Reset

“I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.” Job 23:12b

Have you ever wanted just to hit reset on your day? Go back and right a harsh word or action? The past few days have been trying, a test of faith and trusting in God in spite of the bumps in the road I didn’t expect. But God’s word always soothes me. I turn to a favorite Psalm or verse and I can feel the tension ease out of my neck and shoulders.

A sigh escaped my lips when I read this:

“The law of the Lord is perfect restoring the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.” Psalm 19:7 -9

Sometimes all I can do is read and reread verses like this until the fear is gone and I'm reminded that I'm His. These words are promises from God that He can be counted on … that He speaks to us through His Word … that unlike the empty promises of politicians or misleading rhetoric of self interest groups, God’s Word and character is Yes and Amen.

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes, therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20

Every time I open my Bible I’m hitting my reset button, God’s word restores what my day has depleted. When I read it first thing in the morning His word prepares me for my day. Whenever I read it I am always reminded of His love and devotion to me.

Hit reset today. Spend time with Jesus Christ through His Word and through prayer.

“They (judgments) are more desirable than gold, yes much fine gold, sweeter than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:10

By Eve Montano

Peace

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

Perfect peace doesn’t always mean perfect situations. In fact it means peace in the middle of a storm, peace in the waiting, peace when fear and worry want to tear you down.

The only thing keeping us from God’s peace is … us … holding on to worries that should be turned to Him … when doubts creep in … or when we think God’s not working fast enough.

In other words, taking our eyes off Him and putting them on the problem. Nothing can make things seem bigger than they actually are other than forgetting who is in control

Trust is hard to do, but it is not impossible. As muscles become stronger when we work out, so does our trust in God become easier the more we trust Him. Our faith is strengthened, and confidence in God’s promises becomes second nature.

The truth is everyone and everything will let you down no matter how we try to make things work. But God has never, and will never, let you down. His will for you is perfect.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

I don’t know what hardship you’re facing today but, rest assured, God is with you. Trust Him.

by Eve Montano

Going Quietly On

I happened to briefly catch a video someone posted on Facebook recently of an elderly woman relaxing amongst some sheltering trees. She was answering a question from her daughter. It was a post from a couple years ago, but relevant for today. I don’t recall the exact words, but it went something like this:

“Mom, tell us the reason why you are so calm and full of joy,” the daughter asked. The lovely, white- haired mother smiled and quietly began to answer the question. “You know, she said, we belong to the Lord. He holds our hand. We are not alone. And, He whispers to us, ‘honey, I got this.’”

She continued to smile and remembered a scripture from Matthew 11:28-29:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for, I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

In a world suffering from the calamity of the coronavirus, I am reminded of another verse:

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10

Are not scientists and doctors worldwide being given wisdom of medications to end the suffering of so many people? Are not people worldwide being given the knowledge to make things like sanitizers out of ingredients that otherwise are made for alcoholic drinks … engineering and delivering masks and vital medical equipment? Is there not singing amongst the suffering Italians who, for many, are rejoicing in the Lord?

Hearts full of love and generosity are reaching out as if in war times because we are indeed fighting a most stubborn viral enemy. My friendly neighbors, for example, are offering their bags of flour, so those neighbors who are out of flour, can make cookies. Other people are checking on their elderly neighbors to make sure they have enough food. People worldwide are offering knowledge of where we can find virtual museum tours and other online exercise and cooking sites. We can even dance to Broadway tunes with Broadway dancers who are wanting to offer their talents to us.

Our hearts are being filled in the midst of our troubles. Family members are playing games together, more people are talking to their loved ones, and so many of us are offering more prayers for each other than we have done in some time. We have become prayer warriors. How are we doing this?

To quote my mother’s favorite verse:

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.'“ Psalm 121:1-2

The God who made heaven and earth is on our side, giving us the capacity to care. We need to ponder this verse. We cannot lose!

When we trust in the Lord completely, we can say with confidence: He’s got this! We can go on quietly, knowing we are in good hands. His hands!

The daughter listened lovingly to her mother, as the mother’s cadence, light as a feather, floated age-old wisdom on the wistful breezes of that summer’s day.

“He’s coming back you know. He is. The Lord, God Almighty, He’s coming back, so we don’t have to worry,” she said with unwavering confidence. And, she quoted one last verse:

“You will keep him in perfect peace; Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3:

It was at that moment I heard Him, too. “Honey, I got this!”

By Anne Mount



Zoom Together

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not negate our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10: 24-25

Dear CCEA Sisters,

I confess that I wasn't too keen on getting onto Zoom for fellowship. I have an increasing dislike of technology.

Perhaps I am suffering with technology PTSD. I was a nurse with Kaiser and was on their four billion dollar system all day—every day—for many years. It was a large reason that I left nursing (other than my husband was dying and I was at retirement age).

Anyhow, this seemed like another "tech intrusion” to me. It was a giant hassle to get it on my devices, just as it has been for others. It took five people over a week's span to get me on! That included three sisters and two pastors, including Bob! How embarrassing.

As I write this, I am screaming with laughter at myself causing Hanah (my housemate) to come and check on me. She was the one who eventually got me connected, so she is laughing, too. To say the least, I wasn't enthused.

Well, last Thursday about eight ladies from the group I co-lead in the Thursday morning Women’s Bible Study were able to connect on Zoom. My mind has been changed! There was something about seeing everyone's faces all lined up that really struck me. For one, everyone looked beautiful. As I gazed at them, I saw their individuality, their problems, their prayer requests, their commitment to meet, their love and much more. All of them lined up in a big block and filling my screen made me think of a wall.

I happened on a little devotional book a few days ago. It is “The Joyful Heart Daily Meditations” by Watchman Nee and in it I read this selection:

"Ye also, as living stones, are built a spiritual house." I Peter2:5

“Solomon's Temple was built of quarried and trimmed stones, each stone in its place but every one lifeless. Today God's house is made up, not of dead but of living stones. Peter, who wrote these words, was a living stone, a single unit before he was built together with the others. Many remain thus, scattered here and there, independent, useless. But if a house is to be constructed they must be gathered, and stone must be built on stone and fitted to other stones.

Thank God you are his! You have trusted in the Lord Jesus, and now you are God's living stone. Don't then, just hide out there alone in the shrubbery to become a cause of stumbling to the unwary! Let yourself be carried to the building site. Allow yourself to be matched up with other living stones, fashioned to fit into your place. The trimming may be uncomfortable, but in the end God will have a dwelling-place.”

Now I will enjoy Zoom as a faster way to see and experience the building of God in the church and I hope you do too.

By Beth Ferrari

A Time to Embrace

“A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing…” Ecclesiastes 3:5

Dear Heavenly Father,

How long, Lord, before you send Messiah? Now that our jobs and our schools are remote and can easily be moved to the Promised Land of Israel, we—your people—are longing for home.

The roads and the skies have been cleared for a mass immigration, Yes! Perfect rapture time! The hotels are empty—ready to take in the thousands of people for those who have been left behind.

As the world economy begins to collapse, Israel’s economy is set to boom. They will become world leaders in natural resources needed for survival—water and energy. Will they be the “Global Leaders”?

Sports, movies, TV and all the secular forms of entertainment that we used to worship have been shut down. Can we finally return to being fully devoted to You ?

The distractions and millions of idols are slowly being silenced. O Lord, only You, Father, can say:

I will give them a heart to know that I Am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart.

Passover is the festival of redemption. It is the holiday in which the faithful were told to stay indoors while the plague took over the world outside, until God took them out with His strong and mighty hand. Be still and listen to the heart of God. Be still and Obey Him. Be still and silence the noise. Be still and pay attention!!

He is speaking to us in triple stereo! The world’s system is at 180 decibels! The Lord is calling to us and we need to say: Yes LORD, your servants are listening!

The time is now to come home. It is time to Repent and Return! He is coming for us––Soon and Very Soon. Listen, and Listen very carefully …

The Kingdom Is At Hand. That is why the LORD says, Turn to Me now, while there is time. Give Me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

We serve the Risen Lord! We get to live in His Resurrection Power! Now is the time Church. Raise up your hands, release your heart to HIM and realize…

Today could be the Day!

Let’s enter His gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with Praise: be Thankful unto Him and Bless His name. For the Lord is good. His Mercy is everlasting, and His Truth endureth to all generations. Amen? Amen … and AMEN!

We are occupying until You, our Shepherd, lead your sheep—who hear and know your voice—home. We are wanting, waiting and watching for your return.

Blessing and prayers...

In His Great Love,

Peggy Carson