My visit with Lundstroms was a delight! Larry and Gloria Lundstrom’s vision is summed up in one word—EVANGELISM! As their driving force for over 50 years, they have preached the simple, transforming salvation message of Jesus Christ. It was a joy to spend time with them, catch up, and connect.
Here is the introductory promo from Marne, the Administrative Director for Larry Lundstrom Ministries:
We have a treat, delight, and guaranteed uplifting time on this week’s COFFEE & CONNECT LIVE (Wednesday @ 11 AM) as we host special guest, Judy McEachran.
Judy, an ordained minister of the gospel, pastor, preacher, gifted musician, and writer, is passionate about God’s word and invites each reader to join her on this journey of cultivating a God-honoring character. She pastored churches in the Midwest and with retirement, moved to Arizona.
She is humbled not only by the gracious love of God but by her devoted husband, also a minister of the gospel, and growing family of sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren.
We know you will be blessed by what she has to share with us!
What a great time it was! Gloria is a sister to our dear friends, Wes and Diane Brooks. The Lundstroms, Lowell and Connie, and Larry and Gloria, traveled the country doing evangelistic meetings as their life ministry. Altars were flooded with people coming to Jesus.
One of my earliest recollections of Lundstroms was at a Teens for Christ meeting I attended while in high school. The Lundstroms, Message For America, presented Jesus, through music ministry and preaching. At the altar call, I saw my friend across the room and walked over, and asked if she wanted to go forward to pray. She said, “yes.” We became close friends after that experience.
This first photo is from their earlier days. Left to Right: Connie, Lowell, Gloria, Larry
Although Lowell and Connie are with Jesus, Larry and Gloria continue to reach the multitudes. One of those recent avenues is through their Coffee and Connect Live each Wednesday at Larry Lundstrom Ministries.
Larry and Gloria asked me to share the importance of God’s Word and worship.
“The more we can see Him….the more we are able to worship.”
“Read—listen—hear God speak!”
“God is alive through these pages.”
The more we know, see, comprehend, and grow in the knowledge of God through the pages of Scripture, the more we can truly worship Him, “in spirit and in truth.”
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”John 4:24.
My spirit, the very core of my being, is in awe of the Divine One who gave His all for our salvation and eternal life.
Worshipping in truth is where the Scripture is vital in comprehending who Jesus is. We learn more about Jesus through the Word of God, The Word of God describes both Jesus and our Bible that testify of Jesus (John 5:39).
In addition to the truth of who Jesus is, worshiping in spirit and truth calls me to live in obedience to God’s Word. Thinking I can worship by living in the gray, outside the commands of Jesus, taints authentic worship times. Worshipping in truth speaks of worship through obedience to God’s Word and in the humility of God’s grace. More than a certain style or genre of music, it’s a matter of the heart fully surrendering to our Savior and Lord.
Damage to the depths of our being caused by a betrayal, slanderous attacks, or a broken relationship wreaks havoc emotionally and spiritually. Feelings of worthlessness, remorse and depression accompany the pain. In such times, will peace ever come?
I love the scripture that gives us insight into how God restores us through the many trials of life.
May God speak to you with encouragement from the life of David in one of the darkest days of his life.
More than half (58%) of all adults wish they read the Bible more often. Fifteen minutes a day will help you accomplish reading through the Scriptures in one year. You will glean God’s secrets, know right and wrong, find clear direction, love God, learn how to love others. Make Bible reading more than a wish. Begin today.
Knowing the Scriptures is like an artist who blows off the dust of a picture and discovers it’s a masterpiece. It’s like hidden treasure unearthed. God speaks through His Word.
God spoke through human writers led by the Holy Spirit to include the words directed and authored by God. Incredibly, all sixty-six books (66) have a unique unity, written by over 40 writers, in three continents, over 1600 years. Our modern copies’ accuracy is very close to the original languages of the Old and New Testaments. God’s Word is eternal.
The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Matthew 24:35
I WILL KNOW GOD THROUGH DAILY BIBLE READING.
1. God reveals secrets to me.
Much like a love letter, God reveals his nature and character through the pages of Scripture. Through challenging days, God’s Word speaks to my needs. God’s Word gives answers to morality, ethics, emotional health, and life. The Word of God is living and active, with the power to dive into my heart and renew or change my thinking. I understand more about the secrets of God’s love and will for my life.
The message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. Colossians 1:26
I’ll lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables —confirmations that it is, in fact, I, God, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. Isaiah 45:3 MSG
2. The Bible teaches me right and wrong.
Not only do the commandments guide me, but there are also many instructions to right relationships in marriage, children, enemies, and employers. Within its pages, the principles of every relation of life are found.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
3. The Bible keeps me from sin
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11
The Bible is a textbook on morality, ethics, relationship, work, wisdom, creation, right and wrong, values, rules of conduct, and more. The commandments and promises of God keep my heart in check. When I listen and do what the Bible says, I will know God’s blessings and help each day.
“The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible.”
American Evangelist, Dwight Moody (1837 – 1899)
4. Scripture reveals the direction for my life.
When we seek the Lord through his Word, we will have a sense of the Holy Spirit’s leading and guiding us in the right ways.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25:9-10
5. My love for God grows.
When spending time in God’s word, I learn more about God and his character and nature. When I was dating my husband, I re-read over and over every letter I received in the days before texting and email. In his letters, my mind was overflowing with his love for me. I found out more about him, too. Similarly, the more we read God’s love letter to us, the more we’ll grow to know and love God. The more we’ll have God’s blessings and promises.
If you love me, keep my commands. John 14:15
6. My love for others grows.
Relationships can be challenging. The Bible teaches us to love our enemies, how to deal with anger, and wait on God to take care of vengeance. Without God’s instruction, we would easily remain in our human, selfish nature. With God’s Word, we learn to rise above, conquer, and overcome the carnal, sinful nature as we allow God’s character to grow in us, as evidenced by our behaviors.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:44-45
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19
MORE THAN A WISH, BUT A LIFE-CHANGING REALITY
More than half of all adults wish they read the Bible more often. Today is the day to change from wishing to reading!
Daily set a regular time to read with a prayerful attitude, take notes on what God speaks to you, and read with a plan to complete the entire Bible this year. Tell someone of the nuggets of truth God reveals through this Book of Books!
A few minutes a day will change your life.
O how I love and treasure the revelation of your word; throughout the day I fill my heart with its light! Psalm 119:97 TPT
It’s easy to become offended. Responding to an offense in a way that honors God is challenging. As always, Scripture gives us help.
“A person’s wisdom yields patience;it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11).
The word “glory” refers to a person’s beauty of character, honor, or virtue. The NLT translation states it this way, “Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.”
God calls us to develop a character that resembles Jesus by overlooking offenses with forgiveness and honor. He died for those who offended him. How can we develop the faith we need to be less offended and be more like Jesus?
Let’s lay the groundwork.
Jesus told a parable of the soils found in three of the four gospels. Look at the text in Matthew 13:20-21
The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away (they are offended).
The word “offense” comes from the Greek word skandalon, our word for scandal. Being offended can become a trap that snares your thinking, actions, and relationship and causes you to stumble. Not becoming offended is a matter of faith development and character that honors God. When offenses take root, relationships break, a marriage ends, or people at church leave because of an offense. Jesus called it a “lack of faith.”
THE HOME CHURCH WAS OFFENDED BY JESUS
Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things And they took offense at him” (Matthew 13:54-57).
When Jesus showed himself a teacher and rabbi, they became offended. They couldn’t believe Jesus was more than the familiar neighbor kid.
Isn’t it interesting that church people today seem to be easily offended? Whether over Scripture preached, or someone didn’t shake their hand, or didn’t say “hi.” Someone else was offended because the pastor encouraged them to read the Bible daily, or the message had too much talk about Jesus. Offenses are a trap that reveals faith or lack of it.
Jesus responded, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home. And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”
Offenses are often by those close to us.
THE PHARISEES WERE OFFENDED
Some Pharisees and teachers of religious law now arrived from Jerusalem to see Jesus. They asked him,”Why do your disciples disobey our age-old tradition? For they ignore our tradition of ceremonial hand washing before they eat” (Matthew 15: 1,2 (NLT).
Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. (Matthew 15:3-6).
Then Jesus called them hypocrites, “These people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me.”
The disciples said to Jesus, “Do you realize the Pharisees were offended by what you just said” (v12).
Jesus told his disciples the Pharisees it’s not what we do on the outside, like washing hands that defile us, but what is in our heart.
But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you “(v 18 – 20).
When I’ve been offended, it’s about me! Jesus warned that offenses would come, but it’s a chink in my spiritual armor to dwell on the offense and not deal with it. The hackles of self-importance tell me to get even, snapback, and make sure my rights are intact. Or, I keep thinking about it over and over. But Jesus says there’s a better way. Let it go. Choose God’s path to take the high road.
The offended, religious Pharisees were jealous of Jesus, his teachings, miracles, and his following. Their jealousy and anger eventually turned into cries of “Crucify him.”
Offenses cause people to stumble in their faith.
OFFENSES ARE A SPIRITUAL MATTER.
Look at Jesus, our example. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23).
It’s a journey of faith and practice to become like Jesus. It’s an uphill climb for all of us, but the Lord wouldn’t have put the directives in Scripture if we couldn’t do it!
BREAK THE TRAP OF OFFENSE BY FORGIVING THE OFFENDER
When offenses come, that same old evil weed of self-righteousness pokes its head up. Left unattended, we become the rocky soil that doesn’t have deep roots of faith. Forgiveness is a cure for self-righteousness. It takes the venom out of the offense and frees you from its effects.
“Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart.”Corrie Ten Boom
Jesus taught the principle of forgiving. The Lord’s prayer says when we forgive others their offenses, God will forgive us of ours. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).
Forgiveness is easier when we realize God sees the offense. “For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment” (1 Peter 2:19).
Forgiveness is easier when we understand God will take care of injustice against us. Jesus entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 2:23
Forgiveness is easier when we remember that God forgives us as we forgive others.Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
‘Anger, like a fire, when covered goes out, but when given the smallest vent consumes everything in its path.”
Forgiveness breaks the trap of being offended.
Forgiving is a choice, not a feeling. Being offended can stumble your faith. “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”
Photo by Lina Trochez @Imtrochezz unsplash
BREAK THE TRAP OF OFFENSE BY GIVING HONOR TO THE OFFENDER
Jesus said we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute (might I add, offend) you! (Matthew 5:44). We honor God when we seek to show honor, even when we don’t agree or like them (at the moment, or ever). God says we are to honor others above ourselves (Philippians 2).
Although counterintuitive, God created each human being in the image of God with life and blood, worth, and value. Whether they know it or not, whether they are evil or good, each one is made in God’s image and deserving of honor.
“Show proper respect to everyone. Love the family of believers. Have respect for God. Honor the emperor. 1 Peter 2:17
Honoring others helps curb the offense. Not all offenses come from evil Nero. The other person may be having a bad day, may not have noticed you (oh, my), or didn’t say what you thought you heard. We honor others by giving them allowances and understanding we’ve had days where we failed to be the best example of a faithful follower of Jesus.
God created all of us in His image, and we are to honor others, even those we dislike. Though not easy, honoring others will keep us out of the trap of being easily offended. Actions follow decisions, not feelings.
James puts it this way:Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves….You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way (1:1,3 The MESSAGE)
With God’s grace and help and humility (do not think more highly of yourself than you ought), becoming offended will be MINIMIZED, and becoming more like Jesus will be MAXIMIZED.
In the good soil, we work at weeding out the evil weeds of pride. It costs painful toil to break up and remove rocks, cut and burn the briars in the cold or heat. It’s hard work! But, It’s a commitment of perseverance in keeping our soil good and productive.
You may cut the evil weed self-righteousness up; but when you think you have got to the last root of it, it will be shooting up again before you can sharpen your knife to cut it up once more.This evil thing is bred in man’s nature. (Charles Spurgeon Sermon 2594 “The Offence of the Cross 1898).
A CALL TO ACTION
Offenses trap us, weaken faith, and raise our self-righteous pride with a sense of one’s importance. Do offenses show we think more highly of self than we ought? It takes a measure of God’s grace and humility to keep pride resting adequately in faith.
God sees each offense and will help us as we willingly choose to honor Him by honoring and forgiving those who offend us.
Picture by Matt Botsford Unsplash
LET’S PRAY:
Lord, give me a heart like yours – one that is not easily offended. I want to become more like You. Help me forgive and honor others when I’ve been offended. I choose to obey your Word and grow into Your unoffendable heart. In the name of Jesus, my Savior, Amen.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life (Psalm 42:8 NIV).
Sometimes a new song doesn’t do it! But often, a familiar song will. Singing a song multiple times causes it to rise in my spirit; the God-breathed part of me, like an anchor, dropped in the ocean’s depths of the real me.
As a child of God, I am the temple of the Holy Spirit “who lives in me” (1 Corinthians 6:19). What I put into my heart and mind, whether a spiritual song or a scripture, may revive in the night seasons of life. And what was once buried in my spirit, at the moment needed, with the attending, gentle work of the Holy Spirit, surfaces with a melodious breath of life — like a song.
Our son, Tom, finished his senior year of high school mid-year, and his friend Dominique, an exchange student from Switzerland, invited him to his home. On a trip of a lifetime, Tom took his snowboard and was off. We didn’t know about all the adventures these young men would face.
On a Sunday after church, a few days before Tom was to fly home, we received a call from Dominique’s mom that shook our insides. Tom and Dominique were snowboarding in the mountains, and Tom had fallen and was flown by a medical helicopter to a Swiss hospital. Stunned, we immediately cried out to the Lord.
The high cost of flight tickets, because of short notice, and with Tom scheduled to fly home in four days, made us uncertain of what to do.
Time for bed came, but sleep was fleeting, and I found myself in the living room weeping before the Lord. I was concerned about Tom being alone in a foreign country, his severe injuries, and wondering if he could fly home as scheduled. And my heart longed to be with him.
In those heartache moments, an old song from years past came flooding into my thoughts, and I knew God was speaking: “I believe the answer’s on the way. I believe the Lord has heard me pray. Cast not away your confidence, says the Lord of Hosts. Now, by faith in Him alone, I stand, firmly held by His Almighty hand. Fully trusting in His promise, praise the Lord.”
Like a miracle, the Holy Spirit told me to stand firm and not cast my confidence away but trust God. In those divine moments, God’s comfort and peace brought the assurance I needed: Tom would get home safely. I went back to bed and was able to sleep.
The sweetness of the Holy Spirit in those precious moments assures you and me that He is with us: “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8: 16). That part of me that never dies is connected to the Holy Spirit and He is the Helper, Comforter, Guide, and Truth-teller. He intercedes for us in our times of need (Romans 8:26) and brings things to our remembrance: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).
A constant stream of praise music and scriptures and experiencing God’s presence, like treasures, are buried deep into our spirit. In those night seasons of life, the Holy Spirit, living within, brings to remembrance exactly what is needed to face and get through the challenging and fearful days.
You may wonder what happened to Tom.
We had a call from the Swiss hospital. A nurse said, “hold a minute,” and then Tom was on the phone. He was hard to understand because of the neck brace that didn’t give his mouth much room for talking. Initially, they thought he had broken his neck, but thankfully, he hadn’t.
We were thrilled and relieved when Tom’s flight arrived home, complete with a neck brace, his luggage, and a large snowboard. Tom was on heavy medication and sleeping soundly on the flight. Thankfully, a little girl angel woke him, or he would have kept flying to who knows where.
In that night season, God spoke through an old song I hadn’t sung for years: “I Believe the Answer’s On the Way.” But the Holy Spirit, “who brings all things to remembrance,” gave me the precious gift of knowing God was working, “Now, by faith in Him alone, I stand, firmly held by His Almighty hand. Fully trusting in His promise, praise the Lord.”
Dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit
While waiting for Tom to come home, I kept rehearsing that song either out loud or in my mind. Each time it reminded me of God’s promise: I could trust Him! Although we were in South Dakota and Tom was in Switzerland, almost 5000 miles apart, it posed no problem for our everywhere-present God.
The more we plant in the good soil of our spirit the spiritual songs, Bible verses, and hymns of praise, we can expect the Holy Spirit to connect with us in our times of need and speak peace. We are admonished in Ephesians 6:19: “speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”
In a night season, Paul and Silas, in prison for preaching the gospel, began singing hymns to God at midnight. A violent earthquake shook the place, opened the prison doors, and everyone’s chains fell off. The jailer called for the lights, rushed in, and fell trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, asking, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:25-29). A night season was transformed by the hymns of praise that rose from their spirit.
I’m so thankful we are connected with the Holy Spirit who “lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17), especially when we need a song in the night season.
By the way, if you were moved by this story of God’s faithfulness, I invite you to listen to my YouTube channel Weekend Worship video entitled, “Jesus, You’re My Song .” https://youtu.be/3J1SmcuZqmg
Listening to it today reminded me that Jesus is “the sunshine on a rainy day”—during the hard days of life. He’s “the light that lights the darkest way”—when we are confused and feeling lost. Jesus is “my strength when mine has slipped away,” feeling weary of the battle, and “Jesus is my song!” So, “I’ll praise Him all day long because He’s the answer to my life, and He’s my song.”
December 17th our granddaughter, Emily, was married to Blake Thompson. What a joy it was to celebrate with them even though it was in South Dakota in winter (-54 windchill one day – uffda). We live in Arizona so our blood is thinned and it was cold! But hearts were melting with joy and gladness! I thought you might like to see my husband, John, and me with the happy bride and groom!
Now to the reason for my writing to you today. When I started this blog, I was being obedient to share the things in my heart that would encourage my readers to love God more because of the Scriptures. Since I developed my website, I have attended writer’s conferences, connected with published writers, practiced, and joined an international writing group, Word Weavers, to improve my craft of writing.
Along with attaining a new level of writing, I’ve given many hours to the study of the Scripture, not only while I was pastoring, preaching, and teaching, but through my desire to know God at a deeper level. I have been able to devote more time to reading, studying, taking notes, and writing in retirement.
I’m so thankful/indebted/overwhelmed/satisfied/pleased/grateful for God’s Word! It’s divinely inspired by God, and more than any other book, the words are from “the very mouth of God,” according to Jesus in Matthew 4:4, and “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12), It never runs out of “new” and fresh thoughts of God’s speaking to my needs, fears, desires, or guidance.
At the start of this new year, it is a great time to read the Bible if you haven’t already. The most important book of all time is ours. God’s words are written in the pages, and we have access to them. I am thankful for the different translations. Each time we open the cover, we learn more and more.
You can check out the online options here if you need a Bible reading plan.
Reader, please know of my gratitude to you! Thank you for being a reader/subscriber and interested in learning more from God and growing into an authentic follower.
If you haven’t checked out my worship music on my channel, you can do so here or on the pull-down menu. Let the times of worship and peace of God fill your heart and soul.
My prayer is that you will drink deeply of the well of water springing up into eternal life.
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14 NIV
THANK YOU, DEAR READER! If you have questions or comments, please leave them in the comment section or send an email to me at pastorj.mc@gmail.com.
We cannot stop God from loving us with the promise of His favor and blessings in this life and into eternity. Nothing can separate us from His love. Our part is to be a student of God’s Word. Like Joshua, who kept the Law, meditated on it day and night, and did everything in it, he knew God’s favor and victory.
Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
Here’s my recent article on “How Can We Honor God’s Word in Joshua 1:8?