Leave And Cleave

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  Genesis 2:24

This scripture has new meaning to me. I have never known it as clearly as I do right now in the wake of our sons wedding.

The process of the man leaving his family and cleaving to his wife is a necessary one. In fact, the very word " cleave" defines for us the process.  Cleave, a verb, has two very different meanings. It can describe cutting or splitting something apart with a sharp instrument, or — oddly enough — it can describe sticking to something like glue. Both occurr in this cleaving process...the splitting apart and the sticking together... They just occurr in two different relationships. The splitting apart, or severing occurs with the parents and the sticking like glue occurs with the spouse. This is normal and good and biblical. I never noticed until now that this scripture says " a man" shall leave HIS father and mother and cleave to HIS wife. It doesn't say "a women" shall leave her father and mother and cleave to her husband. Why is this? 

It's the job of Christian parents to train their children in the ways of the Lord. For boys we are to train them to be men... Taking on the responsibilities of a man and that of his household. They are to provide for their family, to love their wife as Christ loves the church and to lead their family spiritually. For this to take place, there must be a cleaving ... Or separating from the parental covering and a cleaving or sticking like glue to the covering of Christ and the relationship to his wife. If this does not take place, problems will arise. Boys become men when they are given the responsibility of a man. If that responsibility isn't given over completely and without interference from others (primarily mothers)  their growth as a man of the home will be hindered. As a mom of three boys, I'm  gaining understanding in this area. Moms will always be moms,  but boys don't always stay boys. We moms have to let our boys become men. Is it painful and hard? Yes! Is it necessary? Yes! If we really want our boys to become godly men then we need to let go and let God have His way in their lives. We need to trust Him to mold our boys and shape them into men. Leaving and cleaving doesn't have to be so sad... It can be wonderful and exciting ... It's all how we look at it! Be encouraged moms when you're sad... That you are making a man not a boy!

The Final Pilgrimage!

" Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." Psalm 116:15

Joyce Eagelton home with Jesus

When we say that something is precious, we're saying that it's of great value to us... That it's costly and cannot be easily replaced... That's how the Lord feels about the death of those that have dedicated their life to serving Him. Joyce was faithful and true to serving her Savior to the end and the Lord was so pleased He brought her home. 

Joyce was so gifted. She was a master storyteller and a great communicator. Her mind was always thinking deep thoughts and yet she never took the little simple things for granted. It was rare to see Joyce coming into church without a handful of wildflowers that she picked along her way. She would often hand them out and tell you to put them in your Bible... As hers was full of them. She would leave them at her faorite scriptures as a marker.  Joyce was a Barnabas to me... Always encouraging me and pointing  me to Jesus. I know her listening audience  felt the same. We could  count on an encouraging word on KWAVE from our fellow pilgrim at 9am- noon. I would often turn on  the radio just to hear her sweet voice and kind words of encouragement. Joyce had such a wonderful way with her words. She was kind and sensitive to her listeners... and boy was she smart! She had a degree in Journalism and was a college English professor. She began working in broadcasting when she was 21 years old at a little station in Costa Mesa before coming on at KWAVE. Although Joyce was quiet, she was always contemplating her few but, very profound words. I have been blessed to have been able to spend time with Joyce on the radio, at church and just hanging out as friends. I have learned so much from her... Mostly just by watching her life shine for Jesus. She will truly be missed but now I have an even greater reason to long for heaven. Joyce was indeed precious ... One of the most precious honest people I know. I am sad and happy all at the same time. I know that she's in her element with her Savior and all the wildflowers she could ever imagine. Her body is new and whole and her health is restored. So for that we are blessed. Joyce you fought the good fight and finished your race...Enter into the joy of the Lord pilgrim!🌸

Cross Over

As we remember Pastor Chuck this 2 year mark of his being in heaven, I was prompted to revisit the story of passing the mantel .... 

 A mantle is a loose sleeveless cloak or cape used to cover the outer garments, normally made of sheepskin. 2 Kings 2:12 tells us that as Elijah was taken up his mantle fell upon Elisha…and Elisha took the mantle, but he didn't put it on as a covering…he used it as a tool, an instrument to accomplish the will of God. 

 The first thing Elisha did with the mantle is what he  saw Elijah do before he was take up in the firey chariot. He did what he was taught…what he saw with his own eyes…and what he knew worked! He was persistent and eager to learn…as he refused to go back when Elijah encouraged him to. He also was zealous as he boldly asked for a double portion of The Spirit! Most people would have been happy with all that the Lord did in and through Elijah, but Elisha wanted more. A bigger work of the Spirit of God! I love this about Elisha! God would bless the work and ministry of Elisha by giving him double the miracles as HE gave Elijah!

 I look at this story and can't help but see Pastor Chuck! He was our Elijah…our earthly example of what works and what doesn't. A godly man who heard and obeyed God. We have sat under him, studied with him, cried with him, laughed with him and watched God use him in an amazing way! Our desire is to take that mantel and be faithful to what we know and have been taught.

For Elisha he studied Elijah very carefully, and did exactly what his master did. His first miracle was also his first test…would he believe what he asked for" a double portion of God's spirit? As Elijah was taken up and his mantel fell on Elisha he would have a decision to make…"Do i believe what i prayed for can come true?" How many times have you prayed for something or someone and then questioned your prayer? Of course we don't question God's ability…we question our motives, our prayer and the situation on the other end. This is where faith comes in! Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. Elisha hoped that God would grant him his request, but he couldn't see it …that's until he was tested and passed! For Elisha he would have to cross over the same way they came…which was the Jordan River…this is where Elisha would put into practice what he had learned and observed from his master. If you want to follow Jesus you will have a Jordn crossing, a testing of your faith. Hang in there and cross over with confidence! 

The Power of Prayer

"Pray always without ceasing as the Bible says and praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplications for all the saints."Ephesians 6:18


With the release of the movie War Room hitting #1 in the box office many Christians are being stirred once again to pray.  Why is this? Have we forgotten it's power…it's purpose…it's privilege? No, I don't believe so. Most Christians know the importance of prayer, but are too busy to make it a part of their daily life. That is…until a crisis hits, then you will find them on their knees or on their face pleading with the Lord to answer, to work, or move on their behalf. This is good... for the Lord uses crisis in our lives to draw us to Him in prayer. He also can use a movie to stirred the hearts of His people back to Him in prayer. He can use any tool to accomplish this in our lives. I know for me, I was completely inspired by this movie and although it was not a true story, it resonates with many Christians who have heard, seen or experienced personally the supernatural power of persistent passionate prayer.

Prayer is not getting man's will  accomplished in heaven, it's getting God's will accomplished on earth. Many who enter into prayer do so to change their circumstances or to change someone else, but soon realize that the person doing the most changing is them! I have experienced this first hand in my own life! Many times I go to the Lord in my times of prayer interceding for others and soon realize that the Lord has reached down through my intercession and touched my own heart. He begins molding me and softening me toward a person or situation. This is the beautiful thing about intercession…it changes us first before changing anyone else. Intercession is praying on behalf of someone else. It is when we act as the go between God and man. Just like Moses interceded on behalf of the rebellious children of Israel. We too are called to intercede or be the go-between God and our loved ones. If we study the intercession of Moses we see that he confesses to not like what the people were doing…he didn't agree with what they were doing, and yet he loved them enough to labor in prayer and be the go-between them and God. The result…God was gracious and merciful and granted Moses request to save the people.

 One thing we don't want to happen is be inspired and touched by a powerful movie like this and do nothing about it! We want this to stir our hearts and move on it! We want to learn form this and apply it! But how? How do we  maintain a persistent prayer life? I suggest that you make it part of your daily devotional life not just on a need to know basis…but a need to breath basis! Prayer should become as vital to us as breathing! We cannot go on without it! Bring everything to the Lord in prayer…"Pray always without ceasing as the Bible says and praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplications for all the saints."

Worth the Wait!

"DO NOT grow weary in your waiting, for in the PROPER time you will reap the harvest, if you do not give up!" Galatians 6:9

No one likes to wait! Waiting is one of the most difficult things in the world to do. I marvel when I see little old men waiting so patiently for their wives while shopping. I can't help but think; "Have they always been patient?" Galatians 5 tells us that patience is a fruit of the Spirit. As we mature in our walk with the Lord patience is one of the areas that we grow in. We become more patient with others, and with the Lord. We accept that His timing is perfect and that He holds time in His hands. The problem is when we grow impatient in our waiting. What then? Well...then, is when we either take matters into our own hands like Abraham and we end up creating something of the flesh, or we grow weary in our waiting and get depressed. Both are not of the Lord. For the Lord has good plans for us Jeremiah 33:11 and David wrote in Psalm 37:4" Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."So, why fret? Why get depressed? Because …we do not like to wait! We want what we want and we want it NOW! right? Well…that's not how the Lord works. He works all things together for our good…ALL THINGS!  The good, the bad and the ugly! We must trust Him for His perfect timing, for our future, for our desires, for our needs, and our wants, and all the above! He is your ABBA Father who loves you so very much…don't you think He wants the best for you? He sees all and know all! He has a great vantage point in that He can see the beginning of our life…the middle and the end! He is preparing you for what lies ahead. Whether it be college, work, service, or marriage …the Lord is preparing you right now. Don't get ahead of Him…let Him lead the way and you follow close behind! Accept where HE has you…look at it as preparation. If you desire to be married…let Him mold you into the godly wife He wants you to be as you spend time getting to know Him first. Fall in love with Jesus and you will fall in love with the the right guy! "DO NOT grow weary in your waiting, for in the PROPER time you will reap the harvest, if you do not give up!" Galatians 6:9