Cathy Irvin authored well over 50 Devotions for CBN over three decades where she served the Lord Jesus Christ at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Cathy loved telling stories and glorifying God in all that she did. On December 16, 2011, Cathy left this earthly dwelling to take up residence in the dwelling prepared for her in Heaven. Her Devotions minister with love and truth.
CBN.com --Facing Tropical Storm Ernesto during a wedding ceremony on the beach this past Saturday, Sept. 2 was challenging to my faith. My daughter, granddaughter, the matron of honor (my daughter's aunt) and I ventured out to Fort Story to decorate the Club for the reception.
The torrential rain was beating down hard upon us. The winds were blowing, and the weather forecast for the next day called for a clearing, but another newscaster mentioned possible thunderstorms in the late afternoon.
“Lord, I am asking you for at least an open window in the afternoon at 5:30 (the ceremony time) and I trust You to show my daughter what to do,” I prayed.
The people who were catering from the Club told my daughter that she had until 2:30 pm the following afternoon to make the call on her decision to have the wedding inside or on the beach.
My daughter preferred that the wedding be held on the beach, yet hadn't anticipated the storm and sand blowing. I felt in my heart that the best decision was to have it inside since the Club was such a beautiful place to decorate for the ceremony. I held this in my heart in prayer and never said a word.
Don’t all mothers want their daughter’s weddings to be perfect? Are they all? Well, of course not, there are always problems with or without a wedding co-coordinator. There are always last minute changes, and sometimes weather conditions.
I left my corsage home and lost an earring. I walked down the runner with a borrowed pair of earrings that matched my necklace perfectly and used the throw away bouquet in place of my corsage. One of my closest friends of over 20 years helped me with final touches that afternoon, and she and I have both been a mistress of ceremony before, so things fell into place because God provides!
The ceremony was flawless, yet the wedding started late. Friends and family patiently and graciously waited. Patience is a virtue, so I guess God gave them all an extra dose that day.
Due to the delay, the groom made a decision to forfeit the pictures so the guests could eat. My son-in-law had intentionally planned to pass out disposable cameras, and there was also a video of the entire wedding ceremony.
I thought about two things that day. I thought about Christ and His bride, the church at the marriage supper feast in heaven. On that day it will really be the only perfect wedding. Secondly, I thought about how God answered my prayer. The wedding was held inside, although the weather was perfect. The guests were seated and, God was in control of it all. He alone gave my daughter and son-in-law wisdom in their decisions, and He gave them a beautiful day.
says,"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (NIV).
He calms seas, holds back storms and gives peace to those who pray and ask. As the mother of the bride, I am grateful for His guidance towards His children. My daughter was a beautiful bride. She matched the beauty of the landscape. I glanced through the Bay windows and observed the pretty beach. It was a celebration and I will always remember the good times we all had, as the children laughed, when we danced and blew bubbles on the bride and groom.
is a picture of what God had done that day:,"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed" (NIV).
I prayed for God to have complete control, because He is the best wedding planner. In God’s word He says that He calmed the raging storms. He brought peace to troubled hearts, and so all we have to do is trust Him, and then we will find solitude in the everyday storms of life.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" ( , NIV).
Well it is almost time for the bewitching hour, the day called Halloween. The children wait by their front doors ready to run out into the night as soon as the sky darkens.
The porch lights are on for a welcome sign for those who invite the children, For those not wishing to participate or who are out at the malls with their children, they have all their lights off.
There are so many thoughts about this night (which by the way is the second favorite of children, Christmas taking the number one slot). Is it safe? Should Christians celebrate it?
I am in favor of children going to an alternative, church harvest party where they can dress up and get candy, punch, cookies, etc.
But what do we do if we don’t have any little ones of our own? Do we go help out at those churches or stay home and hide from them? Or do we open the door and be a light in the darkness?
Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before men that they might see your good works." The people need to see the love of God. These children are innocent. They also need our protection. I have dressed up and gone to a children’s hospital before and gave out candy ... diet candy to the diabetic children. I also have gone to a church to help, and I also have hid in the dark in my home not answering the door. I have done it all.
Last year my daughter and granddaughter asked me to go out with them. So into the dark night with my two great-grandchildren with their mother and grandmother, I went. We checked their candy and talked to them about not going inside anybody’s house. An old man was sitting in a rocking chair in his living room with the door open telling children to come on inside. I told him, "Sir please bring your chair on the porch because we instruct children, and our own especially, not to enter a stranger’s home." He listened as he bowed his head. I hoped he might have thought about what I said as we left never going inside. I told the children they would get plenty of candy in my daughter’s neighborhood.
It didn't take me long to wonder, Why did I even go out with them? I went to pray over all the children that night as we went up and down the streets. I prayed for the people who lived in those homes and found some other Christians who had a light on but no jack-o-lanterns, creepy critters or sounds were to be seen. I noticed they would say, "God bless you" to the children and told them to be safe and hold hands.
We never dress the children up in anything representing evil, and they don’t even want to go up to those scary houses, but they like seeing the costumes, getting candy and riding back home in a wagon.
Do I believe in celebrating Halloween? Absolutely not! Do I want to use this night as an opportunity to show Jesus? You bet I do.
I will expose my good deeds to this dark world, and I will choose to go out into the darkness, where I will let my light shine for Jesus. I may just give something from the Christian bookstore, a message of God’s love on a tract or information about Halloween and some candy on my own front porch; but whatever I do, I will not hide in the dark.
The decision to go out, stay home, to take the children out into the streets, mall or to church is a personal conviction. Each year you can do something different, but be a light in the darkness whatever you decide to do.
"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ( "> , NIV)
"Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." ( "> , NIV)
In a few weeks my four-year-old great-granddaughter, Destiny and I will go on our first camping trip together to Norfolk Botanical Gardens. At the Gardens, there is an area where families can stay overnight. It's called the "Enchanted Forest."
I would like to go to the Rose Garden to camp out, but camping is prohibited there. If I were to go there, I would probably get in trouble. Secondly, it is wrong to disobey, and I wouldn't want to be a poor example to my little Destiny. Thirdly, we would be unprotected. And, if we stayed in the Rose Garden, we could risk an encounter with thorns, and that is not good!
All in all, it's reason enough pitch our tents in the right place. It is always a good idea to obey the rules and get our minds settled on the fact that following instructions is good. Then we will have success and a safer journey.
Recently my pastor preached a message about obeying the road signs in life because they are there for a purpose. If we heed the warnings, we will avoid defeat, destruction, and failure. I have been mediating on his message and considering how it applies to our thought lives.
The most important thing is that we must refuse to dwell on negative thoughts. I gave myself a pep talk and said, "Hey girl, you can't camp on this thought because it will drag you into failure."
A coach tells his team, "We are going to succeed because we are winners." That positive thought becomes the focus.
This verse from the Word of God can replace a negative thought:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." ( "> , KJV)
We all want to succeed. No one sets himself up to fail. At times, I felt I could not do something, but when I asked the Lord for help, He shows up. This scripture has helped me think positively.
a says,
"The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever." (NKJV)
God has great plans for our lives. We are not destined to be quitters, no matter how difficult the task before us. God will not forsake us. If everything in life were easy, we would not see the value of being stretched. When difficulties arise, we must rely on God and not ourselves.
If you're like me, and you think negatively about something that you want to accomplish, remember the sign. It says "No Camping." We are not intended to stay in a place of defeat.
It's time to develop a new way of thinking. The Lord is making a way in your situation. He is perfecting everything that concerns you. Let your mind camp out in God's Word. Put on the mind of Christ.
"For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." (NKJV)
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Cathy Irvin authored well over 50 Devotions for CBN over three decades where she served the Lord Jesus Christ at the Christian Broadcasting Network. Cathy loved telling stories and glorifying God in all that she did. On December 16, 2011, Cathy left this earthly dwelling to take up residence in the dwelling prepared for her in Heaven. Her Devotions minister with love and truth.
