Beautiful

"You are altogether beautiful my darling, There is no blemish in you,"
Song of Solomon 4:7

These are the words spoken from King Solomon to His bride, but as I read them they were whispered in my heart by my Lord who loves me. 

When depression came to visit, all the things I loved to do became a burden. The fact that I now limp screamed into my head, instead of my being thankful that I can still walk. “Old, wrinkled and unimportant” wiggled its way into my subconscious. Even while combing my hair I thought “Why bother? No one is going to notice”. But God … 

For the first time in months I started to write today. You see, in my depression I had stopped writing. Instead I jotted notes here and there in my journal. But Jesus reminded me what He said to me when He first gave me this gift of writing and love for His Word and His people. "Eve, even if only one person reads what you write you be faithful to encourage that person. Remember you are doing this for Me". I am incredibly thankful and humbled that He didn't take away His gift but gently reminded me to get to work. 

He also gave me the precious gift of understanding how He sees me. He doesn’t care about my age, only that He chose me. He alone is perfection and He reminded me that He lives in me. The perfect, beautiful Lamb of God lives in me. Because I am His, this is how Father God sees me - spotless, without blemish, and beautiful. I can’t smile any wider. 

God just gives and gives without measure and I will never take that for granted because God loves and loves and loves!

"He has brought me to His banqueting table. His banner over me is love."
Song of Solomon 2:4

My precious sisters, I hope none of you will suffer depression. But, if you do, remember - God is for you, He sees your pain and understands it. In His eyes you are His beautiful bride!

by Eve Montano

A Lesson From Sheep Dipping

"...thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Psalm 23:5b

Our family has made several road trips these past weeks. We'll be making another one this week, too. On these trips, we get to observe lots of sheep in the fields and on hillsides.

On our latest trip, all the sheep we saw on our cross-country drive were freshly shorn. It's the time of year when they are herded into pens and their wool is clipped off. After this happens, the shepherds have to "dip the sheep." For this purpose, some use large barrels and some use wooden structures, depending on how many sheep they have and how big they are.

It's kind of sad to watch because the sheep don't understand the process or the purpose. They usually fight the shepherd - kicking and wiggling - so the shepherd has to wrestle them tight and shove their head into the solution.

It's important that the entire body of the sheep be submerged in the solution, which is a mixture of some kind of oil and water, meant to protect the sheep. The oil has healing ingredients for any cuts or open wounds from the shearing. It also keeps them from being bitten by insects, and the odor deters predators.

This reminds me of how we often react when the Lord takes us through a process we don't understand so He can anoint our heads with oil. Sadly, we are often like sheep, fighting or resisting the process. We end up delaying (or possibly missing) many good things He has for us. Either way (easy submission or the struggle of wrestling with Him), nothing can thwart His plans for us. They are always for our good and our protection (Romans 8:28). I have learned one of the good things about getting older: you learn to fight Him less.

Lord,
Help us not to resist when You want to "anoint our heads with oil" because it is then that our cups are made full.

by Coleen Jejeran, Missionary to Romania

Treasure

"I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil." Psalm 119:162

Isn’t wonderful that we can praise our Lord God just as the Psalmist does? The Bible is like a treasure chest full of huge valuable gemstones. His Word makes it possible for us NOT to measure ourselves by standards that are too high to achieve. We measure ourselves through the truth of God and His promise. 

"I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to Me, for I have redeemed you." Isaiah 44:22

Stop in awe. These words were written long before Jesus Christ died for our sins. They give us a glimpse of the plan Our Heavenly Father always had for our lives! But, that’s not the only buried treasure we find in His Word. 

"I will instruct you  and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you."  Psalm 32:8

Our Lord wants us to walk through life with the Bible as a map. He watches us as we follow its direction, carefully keeping us from stumbling.  And, like a diamond becomes beautiful and strong, so are we strengthened.

"Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble."  Psalm 119:165

This morning I had no Idea I would be hunting treasure. But, as I read the priceless Word of God, I discovered pearls of wisdom, rubies of comfort, sapphires of peace, emeralds of assurance, and diamonds of strength. Discover the treasure the Lord has for your life. It will be an adventure that yields great joy! 

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:21

by Eve Montano

Inspiring Love of the Word

Editor's Note: Anne Martin has requested we post these comments by Jon Courson, Pastor of Applegate Christian Fellowship in Oregon. May we grow to love God's Word with this kind of dedication.

"I read about a French woman who lived fifty years ago and had been blind from birth. One day, someone gave her the gospel of Mark in Braille. She was so blessed by the story of Jesus that she read it over and over until her fingertips became calloused and lost their sensitivity. To regain feeling in her fingers, she cut off the callouses, and with bloody fingertips, read Mark's gospel yet again.

As she continued to cut away the skin and the callouses, she damaged her nerve endings so badly that soon she permanently lost all feeling in her fingertips. Devastated, she held her copy of the gospel of Mark in her hands one last time and literally kissed it goodbye.

It was then she discovered that her lips were more sensitive than her fingertips had ever been. She continued to study the Scriptures, with her lips, and went on to become a gifted teacher of the Word."  Jon Courson

Jesus at Work in Dublin, Ireland

"Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children. And He placed His hands on their heads and blessed them before He left."
Matthew 19:14-15 (NLT)

When she came to our first Fun-n-Bible camp nearly six years ago, she refused to wear shoes. She hid in the toilet and didn't want to participate in any of the group activities.

Each year, as she returned, we would ask for Gods love, grace, and kindness to flow from us into her life. She now looks forward to Fun-n-Bible camp with anticipation and invites her friends to come along.

Today she made a beautiful drawing and with excitement showed us what Jesus means to her. Her drawing is such an encouragement that no matter how bone tired we become, this is why we ask the Lord to give us strength for one more day!

by Deanna Tebbe, Missionary to Ireland