Jesus Restores by Cheryl Lutz

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten..” (Joel 2:25, King James Version)

I was standing in the fitting room gazing into the mirror contemplating my choice, when the voice of my teenage daughter interrupted my thoughts.  “Did you find one, Mom?”  I affirmed; then her next words rocked my little fitting room world.  Well, let me see!

Gulp! She seriously wanted to see it.  I regretfully admit that this was one of the first shopping trips we had ever gone on together without angry words being tossed back and forth.  But this day had been different. My firstborn girl and I were having a beautiful time at the mall together.

I didn't want to alter the mood, so I sheepishly opened the door. To our mutual horror, her face melted before my eyes as she screamed, “Eww…not on!”  I quickly closed the door feeling mortified as I heard giggling coming from the surrounding rooms.  

She is now 24 years old, and we laugh hysterically about the day I opened the fitting room door shirtless, to show her the bra I had chosen. We also rejoice in the fact that we are now close friends.

My girls and me.  Hannah is on the left

 

Dear Ones, it was not always like this.  We allowed worlds to collide with my fashion-loving girl and our fishbowl existence as a Pastor's family.

I confess many times I objected to her clothing based more on what others might think, rather than personal and biblical convictions.  I allowed Satan to drive a wedge between one of my children and me.

Do you fight with your teens about clothing?  Are your convictions based on biblical principles or are they more about fear of what others think?

Stop and pray now for wisdom.  Open the lines of communication and ask for forgiveness for ungodly responses.  Explain the beauty and blessing of honoring our Heavenly Father in all things, including our clothing.  Make sure the bottom line is about glorifying Him, and not primarily about trying to meet other’s expectations. 

Like me, have you allowed the locusts (our enemy) to eat precious years with your children?  Take heart!  As we seek His face and obedience to His word he fulfills His promise to: “Restore the years the locusts have eaten!”  What He has done for my girl and me, He will do for you too!

Throwback of Hannah

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker.

You may contact Cheryl through her blog at:www.securelyheld.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

Twitter: @clutz40

Email: clutz40@gmail.com

Still Waters by Cheryl Lutz

                (Thoughts from Phillip Keller’s book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23)

  

“For sheep, it is the shepherd who finds the water. Very often, he is the one who with much effort and industry has provided the watering places.  Water is essential for the sheep’s well being.”  Phillip Keller

Likewise the water is essential for the well being of humans as well, but not just physically.” The human soul also has a capacity and need for the water of the Spirit of the eternal God.

Every human soul has a thirst for God, but sadly, many try to quench it with things of the world, which do not assuage the longing. 

As St. Augustine said many years ago, “O God! Thou hast made us for Thyself and our souls are restless, searching, ‘till they find their rest in Thee.”

“Only the shepherd knows where the sheep can find still, clean, pure water, water that will truly satisfy.  Unfortunately, sheep will often settle for polluted potholes, where they pick up a disease.” Phillip Keller 

Sadly, we humans are much the same.  Like Esau, we often settle for a pot of porridge over our birthright. 

Outside and inside the church, addictions continue to rise.  Drug, alcohol, sex, spending, you name it.  Many are trying to satisfy their thirst for God with polluted potholes, which make them sick. 

Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled (satisfied).”

We must continually eat and drink from the Word of God. 

In John chapter 4 we learn the story of a Samaritan woman who has gone to the city well, to draw water.  She encounters Jesus there. He teaches her about Himself (the living water).  He explains that if she receives His Spirit by faith, repenting of her sins, and giving her life to Him, her thirst will be satisfied for eternity. This woman was a great sinner, yet she came face to face with a GREAT Savior.  She had had five husbands, and the man she was currently living with was not her husband.

Friends that is why Jesus came to this earth, to satisfy our thirst and bring forgiveness for our sins! He says in Luke: "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32 NASB)

What about you?  Are you restless? Is your heart thirsty? Do you long for the abundant life that Jesus promised? 

Is it possible that you know the forgiveness of Christ, but you haven’t forgiven yourself? 

Come away by the still waters and find rest for your weary soul.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker.

You may contact Cheryl through her blog at:www.securelyheld.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

Twitter: @clutz40

Email: clutz40@gmail.com

"You're Being Followed!" by Cheryl Lutz

”Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” (Psalm 23:6)

I was in the drive-thru at Whataburger in Corpus Christi, Texas in my 1984 red mustang listening to the latest 80’s hits.  I happened to glance into my rearview mirror.   My body froze as I saw his menacing face.  It was my abusive ex-boyfriend.  How long had he been following me? I got my food and made a quick exit, deciding to head to the house of a friend of mine who lived on Padre Island. It was a terrifying ride over the bridge to the Island as he hugged my bumper and drove inches beside me trying to force me to pull over. 

How about you? Have you ever been stalked or followed?  It sure doesn’t sound like a good thing does it? Meditate on the above verse from Psalm 23.  When we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior, He becomes our Good Shepherd.   He not only guides and provides for us, but also sends His goodness and mercy to follow us…all the days of our lives!  The storms, the deep valleys, the heartbreaking losses when friends despise and forsake us, through the piercing pain of wayward children; His presence is still with us and His goodness and mercy are following us.  I often counsel ones going through gut wrenching trials to “look up.”  I can also exhort them to “look behind” with eyes of faith and see His goodness and mercy.  They are always there, following us, whether we feel them or not.  Cling to His promises and proclaim this truth until it truly fills your heart. 

By God’s goodness and mercy I arrived safely at my friend’s home, but, unfortunately, that was not the last of the struggles I had with that young man.  I stubbornly chose to defy sound counsel and put myself in harms way rather than look to my Good Shepherd to fill the void in my heart. However, I had received Him as my Savior in sixth grade, and He followed me!

“I fled Him down the nights and days

I fled Him down the path of years

I heard all about the love of the One

Who was following me

I clung to every shallow friend

The whistling mane of every wind

I feared that once I tasted that love

I could never let go…”  (Hound of Heaven, Michael Card)

How about you? Do you have a loved one on the run from the Hound of Heaven? Turn your despair into prayer. My sweet mother spent many sleepless nights praying for me. If they are His, He will not let them go.  Even in the midst of painful consequences of sin, His goodness and mercy are following them.

Now contemplate the last words of Psalm 23:6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

His goodness and mercy in this life and heaven too!  We will see Him face to face, and dwell with Him forever.

 

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Cheryl Lutz is passionate to teach women how to tear down strongholds and find freedom in Christ. A pastor’s wife for twenty-five years, Cheryl possesses a vibrant love for teaching the Word of God. She is the founder of Securely Held, LLC, where she works as a trained and experienced lay counselor and speaker.

You may contact Cheryl through her blog at:www.securelyheld.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/securelyheld

Twitter: @clutz40

Email: clutz40@gmail.com