O Taste and See ~ The Lord is GOOD! / Debbie Doll

Debbie Doll

Pastor's Wife

Bible Baptist Church

Prairie du Chien, WI

O TASTE AND SEE ~THE LORD IS GOOD! 

Psalm 34:8-9 “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him.”

Taste and see......THE LORD IS GOOD!!!

I love food.

I love to eat. I love to cook. I love to bake. I love good-for-me food. I love bad-for-me food. I love food.

Are you a picky eater? Do you love food? (Do you know that there are actually people in this world that FORGET TO EAT?!?!?! )

While I love food, I can also be a picky eater. I don’t like pancakes. I don’t like donuts. I don’t like bacon....foods that many love. I can be PICKY.

My kids like to eat, but they can often dislike something that is good for them. I made DELIOUS stuffed peppers with quinoa once. They were so good – and healthy, but my kids, to this day, joke about it being the worst meal they have ever been served. 😊

Have you tried jelly bellies? YUM! How about those ‘bean boozled’ jelly bellies? Those are NOT good!! They LOOK good....but are NOT!

In our lives, we want only what is good, and often we *think* we know what that is....we can be picky about our lives – we don’t want what we know to be best....we pick things that LOOK good (jelly bellies) but are NOT good (bean boozled)....we want only what is comfortable and easy. We can be picky. We often are not the best judge of “good”.

Of one thing we can be sure: God is GOOD. He is ALWAYS GOOD. He is what is best for us. He is good for us. He is good to us. He is good.

“O taste and see that the Lord is GOOD!!....”

Psalm 100:5 “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting and His truth endureth to all generations.”

HE IS GOOD!!

Psalm 72:18 “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things”

EVERYTHING HE DOES IS WONDROUS!

Do you know what “wondrous” means? According to Webster’s 1828 dictionary the definition of wondrous is: admirable; marvelous; such as may excite surprise and astonish. Wondrous.....

I love the book of Psalms. The whole book is so real. Real feelings of fear, anger, joy, discouragement. I love the whole book. Psalm 34 was written by David during a difficult time in his life. Things were not easy and ‘good’, yet he wrote and knew: “O Taste and see that the Lord is good....”

We KNOW God is good. WE KNOW.

He has proven Himself to be good 1000’s of times before in big and small ways, yet, in the midst of loss, struggle, and pain it is sometimes hard to SEE the good.

Corrie ten Boom wrote the following:

Often, I have heard people say, ‘How good God is! We prayed that it would not rain for our church picnic and look at the lovely weather!’ Yes, God is good when He sends good weather, but God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. I remember one occasion when I was very discouraged there. Everything around us was dark, and there was a darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. ‘No, Corrie’, Betsie said, ‘He has not forgotten us. Remember His word, Psalm 103:11 – For as the Heaven is high above the earth so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.’ Corrie concludes, there is an ocean of God’s love available – there is plenty for everyone. May God grant you to never doubt that victorious love – whatever the circumstance.

God is GOOD.

In our frailty as humans we sometimes fail to see or even doubt His goodness. I read once, “GOD’S PROMISES ARE GREATER THAN MY DOUBT” ....so let’s look at God’s promises....

Psalm 25:8 “Good and upright is the Lord....”

Psalm 73:1 “Truly God is good to Israel even to such as are of a clean heart.”

Psalm 86:5 “For thou, O Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.”

Psalm 119:68 “Thou art good and doest good....”

~When Joseph was sold into slavery – GOD IS GOOD.

~When Joseph was able to use his authority to save millions during a famine- GOD IS GOOD.

~When Moses’ mother had to let him be raised in Pharaoh’s house to spare his life – GOD IS GOOD.

~When Moses led the children of Israel out of bondage – GOD IS GOOD.

~When Lazarus dies – GOD IS GOOD.

~When Lazarus was raised – GOD IS GOOD.

~When the doctor says ‘the tumor is benign’ – GOD IS GOOD.

~When the doctor says ‘it’s cancer’ – GOD IS GOOD.

~When every bill is paid with money to spare – GOD IS GOOD.

~When you don’t have a dime – GOD IS GOOD.

His goodness isn’t dependent on what He does or does not do – He is good. He is always good.

Decide NOW to believe that God is ALWAYS good – no matter what has happened or what will happen. He is good. Don’t put God on trial when difficulties come. The verdict has already been given: GOD IS GOOD!

If life now is smooth and calm and easy, rejoice in knowing that GOD IS GOOD.

If life now is hard – your heart is heavy and you are struggling. Take comfort knowing that GOD IS GOOD!

“O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!!!”

No After Event Christmas Let Down This Year / Rhonda Morrow

Rhonda Morrow

Choir Member / Helps with Bus Kids

Grandview Baptist Church 

Beavercreak, OR

NO AFTER EVENT CHRISTMAS LET DOWN THIS YEAR

It’s taking years to learn but this year I got the closest to it

I looked Christmas from the eyes of child, the heart of mother, the spirit of a Christian

My life has been full, oh so very full, full of sadness, full of joy, full of disappoints, full of delights, full of hardship and full contentment, just as yours has been, I am sure. In my lifetime, I have suffered the loss of children, a spouse, parents and grandparents. I have relocated several times for several reasons. A few of those times by giving away and or leaving everything we owned to move somewhere else and start over completely with just a few items, 250 pounds of items for a family of 4 at that time, reduced from a family of 6 because 2 children were grown and own their own. Those moves are hard because you give up so much of the material things you gained, the things we measure life by. Vehicles, beds, clothes, kitchen items, bathroom items, pictures, accessories and this list can go on and on. But they are just that, material things. They don’t keep you pinned to one place or another. Only God keeps can keep you pinned to Him! He is the one thing you or I cannot lose, once we have Him. This is the only place that matters, right here nestled in God’s loving embrace, the rest are just places and things.

This year, this Christmas Season, has taught me a few things. After losing my husband three and half years ago I did not have my Christmas joy until this year, these last years have been a taxing struggle for me. It is so hard to be the mom and dad, the husband and wife [can I say I really like being the wife]. I cannot explain to a person who hasn’t lost a child the emptiness, who hasn’t lost a spouse the loneliness or who hasn’t lost a parent the insight. Yet these life events have been a huge growth in the Lord for me. One thing I have always had and been able to say it is well with my soul, God has everything in control, just keep the faith and it will in the end be okay. I am still keeping the faith, knowing the end hasn’t arrived.

But, these last few months it has been the hardest and I have had to come to place where I realize I need God more than just my faith. I need Him in my actions, my thoughts, my words, my deeds, not that He wasn’t there before, but now more personal to me the almost empty nester and widow. I always thought, I have my faith, I am saved, I pray, I read my bible, I go to church, I help out where I am needed, I lean on and depend on God. We have this thing between us, God and I, I do these things and He keeps life going for me, He provides every need and gives some wants too.

God told me in July to move again, so here I am in Clackamas County, Oregon, left everything in storage. I just knew he would provide a job and a place to live put my daughter in a Christian private school and maybe just maybe find me a husband and life would be good, in no time at all!

Well, I am here to tell you, He provided most of these things and life is good, but it is NOT what I had expected, at all! We are in a great church my daughter attends the school there, done by God’s loving grace. I have a job and we have a place to live. This is where my idea of what this should like and God answer to what the reality of what is looks like do not match; right now we live with a family from church, but we each have our own bedrooms and the people with whom we live with are a wonderful Christian, loving couple, whose children are grown. We have food to eat, warmth, electricity, and all we need for living. I keep telling myself, God is bigger than any stumbling blocks I face in getting our own place, this shouldn’t be a deterrent, God is bigger than everything and can make anything happen He wants to happen and still, we live with this blessed couple from church. Yes, I am grateful, but I am also confused and wondering why God is keeping us here, why? I pray all the time for our own place, I

pray and I am asking why He won’t give us our place. It has been months since we moved out here, am I being punished for a deed I cannot seem to remember? Why isn’t God moving us? What did I do wrong? Why is God holding out on us? Doesn’t He want the same thing, how can He not want the same thing? Then, finally, in a small, calm, loving voice God says, “Rhonda, my grace is sufficient for you at this time”, “Rhonda, you are here because I placed you here”, “Rhonda, stay put until I move you”. So what did I do before he spoke to me? I kept praying. I ask everyone in the world to pray with me for God’s will. I keep talking to God and praying, for my will and my wants knowing for sure it was God’s will too. I struggled to keep my hope, which interfered with my faith, which interfered with me listening to God, which interfered with daily life. And still I kept praying for the same thing, the same way.

Now the Christmas Season is upon us, oh what to do?!?! I know I cannot lose my faith now! I have to figure out how to deal with this Christmas season, while in someone else’s home, and find the joy my Saviour gave me. I have to be a better example to my daughter[s], son, grandkids, family and friends thus I cannot be selfish and miserly. I cannot ignore these last months of messages God has directed right to me, step up, step out, listen to God’s will, forget my will, grasp God’s ways let go of my ways. Do for others, don’t expect anything in return. So much to take in, to absorb, now, how do I accomplish this? What am I going to do to get to that point, to find my Christmas joy? It was then God reminded me in that small, calm, loving voice “Rhonda, my grace is sufficient for you at this time”, “Rhonda, you are here because I placed you here”, “Rhonda, stay put until I move you”. It was clear I needed to put to deed what He had been saying to me all along.

So, I gave of myself; I stepped in helped out where needed, gave blood and did what I could where I could. I spent money I did not have to spoil a teen girl on the giving tree. I bought stuff to bake Christmas goodies and gave away just about all but a few bites, to family, a men’s Sunday school class and the church for a ministry fundraiser. I participated in just about everything I was asked to or invited to. I sent out almost five boxes of Christmas cards to about every address in my phone and many not in my phone. I prayerfully considered what gifts and for whom should I buy and mostly stuck to it, with a couple exceptions. This was my joy and comfort, to serve others. God gave me a heart to serve and help, to show and share Him.

I had finally found my Christmas joy and I wasn’t about to let it go! I looked at Christmas through the eyes of child, enjoying all the wonderment, lights, decorations and excitement of the season. I looked at Christmas through the heart of a mother, wanting to see what her children and grandchildren see how they want their Christmas to look and tried to do all I could to help accomplish this for them. I looked at Christmas through the spirit of Christian, doing what God would have me to do, be a help to others, to serve in His name, share His love.

Yes! I can say I have learned to stop pressing God for answers just because I didn’t like that answer or could not believe He would not want the same thing I want. I know His grace is sufficient for me at this time. I am to have faith He IS God and knows what is best for me; I am to show faith in Him by doing the work he has given me and serving where He leads me to serve. I am to keep praying, but for others and let what God provides be enough for the day. I want to learn what God expects of me. I ask God to supply my needs and the desires of my heart, but will also asking Him to supply those desires.

Does God have a plan for my life? Yes, He does. Do I want His will for my life? Yes, I do. Am I able to change this situation? Not without God’s assistance. What am I to do? Prepare myself for His will in my life. What does this mean? Do not get into Gods way with my wants for my life over Gods wants for my life. Let God lead me.

This year as Christmas day ended and all of the presents were revealed and the excitement and anticipation ended, I still had all of my joy of my Saviour because I experienced Christmas from the eyes of child...the heart of mother…the spirit of a Christian. I pray I never forget this.

I still have a lot to learn, we should never stop learning, and with God’s love and grace I will keep working towards that goal He set for me one step and one prayer at a time.

Jesus is... / Mrs Heidi Cranston

Mrs Heidi Cranston

Pastor's Wife

Heritage Baptist Church

Burlington, IA

Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be
called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.”

This, of course, is a prophecy of Jesus.  Praise the Lord He is these five
things, and yet each one of us could name many more things we have found Him to be in our lives.

Jesus is a friend.  Proverbs 18:24b “There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”  Hebrews 13:5b “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”  I love the fact that no matter where I go or what task I am given, Jesus is right there with me. As the song says, “He’s as close as the mention of His name.”

Jesus is our guide.  Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.”  James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Many times I do not know for sure how to handle a situation, so I ask the Lord to help me and He leads me through.  I’m so thankful for the guidance Jesus gives.

Jesus has unconditional love.  There is nothing I could say or do that would cause Jesus to cease to be these things to me.  However, I am not able to enjoy all He is to me if I allow sin to block my relationship with Him. When I humble myself, confess  my sin, and turn my heart back to Him, He is right there waiting to be all that I need again!

We have such a great gift in knowing Jesus as our Saviour!  I challenge us as ladies to take a few minutes this Christmas season and think about all that Jesus means, then be sure to thank Him for it.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

How The Grinch.... my Joy? / Mrs Charlotte Cooper

Mrs Charlotte Cooper

Pastor's Wife

Calvary Baptist Church

Branson, MO

How The Grinch ...........my Joy?

.....wait...that's not right is it?!?!

No usually we blame the grinch for stealing Christmas and satan for stealing our Joy. But truly most of the time we give our Joy up willingly, when we decide to do things our way. I must not let anyone steal my Joy while serving the master.

So, I decided to write about Joy because it's so, SO important and God has laid this on my heart...

Joy is not just a word you see on a Christmas ornament at Christmas time, nor people with empty hearts and plastered on smiles because "I'm the. Pastor's wife" at church or because it's part of the "Christmas spirit" to air an act of happiness...........that's what the world has and it's fake as fake snow! True Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit and is not dependent on circumstances. I had to make a choice this week and it wasn't so easy.

I'm going to be real here and share my raw imperfect heart;

How slippery the slope of letting things get between you and the Lord is and how quick your Joy is cut off when that happens!

First off this was not my week, everything went wrong; hard decisions came up, manual labor, long days, and there were some things that were said behind my back that hurt me deeply when they got back to me (now granted it was meant as positive as possible...I think....but that doesn't really matter anyways.). I just had one of those moments where I wanted to give up and I was highly considering it. I literally made excuses to myself and husband why I could not go to church. I didn't want to talk to people and I especially was NOT HAPPY! I had let myself and circumstance that week steal my Joy. I wouldn't even go to God's word even though I knew it had the answers for healing my heart and restoring my Joy.

Honestly I felt mad at God, that  somehow all of this was His fault, I was serving Him after all, right?

On top of that I'm about 7 weeks pregnant with raging hormones... To say that I was a hot mess with mascara stains a mile long would be an understatement.😂

BUT GOD, in his GOOD MERCY, kept drawing me to Him even when I didn't want to talk to him, I had let sin creep in and I just wanted to be done and blankly stair at the tv and veg. 

I was weak, tired, and numb.

I was trying once again to carry these burdens myself and it had stolen my joy and hurt that Fellowship with my heavenly Father.

Sometimes as Pastor's wives we can stop serving just because we want to and have a burden for that capacity, to an attitude of serving because we have to, because jobs need filled and there's no one else to do it.

Oh the bitterness that can spring up against serving in ministry and the people in the church, not so good!

Can I please encourage each one of you to guard your heart and mind from this attitude? 

I have seen and experienced how this thinking will eventually drain and sap the joy and energy right out of your hearts.

When Joy is gone, all we are left with is bitterness and brokenness.

If you are at this point like I was, please come to Jesus. Sometimes it's hard but get back into His Word, come, and talk to Him!

So, why am I saying all this?

As a reminder we need to check our hearts daily. Pushing problems down till eventually a blowout happens will not help anything, the best thing to do is just take care of it. Restore the Joy of Salvation and serving Him by Remembering why us ladies do what we do!

Maybe a problem like this hasn't come up in your life yet.

There's a few ways to guard against these problems and protect your joy;

1.Don't let tiny roots of bitterness grow up in your heart and steal your Joy in life and in ministry.

2.Daily commune with him with that sweet, sweet fellowship!

3.Take everything that comes your way with Joy in the knowledge of God's love and Grace he gives so freely to handle any Heartache, betrayal, discontentment, etc..

We need to keep our heart right not just because our husband is a pastor, but to have a personal walk with the Lord regardless of the position your husband holds. We serve Jesus because of who he is and because he has so wondrously saved us! The Lord has to be real in our life or else it cannot stand the test of time! Going through the motions in our own strength will get us nowhere!

Our kids are watching us, How we serve the Lord is so important! We can't put up a mask on Sunday and then be different the rest of the week. Kids can see through hypocrites a mile a way. If you can't trust and follow God with Joy, what makes you think it will be real in your kid's life? If we truly believe God is real, it must shine through our lives. I have seen where a lack of Joy will lead to discontentment in where God has you and, if you let it, a lack of joy will eventually destroy you....satan wants that so that you can't be a good witness and be a tool God can use. 

Joy in the Lord and serving Him is one of the best witnesses for Jesus, at home and abroad.

We have something the world does not have, can they see it in your life? 

We have so much to rejoice in and to praise the Lord for, Salvation just for starters!! We cannot base our Joy on circumstances, material things, or on how we feel, but it is in Jesus that our joy and strength needs to be kept!

Without the Lord in every hour of everyday in your life, this life is rather pointless.

Nehemiah 8:10b

"For the joy of the Lord is your strength"

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18

Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

He is Joy in the midst of whatever you are in!

Choose Joy Today!