Rachell Page-Wood

July 8, 2015 by Rachell Page-Wood

Living Free

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” ~ Romans 8:2

What glorious liberating truth! Living free from the burden of guilt and the sorrow of sin is the beautiful gift of atonement provided for us through the blood of Jesus Christ, which is the remission for our sins. The apostle Paul admonished believers to be “filled with all the fullness of God.” He was referring to our spirits and our “inner man” being strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus taught that we could overcome the heartache of life through faith in God. He promised a helper who would not only comfort and encourage us, but who would also empower us to live free. This is the Holy Spirit. In the life of the believer, the Holy Spirit should be our inspiration, our revelation, and the manifestation of the presence of God in our lives. He must also be our imitation and our empowering motivation. Paul prayed that Jesus Christ “would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;” and he concludes with, “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Jesus instructed us to prayerfully walk in His love and in His peace. We are also firmly instructed to live our faith, going into “all the world” and walking in His Light, sharing His truth. Believers are not called to be antagonist, but to be activist. Complaisant passivity is not for the followers of Christ, nor is nasty, judgmental, confrontational behavior. Jesus was, and is, the epitome of love. He was a non-conformist who strongly urged His followers to live His example. The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

We are called to let the Light of God within us shine brightly in a dark world. God is the author of new beginnings. Only in Christ will be find hope and new life. This can be a new day of freedom for you.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease for His compassion never fails. They are new every morning: Great is Thy faithfulness.” ~ Lamentations 3:21-23

“The word of God is timeless and is relevant for us today. Embrace it and live free by the power of His presence working in you.” ~ Ephesians 3:20, 21

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January 28, 2015 by Rachell Page-Wood

Rejoice in the Lord!

“Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness.” ~Psalm 89:15, 16

What does it mean to acclaim the Lord? The word “acclaim” means to greet with strong approval or loud applause, to hail or to cheer. In other words, taken within the context of scripture, it means, “praise the Lord” and “rejoice in the truth that He is God and His name is above all others.”

As we learn how to praise Him, or perhaps more significantly, as we are willing to praise Him, scripture declares that “we will walk in the light of His presence.” We are living in a time of great peril and spiritual darkness. To focus on the deteriorating condition of our society, rather than keeping our eyes on Jesus, will overwhelm us. Often we experience sorrow and great difficulty on a personal level, as well as worldwide devastation. The issues of life are challenging and at times very hard to deal with.

Walking in the light of His presence is the only way we will truly be encouraged and hopeful. He causes us to “rejoice in His Name” and “exult in His righteousness,” lifting us above our surrounding circumstance and offering help and solutions for difficult problems. Scripture teaches us that He lives in the praises of His people. We will not survive on only occasional visitations of the presence of God in our lives. What we need is a habitation of His presence.

“Anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) As we believe, and are willing to bring to him the offering of our praise, He lives in us! When we praise and worship our God, a transformation happens that is supernatural and sometimes difficult to explain. We can only say that surrounded by His presence, He lifts our burdens and fills us with His joy. He elevates us above our circumstance, removes our fear and gives us His peace. (John 14:27)

Today, praise Him! Allow the light of His presence to illuminate your life and dispel any darkness. Let the Lord “turn your mourning into dancing” and give you peace and confidence. (Jeremiah 31:13)

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January 20, 2015 by Rachell Page-Wood

Accepted by God

Isn’t it wonderful that when we come to the Lord there is no prerequisite required for salvation? We only need to believe, to come as a child and receive all He is giving. The beauty of the love of God is that we are always accepted. We are never rejected under any circumstance.

Jesus receives us, and embraces us with open arms. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me, I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37) We are always accepted by God. That acceptance means that we are received, we are welcomed, we are adopted and approved of and we are loved. Understanding this amazing love of God gives us confidence, peace and joy.

God never looks at the outward appearance of man; He always looks at the heart. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by a man’s face or height, for this is not the one…I don’t make decisions the way you do! Men judge by outward appearance, but I look at a man’s thoughts and intentions.'” ( I Samuel 16:7)

The Lord is not concerned with our family tree. He is not impressed or influenced by our social position, by how we look or our financial status. He loves us just the way we are, and cares too much to leave us that way!

We are accepted and understood by God. He does not misinterpret our actions. He knows our intentions. He does not misjudge our personalities. He knows our hearts, even our very thoughts! (Jeremiah 17:10) This truth should urge us to live for Him wholeheartedly and take comfort from the realization that He knows us and still loves us! “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) David urged his son Solomon to “know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” (I Chronicles 28:9)

When we realize the magnitude of the Father’s love for us, we can be free from loneliness and the fear of rejection. The Lord wants us to live in harmony with Him and be filled with confidence and courage. He will always be with us. “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ( Matthew 28:20) He will always love us and He will always accept us. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

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January 9, 2015 by Rachell Page-Wood

Confidence

“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” ~ 2 Timothy 1:12

Until we know the depth of His love, we will never truly experience the confidence that comes from knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are loved by God and called for His purpose. That confidence comes when we understand who we are in Christ.

One of the most beautiful and powerful passages of scripture is the Apostle Paul’s prayer for realization of the power that works in us through the love of God and the Spirit of His Son. Picture Paul as he is writing from prison, pouring out his heart, passionately pleading and exhorting the church in Ephesus.

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end, Amen.” ~ Ephesians 3:14-21.

Paul speaks to us today. His prayer is life changing. What we do does matter, but who we are matters more for it enables us to confidently live for Christ! When we understand and believe who we are in Christ, there is a rest that enters our soul which cannot co-exist with fear, doubt or unbelief.

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November 10, 2014 by Rachell Page-Wood

Thankfulness

“He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” ~Psalm 50:23 (NIV)

For most of us thankfulness does not come naturally. A grateful heart and positive attitude is a choice and requires determination. Strangely, sometimes the more we have, the less we appreciate it. Years ago when we were children, in an attempt to enlighten my sisters and me and emphasize just how good we had it, our Dad told us, when-I-was-a-child stories. At the time, those stories went in one ear and out the other. But, it’s amazing how clearly they came back to us when we became parents!

Recognizing the blessings of God and understanding His provision for us, both spiritually and physically, will produce a grateful heart. Surrender to God is a key that unlocks the door to thankfulness. Submission to His authority and allowing Him to be Lord over all of our lives teaches us to trust Him. As we honor the Lord, God in our lives is increased and self is decreased.

Sometimes we may feel as if we have nothing to be thankful for. Perhaps the cares of life have distorted our perspective. Adversity, sorrow and the challenges of life produces thankfulness in some, bitterness in others. We must be careful not to allow the enemy to deceive us. If we have accepted Christ as Savior, we are children of God, and we have reason to greatly rejoice. G.K. Chesterton said, “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

There are simple things we can do that will help us honor the Lord with a thankful heart:

Do not remember the bad times. Focus on the good and embrace lessons learned from hardship. (Philippians 3:13-15)
Do not dwell on the past. Forgive and live for today, setting goals for tomorrow. (Jeremiah 29:11-12)
Do remember we are loved with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
Do remember we belong to Jesus and nothing can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:35-37)
Pray everyday! Worship Him with our lives and rejoice that our names are written in the Book of Life! (Luke 10:20)

William Makepeace Thackeray said, “‘Tis not the dying for a faith that’s so hard, ’tis the living up to it that is difficult.” Remember, we “can do all things through Christ” who is our strength and a thankful heart is a very good place to start.

(Photo credit: ©fotolia.com Alena Ozerova.)

October 13, 2014 by Rachell Page-Wood

The Bright Side

“Look on the bright side.” Is this an annoying cliché that is irrelevant, or is it good advice? Interpreting this statement as sound advice is a good idea. Skepticism will not lift our spirits. Negativity does not encourage hopefulness and focusing on the difficulty can cause defeat. Choosing to think positively and pro-actively looking for the light enables us to step out of the darkness. When the demanding responsibilities and cares of life are darkly overwhelming, positive focus on “the light of life” will restore hope and ultimately bring help. (John 8:12)

The word of God teaches us that joy is synonymous with strength. The two are very closely related. “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Webster defines strength as “the quality or property of being strong; power; force; physical vitality, to sustain the application of force without yielding or braking solidity; tenacity; toughness. Power in general; operative energy; ability to do or bear.” Forgiving ourselves and forgiving others, making peace with God, letting go of the past, and choosing to think happy, productive thoughts brings joy.

Jesus said, “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46) “Looking on the bright side” provides an opportunity to see our way out of the blinding dark, into hope and a renewed determination to not only survive, but to live life to its fullness and to thrive. It is a powerful and an amazing reality that we can choose to be happy and optimistic in spite of our circumstances.

Paul sums it up nicely in his letter to the church. When the apostle was ministering, Philippi was a Roman colony and a military outpost. The citizens of this colony were regarded as citizens of Rome. Because it was a military city and not a commercial center, at the time there were not enough Jews living there for a synagogue. At one time, Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison there, yet in his letter to the Philippian believers, Paul said, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—mediate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:8,9) Paul continued his letter, adding, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Clearly he chose to “look on the bright side” and because of that determination Paul changed the world. If we determine to look up and follow the “Light,” we will overcome! “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.’ And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:10, 11)

(Photo credit: © Meagan Church.)

September 25, 2014 by Rachell Page-Wood

Changing Seasons

It has been said, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” A lovely thought…. Autumn is a magnificent time of year. All of the changing seasons are beautiful. God has designed it that way:

“He has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Wooden dock on autumn lake

As the seasons change, so our lives are constantly changing, sometimes from day to day! In the center of all of this change there can be a constant; this is what we need, and what we search for. The human heart longs for love, stability and security. In a fast-paced world where our culture is rapidly changing and we all-to-often face the unpredictable, it is comforting to know God is ever present. He has promised always to be with us, and best of all He loves us forever!

“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Christ is constant. His love never changes and He told us that everyone who hears His words and receives them has a sure foundation to stand on that is rock solid!

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)

Enjoy the majesty of Autumn. Soak in the brilliant colors and spectacular landscape. Take a long walk in a warm comfortable sweater. Breathe in the crisp cool air and marvel at the bright, blue sky. Plan a family adventure picking apples or gather acorns and pine cones to create special memorable decorations for fall and winter. Delight in the beauty of the season and rejoice knowing this: just as His signature marks the landscape, if Christ is your Savior, He has also written your name on His hand:

“Yet, I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:16)

(Photo credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Elenathewise.)

September 10, 2014 by Rachell Page-Wood

Ambassadors for Christ

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

An ambassador’s position is to skillfully represent his nation in the capital of another. As Christians, we must ask ourselves, whom are we representing? As ambassadors for Christ, we represent our Lord and the Kingdom of Heaven. Our behavior and lifestyle must not be inconsistent with the living Word of God.

Micah expressed concisely what is expected of the servant of the Lord. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

Take a closer look at these instructions:

Justly: Right or fair, lawful, proper, correct and true, accurate, exact, righteous; acting in a just, upright way; virtuous and morally right.
Mercy: Refraining from harming offenders; a disposition to forgive or be kind; the power to forgive.
Humility: Having or showing a consciousness of one’s shortcomings; modest and unpretentious; an absence of pride.

In writing to the dispersed believers in Asia Minor, Peter encouraged them to humble themselves before the Lord:

“Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

(Read more of the amplified translation of this portion of scripture for an excellent representation of this admonition.)

Remember, that wherever we go and whatever we do, our God is with us, and as His ambassadors, we represent His Kingdom. May we willingly receive instruction from our Father and proceed to skillfully represent the Kingdom of Heaven as His ambassadors.

August 13, 2014 by Rachell Page-Wood

21st Century Living: Have We Forgotten Who We Are?

Those of us who claim to be followers of Christ are obligated to fear God more than man. Webster defines obligation as “the duty and promise of conscience by which one is bound.” Obligation is “the constraining power of conscience or law. The condition of being indebted for an act of kindness.” It is “the obligation to do that which is prescribed or required.”

The Lord spoke to the prophet Samuel and said: “I regret making Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not preformed My commands.” (1 Samuel 15:11 AMP) Samuel was grieved with Saul and prayed all night. He went early in the morning to meet with Saul and told him the significance of listening to the voice of the Lord. He said, “to obey is better than sacrifice. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry.” Saul realized that he had rejected the Word of the Lord. He said, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.”

There are fundamental issues that must be addressed by those of us who claim to be believers and followers of Christ. Webster defines fundamental as “anything that serves as the foundation or basis of a system of belief, as a truth, law, or principle; a primary and necessary truth; an essential.” David who replaced Saul as the new king over Israel wrote in Psalm 138, “for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!” Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” (John 14:21) Again, he said, “if anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words.”

Have we forgotten who we are? Thousands of years have passed since the Lord spoke those words. Times have changed. Has God changed? As believers living in this 21^st century we must settle in our hearts and minds the question: Is the Bible still relevant for us today? Did God intend for the scriptures to communicate His heart to people in this 21^st century?

I believe He did, and that He still does intend for His Word, and His instruction to guide our lives. The apostle Paul wrote, “And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit…[that His glory may be both manifested and recognized] .” (1 Corinthians 2:13, Philippians 1:11 AMP) In Paul’s letter written to the church in Galatia, he said, “Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah). (Galatians 1:10-12 AMP)

We must not forget who we are! It is essential that we remember we are children of God and we are obligated to respect and obey Him. Our founding fathers knew who they were. Indeed, they staked their lives on it! “And for support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” (Thomas Jefferson, 1776) John Hancock is recorded as saying, “His majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!” It is said that Hancock told the other delegates, “we must all hang together.” To this Benjamin Franklin responded, “we must all hang together, or we most assuredly will hang separately.” The men who drafted our constitution understood the enormous responsibility they had to “establish justice” and “secure the blessings of liberty” for all men. They believed it was a God-given human right and they were prepared to defend it. In 1808 John Adams said, “Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives.”

The prophet Micah was an advocate of social reform. He strongly denounced anyone who would also use social or political power for personal gain. The meaning of Micah’s name is “who is like God.” He demonstrated deep concern for the suffering of his people and a burning desire to see them turn from idolatry and immorality. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God? The Lord’s voice cries to the city—wisdom shall see Your Name.” (Micah 6:8, 9) Solomon said, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it.” (Proverbs 9:10-12) As children of God may we remember who we are, and the great price that was paid for our liberty and for our freedom. Our allegiance belongs to God. Remember to pray for our country. Let us resolve to educate ourselves concerning our heritage and our responsibility to God and to our nation.

On June 8, 1775, Abigail Adams wrote a letter to her husband, John: “Dearest friend, The day, perhaps the decisive day is come on which the fate of America depends. My bursting Heart must find vent at my pen. I have just heard that our dear friend Dr. Warren is no more but fell gloriously for his country. Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude. Almighty God, cover the heads of our countrymen, and be a shield to our dear friends. How many have fallen we know not. The constant roar of the cannon is so distressing that we cannot eat, drink or sleep. May we be supported and sustained in the dreadful conflict. I shall tarry here till it is thought unsafe by my friends, and then I have secured myself a retreat at your brother’s who has kindly offered me part of his house. I cannot compose myself to write any further at present. I will add more as I hear further.” Abigail Adams included in her letter to John a passage of scripture, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but the God of Israel is He that gives strength and power unto His people. Trust in Him at all times, ye people pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us.”

We must not forget who we are. Paul poured his heart and soul into encouraging believers at Ephesus. He wrote to make believers aware of “who they were in Christ.” Who are we in Christ in this 21^st century? The phrase “in Christ” or the equivalent to it, meaning belonging to Christ, is mentioned 35 times. This is more than in any other New Testament book. Paul was determined to emphasize to the believers living in Ephesus who they were in Christ and what could be done through their faith. He gives them clear advice on how to stay strong in the Lord. (Ephesians 6) I appreciate his words and believe they apply to my life today. I pray they minister to you also.

“[For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him. By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set apart ones), and [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength.” (Ephesians 1:17, 18, 19 AMP)

June 19, 2014 by Rachell Page-Wood

Watch your tongue!

“Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin.” ~Ecclesiastes 5:6

When we have a healthy respect and reverence for the Lord, we will learn to watch what we say. “Like golden apples in setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11) are words carefully chosen and spoken accurately and at the right time. So many of us experience responsibilities that can weigh heavily on our minds and on our spirits. It is easy to rush into speech without considering what we are saying.

We have all heard the saying, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Often, what we allow to come out of our mouths are examples of extreme foolishness! We must train ourselves to think before speaking and always give serious consideration to the outcome and the effect of our words. Rushing into speech is unwise, and “small talk” can cause big problems. Random ramblings can be dangerous and lead to foolish conversation.

Lady Bird Johnson is quoted as saying, “I regret often that I have spoken, never that I have been silent.” That is a good statement to remember. King David prayed and asked the Lord to keep watch over his mouth. He said “set a guard over my mouth, O Lord, keep a watch over the door of my lips.” Also, in Psalm 139:23-24, he said, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” This should be our daily prayer.

We can and we should ask God for wisdom and articulation. He can cause us to be a blessing and also to be effective for the Kingdom of Heaven. In this troubled world, the only way to successfully walk in the peace of God with the “mind of Christ” is to renew our spirits daily with prayer asking for God’s help and guidance, and looking to His word for direction. His presence washes away the stain of sin and the cares of life. Even in the middle of intense stress, He will bring to us comfort, strength and His peace, if we will trust Him for help.

Golden apples in settings of silver are beautiful and pleasant to look at, but more than that, those apples are deliciously refreshing. It is so much better for our health and spiritual well being to think before we speak, and to speak refreshing words of life, hope and blessing. Ask the Lord to help direct your conversation and as much as it is possible, choose to surround yourself with positive encouraging influences. And, make this your meditation:

“My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.” ~Psalm 145:21

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