A Desire of My Heart

I received Billy Graham’s Training Center program guide in the mail today. As I thumbed through the speaker section, I came across one of my favorite authors, Lloyd John Ogilvie. Years ago, I had ordered one of his books for a penny from a new book club I had joined. The book was called The Other Jesus.  It was love from that first book onward because I appreciated the way he explained the love and care of God. I felt so accepted and treasured by God as I finished one book after another. His influence was a substantial catalyst in my quest for spiritual maturity.

Mr. Ogilvie’s written words are not the only cherished memory I have of him. The more I read his books, the more I desired to meet him in person. Now back then, I lived in a small town in Louisiana, no money for conferences and travel so the chances of meeting him were slim to none so I thought. However, that did not keep me from believing the impossible could happen “one day”. It was a dream, a desire, and a prayer in my heart that I kept tucked away for someday.

Well, two years later to my surprise and joy, God answered that heart’s desire. It came at a time when I needed desperately to know that God was with me and that he was hearing my prayers.

The excitement all started when my husband came home one day and said, “You’ll never guess who is coming to First United Methodist Church in Ruston, La.

“Who?” I responded expectantly.

“Lloyd John Ogilvie” he answered.

From that moment on, I screamed and jumped around for joy. Ruston was only 30 minutes from where I lived and the 3-night conference was free. I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect.

On the night of the first meeting, I was standing in a hallway, when suddenly the door beside me flew open and a very tall handsome man came in. As I looked up, I immediately knew who it was and a large smile was my first response. Mr. Ogilvie put out his hand for me to shake and said,

“Hi, I’m Lloyd John Ogilvie.”

As I stood there and talked with him, I knew by his loving responses that his books were genuine and he truly believed what he wrote. The memory of that divine appointed meeting has been a lasting testament that God hears and answers the desires of my heart.

Do you have desires hidden deep within your heart? God is listening to those secret desires whether it seems like it or not. Then, in His perfect timing, He smiles and watches us fill with joy as the long awaited event comes to pass. Don’t give up on your God-inspired desires. Have expectancy in your heart that one day, when the time is right, joy in an answered prayer will come your way.

United With Christ

Lately, I have had two reoccurring scenes in my mind’s eye that I know have been prompted by the Holy Spirit.

The first is a picture of the outline of Christ with out-stretched arms. As I am looking at the picture, I noticed shooting lights like stars going into different parts on the inside of the outline. What I sensed God saying was that Christ is gathering the genuine Body of Christ unto Himself. One by one true believers are adopting Christ-like character so a united front can be formed. Christ is becoming the center of all they think and do. Self-centeredness will become a thing of the past. Differences among believers will fall away for the sake of the mission to proclaim Christ alone.

The second picture is a picture of Christ walking at a fast rate. His arms were pumping along with His feet. His hair and clothes were being pulled backwards from the speed of His pace. I also saw a large world globe twirling on the other side of Him. When I saw the total picture, I sensed that after we finally unite as one in Him, Christ will begin to move very quickly around the world with His final message of hope for the lost.

While meditating on these scenes, questions have been popping up:

What am I doing in my own situation to foster unity in the Body of Christ? Are my actions testifying of His love for others? Am I promoting God’s principles or my opinions? Does my having to be “right” on Biblical issues driving a wedge and inhibiting love and unity? Do I pounce on others with my attitudes or do I minister grace and forgiveness? Do I build bridges or do I burn them?

God is ready for us to come together as a unit. He is looking for mature unoffendable hearts to answer and carry out what the saints have been praying for throughout the centuries. With our focus set, Christ will then work quickly to finish revealing His salvation message to all before His return. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to finish the task here on earth so we can assemble in our everlasting home in heaven.

So…are you ready to come into alignment with Christ and the body He is forming for His “end time” finale? Remember… Our lives are supposed to be all about Jesus for those of us who call Him Savior and Lord. Allowing our wills to surrender to His and then strengthening ourselves in His Word is how we are going to finish this final leg of the race well.

What's a Miracle?

Watching Christmas movies has always been apart of my Christmas season. The movies help visualize a better day and usually help me focus on the love and salvation of the season. This season was different. I watched a Christmas movie early on, which disturbed me. 

There were several scenes where the nativity was referenced as a background theme like having to wait out a snowstorm in a stable...maybe to give the movie credibility. However, the theme the main characters kept pointing out was this:  All we need to do is get together with others, put things in motion and we can solve anything. The idea was that people could make their own miracles happen without the help of God. Now that may have the likeness of a miracle but in my thinking it is not a real miracle.

Miracles are defined in the dictionary as an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause. 

Real miracles are unexplainable events. Real miracles are started and completed by God. They have a note of mystery about them. The miraculous has to do with the love and glory of God meeting the needs of His children and not in what man can do for himself.

The greatest miracle of all was when God sent Jesus to earth in the form of a baby. When he had matured, Jesus was sent out to publicly minister to the world that God loves them all and the time of salvation had come. Then, when He had finished his portion of the proclamation, Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world making salvation available to all mankind from any age.

In the end, mankind will always think that he can be God’s equal. I believe it came into man’s nature from the fall. Man seeks to find ways to trivialize God’s power by trying to prove that he can do things like God with his own limited power. Nevertheless, those of us who can discern the lies need to stand firm by proclaiming the truth without fear. We need to continue to pray for godly clarity.  Then as we do, we can dispel the darkness through shining the light of His Word.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who cam from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

Do you need a real miracle in your life? All of us need a miracle from time to time. Christ comes to live inside of you so he can create the best miracle of all…becoming a child of God.  Then, because you are his, Jesus meets all your needs with his riches in glory. Ask him…seek him…and watch him open the windows of heaven and create a miracle especially for you. 

The Widows

I attended my first Widow’s Meeting. It's strange to be going now after all these years. I have been a widow since November 30, 1993. I wish I had known of a support group like this back then. So why go now? I’m not sure why other then the fact that maybe I could offer other widows hope that there is life on the other side of grief. God does lead us to minister where we have trod.

There were several ladies there that were fairly new to this journey… younger…older…and the in between. As I scanned their faces and demeanor throughout the meeting, I could see their pain and their efforts to keep putting one foot in front of the other especially during this Christmas season. Most likely each of them are struggling with some form of loneliness or depression even when they are among groups of friends or family. And the barrage of questioning thoughts that seem endless. But mainly, what is ‘starting over’ going to look like for me? I still have many vivid memories and feelings of the beginnings of when I started my journey.

We played Christmas games before we ate lunch. I opened the first prize package. It was a cute yellow statue that spelled out the word HOPE. Then I opened the second gift from another game. It was a coffee cup that said HOPE too! That is when I knew I had been lead to this group of special ladies. Not only was I going to give them hope but I was going to receive hope as well. Fill my cup, Lord!

I have already come to a ‘new normal’ in my life. However, I still struggle at times with what is out there for me in the future. Does God have another mate designed for me? What do I do now that my children are grown and leaving home for good? But through all the questions, hope in God is what has sustained me through it all. I have learned to turn and stay with Him in a crisis. I have also learned to lean on Him when I am lonely. God has become the husband I lost. And oh...what a wonderful Husband He has become.

Have you lost a loved one during the Christmas Season or anytime for that matter? Take hope in the fact that God is right there with you. Cultivate His Presence in your loneliness so you can know the love and peace He has brought through the birth of His son, Jesus.

Do you know of someone who has lost a loved one? Be especially sensitive to their need for a little extra dose of confidence and cheer. They are struggling whether they let you know or not. Send them a card or drop by with a container of soup. In other words, allow God to use you as His hands and feet to comfort those who are in the mourning process. When you do, I know God will bless you too.

Merry Christmas!