains.

 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life. (1 Kings 19:1-3 NASB)

He was afraid for his life. He was just part of a mighty act of God, yet he lacked the faith of knowing that God would take care of him. 

What do you think about that?

You know scripture tells us that "faith cometh by hearing." We all believe that. But so does fear and doubt. They come by hearing. 

Elijah heard and believed. He believed that Jezebel really would kill him.

So he hid, in a cave.

Meditate on this today. I have more, I will post in the following days. Just know this. Sometimes it is in the cave where God will find us and rebuild us.