"Winter Doldrums"

“Winter Doldrums”

“Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God;    
      for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”  Psalms 42:11

Doldrums is defined as a gloomy feeling, low spirits, or a time of inactivity. There another meaning of ‘Doldrums’ that were common in the days of sailing ships.  When sailors came to a place in the ocean where the Pacific and the Atlantic met, there was a low-pressure around the equator and the winds became calm. Without winds the ships could not move and was stranded there for days or weeks until the trade winds began to blow again.  Sailors called this the ‘Doldrums’.

For us today an example may be stuck in your house during a weeklong snow storm.  Not being able to get out to attend church or other weekly activities can actually bring on mild depression.  You may feel stagnant physically and spiritually.  Those who are recovering from surgery or disabilities tend to feel useless and may even feel that God has deserted them.

Don’t be discouraged – You are able to get past this and I am going to tell you how to do it.  First you need to get out your Bible and see that God has not forsaken you.  In Deuteronomy 31:8, God gives you this promise which is as good today as it was in the Old Testament, “It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” You can always count on God’s promises because He can’t lie.  What he says is true. Read this several times and believe it.

Now in the New Testament in John 16:33, Jesus knew that you were someday going to go through hard times, maybe even the Doldrums and so Jesus sent these words to you today. “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”  You see, Jesus wants you to have peace in your heart, because when you have peace, you still have hope in tomorrow and for the days to come.

It says it even more clearly in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”  I don’t care if you are 20 years old or if you are 80 or 90, God has a plan for you or you wouldn’t even be here. He gives you hope and yes, even a future because you are part of His plan.  Every day you should give God thanks for what he has given you.

Now to the next step which is to get past yourself.  Quit dwelling on yourself and your own problems. It is time for you to start thinking about helping others.  It is what God wants you to do.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4 shows us how and why we should do this.  “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”  Surely you know another person who is troubled, sick or filled with sadness.  Call them and encourage them with a scripture like Psalm 34:17, “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” 

How many times in just this past year or two I wished that someone would call me or write to me with an encouraging word and sometimes they do.  But, because I love the Word of God, I can get encouragement from the Bible.  So because of that I can call to encourage others.  My husband and family are great encouragers. I thank God for each of them.

Today, I thank God for each of you and I pray that you will be encouraged by the words I have written in these Blogs.  I feel it is the Lord who gives these to me so I might pass them on to you, the reader.  You see, I can’t do all the things I used to do when I taught Bible Classes for so many, many years.  I can no longer play piano for church, or direct choirs, or even sing, but God has a plan for me, just as He does for you.  I found I could set down to my computer and send these messages to others who need to hear them.  This is my ministry for this time in my life’s journey and I love doing it. 

This is part of the plan God has for me, and it may be different than yours, but I have hope in my future and that hope is in Jesus Christ. 

If you are suffering from the Doldrums, follow these instructions and you will find yourself filled with hope and joy.

"Call Our Children Home"

Call Our Children Home

“I will say to the North, ‘Give them up.’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back’.  Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.”  Isaiah 43:6

I don’t believe there is a person who doesn’t have a family member living away from God.  They may be children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or cousins that have chosen a life style without God.  These are the ones that the Enemy has stolen from loving arms and dragged into a life of darkness. 

Anyone who follows a road away from God is travelling toward the pit of Hell.  Let’s talk plainly here and not make a life of sin attempt to look good.  Second Timothy 3:1-4 gives us explicit choices that people may follow. “But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

Another plainly spoken scripture says this in Romans 1:-24-32 “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”  

This is the type of world that we live in today and for those who are true believers, it grieves their very spirit.  As we watch those people we love, wander away to live sin-filled lives, we may feel helpless.  Far from it – there is a power within us that is available to do what may seem impossible.  Many years ago, I heard Mother Angelica make a statement I have never forgotten, “You do the ridiculous and God will do the miraculous.”  Remember this statement because you may have to use it in the future.

In fact, go back to our theme verse in Isaiah. God speaks to Isaiah to do something that probably seemed ridiculous to his ears.  He said, “Isaiah, I want you to speak to all directions and say, “Give them up!” Then say this, “Do not keep them back; my sons and my daughters!” These are the instructions from God when he was gathering a remnant in.  In verse 8 he calls for those who are blind, but have eyes and those who are deaf, but have ears.  How many of our loved ones have been blinded by Satan and their ears are closed up so they can’t hear from God?

In verse 7, the Lord declares that he has created and formed these people for His glory.  He wants them back!  This is not the first time this has happened.  In Exodus chapter 5, God told Moses to go to the Pharaoh and say, “Let my people go!” The Hebrews had been made slaves in Egypt and God wanted them free, because Egypt and the Pharaoh are symbolic for Satan. Moses, however, stood his ground and kept telling the Pharaoh “Let my people go” and in time they were let go and free.  It didn’t happen the first time or the second, or even the third.  Moses stood against the evil one until he broke him down and then the Hebrew people were freed.

If we want Satan to give back our children who are lost, we must declare to him as Isaiah did, “Satan, let them go!”  We must tell him over and over again, “Give them up!”  “Give them up!”  It may seem to be ridiculous, but if we mean it and shout it out, God will do the miraculous.  This is exactly what Moses did over and over again and every time the pharaoh refused, God caused plagues to happen.

So let us continue to shout to our enemy to ‘give them up’ and ‘do not hold them back’. God will take care of the rest of it and do the miraculous.

Please click on the link below, copy and paste and to listen to Don Potter song, “Give Them Up.”

https://youtu.be/KK2dBHaRwdE?list=PLD00F7077AC536B6D

"My Funny Valentine"

My Funny Valentine

“There is a time to weep, and a time to laugh.”

 Ecclesiastes 3:4

My funny Valentine is my husband, Jerry.  He can always make me laugh and has never once in our 41 years of marriage made me cry.  There have been many times I have cried over other people or circumstances, but never over our relationship.  I could write a full page or more on his character and the amazing husband he is, but I will only list a few.

How about when I was going through a difficult time in my work and came home to a rose in every room of our house?  There has always been an anniversary card; some were handmade (which I loved the most), some beautiful and some funny.  There was the first Christmas together that I came home to find an entire wardrobe of new clothes; he had a great taste for what I looked best in.  His goal was to make me happy and he did. 

Here we are all these years later and he is still looking out for my happiness and comfort.  I’ve had many health issues in these last few years, and he does all he can to encourage me and help me.  He does things like making the bed, so I don’t have to struggle with it.  He does it because he knows it makes me happy.  He fixes our meals on the days he knows I can’t and so many more things. 

He still makes me laugh, although I don’t laugh when he reads to me from the Sunday paper comic strips.  We don’t always agree on things and we irritate each other at times, but we both know how much we love each other.  We never go to bed angry because we always pray together before we go to sleep.  We always wake up in a good mood.

We love to play cribbage and both of us play to win (no mercy).  We call each other silly names and always end up laughing no matter who wins.  My funny Valentine is my best friend, my hero, my caregiver and my lover.  No matter the things we go through we stand together.  “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.” [Luke 6:21]

The greatest thing in our marriage is our faith in God Almighty and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It is through trusting in Him, we have come this far.  We also understand what love really is and what it’s not.  It is not about self – it’s about others and includes sacrifice, kindness, trust and assurance in each other.  “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” [I Corinthians 13:13]

There is one word that is critical for a good marriage and that word is “CONTENTMENT”.  Being content means to be satisfied and not always reaching for greener pastures.  When you reach those greener pastures they are not always what you thought they were.  If you or your spouse are not content with each other, your marriage will flounder.  Paul said in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”. If you aren’t satisfied with what God has given you, you need to wonder what it is that you are searching for. If you have no peace in your life, then you are not trusting God. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try to better yourselves, but be content knowing that God will give you whatever you need.

My funny Valentine encourages me in faith and we have been through some rough times financially, work related and health issues, but he has always said, “God will take care of it” and he has. His dumb jokes always make me laugh even if I don’t think they are funny. “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.” [I Peter 4:8]

I love you, my funny Valentine and keep making me laugh. You have made my life worth living.

www.wanda-ritter.blogspot.com

"Blessing and Cursing"

Blessing and Cursing

“And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”  James 3:10 (NLT)

I have noticed that the language coming out of the mouths of Christians gets worse and worse as time goes on.  Even some faithful church-goers don’t seem to mind using various swear words away from the church.  How can someone pray and bless people and later on lose their temper and began cursing?

Another place I have noticed this is through Facebook.  People see something they think is funny with what they say are ‘naughty’ words and copy it to their Facebook.  Maybe you didn’t say it, friends, but you must have agreed with it or you wouldn’t put it out for everyone to see.  Or perhaps they put on other words that mean the same things. An example is the “F” word and there are many other words said that mean the same thing.

I found the perfect solution and that is to take you off my Facebook. It works every time.  I won’t have to see your trash-talk anymore.  In Ephesians 5:4 (NLT), “Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.”

Our candidates running for president the end of this year should clearly set an example for this country to follow.  Many of them are Christians and they are doing well, but when Trump begins to carry on, he always has to include a few foul words.  Guess we shouldn’t be surprised because when our present VP uses bad language publicly (including the ‘f’ word), the example is already set.  He has lost respect by many.  “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Returning to the scripture in James 3:10 “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”  It continues on in verses 11-12.  “Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”

The Bible tells us that Jesus is always with us – he never will leave us or forsake us.  You may not see Him, but he’s beside you and hears every word you say.  If you could see him face to face, would you talk the same way?  Will you curse and swear, or will you bless him?  Oh well, does it really matter what I say or if I swear and curse or cut down other people and lie?

I can’t judge that, but I can show you what the Word of God says in Matthew 12: 36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Guess that about says it all. Amen!

"Seasons of Life"

Seasons of Life

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

You may not think about it when you are younger, but as time goes by you can see your life, not by years, but by seasons.  In the beginning God planned for us to be aware of seasons.  In Genesis 1:14, “Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.”  He also tell us in Psalm 104:19 that, “He appointed the moon for seasons”.

God knows the season we are in.  He knew when we were born; our first season.  If you are married he planned it.  Genesis 2:24 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”  He knew when we had children, Psalm 127:3 “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD”.  

He knew we would have times in our life that would be sad and leave us grieving and yet there would be times when we had great joy. Psalm 127:3, “A time to weep, and a time to laugh.” God knew there were wars to be fought and other times we would have peace. [Ecc. 3:8] At the last seasons in our life, he said this, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades.” In the end we could say along with 2Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

The Bible tells us that we would plant and then harvest in the right seasons.   The most important thing for us to remember no matter your age is that God is with us in all seasons of life.  “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.”    Psalm 37:25

Today, you may be wondering what is happening in your life?  It may seem as though your whole life is turned upside down, but you are no facing this alone.  The God who created you is at your side.  He knows whatever season you are going through and he wants to help you if you put your faith in him.

The problem is that we want God to do miracles in our lives and then we get in his way and try to do it ourselves.  God desires to do everything he can for us because he loves us, but we are afraid to trust him.  We get in a taxi or on a bus and feel save with these strangers who are driving us around, but we don’t trust God to carry us through.

No matter the day or the hour; no matter the year or the season, you can count on the Lord because He is on your side.