The Earth Will Bring Forth its Praise

The Earth will Bring Forth its Praise
9 'X8' muriel

The green of summer and the red and gold of fall have all vanished; brown earth with dead plant life is under layers of snow with only scrubby limbs protruding. Everything lays dormant waiting for spring. As artists we have learned to look for the beauty in any season and as children of God we need to learn likewise.

We do not think about the earth praising its maker by bringing forth its vegetation, but it does. There are places and seasons that are barren; without water, without life, and no substance, yet the earth still brings forth its praise. In its barrenness there is beauty.

Art is a form of praise. When we write or paint, we are giving back in recognition what the Master Creator has done for us and in us by giving us eyes to see and ears to hear. Lifting up our talent to Him is like echoing back His beauty. He has revealed Himself in His creation and we paint and write saying "So be it, Amen, Amen, Surely, Surely, I see it." At that moment we shout “Hallelujah!” Revelation has just occurred. The Lord has shined His Light, and we have responded.

In desperation and destitute of souls, we all lie dormant waiting for the revelation of God. He gives us eyes to see and a heart to receive. God meets us in our fallen condition and changes us and restores us to a new creation. He puts spring in our hearts. Our changed lives will bring forth praise. We, like the Earth, are responding with “So be it, Amen, Amen, Surely, Surely, I see it. The Lord has shined His Light.”

Recently, I received words from a fellow Pagosan whose eyes have been opened and his heart and life has been changed. I wanted to share his praise with you. If the earth brings forth its praise, then we in gratitude, who have a voice, need to do even more so. Part of praising the Lord is encouraging others to share their story allowing their Light to shine. The following words are the witness of a barren soul who has been changed. There is a new song is in his soul.

“Isn't our Lord’s glory and love divine? God pulled my soul back from the depths of hell on earth and restored my faith! From a drunkard and the man that was hidden away inside himself; hiding in shame; to a man, a real man that knows humility and shame, and I am fine with that because the blood of Christ has washed away my sin. Yes I am ashamed and sorry for the things I've done, to the people I've hurt, and will never return to those ways.

I will walk tall with the presence of the Lord in my soul and working thru me. My lil light is getting stronger and I'm gonna let it shine!”  Respectfully, Johnny Ray Maes

As I read his full testimony and shared his pain, I wanted to cry. Why would a young child have to go through the things he went through? Was God watching? My knowledge of God is that He is always present and He knows and He does all things right for an expected end. So when I hear of barrenness and hurting years, I know this man’s song is sweeter than if he had not known suffering.

He witnessed that there was a man by the name of George Daniels who he met in jail. Mr. Daniels witnessed the Light; he took time to tell Johnny the truth. The Truth had to be in him in order that he was able to do so. He gave Johnny hope and directed him to a better life which comes through Jesus.

In Romans the scriptures say that the earth groans and travails for the revelation of the children of God. The earth can lie in peace for this one soul who has been revealed by the power of God. Johnny continues to praise God and is forever grateful and indebted for the courage of Mr. Daniels who cared enough to tell him the truth.

I question the pain of children, it seems so unfair, but then I look out at the snow and the barren ground underneath, and I know this season is necessary for spring. God is faithful and will bring forth His praise in these children.  It is our responsibility to pray and tell them the truth.  

It is up to us who have been given the privilege of seeing beyond what our eyes can see, to bring forth His praise. We are putting our “amen, amen, so be it” to His faithfulness, God is there in all seasons. Sometimes it takes a man like George Daniels to speak his praise to a troubled soul.

My heart shouts, “Amen, amen, so be it, Hallelujah. Another child of God has been revealed.”  

Looking through the Window

A friend recently e-mailed me, sending photos of a big elaborate wedding she attended in Temple, Texas. I looked at the backdrop behind the communion table; and lo and behold, it was a large oil painting which I painted over twenty years ago.

My first thought was, I have forgotten about that painting. So that is where it went. I’m glad to know.

It was a picture of just windows; all kinds of windows. She suggested I write about “Windows of Sincere friendships” or “Windows into the heart of a family”.

I pondered on the reason I painted it so many years ago. Each window was a vignette within the painting. One window was set in a partially broken brick wall; one in an old, ornate house and the open window in a white double window pane framed a white lacey curtain blowing from behind it. In the center there was another open window. It had a ledge where there were kernels of corn; a white dove was standing on the ledge and another one was flying towards it. You could feel the stark coldness behind one window which belonged in an office building; and another one showed the drapes closed. The arched window had stained glass and it was obvious that it must belong to a church building.

I just remembered the profound thought I had when I painted it; each window had a different story to tell about the life behind it. It seemed odd to me that the bride’s mother would pick my painting with windows as a backdrop where the couple spoke their vows before God. Then I understood my friend’s request. “Write on the Windows into the heart of a family”; and maybe the mother was saying, “Choose the life you will live as a family before God. Your home will reflect it and one day your children will reflect it also”.

Young couples start out with a feeling of hope, a future, building a wonderful life together; and all because they think they love each other. Do they have a clue as to real love and the vows they make before God? I don’t think so? I didn’t.

Years ago at a wedding I attended, I thought, why are weddings so beautiful and marriages so shabby? That marriage lasted less than a year. But it was a beautiful wedding. It didn’t take long until love was tested. That’s when the windows took on a different look.

Some couples grow stronger with the trials, and their windows stay clean and sparkly as they work hard to preserve a sense of sanity and stability. But many times the shades are drawn shut and the light is turned off in their hearts. No one is home even though they are there in form. They shut the drapes so they will not be scrutinized by gossipy neighbors.

A lot of marriages are in trouble today. A young couple in trouble could even go to the place where a stained-glass window arches, knowing they need to get in touch with God. So often they do not know what they are looking for, they just know their marriage isn’t working and it’s over.

Behind that arched stained-glass window, many times they find a form of godliness without power. The couple turns away in hopelessness. Didn’t they go to the right place? But the church is in as much trouble as  the couple is. Doesn’t a stained-glass window mean God’s Life is behind it? Not necessarily so! The church too has lost its first love and the light has been turned off.

Then in pain and regret the couple who once thought they were in love call for the moving van. Things are divided and the belongings behind the window are taken away; and once a couple, they leave in separate cars.

A proverb says “A wise women builds her house, a foolish one tears it down.” I know I have done my fair share of tearing down my family over the years. I too started out as an eighteen year old bride with love in my eyes thinking how grand it was going to be. Life came in and things happened. I lacked that unconditional love that comes from only above. Our marriage was once in trouble too.

I love to write about Al in the newspaper. People always tell me they love what Al says. I tell them, you wouldn’t have like what I had to say about my sweet Al years ago, I had an axe in my hand and I was ready to take off his head. I didn’t know how to love unconditionally. But today, I don’t feel any barb in anything I write about him. I don’t have to get even, I don’t have to get my say, and I don’t have to justify myself. It has given me the freedom to pull up the shades on our lives and feel safe enough in exposing our marriage.

So what do I know about writing on “The windows into the heart of a family”? I know the family makes the home, not the home makes the family. I know that the wheel moves with the rhythm of the mother’s heart and the rim of that wheel should be the father’s care, protection and provision. I know when I see trash on the outside of a home, there is probably trash on the inside too.

So how are we doing in this world of windows? We might not open our curtains but our lives will tell the world who we really are. Our family’s wellness will speak for us. Our children live behind those windows with us and one day they will have windows of their own.  Hopefully we are all keeping trash out of the front yard and from the inside of the house and we are free to keep the drapes open.

Jesus, the Son of God pulled back the drapes and opened a window to heaven for us. In His death, He gave us Life. He has shown us unconditional love; He is the one who took the axe out of my hand and gave Al and I the Spirit of forgiveness and taught us how to love unconditionally. He has preserved our marriage. He will do it for anyone if they will just call on Him in faith.

Allow the clean air of heaven to blow in; so that birds will feel safe to fly to your open window and feed from the substance of your caring home.

Truly a Man of God - His name is Bruce

Have you been offended or burnt by a Christian? I have and I know how it feels. I am sure I have offended others at times also. I write this article with my eyes and ears open. I have been in church for 45 years and seen a lot of things which have been passed off as “Christian”.  Yes, I have followed men and I know what it means to follow Christ. I don’t always do it right.

In the back of my mind, the probing question comes to me every time I sit down to write a faith article, “Why would someone want my faith? Am I living my faith? I can surely talk it, but do I believe it and live it?”

I had been visiting another state and I was invited to attend a large banquet. I was looking  forward to hearing the speaker..

At a previous function in Dallas where my daughter attended, she told me, “Mother, you are going to be impressed by this man.”

I didn’t jump up or down, I just knew I wanted to hear him, after all I had read his book, The prayer of Jabez. Many have heard of him and followed him thirty years as he taught Walking through the Bible. His ministry is global; he has risen above the walls of denominations and he understands true worship.

My daughter was heading up this charity event, so I easily slipped into the inside crowd. I waited to hear the speaker’s heart. I have seen faith leaders in high places who have taken a role of entitlement. So for this man, who was to be the guest speaker, I came cautiously.

Before he arrived, he was asked if he had any requests, making his stay more comfortable. He only had one, he would like a king size bed, but a queen size would do. So the lack of requests from this man of God was refreshing. In preparation for his coming, one of the ladies in the group, out of courtesy, asked his secretary if he preferred to be called by his title or by a certain name. The secretary said, “It doesn’t matter to him. We just call him Bruce.”

An update conference call before the event was enlightening. Knowing he was a busy man; the group assumed it would be a short conversation, the call lasted an hour. He asked the group what their vision was, their needs and what they expected from him. The questions he asked brought them to a higher level of faith and a larger vision. He was genuinely interested and supportive of their needs.

He has sit with CEOs of big corporations and rubbed shoulders with government officials, his faith was larger than theirs. He brought them to a place where they could think outside of their realm. Before, the conversation was ended, he said, “I need to get off the phone now, I have another call scheduled. But let me pray for you first.” He gave them all the time they needed; he didn’t hurry off. He had memorized all the names of those who were a part of the conference call and spoke to them individually as he signed off.

After the phone call was over, my daughter and the others just sat in awe at the action of this man of God. He truly acted as the One he follows.

The banquet came, and the floods of heaven fell on the meeting. I write all this because there are Christian leaders out there who stay before the Lord in prayer, who do not act like they are entitled to preferential treatment and who put themselves at the feet of others for service. These are truly men and women of God.

There are hirelings out there who scatter the sheep. They have climbed over the wall and have come to kill, steal and destroy.  So if any one has a bitter taste in their mouth, because of past experiences, there are still men and women who have not bowed their knee to their own worth. Believe me, when you see them, it is refreshing.

By the way, you might know this truly man of God as Dr. Wilkerson, but he is okay if you call him Bruce.

Knocking on the Right Door

I guess you need to know whose door you are knocking on. If you come to my door, you might find yourself in the newspaper. I told the editor I was stepping on toes in this article. He said, “Go for it.”

Can we step on toes and have love in our hearts? I hope so. This week, two nice little ladies with a tract came knocking on my door. Another couple sat in the car as a backup. I greeted them with a smile and a warm hearty handshake. They were concerned about where I might spend eternity. I appreciated their concern but I assured them I knew exactly where I would spend eternity and how and whose merit I had entered in by. I assured them that it was not by my own merit.

I commended them on their diligence but told them I was also concerned they might be peddling the wrong message up and down the Lower Blanco.

Picture a Hollywood western movie. This is how it played out. The little ladies with hair buns, lace collars buttoned high on their necks, wearing long skirts, packing pistols on their hips and a tract in their hands; climbed down from the wagon while two of them held back. These little ladies had a burr under their saddle and they came to do business. I knew their business and I met them at the door. They were on a mission and were not going to give in. They reached for their guns with fingers twitching. I said, “Mam!” I believe we are of different spirits.”

Suddenly, I was dodging the bullets. Everything slowed, they fired a scripture at me and I fired one back, I was ready. Spiritual bullets were flying. We were shooting at each other but no one dropped dead. We just kept shooting and the Holy Bible became the battle field. I stood behind my Bible, it protected my very heart.

I told them, “Salvation is not by works but by the grace of God and we receive it by faith in Jesus. If you are telling people they have to work their way to heaven, you are misleading them and your work is in vain.”

They shot the Book of James at me, “Faith without works is dead.” I grabbed the bullet with my bare hands and fired Ephesians 2 back at them.

It was a standoff. Finally, in genuineness of heart, I offered to pray with the little ladies. They refused.

“You’re right, we are of different spirits,” one of them said with spurs klinking as they headed into the sunset. They left with unfinished business. I am sure they will be back some day. I keep my protector close to my heart and ready for them.

Religion tries to make it too complicated. God made the way narrow, but simple. If you believe the Bible is the true Word of God, then you will see the answer on every page. His name is Jesus. When He said, “It is finished”, it is finished. We need to trust and walk in the finished work of Christ. Now I ask, is the gift of salvation free or not? Is it up to God or up to me? This is where all the religious notions come in.

There are many notions flying around. This week, we heard words from a man who out and out denied the existence of God. He did it with such surety, the audience stood and clapped. And my question was, “How can people be so deceived?”

Then I remembered all the religious deception that I bought willingly years ago because I didn’t know any difference. I trusted in what I heard, not understanding the Word and not knowing how to test the truth of it.

In these last days we need to know what we believe. We need to seek God for truth. Lives are in shambles, families have been torn apart, people are running in different directions, and all wondering what the future will bear.

Some will have itchy ears and will eagerly accept any man’s notion and be deceived. God gave us the answer in Himself. He provided a way. It is our response to Him. He is faithful to give to anyone wisdom if they seek Him. Today is the day of Salvation.

Maybe the two little ladies with the tract came to the right Door and didn’t know it.

Doing a Big Job with a Crooked Stick!

When God gives us a job, He works on our character to match the job. And how does He do that? Gideon comes to mind. No, he is not the guy who sneaks Bibles into motel rooms. God chooses the most unlikely guy to do the job. Just look around us, how many of us are ready for the job? We are all in an on-the-job training course.

Gideon’s assignment: Lead an army against the Midianites. They are burning your crops. Scared to death, Gideon is found hiding in the wine press where he threshes wheat. The Angel says to him, “You mighty man of valor.” I can see him now, kicking and screaming, “Don’t make me do it. I’m not that guy. You’ve got the wrong guy.”

 “Buck up, you’re the right man for the job. You’re not that guy yet but when I get through with you, you will be.”

Second assignment: Tear down the family idols in your father’s field. Afraid and trembling, Gideon and ten men went at night. “No one will see us.”

The next morning, the father asks, “Who did this? Who tore down my Baal idols?”

Someone is always ready to tell on us. “Gideon did it.” Busted!

“Let’s kill him.”

Joash, father of Gideon whose idols Gideon pulled down, steps in to save his son. You need a support system, and you might have to convert them along the way.

Thirdly, “Gideon, you’re double minded. Fear is eating you up. We need to work on you, making you one on the inside.”

“Why me? Why has all this happened to Israel? I’m the least in my father’s house.”

The whys come, but why not you?

Gideon gets a bright idea. “I need a sign. I know I’ll put out the fleece. I need to know for sure if I heard right.” We start giving instructions and God let’s us, because He has a bigger purpose in mind. Only He knows how to get us from the winnowing barn to the battle field.

God passed the test.

OK, Gideon is ready to go. But who will go with him?

Twenty-three thousand men came to his call. Too many, send them all home except one thousand. “What? You must be kidding.”

“There’s still too many, take them down to the water. Watch how they drink, everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, send him home. Everyone who keeps his eye on the target and draws his hand to his mouth, keep him.”

“OK, you have three hundred men left. That’s just enough.”

Next assignment – Know your enemy. Get the right perspective about the job.  So Gideon took men and spied out the enemy. He hears them say, “I had a dream; a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian, fell and overturned the camps. There is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash who God can deliver Midian into his hands.”

Our enemy knows more about us than we do ourselves. They see us as a threat. When God calls us to a job, it’s already done. He has already dealt with our enemy.

“You’ve got to be kidding. You want me and my men to go into battle with only a trumpet in each hand and empty pitchers with torches?”

“Yes. Go at night, since that seems to be your mode of operation. Blow the trumpets together and break the pitchers and say, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!”

“When the enemy heard the trumpet, they set themselves against each other and destroyed themselves.”

After the victory, Gideon and the men were hungry and exhausted. They asked for food from the men of Succoth, who they had defended. Out of jealousy of Gideon’s victory, they refused.

Gideon’s reaction is surprising. “For this cause I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers! When I come back I will tear down your tower.”

The same man hiding in the winepress is not the same man who went through the battle. God has made some mighty blows with some crooked sticks and all the time He is straightening us out.

When God's Goodness Passes By

A question was presented to the writers of faith, “Why would the readers of this column want your faith? If you want the readers to identify with you, then you have to come outside of your comfort zone.”

It is easy to talk about our faith, but to come out of our comfort zone, is another situation. It means becoming vulnerable. It’s not so much about showing our weaknesses as much as revealing the greatness of the One we trust in. And how do we do that?  

Moses asked God to show him His glory and the Lord said to Moses, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.”  Exodus 33:19

As I pondered this thought, the Spirit of Christ swept over me as if to say, “You can not understand My glory without personally experiencing My goodness.”

The Spirit continued, “I was there when you wanted to throw away your marriage and you could have lost your children.  I saved you from yourself.  I listened to your prayers when you begged Me for things that would have destroyed you. I wouldn’t give them to you and you were angry with Me.”

“I could have stopped you any time, but I didn’t. I knew the worst in you. You didn’t know what was in your heart, but I did and I knew what you were capable of doing, both good and bad. You had to see it for yourself. My grace covered you and the lessons were better for you than the sin and pain you suffered.”

“I was there when you sat in the hospital room looking at your son with his leg in hundreds of pieces. I even allowed the doctors to doubt their own ability to save his leg. I pulled the veil back on the spirit world that night and you saw my angels diligently working on his leg. I made you aware that I was there with you.  Your son walks with a slight limp today as a reminder I valued his wholeness and saved him greater pain.”

 “I was in the car with you traveling over Cumbres Pass and you slid off the icy road where the side drops down a mile. I put that barbwire fence there to catch you thirty feet down. You climbed up that steep incline praising My name. I chuckled at your enthusiasm and the man passing by stopped his car, looked and shook his head in disbelief as to how you survived.”

“I was there every time your son overdosed and I spared his life and spared you the heartache of burying a teenage child.”

“I gave you a sense of humor and laughter to help you deal with your life which has not been neat and tidy. You could not have been satisfied in a one-dimensional lifestyle. You have things in your heart that needed to be dealt with. I’ve forgiven you and I knew one day you would learn about my love. I take great joy and pleasure in you and I sing over you, did you know that? I am personally invested in you.”

“I gave you a thirst for learning and yet you were deprived of a college and higher education.  It has made you hungry for learning.  I gave you a hard beginning; it made you fight for understanding and a better station in life.”

“I pulled you out of some dark dreary places where you insisted on walking and where my angels feared to tread. I was there leading you through the darkness.”

So, as I, a writer of faith, lay my soul bare, I ask myself the question, why do I believe? Why would the readers of this column want what I have?

I believe it is because, I’ve seen the goodness of God pass by me. I have known His presence in the worst of times and the best of times. I’m compelled to His love.  He hid me in the cliff of the Rock and showed me not only the tragic things which He spared me from, He forgave my sins, and has shown me the love with which He has taken care of me. I’ve seen His Glory in the little things and big things.

The Lord said to Moses, “I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you.” He has done that for me. He has passed by me in the person of His Son Jesus, and through His dying He gave me access into a world where God rules in love and goodness. His life bought and paid for my entrance there.  That is why I witness and proclaim my faith.

When God told Moses to hide in the cleft, He showed him His goodness? Did Moses see the depth of his own wretchedness in order to see God’s goodness clearly? I don’t know, but for me, it seems to be that way.

Knocking on the Right Door

I guess you need to know whose door you are knocking on. If you come to my door, you might find yourself in the newspaper. I told the editor I was stepping on toes in this article. He said, “Go for it.”

Can we step on toes and have love in our hearts? I hope so. This week, two nice little ladies with a tract came knocking on my door. Another couple sat in the car as a backup. I greeted them with a smile and a warm hearty handshake. They were concerned about where I might spend eternity. I appreciated their concern but I assured them I knew exactly where I would spend eternity and how and whose merit I had entered in by. I assured them that it was not by my own merit.

I commended them on their diligence but told them I was also concerned they might be peddling the wrong message up and down the Lower Blanco.

Picture a Hollywood western movie. This is how it played out. The little ladies with hair buns, lace collars buttoned high on their necks, wearing long skirts, packing pistols on their hips and a tract in their hands; climbed down from the wagon while two of them held back. These little ladies had a burr under their saddle and they came to do business. I knew their business and I met them at the door. They were on a mission and were not going to give in. They reached for their guns with fingers twitching. I said, “Mam!” I believe we are of different spirits.”

Suddenly, I was dodging the bullets. Everything slowed, they fired a scripture at me and I fired one back, I was ready. Spiritual bullets were flying. We were shooting at each other but no one dropped dead. We just kept shooting and the Holy Bible became the battle field. I stood behind my Bible, it protected my very heart.

I told them, “Salvation is not by works but by the grace of God and we receive it by faith in Jesus. If you are telling people they have to work their way to heaven, you are misleading them and your work is in vain.”

They shot the Book of James at me, “Faith without works is dead.” I grabbed the bullet with my bare hands and fired Ephesians 2 back at them.

It was a standoff. Finally, in genuineness of heart, I offered to pray with the little ladies. They refused.

“You’re right, we are of different spirits,” one of them said with spurs klinking as they headed into the sunset. They left with unfinished business. I am sure they will be back some day. I keep my protector close to my heart and ready for them.

Religion tries to make it too complicated. God made the way narrow, but simple. If you believe the Bible is the true Word of God, then you will see the answer on every page. His name is Jesus. When He said, “It is finished”, it is finished. We need to trust and walk in the finished work of Christ. Now I ask, is the gift of salvation free or not? Is it up to God or up to me? This is where all the religious notions come in.

There are many notions flying around. This week, we heard words from a man who out and out denied the existence of God. He did it with such surety, the audience stood and clapped. And my question was, “How can people be so deceived?”

Then I remembered all the religious deception that I bought willingly years ago because I didn’t know any difference. I trusted in what I heard, not understanding the Word and not knowing how to test the truth of it.

In these last days we need to know what we believe. We need to seek God for truth. Lives are in shambles, families have been torn apart, people are running in different directions, and all wondering what the future will bear.

Some will have itchy ears and will eagerly accept any man’s notion and be deceived. God gave us the answer in Himself. He provided a way. It is our response to Him. He is faithful to give to anyone wisdom if they seek Him. Today is the day of Salvation.

Maybe the two little ladies with the tract came to the right Door and didn’t know it.