A Heavenly Country

Heaven. We are closer today than we were yesterday and tomorrow will bring us closer than we are today.

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16

That’s me. Quite often, I too, find myself desiring a better, heavenly country. One free of pain and sorrow, one free of sickness, violence, and death. To physically be where the Lord is, well that would just be the bee’s knees wouldn’t it?

But although we are not yet physically where God is, He is most certainly where we are. Thank the Lord for that! He is with us! In every trial, in every breaking headline, in every situation and circumstance, God is here with us. Immanuel.

God brings us His peace and His comforts. He wraps us in His love in magnificent ways. The laughter of a child, the understanding of a friend. The gold and silver of daybreak, the burst of color just before sunset. All of these are tangible gifts of God’s presence.

Everyday He gives us a taste of our heavenly country and whispers softly to our hearts, “The best is yet to come!”

Dina Pugh

Free Indeed

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

John 8:36

This verse came to mind as I sat in my car the other day. I was in the parking lot at Citrus Plaza waiting on my son when I took notice of the American flags flying in the breeze throughout the area. There was one particular flag that caught my attention. Unlike the other flags, whose stars and stripes flowed easily in the wind, the corner of this flag had become caught on something and sadly it just hung there, motionless. I realized in that moment how much I have in common with that sad, motionless flag.

Flags are designed to display that for which they stand for. Flags are made to be anchored to something, but this anchoring is in no way a hindrance to the flag. The anchor is the flag’s solid support. While safely anchored, the flag is free to open itself wide and do what it was made to do; fly freely in the wind showing those around it its beauty. So when a flag is not doing what it was made to do, like the one I noticed that was caught, it’s not displaying its full potential.

I, too, am designed to display that for which I stand for;Jesus. Just like a flag needs to be anchored, I need to be anchored not to something but to Someone who is my solid support. With the Lord as my anchor, I am free to open myself wide and do what I was made to do; live my life in the full freedom of Christ. However, like I said, I’m afraid I’m more like the flag that was stuck than the ones that were free.  How so? 

Whenever I let fear, worry or doubt creep in then a part of me gets stuck. Whenever I hold back forgiveness or not extend my hand in love, a part of me gets stuck. Whenever I let sin go un-confessed, a part of me gets stuck. Whenever I put anything above or before God, I get stuck.

There are so many things in this life that can cause us all to become stuck. I don’t want to be stuck like that flag. I want to be free. Therefore, I will continue to trust my Anchor and with His help, open myself up big and wide and live free in Him.

Dina Pugh

Are You a Sunday Christian?

At a recent women’s Bible study I attend, the question was asked, “In your own words, describe what you think it means to be a follower of Christ?” Hmm. Good question. Really, what does it mean to follow Jesus? Does simply asking Jesus into your heart make you a follower? Does going to church on Sunday and attending Bible studies make you a follower? Does putting NOTW bumper stickers on your car and Christian tattoos on your body make you a follower? Do we ever really stop and ask ourselves, “Why do I believe what I believe and am I fully devoted and living out what I believe?”

The Bible is full of examples of people who have gone before us and lived their lives in faith and devotion. Abraham was devoted to God and laid down his own personal plans for his life for the plans that God had for him. (Genesis 12:1-9) Caleb and Joshua spoke up in faith when everyone else around them was afraid to trust the Lord. (Numbers 13-14:1-10) David is known for many great things, but I believe the most important one is that he was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) When Jesus came to earth, His disciples left their families and life as they knew it and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18-22, 10:1-42, 19:27-30)

So what about us? Where do we line up? While every individual’s walk with the Lord is unique to them, a few basic principles can be applied to every believer’s life. First of all, start off by trading the life you have in mind for yourself for the life Jesus has for you. Secondly, let go of control and trust Him in all things. Next, make it a habit to seek Him daily. And finally, determine in your heart to put Jesus first and foremost before any other thing or person in your life. If you apply these principles, your relationship with Jesus will only grow stronger. There is nothing greater than knowing and following Jesus. It must be said, however, that it is a road often marked with difficulties and heartache. But that being said, it is also the most incredible love relationship you will ever experience.

Let’s all take a personal inventory of our heart and ask our self, “Am I living for self or living for Jesus?”

Then Jesus called the crowd and His followers to Him. He said, “Any of you who want to be My follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following Me. Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for Me and for the Good News will save it. It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost. You could never pay enough to buy back your life. People today are so sinful. They have not been faithful to God. As you live among them, don’t be ashamed of Me and My teaching. If that happens, I will be ashamed of you when I come with the glory of My Father and the holy angels.”  Mark 8:34-38 ERV

Dina Pugh

Are You in a Valley?

When you or someone you know are in the midst of a trial or difficulty, have you ever described your situation as, “Walking through a valley” or “God’s brought me to this valley”?  I know I have.  Oftentimes, we use the phrases, “mountaintop experience” and “walking through a valley” to describe moments in our lives that break away from our everyday normal.  But why?  Is it simply because of the contrast in elevation and our tendency to relate height with happiness and depth with difficulty?  For example, “I’m soaring on eagles’ wings” contrasted with, “I feel so low”.

While we oftentimes automatically associate spiritual valleys with negativity, in actuality, a physical valley can be quite a beautiful place.  Physical valleys tend to have rivers that run through them, rich fertile soil, lush flora and fauna, and they are protected from fierce winds by the surrounding mountains.

There are exceptions though.  Death Valley is a desert valley and is the lowest, driest, and hottest valley in North America.  We probably relate our spiritual valleys more to this type of valley as opposed to the other.  But even in such a hostile environment, beauty and life can emerge.

(Photo courtesy of Death Valley National Park 2/10/16)

So maybe when we find ourselves in a spiritual valley, instead of asking God, “Why?” and trying to find our way out as quickly as possible, we should look to God and say, “I don’t understand this, and I’d rather not be here, but since I am, I will trust You. Please use this place to grow me and teach me.”

 

We don’t always know why God does what He does, but God knows.  Maybe our bones have gone dry and they need the valley’s rivers to refresh them.  Maybe our heart has become hard in places and it needs the Lord to cultivate the valley’s rich, fertile soil into it.  Maybe our hope has diminished and we need the valley’s lush flora and fauna to awaken it. Maybe if we continue on the path we are on, we will find ourselves falling further away from God, therefore, we need the valley to protect us from even worse storms ahead.

Beauty and purpose can always be found in our valleys as long as we remember that God is in control and He is with us.  He will never allow us to enter such a place without Him, and He will certainly never leave us alone to find our own way out.

Remember, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go.

Genesis 28:15

Dina Pugh

 

Fight For Sunshine

While on a usual coffee run one morning, I was struck by a most beautiful sight. We were in the drive-thru of our local Starbucks, which is surrounded by cinder block walls and chain link fences. Waiting for our turn to order, I noticed the vines that were growing along the block walls. The large leaves were bright green, vibrant, and strong, completely covering the walls. But, what struck me as most beautiful was the way the plants were aligned. They weren't just "vining" their way along the walls haphazardly, they were in perfect lines and sticking straight out, off the wall, with each leaf facing the sky.

Now, I know that this is normal for plants to reach toward the sun, but what struck me was the way it looked like 100's of arms and hands raised in worship to God. What a glorious sight to behold. Then, I was struck again with the way the leaves were almost "fighting" to get more sun than the ones around them. They had one goal in mind, and they let nothing stop them from achieving that goal. It was their lifeline, of the utmost importance. Now, if a plant can do this, how much more should God's children?

A plant soaks up the sun in order to fulfill its purpose of creating food for itself. It needs that energy to perform this complex process. Due to plants being so diligent in their work, we are blessed with oxygen to breathe. So it is in our times with the Lord. Whether it is prayer, worship, or reading the Word, this is where we get our energy to fulfill our most important purpose in life. Without it, it can't be done, no matter how hard we try. It should be our singular goal each morning we awake, letting nothing stop us.

So, are you getting the energy you need every day?

Are you "fighting" for your piece of the sunshine?

Vibrantly alive...Abundant strength...Fulfilled purpose...Blessing all those around me...Now THAT'S living!

"It is God Who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect."

Psalm 18:32

Linda King

Trust the Lord, No Matter the Outcome

For my mom

This past week has been a roller coaster of emotions for me.  I have experienced incredible joy with the birth of our first grandson, only to be followed a few days later with the crushing news that my mom’s return of breast cancer may have spread.  I am juggling joy with sorrow, lightness along with heaviness of heart.

I think the hardest part for me, and maybe for most of you as well, is not fully understanding the reasons behind what the Lord allows and doesn’t allow.  We know God is sovereign and can do all things, so when He answers our prayers differently than that of what we have asked, it can feel hurtful.

But God is good [righteous, kind, honorable, worthy, pure, excellent] so our hurt feelings are simply a by-product of our lack of understanding.

This is where trust comes in.  And this is why the Lord reminds us in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”(Emphasis added)  We trip ourselves up when we rely on our own limited understanding.

I love the conviction of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego found in Daniel chapter 3 when they were faced with the fiery furnace if they refused to bow down to king Nebuchadnezzar’s gold image.  They said to the king, “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.  But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” vs. 16-18

That is the conviction of heart I want in my life when faced with my own fiery trials.  Trust the Lord, no matter the outcome.

Dina Pugh