Sharing a prayer for today ~

Before You, Almighty God, I wait --

To hear Your voice –

Your direction for this day.

Dear, Heavenly Father,

Lead me on.

Oh, Precious, Holy Spirit

Prepare the way.

Go before and prompt my heart

To know for sure

The path that You would have me take--

Doing all for Jesus sake

In humility and with a heart that’s pure.

Janene A. Dubbeld

For God’s Glory

What If?

It was bed time. I sat down on the edge of the bed with my two sons, ages seven and three – ready to tell them a story. They wanted it, “from a book” – so, I headed to the bookshelf, and ended up reading several Bible stories instead of just one. Then, my seven year old ask a question that many of us have asked through many election cycles. “What will happen to our country if ________ gets elected? (You can fill in the blank according to your own views.)

It stopped me for a moment. He was seriously concerned. His little mind was taking in more of the “news” and all of the happenings around him than I realized. I simply had to tell him the truth. We will still trust Jesus! Our hope is in Him. He wasn’t convinced. He asked me again, “But mommy, what will happen if . . .” Again, my assurance had to come from Truth. We will still trust in Jesus – He is our hope! He didn’t keep questioning. But, if he asks again, guess what . . . the answer has to be the same. No human being can be the resting place of the Source of our Hope for tomorrow. Jesus Christ is our Hope. (Psalm 39:7) He is our Peace that passes all understanding in a world that seems in constant conflict. (Ephesians 2:14)

Adults -- what is our responsibility to those who follow us? How should we take in what is happening around us? Bury our head in the sand, and act like it doesn’t exist? Leave the responsibility to someone else and “hope for the best?” According to II Chronicles 7:14, we have some specific things to act upon if we would like the God of Heaven to hear, and heal our land. When I look into the eyes of my children, more than ever before, the healing of our nation is my fervent desire. I long for them to be able to grow up and enjoy the freedom of worship we have today.

Notice, God is talking to us. He says, “If MY people, who are called by MY name shall humble themselves and pray. . .” there’s step one. Humbling ourselves and praying. Stopping long enough, on purpose, from our hectic schedules to get on our knees and acknowledge our incredible need of Him.

There won’t ever be “enough time” – we have to make the time for what is priority in our lives. “Seek my face . . .” step number two. Not just a prayer before we “pass the bread”, but a longing, a seeking after, a looking for HIS FACE! When we are earnestly seeking His face, He can search us, and see if there be any wicked way in us.(Psalm 139: 23-24) This leads us to step number three – whatever He shows us, actively turning away from it – making sure there are no “idols” in our life. That God is truly our FIRST priority. This obedience is the “key in the lock” that opens the door for Heaven to hear, to forgive our sins and God promises He will heal our land.

Recently, I heard of an incident where someone asked a question of this nature. “Has any nation every returned from the state of apathy.” A Jew was listening, and when he heard the question he replied with words somewhat like this, “Only one, the nation of Israel.”

Let’s make it two! May it begin right here, right now!? What if we take time!? What if we humble ourselves and pray!? What if we seek His face!? What if we turn from our wicked ways!? God keeps His promises we know!

Our obedience needs to be immediate. We need to begin today. There isn’t another moment to lose. We can’t let it be like the proverbial beginning of a diet . . . tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. What if we begin today? What if we wait?

By: Janene A. Dubbeld

Take It With You

“If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14

Pick Up the Tools

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6b)

The sun is coming up – a new day is dawning. Another day to serve the Lord – to live in His presence – to rejoice in Him. Rejoice! He is Immanuel – God with us! Rejoice! He has come to surround us – and to fill us with Himself. One person has said, “The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.” Our God is an awesome God, a big God, a God Whose creations are amazing – and His redemption even more so!

Our verse for today gives us the positive path to overcoming. It isn’t by our might, nor by our power, but by the Spirit of God. When His Spirit and His Power operate through us and for us, MIGHTY things are accomplished.

This verse is given to us within a book of the Bible where there is unfinished business. Zechariah is exhorting the people of Israel to finish their task – finish building the Temple. Apparently they had stopped this process half way through. Instead of a finished place of worship bringing glory to their God, they had a half built structure – testifying to the need of completion. They needed someone to come along and remind them of their calling. Zechariah is that person. Commissioned by God, he comes into the picture encouraging the people to finish their task by giving them a motivating vision of the coming Messiah – our Christ!

With their vision placed on the glories of the future, current obedience wasn’t an option. The future blessing depended on their decisive action to do what God was asking in the here and now. They had to “pick up the tools” and get the job done.

Our God is a God of the “big picture.” While we see just a portion of the view – He sees it all! When He calls us, or gives us a “job to do” it is so easy to become weary when we’re only half done. When the excitement of “new” wears off. The warfare is intense. The nights are long. There is a God! A God with a plan of which He longs for us to be a part! What a privilege!

If you are weary – find HIS strength. If your path seems uncertain – remember HE IS THE WAY! To accomplish mighty things, we must trust a mighty God. It is our obedience to do what He desires that brings the blessing He is willing to give.

Let’s “pick up the tools” and get to work! Not by our might – not by our power – but by HIS Spirit! With Him – we can!

Written by: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it With You

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6b)

Water for Life

“Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime, it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone.” Zechariah 10:1


My mother was a very joyful person. She never drank coffee, sometimes drank tea, and every now and then she would choose some kind of soft drink. However, I remember the many times I would hear her remark, “I just need a big glass of water.” She declared that absolutely nothing could quench her thirst like pure, sparkling, tasty water. As a child, I was forever wishing she would “give in” more often to my longings for a “soda,” but as the years have passed, I find myself reaching much more frequently for a glass or bottle of water. It quenches thirst.

Mother also taught me very early in life Who was her “water for life.” She taught me by example. Many times I would burst through the closed door with some exciting news to find her kneeling at her chair in prayer. She passed on to me the eternal truth that it was Jesus Who would quench the thirst on the inside.

Life doesn’t play any waiting games. It travels steadily, carrying us along in its swift moving current. I’m no longer the “little girl” bursting through my mother’s closed door. Now, I’m a mother myself. Situations come, circumstances change, and day by day I find the deepest part of me cannot be satisfied with temporal, earthly things we touch and feel in the “now.” Family and friends are God given gifts whom I deeply love and appreciate – but even the closest of them cannot meet all the needs and demands of my hearts. That’s why God is “Emmanuel!” He IS GOD WITH US!!!

In Zechariah 10:1, we are told to “Ask the Lord . . .” We aren’t told to “ask our family,” “ask our neighbor,” “ask our friend,” -- we are to, “ASK THE LORD!” Yes, there are times when those around us help to bear our burdens with an encouraging word or act, perhaps they “talk to the Father for us,” but in reality, our deepest “soul felt” needs find that the Lord is the only lasting Source. No other person or thing in the entire universe can fill the inner need within, or fully supply our needs without. Forgetting that truth will cause us to draw water from well’s that simply aren’t deep enough. When we draw from shallow, empty well’s, our water comes up muddy. It certainly isn’t water worth drinking – and it won’t even begin to quench our thirst – or meet our deepest need.

Our only answer is to simply stop, and draw from Him – the deepest well, with the purest water! The bubbling Spring that washes away impurities! Not a mirage in the desert, but a living oasis! Jesus Christ!

Now it’s my turn to carry on the legacy. When my children burst in the door with some exciting happening, I want them to find me where I found my mom – seeking the Source. When life brings them longings I cannot quench, needs too big for me to provide, and problems I simply cannot “fix,” I want to point them to the Source of pure, satisfying, water for life.

Written by: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it With You

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2

Personal Moment

Isn’t it awesome to serve a personal God? A God who is there ALWAYS! When the day is good – when the day could have been better – we have a GOD who cares, who knows where we are, and who loves us with a love that defies human understanding.

On this Monday after Sunday . . . I want to praise Him for His protection over my son yesterday. Our family is currently singing in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our oldest son was driving from a college choir service over to sing with our family last evening. While en route, he called us with vehicle problems. Dad gave him all of the “over the phone advice” he could think of, but it was inevitable. He needed to go get him. So, he and my brother-in-law started out.

When they reached him, they discovered that his vehicle was sending gasoline to a different location than was intended. A broken gas line was allowing the needed fuel to stream out BELOW his automobile, and on to the pavement – AS HE DROVE!

In our service yesterday morning, the evangelist had proclaimed the marvelous message of the wonderful care of our God. He IS a personal God! He made His care evident to us yesterday -- He protected Vincent from what could have been a very serious situation.

Just wanted to use this moment to praise Him, and declare Him the wondrous God He is! “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).

Whatever the situation – He is able to handle it – we just have to let Him have it! My heart sings with the song writer, “He’s big enough to rule this mighty universe – yet small enough to live within my heart.” That’s the God I serve! Hallelujah!

Take it With You

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:19

The Unexpected

Yes, it was a week when the unexpected came to visit. The unexpected brought the unwanted. Unwanted change. Unwanted tears. Unwanted grief. Unwanted good-byes. Yet, in the midst of it all, the hand of God remained evident. Grace, when needed, is always supplied. Pain shrouds itself to try and disguise its privilege – but its privilege shines through the comforting arms and faithfulness of God, and His people.

Just a few weeks ago, God brought me to a journal in my basement. Several years ago now, we had another “unexpected” week, and I had penned these words.

“He was gone. A dear friend of ours. Heart attack at such an early age, leaving behind a lovely wife and four beautiful children 12 and under.

We made the long journey to his funeral. On the way home we tried to process our grief. It was so difficult to understand. We trusted God’s sovereignty, but ached for the family.

I kept crying. Every few minutes I’d say, “I just can’t believe it.” Our eight year old daughter had nearly enough of my tears as her little mind could take. Finally she said, “Won’t they ever do anything fun again?”

“Oh, I’m sure they will,” I half heartedly responded.

She then began to talk about heaven – about them going there and what fun that would be – when they were all together again. In her sweet, childish way she stated, “Now that’s what I call the vacation of a lifetime!”

Oh, yes! Much more than a vacation – a forever home!

During these unexpected times, we hold tightly to the things that will not change. God’s Word stands forever. His love isn’t going anywhere. We never have to tell Him good-bye, because, “He will never leave us nor forsake us!”

During these unexpected times we draw needed strength. Strength from His Spirit, strength from His presence, strength from His promises, strength from His people. While the unexpected threatens to paralyze us with the numbness of shock, we wait. Wait for the strength to come again. We know it will come because He has promised – as your days so shall your strength be.

There is no magic formula for getting through the unexpected – only the choice to let it steady your faith rather than shrink it – to run to the Master instead of away. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Being a Christian doesn’t exempt us from the unexpected but it does assure us of the constant of Christ! He is truly too good to allow anything in the lives of those He loves except what will weave into the tapestry of our total lives to make it beautiful in His eyes!

So, we weep because our hearts our human – but in our weeping we weep with hope – because we know Divine.

Written by Janene Dubbeld/FGG

Take it With You

“But we have this treasure in earth vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” 11Corinthians 5:7

What's That Smell?

It began as an “every now and then” comment in our house in Martinsville. We were experiencing a certain “aroma” – from time to time – and we would look at each other and ask, “What’s that smell?” It wasn’t necessarily a pleasant smell, so we tried to figure it out. Having small children at the time, we made sure there were no dirty diapers left anywhere, and the trash was being taken out VERY regularly. A few days passed. The aroma kept getting stronger. Our comments to each other were becoming more emphatic! “What IS that smell?” I was just certain some kind of small animal had crawled into one of our walls and died. If that was the case, it certainly wasn’t “decaying” in any quick order. The smell kept getting stronger! During this time, my in-laws were coming for dinner, and I was greatly distraught. We could NOT find the source of this smell for anything! So, we lit candles, sprayed good smelling stuff and did everything possible to distract from the detestable odor.

One morning my husband returned from taking our children to school. I didn’t know it yet, but he was determined to find the source of that smell. A few minutes later, he opened the door and his greeting was something quite simple like, “I found it!” “Found what?” I wanted to know. “The smell!”

At that time, we had an extra refrigerator in our garage. In the freezer part, I had placed a couple of turkeys. Unfortunately, something had happened to the power source of that appliance – and now, instead of turkey’s waiting for “basting” we had turkey’s sitting there “wasting!” Oh, my, it was the worst smell I had ever encountered. When we opened that freezer, I went into immediate action! I wanted those things OUT OF MY HOUSE as fast as possible!

It was hilarious to watch people walk by, or ride their bikes near our trash cans before the garbage service had collected. The sounds and facial expressions as they passed by our trash were unbelievable. We bleached, and scrubbed, and scoured -- anything to salvage our refrigerator – but it was hopeless. On the day they came to claim it for “scrap metal,” they hoisted it up into the truck. As they did, the door came open and even the “left over aroma” gave those poor people the shock of a life-time. Evidently they were normally supposed to “open it up” on the back of their vehicle, but this was obviously a different case! “Just keep the door closed” the “boss man” exclaimed. Personally – I don’t even think that thing could have been used for scrap metal.

After I get over the laugher at the comical moments of this incident, it makes me stop and think. How’s the power source? See, in the Old Testament, it was correct offerings, according to ceremonial law that caused “sweet aroma” to go up before the Lord. Now, Christ has come as our Supreme Sacrifice. It was His love for us which came up as a sweet smell to the Father. (Eph. 5:2) Only His sacrifice can cleanse the horrible stench of sin from our lives. He is our “power source!” When we “connect with Him,” follow in His footsteps, and “give ourselves” – as Romans 12:1 says – to be a “living sacrifice,” this causes a “sweet smell” to come up before the Lord. When we “stay connected,” walk in the Spirit, and give out His love, His living through us causes an aroma that not only pleases Him, but also is a blessing to those around us. No aroma of sin in the surrendered life! Just the “sweet smelling savor” of Jesus!

Written by: Janene A. Dubbeld/FGG

Take it With You

“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 5:2