Where to Take Broken Toys

Ps. 59:17 Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy.

The excitement and nerves surrounding this trip to Chicago has been a blessed diversion from the fact that daily, I'm in a battle. Problems, temptations and enemies are all around me. When this excitement is over, I will still have these battles to face. What will I do, then? Will I sit down and wallow in it? Will I mope? Pout? I hope not!

This verse today was an encouragement to me. It reminds me that GOD is my strength! HE is my defense and HE will take care of me. I don't run to him often enough, though. I first try to fix things myself, sometimes many times, before I hand the situation to the Lord as a child hands a broken toy to their parents. One thing about children, though, is that they don't try to fix a broken toy, they immediately bring it to their parents! I suppose they realize their lack of ability to repair it, so they take it to the person they love and trust the most, hoping they have the answer.

That's what I need to do. I need to immediately run to the Lord, the one whom I love and trust the most,  for help. I am too inadequate, I can't do anything without Him. I want to be a blessing to the ladies today, but guess what! I'm too inadequate! I'm just flesh and blood, sinful and not smart! I need the Lord to use me, to work through me, to fix me up so I can do this work.

What might it be for you today? Caring for a sick child or parent? More month at the end of the money? Illness yourself? Job loss? Criticism from those whom you though loved you? Loneliness? Whatever it is, take your "broken toy" to the Lord, and let Him fix it. Run to Him for strength and protection. He is only a prayer away.

Epic Fail

Rom. 7:18-19 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.


Rom.7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord...


I recently saw a tee shirt that said "Epic Fail". It had an arrow that pointed to the right, presumably at whomever was standing there. Those words, "epic" and "fail" are widely used now days.

I cannot think of a better way to describe my Christian life at times: "Epic Fail." I seem to get caught up in the same sin over and over and over, like a hamster on a wheel. I know that I have a weakness. I pray about it. I read God's Word to get strength and wisdom to defeat it. Yet, in a momentary laps, I slip back, and into the same sin. I have no more tears to shed over it, I feel numb and hopeless. Why would God forgive me again? Why would He even want to help me? I keep failing. There's that word again, fail. That's me: Valerie, the epic failure.

I won't bother you with the details of my faults. I've been working on it for a while now, even going to the point of saying "Wow, I'm so glad I'm aware of this sin in my life. I won't do that again, now that I know!" HA! Famous last words. I don't do it intentionally, but then, I never have. Today, I read how Paul struggles with the same thing I do: failure. I read chapter 7 and 8 of Romans, searching for a way to cure myself of committing the same sin over and over. I wanted to find something like "If thou dwellest in the precepts of the Lord daily, thou wilt not sin." Or, "If thou produce meekness all the days of thy life, thou wilt be perfect." But, I didn't find those words. It appears to my very un-trained mind that the answer is this: keep going. When I fail, get up and go again. That's what Paul did. He died to his flesh and kept going for the Lord Jesus. Paul says in Rom.8:15 that we have been adopted and we can cry out "Abba, Father." That's a term of endearment. When I fail, I can cry out to my Heavenly Father. He forgives me, He picks me up, just like my earthly father would do. He comforts me, He corrects me, and He sends me back out to try again.

What a blessing it it to know that when my Heavenly Father looks at me, He doesn't see me for what I am, an epic failure. No, He sees the blood of Jesus upon my life. And Jesus never fails.

Even I Can Do It!

Ex. 17:12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.


Exodus has been such a blessing to me the past few days. It's as though the Lord is speaking directly to me through His Word. Oh wait! He is! Isn't that wonderful? I hope you are enjoying your time in His Word each day, also.

Today, I was reminded that no one can (or should) make it through life alone. We all need each other. I was driving home from the store the other day, thinking and listening to my favorite hymns CD. I was worrying about going to Chicago in a few weeks to speak at my first ladies meeting. How can I go up there and say anything worthwhile? What do I know? I suppose I could speak on "How to Get that Foot in Your Mouth...All of It!" or "How to Apologize after Saying and/or Doing Something Really Stupid." What if people think I'm just a know-it-all, or just a kid, or both? That won't help anyone. Then, I had this thought, and I believe it was from the Holy Spirit: Why don't you just go up there and try to be an encouragement? Isn't that what you need now and then? You don't need someone to walk up to you and preach to you, you just need someone to have some compassion, some love, some understanding. Why don't you just go up there and be a friend?

I realized that that's right. I just need to be a friend, a smiling face, a listening ear. No one expects anything great from me, but we all expect something great from God, and He can do great things! It's true. I'm a "nobody" in the ladies-conference-speaking world. My last name isn't Hyles or Hutson or Rice. (Famous Baptist preachers who are now in Heaven.) I'm just me. In our verse today, we see two men came along and held up Moses' hands during a battle between Israel and Amalek. When Moses' hands were up, Israel prevailed, when they were down, they didn't. These two men, Aaron and Hur, were not holding up Moses' hands because they were extra talented, or because everyone got together and voted on who was the best hand-holder-upper. They simply saw a need, and ran to meet it. We can all do that in some area of the Christian life.

Last week, I received a "surprise box" from a friend and a lovely homemade card with encouraging words written inside. I needed that encouragement so much! I needed to have my "hands held up" at just that time. We all do, and we all can. I'm not as thoughtful as I should be, I get caught up in my life, my problems. I need to do better. And by God's grace, I will.

This Is Not the End

Exodus 3:1b ..: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even Horeb.

John 18:12 Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him,


Have I told you lately how much I love God's Word? How much it changes my life? How real it is? I know some people who are ultra spiritual. They never struggle with sin. They never get discouraged and wallow in it (like I do). I'm so glad the Bible isn't ultra spiritual. Don't worry, I'm not being flippant, it's the truth. We see over and over in God's precious Word examples of people who fall, get up, fall again, get up...you get  the idea. Most of the Bible characters are not walking around in glowing robes of light, singing every word, rather than just speaking. No. They are real.

Can I be honest with you? Oh. I'm too honest for you already? Sorry about that. Hold onto your hats cause I'm about to get even more honest with you! ;-) I've been discouraged lately. Very. It seems like everything is going downhill fast. A very special family in our church is having to move away due to a job relocation. Another family has left to go start a church in our town. Almost a year ago, we lost our second group of people...yes, second. The first left a year and a half ago. We didn't think it could get any worse after that, because that was so heartbreaking, but it did. And it seems to be getting even worse than worse. (Is that possible?) Our Master Club and children's church have been shut down. It seems we just can't do anything right. Waaaa!!! Oh, sorry. {composing myself} Enough whining? Okay, I'll stop. All of this does get better, please keep reading.

Each day, I read a little from the Old Testament and the New. I started today in Exodus. I just love starting a new book! I came to Ex. 3:1. Moses was in the "backside of the desert". That sounds pretty barren and isolated, doesn't it? Sounds like a place where you might think even God has forgotten that you exist. I thought, Hmmm. I'm in the backside of the desert, well, it feels that way. Lord,  why is everything so bleak? When will it start getting better? then, I read on. Later, Moses turned to behold a bush that was on fire, but not being burned up. It was in this barren, lonely place that God called Moses to do great things for Him! It wasn't Moses' end, it was his beginning!

Then, you will never believe this! Okay, maybe you will. I headed over to John 18, my New Testament reading for today. I read about Jesus being taken to be "tried" and crucified! Another bleak situation. I read about Peter's denial of the Lord Jesus. What a horrible event! I'm sure Peter thought his ministry was over. But you and I know the rest of the story. We know that Jesus rose again! We know that through Christ's suffering and death,  we have eternal life in Heaven! We know that the Lord seeks Peter out and to tell him that his failures don't signal the end, but in fact, a beginning! Peter had far greater things happen in his ministry after his denial of Christ, than before.

I was thinking that the Lord was through with me and my family. I was thinking that all of these bad times surely signal the end. But the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, came down to me today - small, insignificant me - and sat beside me. He gave me a very special message through His Word. He said, "This isn't the end,Valerie, it just appears that way. I know where you are, I know what you're doing. And it's not over. Not yet."

And I say to Him, with tear-filled eyes, "Thank you, Lord. Thank you so very much."

Keep Going

In Genesis 26:17-22, I read about Isaac and how he dug wells. It's a simple thought for today. Isaac's enemies filled up the wells that Abraham had dug. Isaac dug them again, and he dug his own wells, which others wanted. Each time he dug a new well, there were his enemies, trying to take it from him. But Isaac just kept going, kept digging wells and finally, they left him alone. When the "enemy" - the world, the flesh, the devil - try to take my "well", I must keep going. I must keep working. I know that eventually, the enemy will quiet down. It's painful to keep going, to keep "digging". It's a lot work, but it's worth it.

Thoughts on the Prodigal Son

In Luke 15, I read the words of Jesus, as He told his disciples several parables. The lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son, or more commonly known as the story of the prodigal son. I can identify with the prodigal son in some ways. I've never left home or lived out in the world, but I've certainly "left" in my heart a time or two. I wonder if the prodigal son left home just because he was impatient, ready for his life to "begin"; for something important to happen? Maybe he was jealous of his older brother, who probably seemed to have it all together? Maybe he was tempted by those who seemed to be making a success of their lives out in the world? Or, perhaps he was just tired of his Dad's rules, and rebelled. Jesus didn't give us that information in the Bible. 

I've been impatient, wondering, when is the Lord going to bless our efforts to serve Him? When will all the pews be filled? When will the gossipers and liars be proven wrong? When?

I've been jealous in my heart toward my older brother and sister, who also serve the Lord. Why can't I be like them? They have it all together.

I've been tempted by the lures of the world. Why do the wicked prosper? I've asked in my heart. 

I've been frustrated by rules, feeling confined and discouraged that I can't ever be perfect, so why bother?

But every time I fall into one of the above traps, my Father reminds me of a few things. He tells me And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. - Gal. 6:9

He says to me that I'm not supposed to be like my brother or sister, I'm just supposed to be me. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Ps. 139:14

He reminds me of the ultimate fate of the wicked.  Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. Ps. 73:18-19

He tells me that I need to be more concerned with His will than the will of man. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Prov. 29:25

I hope I never reach the place where I could actually depart from God's will. I want the Lord to continue to teach me the error of my thoughts, to chasten me when I need it, and draw me back into his loving arms.