There is a time to be still. "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14) These were Moses' words to the Israelite people as they faced the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian army behind them.
There is a time to move on. "The LORD said to Moses ". . . . . . Tell the Israelites to move on." (Exodus 14:15b) God gave Moses instructions to raise his staff over the waters of the sea, so all night long Moses held his staff over the Red Sea. God sent a strong east wind to drive the sea back and dry the ground. That night God's angel moved from in front of the Israelites to the back. The clouds which had been in front of them moved behind them to provide darkness for the pursuing Egyptians.
The Israelites had to be still while they waited for God to do His thing and then it was time to move on. What would have happened if they had not been still when God told them to? What would have happened if they had not moved on across the Red Sea when God told them to move?
A huge miracle happened that day. The Israelites were still when God said to be still and they moved on when God said move on. Is God telling you to be still? Is He telling you to move on? Are you listening?
"Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Serving Him,
Kay Martin
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
I Need a Little Sunshine (Son Shine)!
Mississippi has lived up to her reputation for lots of gray days in January and February! I need a little sunshine, Lord! Many of us become discouraged, down, and even depressed when we don't see the sun shine. When I think of being depressed, I often think of Elijah and I am reminded that I am not the only one who has dealt with this malady.
Eliajah, an outstanding servant of the Lord, had a great victory over the prophets of Baal. His faith was shining that day when he called fire down from heaven and proved that the God he worshiped was the one true God. Ah, but Jezebel heard of Elijah's victory over the prophets of Baal and determined to take his life . Elijah was afraid of one woman and he ran for his life (1 Kings 19:3). Elijah, the same prophet of God who had just experienced victory over 450 prophets of Baal, now ran from one woman! Granted, she was Jezebel, but Elijah's God is the same God who had given him victory.
Elijah went into the desert and prayed that he might die. He said, "I have had enough, LORD. Take my life." (1 Kings 19:4) He was tired, discouraged, and hungry and God sent His angel to minister to him. Elijah fell asleep under the tree and the LORD's angel woke him and told him to eat. He ate and drank and lay down once more and slept. Again the angel awakened him to eat and drink. After Elijah rested, ate, and drank, he was strengthened and was able to travel 40 days and 40 nights. Then Elijah stood in the presence of the LORD.
When we get down, discouraged, and/or depressed, sometimes we just need a little rest. Sometimes we need to eat healthier foods and take in plenty of fluids. Sometimes, we just need a little sunshine. Always, we need the Son to shine on us. Always we need the presence of the LORD!
"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O LORD." (Psalm 89:15 NIV)
Serving Him,
Kay Martin
Eliajah, an outstanding servant of the Lord, had a great victory over the prophets of Baal. His faith was shining that day when he called fire down from heaven and proved that the God he worshiped was the one true God. Ah, but Jezebel heard of Elijah's victory over the prophets of Baal and determined to take his life . Elijah was afraid of one woman and he ran for his life (1 Kings 19:3). Elijah, the same prophet of God who had just experienced victory over 450 prophets of Baal, now ran from one woman! Granted, she was Jezebel, but Elijah's God is the same God who had given him victory.
Elijah went into the desert and prayed that he might die. He said, "I have had enough, LORD. Take my life." (1 Kings 19:4) He was tired, discouraged, and hungry and God sent His angel to minister to him. Elijah fell asleep under the tree and the LORD's angel woke him and told him to eat. He ate and drank and lay down once more and slept. Again the angel awakened him to eat and drink. After Elijah rested, ate, and drank, he was strengthened and was able to travel 40 days and 40 nights. Then Elijah stood in the presence of the LORD.
When we get down, discouraged, and/or depressed, sometimes we just need a little rest. Sometimes we need to eat healthier foods and take in plenty of fluids. Sometimes, we just need a little sunshine. Always, we need the Son to shine on us. Always we need the presence of the LORD!
"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O LORD." (Psalm 89:15 NIV)
Serving Him,
Kay Martin
Friday, February 12, 2010
Just Another Day in the Life of Kam
It was January 13, 2010. Kam, my 17-year-old grandson, started his day much like any other day. He drove his black F-150 pick-up to St. George's Academy (only a few miles from his home), where he is a junior and plays baseball. My guess is that he either skipped breakfast or grabbed something on the way out the door. Just an ordinary day in the life of Kam, but as his mom says, "Is any day really ordinary for Kam?"
Kam adds a little excitement to every day and always has. My job as his grandmother has always been to run interference for him - to try to keep him from getting in trouble with his parents. When he was young, I would try to distract him when he seemed to be pushing the envelope a litte too far. We have gone on walks down the beach and such to try to avoid getting in trouble. He wasn't bad, just fun and mischievous and had to see just how far he could go.
On January 13, 2010, I eased out of bed early in the morning as usual to begin my time of prayer and Bible study. Each morning of Kam's life, I have prayed for God's protection and I ask God to place His guardian angel over him (as well as my other grandchildren and their parents). I also ask for specific and personal needs. It is something God has compelled me to do so don't pat me on the back or anything. I tell you this to encourage you to pray for your children and grandchildren because "just another day" may turn out to be not "just another day." "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11-12)
That Wednesday, Kam and his friends got out of school a little early, so they made a quick trip to Chick-Fil-A before going to The Batter's Box to work out. Everyone had left except Kam and his friends, Zach and Hunter. Zach backed out of his parking place next to Kam and Kam saw Zach trying to get his attention. He got out of his F-150 pick-up and walked back to Zach's Honda Ridgeline truck. As Kam stood there, they realized his truck was moving and it quickly penned him between his truck and Zach's. Hunter jumped out of Zach's truck and pulled Kam's truck forward. Try to imagine this frightening scene as Kam's big truck penned him against Zach's truck!
Kam thought he was miraculously okay and proceded to drive himself to The Batter's Box, only to come to the realization that he had just experienced a very serious accident. As he drove himself home, he called his mom to let her know he was okay. At that point, he became emotional. I think the enormity of what had happened to him and the fact that he had walked away, hit him right between the eyes.
His dad took him to Campbell Clinic for tests and they found no broken bones, just very deep bruises. God protected Kam that day and I choose to believe He honored a grandmother's prayer - a grandmother who really is very insignificant in the scheme of things - but who has a special place in her heart for Kam. Kam has very strong thighs from working out and playing catcher. Those thighs along with God's hands protected him from serious injury.
Don't forget to pray for your children, grandchildren, or other children in your lives. God honors our prayers. "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer . . . . . . . (1 Peter 3:12).
Serving Him,
Kay Martin
(A note to my other three grandchildren: I plan to write about each of you in the future. You have a special place in my heart just like Kam. Each of you is different and special in your own unique way. But, you don't have to have an accident for me to write about you!)
Kam adds a little excitement to every day and always has. My job as his grandmother has always been to run interference for him - to try to keep him from getting in trouble with his parents. When he was young, I would try to distract him when he seemed to be pushing the envelope a litte too far. We have gone on walks down the beach and such to try to avoid getting in trouble. He wasn't bad, just fun and mischievous and had to see just how far he could go.On January 13, 2010, I eased out of bed early in the morning as usual to begin my time of prayer and Bible study. Each morning of Kam's life, I have prayed for God's protection and I ask God to place His guardian angel over him (as well as my other grandchildren and their parents). I also ask for specific and personal needs. It is something God has compelled me to do so don't pat me on the back or anything. I tell you this to encourage you to pray for your children and grandchildren because "just another day" may turn out to be not "just another day." "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11-12)
That Wednesday, Kam and his friends got out of school a little early, so they made a quick trip to Chick-Fil-A before going to The Batter's Box to work out. Everyone had left except Kam and his friends, Zach and Hunter. Zach backed out of his parking place next to Kam and Kam saw Zach trying to get his attention. He got out of his F-150 pick-up and walked back to Zach's Honda Ridgeline truck. As Kam stood there, they realized his truck was moving and it quickly penned him between his truck and Zach's. Hunter jumped out of Zach's truck and pulled Kam's truck forward. Try to imagine this frightening scene as Kam's big truck penned him against Zach's truck!
Kam thought he was miraculously okay and proceded to drive himself to The Batter's Box, only to come to the realization that he had just experienced a very serious accident. As he drove himself home, he called his mom to let her know he was okay. At that point, he became emotional. I think the enormity of what had happened to him and the fact that he had walked away, hit him right between the eyes.
His dad took him to Campbell Clinic for tests and they found no broken bones, just very deep bruises. God protected Kam that day and I choose to believe He honored a grandmother's prayer - a grandmother who really is very insignificant in the scheme of things - but who has a special place in her heart for Kam. Kam has very strong thighs from working out and playing catcher. Those thighs along with God's hands protected him from serious injury.
Don't forget to pray for your children, grandchildren, or other children in your lives. God honors our prayers. "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer . . . . . . . (1 Peter 3:12).
Serving Him,
Kay Martin
(A note to my other three grandchildren: I plan to write about each of you in the future. You have a special place in my heart just like Kam. Each of you is different and special in your own unique way. But, you don't have to have an accident for me to write about you!)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Pass It On
When you have something really good, don't you just want to pass it on? I love to share recipes that are really good. I love to pass them on. As believers in Christ, we have a commission to tell others about Jesus - especially parents to their children. After Joshua and his generation died, there was a serious problem. "Another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10b).
The result of that was, "Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols" (Jeremiah 2:11). In Jeremiah 2:12, the LORD continues, "They have forsaken Me, the Spring of Living Water." This is what happens when one generation does not tell the next generation about God and what He has done in their lives. What a sad heritage for the children of that generation!
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Children must be trained/taught the Right Way. They need that foundation, the heritage, of being taught about Jesus and what He has done in our lives. We must be well grounded in our own faith so we can pass it on.
"The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him" (Proverbs 20:7). Let's be righteous women and lead a blameless life so our children (and grandchildren) will be blessed! Let's pass it on.
Serving Him,
Kay Martin
The result of that was, "Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols" (Jeremiah 2:11). In Jeremiah 2:12, the LORD continues, "They have forsaken Me, the Spring of Living Water." This is what happens when one generation does not tell the next generation about God and what He has done in their lives. What a sad heritage for the children of that generation!
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6). Children must be trained/taught the Right Way. They need that foundation, the heritage, of being taught about Jesus and what He has done in our lives. We must be well grounded in our own faith so we can pass it on.
"The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him" (Proverbs 20:7). Let's be righteous women and lead a blameless life so our children (and grandchildren) will be blessed! Let's pass it on.
Serving Him,
Kay Martin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)