My Friend

My heart is burdened tonight for a dear friend. She has cancer … again.

Although I haven't known her for more than about six months, she has become so near and dear to me. Our closeness just began near the end of summer with our walks around the reservoir. Neither one of us has the energy or stamina to walk very far, but we sure enjoyed our chats and time of open and honest sharing. That's what friends are for, aren't they?

I took dinner over to her house tonight. Her husband met me at the door…she wasn't up to getting out of bed. She had a chemo treatment on Monday and has been so wiped out since—she's been asleep since Tuesday with very little awake time.

Her husband and I chatted some tonight and she got up for a few minutes. My heart sunk. She looked so worn out and so tired, her face a little flushed, her hair much thinned, and moving in slow motion.

There is good news, however. The chemo seems to be working … PRAISE THE LORD! The doctor examined her before her treatment and was unable to find the most prominent mass. Because of that, he assumes the other areas are also responding to treatment. This is SUCH good news. And, we PRAISE GOD for His healing touch.

If you read this, would you pray for my friend? Pray that God would totally deliver her from the destructive effects of cancer and the chemical treatments needed to treat her. Pray that God would bring her through this with a powerful testimony, giving glory to God for total healing. Pray that she know God's presence is near and His strength is made perfect in her tremendous weakness.

Thanks for praying. I just love my friend so much ….

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Pillar of Fire

"Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." (Exodus 13:22 NIV)

The fall of the year is my favorite season, by far. I love the cooler temperatures and the smell of fall. To me, there is nothing quite like it. It's no wonder last night was so incredible.

Gracie, my 13-month old cockapoo, had to go outside. It had been a dreary cloud-covered day with leaves blowing in the wind. The cornfield across the road is ready for harvest, the beans in the field behind us have been picked and winter wheat sown. The beauty of this season absolutely astounds me.

I grabbed Gracie's leash and we stepped out onto the front porch. She began to walk into the yard as I looked up. I literally gasped! I mean, I audibly gasped. The beauty of what I beheld with my own eyes was indescribable.

The sun was low in the western sky and brilliantly peering through small breaks in the cloud cover. The rays lit the top of the trees bordering the family property like they were on fire—oranges and yellows and reds vibrantly aglow against the darkness of approaching nightfall.

Gracie finished her business and I went back inside and grabbed my camera. My camera couldn't even hope to capture such an extraordinary scene. But my heart did as I thought about it throughout the evening.

Darkness was dispelled by the brilliance of the sun's rays reflecting on the treetops. Just like God does in our lives—He uses the backdrop of darkness to expose the light of His presence.

When our world is darkened by pain and suffering, God never fails to shine His light and reveal His presence. We simply have to look for it. His presence never left its place in front of the children of Israel as He led them through the wilderness. In like manner, His presence will never leave its place in front of us as he leads us through the dark and oppressing days of illness.

Father, help me to see Your light shining in my darkness when I am overcome with pain. Let me see the light of Your presence. Amen.

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Eternal Glory

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV)

What? "Light and momentary troubles?" The Apostle Paul couldn't have known what it is to live with chronic pain. He couldn't have known what it is to live in today's world. After all, if he really understood he wouldn't have used those words. If it were me, I might have written, "For our unrelenting and debilitating troubles…"

But, let's not focus on those words. Look at the whole verse … these "light and momentary troubles are achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." The fact is that whether our troubles are "light and momentary" or "unrelenting and debilitating", they are fulfilling a purpose in our lives—achieving for us an eternal glory.

The Apostle Paul goes on to say, "So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (v. 18)

That's the key for us on the good days and on the bad, during the "light and momentary troubles" and the "unrelenting and debilitating" troubles. Our eyes MUST be fixed not on what is seen but what is unseen—not on our troubles but on the "eternal glory" that awaits us.

Admittedly this isn't always easy to do. But let's remember that "what is seen is temporary" and "what is unseen is eternal." Our pains and disabilities are temporary relative to eternity. Eternity—no beginning and no end. This life is but a fleeting moment compared to eternity. The "unseen" that awaits us will be worth all the "light and momentary" and "unrelenting and debilitating" troubles we have experienced as well as those yet to come.

Let's fix our eyes, not on our troubles but on the cross of Jesus and His power to redeem us from this life. He purchased our salvation so we could one day the "unseen" will be our reward.

Father, there are days my troubles seem more than I can bear. Give me the courage to go on with my eyes fixed not on "what is seen, but on what is unseen". In Jesus' name, amen.

 

Well-Watered Gardens

"The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." (Isaiah 58:11)

"You will be like a well-watered garden…" This phrase caught my attention since I just put away my canning and freezing equipment for the season. What are the signs of a well-watered garden? What are its benefits? How does this relate to us?

This year our garden was "well-watered" and it produced amazingly! Although our garden is small compared to many in the farming community in which we live, it produced an abundance tomatoes and beans and corn and peppers. In fact, we finally pulled up pepper plants because they were still blooming—still producing! This is the sign of a well-watered garden.

Our pantry is filled with canned vegetables—tomatoes and beans and sauces and such. Our freezer is packed with freshly frozen vegetables for our family, friends, and guests—anyone who eats from our table to enjoy throughout the cold winter months. The benefits of a well-watered garden will continue to bless us for a long time to come—at least until next years' crop is ready for harvest.

But let's think beyond the obvious … a well-watered life will produce fruit. Not just some fruit, but abundant fruit—fruit that will be a blessing not only to the individual but to those whose live he touches.

The Bible tells us that the Church is made clean by the "washing with water by the Word" (see Ephesians 6:26). The Word is the water that cleanses—the Living Word, Jesus Christ, is the "water" that enables us to bear fruit. We have the ability to bear abundant fruit as our hearts are transformed by the power of the Living Word.

Be that "well-watered" garden, not only today but every day. Start your day with the Word…with Jesus Christ, the Living Word. Meet with Him and learn from Him in greater measure each new day. You, too, will become a well-watered garden that produces abundant fruit to the glory of God.

Father, I long to be like that well-watered garden, producing fruit fit for my King. Cleanse me, wash me, purge me, and water me through Your Word. Remind me each morning to meet with the Living Word and learn from Him so that my life will produce abundant fruit that You might be glorified. In Jesus' name, amen.

"This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:8)

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© Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

Harvest Time

Harvest time is here again
I love this time of year
Farmers gath'ring ripened fields
As hunters track the deer

Pumpkins, gourds, and shocks of corn
With hardy mums appear
Making fall a special time
As winter's cold draws near

Leaves of gold, of red and brown
God's artistry displayed
Glist'ning in the morning dew
Such beauty He has made

Raking leaves on windy days
The fall chill in the air
Apple cider, pumpkin pie
There's always some to share

Thankful people gather round
And bow their heads in prayer
"Lord we thank Thee, for our bread,
To Thee, none can compare"

God has blessed us with His love
Each heart He will pursue
Harvest time reminds us that
With death comes life brand new

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©2006 Jan Ross

A Generous Man

The harvest is ripe and the crops are in,
Winter wheat is sown in the field.
The distant fall sun offers little warmth
Though it glistens in morning frost.

The fall of the year is a time to reap
What was sown in the fertile ground.
The wisest of men will be doubly blessed,
Not failing to reap souls of men.

The word must go out into all the earth
For the time of reaping is near,
Inviting the hungry, oppressed, and poor,
To a banquet fit for a king.

The table is set for all who would come
From the east, and west, north and south.
The harvest is ready—the fields are ripe,
The winnowing hook's now in hand.

May all who have eyes see God's glorious plan;
May all who have ears hear His Word:
"A generous man will himself be blessed,
For he shares his food with the poor"*

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* Proverbs 22:9 (NIV)
© 2007 Jan Ross

Radically Obedient

Here is a phrase that's challenged me. Not just words, but a calling. Not just for me, but for any who call themselves Christian.

What is radical obedience? Let me see if I can put it into words. To me, radical obedience is obeying God when it doesn't make sense. Radical obedience is doing God's will when our own agenda makes more sense. Radical obedience is not only asking "What Would Jesus Do" but DOING what Jesus did. Radical obedience is denying my flesh while fulfilling God's purpose for me. Radical obedience is heeding the call of God when, by all appearances, it's out of the question. Radical obedience is not compromising even if it means losing friends. Radical obedience is venturing outside my comfort zone no matter how uncomfortable or unreasonable it feels.

Radical obedience demands I do whatever I do so that Christ might be glorified, so that He is the focus of my life, so people see Him and not me. Radical obedience demands I disregard those things which seem to be important to me so that Christ becomes of paramount importance to me.

I have thought I was living a radically obedient life. But each day I learn there are more areas that absolutely MUST be submitted to radical obedience.

Here's the deal … "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11 NIV)

Jesus is the greatest example of radical obedience. It's time for Christians to understand what it means to be called a Christian – being LIKE Christ. We cannot be a Christian unless we pursue Christ-likeness. Unless we're willing to be radically obedient like Christ was radically obedient, then we have no right to bear the name Christian.

Oh, I have so far to go! But it is my desire to pursue radical obedience … not when it's convenient, but when it is most inconvenient.

What about you?

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© 2007 Jan Ross
All Rights Reserved

 

A Mother’s Prayer

As I lay in bed this morning, my heart poured out to the Lord on behalf of my children. Oh, how I long to see them living in victory, fulfilled as servants of God, every longing in their hearts satisfied, and dwelling in peace that comes only from intimate relationship with Christ.

We were with some of the family yesterday and enjoyed the grandchildren so very much. We celebrated a birthday (a week late, but he didn't care), and watched them all run and play and have a ball. Such a blessing it is to see these little extensions of our own love so full of life! To me, it is still almost foreign. Being adopted, I never grew up with the feeling of "extension". Rather, our family was pieced together, albeit by God's purposeful design. But there were no "strings attached" … I didn't have my mother's smile or my father's eyes. I was an entity of myself in a family who called me their own. But now, with our own family, I can look down through two more generations that have been formed as a result of our relationship and see children who have their mother's smile, their daddy's eyes, their papa's mouth, and their nana's hair. You couldn't possibly know what that feels like—how I revel in just watching these little beings who are totally connected to me through their DNA. I stand in awe!

But that's what makes the heart of this mother and grandmother so burdened to pray. These peoples who are extensions from me are incredibly special to me. I feel their hurt and pain. I see their discontent and needs. And my heart breaks … I wanted more for my children and grandchildren. I want them to know peace that surpasses all understanding. I want them to know God so deeply that He becomes their shield, protecting them from the elements of this world—rejection, pain, and suffering. I want to see them rise above the "norm" and be a peculiar people called according to God's divine and sovereign purpose to serve Him with their whole and undivided hearts.

Perhaps this is every mother's prayer. But this mother is still learning—to me it is unchartered territory to love so deeply and to feel so connected since I had no example of that in my own childhood. I make mistakes and seem to not understand how to communicate my love to them adequately. But let this be forever recorded publically … I couldn't possibly love my children and grandchildren more! With all their problems and challenges in life, the love seems to grow deeper and the longing of my heart becomes more profound.

Lord, touch each of their lives: Glen & Hope, Martha & Dale, Barbara & Freddie, Andrew, Dana, Debbie & Tim. Lord, keep our grandchildren safe and secure in the palm of your most capable hands: Daniel, Lydia, Joshua, Levi, Jacob, Macailyn, Brandon, McKenzie, Abraham, Dylan, Logan, and Lindsey … and our unborn grandchild. Lord, hold them all tight to your breast and don't allow them to stray too far until You gently pull them back to You. Reveal Your love and Your total ability to satisfy their every longing. Wrap Your arms around them, each and every one, and reveal Yourself to them in a powerful and personal way. We cling to Your promises – we brought them up to know You, in the way they should go … when they're old they WILL NOT depart from Your ways. We also cling to the teaching of Hebrews 11 … all these people held onto Your promise even though they didn't see the manifestation in their lifetime—their faith never wavered. Father, may our faith on behalf of our children and grandchildren—extensions of our love never waver. May they ALL know You, serve You, and live their lives for You. Be glorified through our family, Lord. Once again we give them to You that Your will be fulfilled in them and through them. In Jesus' precious name this prayer is sealed by His shed blood which we plead over each of our children and grandchildren. Amen and Amen!

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© Jan Ross 2007
All Rights Reserved

Quilting Patches of Life

It has been such an honor to work with Lori Wagner as a contributing author in her newest book, Quilting Patches of Life. Lori has blessed me in so many ways through her encouragement and her editing skills, but most of all her friendship. She never fails to put a smile on my face – the love of God is deeply ingrained in every note she's ever written to me. Thanks, Lori!

If you click on the picture, it will take you to a page where you can order your own copy of Quilting Patches of Life. I've seen the Table of Contents and know of the quality of several of the contributing authors. This book is destined to minister to you, encourage you, make you laugh, cry, smile, and nod your head. You can't help but be blessed!

God speaks to each of us so many ways. In my particular story, God spoke to me through my Mother-in-Law's quilts. I remember one day after we moved into her house, laundering some of her old hand-made quilts and hanging them on the clothesline out back. I stood on the back porch and looked out and there it was—a flower garden quilt blowing in the wind with Grandma's house in the background. I had to know more! I won't spoil the story for you, but just want you to know that this one quilt holds quite a history…a beautiful story of love and restoration.

My Mother-in-Law hand quilted too many quilts to count. Since we moved into her house, we are blessed to have several of them here. I love to display them, to listen to people's comments on them. But in the back of my mind I think, if they only knew the story behind 'that' one!

Order your copy today. It would make a wonderful gift this Christmas to your family and friends. You won't be disappointed!

_______________________
© Jan Ross 2007
All Rights Reserved

A Mother’s Heart

Hearts come in different sizes, varying degrees of tenderness, some cold and some warm, and some as big as big can get. But a mother's heart can be so misunderstood by the children she loves so much. In attempts to protect and nurture while teaching the hard lessons, her heart becomes so vulnerable and often bears unfathomable pain for only doing what a mother's heart knows to do.

Tonight, this mother's heart is broken. The circumstances aren't necessary. The only thing that needs to be said is that somehow God will bring healing—I have to trust He will. Perhaps part of my problem is that I look at things through the Word, trying to find God's voice in life's circumstances by learning how He responded under similar conditions.

God created mankind for His glory because He delights in us.  "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made" (Isaiah 43:7)  That hit me so hard!  He delights in us even though we break His heart continually!  The Bible teaches us that we delight in that which we hold closest to us.  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." ~ (Matthew 6:21)  God's love toward us proves that He treasures us. 

The thing is that He created us KNOWING we would break His heart through sin.  He made provision for our sin long before we created the world and everything in it.  Revelation 13:8 tells us that the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world – God made the sacrifice to cover our sin and make a way for us even before He made us … He knew we would sin, He knew we would break His heart, but He created mankind anyway.  In so doing, however, He made Himself vulnerable to a broken heart—not just once or twice or even a few times, but over and over and over and over again.  The perfect Father knows what a broken heart feels like and yet He still loves—He still cherishes and treasures us, He still remains faithful to His covenant promises to always be our God, He still forgives.

God treasures us because He delights in us, He made us—we are an expression of His love.  And, He's vulnerable to the pain and disappointment we cause Him because of our continual sin.

As a mother, as a Christian mother, I have an obligation before God to emulate Him as our Father, to never waver in response toward our children who are an expression of the love shared by my husband and me just like mankind is an expression of God's love.  No matter what our children have done, we may be disappointed, hurt or heart-broken, but we never stop loving them—not any of them.

But, I'm human and subject to human frailties. I make mistakes. I internalize things that should just roll off my back. But this one thing I know. My heart will mend, all the difficult circumstances will work out, and we will go on.

But today my heart needs mending—the balm of healing applied as I seek refuge in God my Savior. In Him and Him alone will I find my help.

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© Jan Ross 2007
All Rights Reserved

But God…

Circumstances come and circumstances go. Some are harder than others, others are harder than some. We all face them. Not all handle adversities in life well. How can we come to that place in life where we aren't knocked down and trodden underfoot with every difficult circumstance that comes our way?

The key is understanding a particular promise of God.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV)

The word "temptation" actually means "adversity". We are promised that God will make a way through EVERY adversity that comes our way so we will be able to bear it.

The word "bear" means to "endure hardship".

This is the essence of "BUT GOD".

You may have received a bad report from the doctor … look for the BUT GOD because He will give you the ability to endure this adversity.

You may have lost your job … look for the BUT GOD because He will give you the ability to endure this adversity and provide a way through.

You may have children using drugs … look for the BUT GOD because He will give you the ability to endure the pain and show you a way through.

You may have an unsaved and abusive spouse … look for the BUT GOD because He will give you the ability to endure this hardship and show you a way through.

Whatever it is you're facing, whatever circumstances appear overwhelming with no sight of relief, look for the BUT GOD and watch Him take what appears to be bad and turn it around by leading you through it.

God wants the glory! Don't give the circumstances that overwhelm you the glory by allowing them to hold you down or distract you or devastate you. Rather, give God the glory by looking for that BUT GOD and praising Him for the way of escape—the way to endure.

God will make a way even when it appears there is no way out. He never promised we'd understand the why's and wherefore's of our lives all the time, but He DID promise to make a way through it, providing a way to endure and a way of escape. And, that deserves a hearty 'HALLELUJAH'!

_________________
© Jan Ross 2007
All Rights Reserved

Perk Up!

Last night at Bible Study group, we were reviewing the last part of the 11^th chapter of Hebrews. As we were reading through the entire chapter, a verse jumped off the page and smacked me upside the head: "Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." ( Hebrews 11:16)

I began to mull over this verse and turn it inside out by asking myself if God is not ashamed to be called their God, what would make Him feel ashamed to be called their God? The answer was right there in black and white: If they had not been "longing for a better country-a heavenly one".

Who are 'they'? What was it like where they lived? Why was God impressed with their longing for a "better country"? How often do we really long for a better country-a heavenly one?

The people listed previously in Hebrews 11—people like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc—lived as if there was truly a hell to shun and heaven to gain. They didn't sit around pining for heaven, but they lived convinced that God was able to do all that He promised, even if they died before the manifestation of their promises!

This has caused me to perk up. Is the record of my life one that speaks, "God is not ashamed to be called [her] God, for he has prepared a city for [her]"?

What about your life? Does your life bear record that there is indeed a hell to shun and a heaven to gain? Is your life the record of a journey toward a "better country-a heavenly one"?
 

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© Jan Ross 2007
All Rights Reserved