Southern Gospel World
Southern Gospel Reviews and Inspirational Insights

Falling in Love With Jesus

• April 17, 2017 at 9:10 pm in
  • Reflection

When two people are in love, they want to spend every waking moment together. They talk to each other for hours, sometimes staying up late to do so. There is nothing they don’t share with each other. Everyone hears about this “wonderful” person in their lives. There just aren’t enough good things to say about him or her.

The last couple years, I have been thinking about how God desires this kind of relationship with us. If we love Him as much as we say we do, talking to Him and listening to Him would not be a chore. Talking about Him would be a natural flow because He would consume every part of our lives.

It is really sad when people only turn to God when they need something and, yet, the majority of people seem to do just that … if they talk to Him even then! It’s easy to sing, “Oh, How I Love Jesus,” but do we act like it? Does the world believe He’s our first love?

Love is more than words; it is an action. It is focusing on others instead of ourselves. It is going out of your way to please others. It is making an effort to have a close relationship.  All these are things that the Father desires from His greatest creation–people.

As I write this, I am examining my own heart as well. I’m sure I have flippantly said I love the Lord as well, but I don’t want it to be mere words. As God strengthens my body, I want it to be for His glory.  I want my love for Him to grow each day until I am more in love with Him than anyone else in the world. He has done so much for me. True gratitude would be to give Him my all. That includes my hopes, my dreams, my fears, my passions, my ambitions … everything that makes me “me” so that I can become more like Him. Once that happens, I will truly have succeeded in life.

You Are Loved

• April 13, 2017 at 10:36 pm in
  • Reflection

A friend and I were talking recently about how easy it is for some people to feel unloved. I expect there are more who feel that way than there are those who will admit it, but the fact is that, no matter who you are, God loves you so much. And I expect He’s not the only One. I think the fact that I am single enhances this “unloved” feeling for me and yet I know that one can be married and still have these feelings. Marriage does not cure all loneliness.

I think the words “God loves you” has become overused so that people miss out on the magnitude of that concept. This week leading up to Easter is the perfect time to think about the love of God.

He left the splendor of Heaven
Knowing His destiny
Was the lonely hill called Golgotha
There to lay down His life for me

When I think about the love God has for me, I am amazed. Not only does He never leave me but He has blessed me with brothers and sisters, both physical and spiritual, who lift me up when I am weary. He sends the Comforter when I am down. But I think what amazes me the most is that He called me–a shy, sad, insecure teenager who would have been voted least likely to succeed–and He said, “Follow Me.” Then He placed me in a ministry, allowing me to work with my family, and He has given me a platform to be able to do something I love for His glory, and that is to write. I also get to travel and spread God’s love to others. I’ve been a bit “down” this week but, in reality, I am so blessed.

No matter how low you get, never believe the lie that you are unloved. I expect there are people in your life who may not say it for whatever reason but who really do care about you. And even if everyone around you really has given up on you, you have a Father who longs for you to run to Him. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is there to hear your every joy, heartache, concern, victory, and anything else you’d like to share. That alone should be enough to put a smile on your face. Think about that these next few days. You are loved!

Are You Ready?

• April 12, 2017 at 8:00 am in
  • Reflection

Death is one subject a lot of people don’t want to think about. I think about it a lot. How will God take me? A car accident? Plane crash? Cancer? Heart attack? Will I live to be old, or will I go in the next few years? Only God knows the answer to these questions but what I do know is that my day will come, and I pray to be ready.

Last week, another legend of southern gospel music went on to his heavenly Home.  I was not a huge fan of Ben Speer’s voice but I had to smile at his exuberance on stage. I still see him on one of the early Gaither Homecoming videos in his Hawaiian shirt, grabbing the microphone periodically to encore a song or say something. I’m sure his family is reminiscing about the things they loved about him or the quirks he may have had.

There are times when one wants to give up but, for a Christian, that is not an option. We have all been chosen to run this race called life. Many are reaching the finish line before me but I will reach it one day too if I keep running. If I will look straight ahead and not turn to the right or left, I know my Savior will pick me up when I grow weary, and He will carry me down that narrow path.

The older I get, the more I realize how important it is to have a close relationship with my Father. There is so much that wants to distract me but I desire to hear His voice. I long to walk in His ways. I don’t want to be the one who says on Judgment Day, “Lord, didn’t I do all these things in Your name?” only to hear Him say, “Depart from Me. I never knew you!”

Whether my time is near or far, I want to be ready. I pray that you are ready as well. Don’t think you have forever. The fact is, you don’t know.

Random Thoughts 4-7-17

• April 7, 2017 at 2:16 pm in
  • Reflection

My dear readers, I am so sorry that it’s been a while since I’ve written. My site was down for about 6 weeks and then I was on the road for 2 1/2 weeks. This week, I’m home but have a lot of work to do in between catching up on rest.

It amazes me how easy it can be to “forget” the goodness of God. We get frustrated with the Israelites as they grumble and complain whenever things don’t go their way and yet we are often like that as well. I know, for myself, I often have to consciously remind myself of God’s goodness. Not that I ever really lose sight of that but I sometimes find myself focusing more on the negative instead of praising Him in all circumstances like I should. I have been blessed beyond measure and there is no excuse for self-pity and negativity.

I’m thankful for Brothers and Sisters who encourage me and bear with me when I am down, but I don’t want being “down” to define me. If I let discouragement define my life, then Satan begins to win and that discouragement will quickly become depression, which can be difficult to break out of. Therefore, I choose to say that God is good regardless of what is going on in my life. He is worthy of my praise. His plan is perfect whether I see it right now or not.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, life is short. Don’t waste it focused on yourself. Look up. Thank Him for sunshine. Thank Him for life. Praise Him for every bit of strength you have.

He didn’t promise my cross would not be heavy,

But He did say that He my load would bear,

He didn’t tell me He’d grant my hopes and wishes,

But He did say He’d hear my earnest prayer.    ~Dottie Rambo

Be Faithful

• January 25, 2017 at 7:43 pm in
  • Reflection

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!   ~Proverbs 20:6-7.

When I was a child, I was amazed at how many adults did not keep their word. They would promise, “One day, I’ll _________” but, alas, that day never came, and I would be disappointed.

When I was a teenager, my mom hired a man to tune our piano. I enjoyed watching him, and he talked to me as he worked. In the course of conversation, I mentioned that I like southern gospel music. He told me he would take me to a concert sometime. At that time, I’d lived long enough to know people often said things they didn’t mean so I didn’t figure I would ever see him again. A short time later, however, he called and asked if he could take my brother and me to a concert. This was over 25 years ago, and I still remember his kindness. He could have gone to the concert by himself, and I would never know, and I probably wouldn’t remember him but he took time to honor his word, which still blesses me today.

It is sad to me how many young people walk away from the Lord or never embrace Christianity, even when they have grown up in church and in Godly homes. I’ve fought to understand why, in order to be able to stop this trend. I believe a big reason for this is due to the hypocrisy they see in their parents and others in the Church. I know this is not the only reason an adult child will rebel but I expect it is the case in many situations. Young people pick up on whether people are real or phony, honest or crafty.

Even as an adult, I want to surround myself with people I can trust. I get so tired of dishonesty, backbiting, double lives, etc. I pray often that God will help me to be faithful. I want to be dependable, loyal, and trustworthy. I want to be faithful to point others to the Lord, not only in word but also by example. I believe if the world saw more faithfulness in God’s people, they would desire to know this God as well.

Be Real

• January 22, 2017 at 1:05 pm in
  • Reflection

When I was young, it was discouraging to me how difficult it was to get close to people. Everyone would put on their best face and was always “fine” when asked how they were doing. This was not my reality but I followed suit. It seemed like no one wanted to really know what was going on in others’ lives anyway, unless it gave them something to gossip about.

The last few years, I have been encouraged by the people God has brought into my life who will be real with me. Now, being real does not mean being down and complaining all the time. If you can never testify to God’s goodness in some area, you are being no more real than those who try to convince you that everything is “fine.” Being real does, however, mean admitting when you are struggling, being willing to lend a listening ear or a helping hand to those who are down, not pretending to be someone that you are not. In the past, I have seen myself as a strong woman but sometimes I’m just not.

I struggle with not wanting to bring people down and yet not wanting others to think I am someone I am not. I am a Sister who loves the Lord and wants to serve Him and encourage others but there are days when my focus turns to myself and I have to fight to not be discouraged or self-centered. I want my emphasis to be more on God’s goodness but I don’t ever want to be too proud that I can’t ask others for prayer or encouragement. I believe God will help me with this as I keep seeking Him.

I encourage you, my readers, to find people you can be real with and who will be real in return. It’s a lonely existence when there is no one who will help to bear your burdens.

Thoughts on Fear

• January 8, 2017 at 9:56 pm in
  • Reflection

I’ve been pondering lately what makes people afraid. To fear is to not trust God but the average person would not give that as a reason for their fears. I know, in my life, my biggest fears have been due to thinking God would not intervene in a bad situation. The bottom line was that I wanted what I wanted and I did not want to accept the fact that God may not give me what I wanted. (How selfish is that!)

In talking with a friend recently, I realized that fear in some people may have to do with knowing that one is not right with God. Maybe they fear God will do bad things to them because of how they are living, or maybe they’re afraid of dying because they know that they are not ready to meet Him.

If this is the root of your fear, it is not too late to repent of your sins and ask God’s forgiveness. God did not give you that spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). He desires for you to walk in faith and victory, completely trusting Him in everything! This is not impossible.

When one knows that there is nothing hidden in their life that is displeasing to the Lord, he or she can lay down that fear and walk in complete trust, knowing that God will take care of them. Sure, disappointments will still come. We will still face financial stress, sickness, death, and a myriad of other things but we will also be able to say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him” (Job 13:15).

I am praying for strength to trust Him more than ever this year. This past few years, I’ve dealt with more fears than I remember dealing with previously, but I know in reality that nothing can happen to me that my God doesn’t allow. I am continuing to learn to rest in that. I pray that you are too.

Beloved of God

• January 5, 2017 at 11:48 pm in
  • Reflection

And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent.  ~Daniel 10:11

And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.  ~Daniel 10:19

I admit I’m a bit different in the way I think sometimes. Words jump out at me and send my mind to wandering. As I was reading the Book of Daniel a few weeks ago, I was struck by the angel calling him “greatly beloved.” To me, that speaks more than just, “You are loved.” “Beloved” means “adored, cherished, treasured, highly regarded, esteemed, much loved.” Daniel held a special place in God’s heart, and God wanted Daniel to know that.

We all know that God loved the world that He gave His Son but it seems like there are some who hold an especially close place in His heart. With Moses, God talked face to face (Numbers 12:8). At one point, God stated, “I have loved Jacob, but Esau I have hated” (Malachi 1:2-3). He called David a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22). I’m sure there are more examples I could give, but you get my point.

I don’t write this to begin a doctrinal dispute. I just feel like it’s easy to take God’s love for granted and to think that, since God loves us, He will love us regardless of how we live. I want to study the lives of people like Moses and Daniel and David and find out what it was that made God pay special attention to them. They were just men and yet each one of them had a heart that was fully toward the Lord.

I pray that God will find me drawing ever closer to Him, that nothing will be more important than spending time with Him and taking time to hear what He would speak. I pray that pleasing Him would be my goal before anything else. I pray that He would say to me, “O daughter, greatly beloved, I am here.” I can’t think of anything that speaks peace more than that.