03302025 Promises

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our God who makes promises. I was driving yesterday morning just after sunrise, and I saw a rare morning rainbow. Its bright and bold colors were contrasted against the clouds behind them, and it was a beautiful sight.

Of course, the rainbow reminded me of God’s promise that He would never again destroy the entire earth with a flood, but my thoughts went broader than that. It made me thankful that I have a God who makes promises to His people. That means He is not a detached, distant power; He is a God who is involved in the lives of His people. What is a promise? It is a commitment regarding future action.

What type of promises does God make? Think of what He promised to His people in the Bible – either individuals or as a nation. He promised children, land, material blessings, inheritances, protection, deliverance. I think we can safely say that God’s promises are evidences of His love, care, compassion, and goodness. He promises good things because He loves us and wants to take care of us.

God made a lot of promises in the Old Testament, and many of them were for specific individuals or groups. While those promises often display the consistent inclination of God toward His people of all ages, we can’t really claim personally those specific promises as our own.

What promises do God’s people have today? There are still plenty of them recorded in the Bible. Here is one of the best. When Jesus spoke of heaven, He told His disciples, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:3).

This is a wonderful commitment regarding future action. Christians have clung hopefully to this promise ever since Jesus spoke the words. This promise encourages us to live on through the challenges of life, knowing that what we have now is temporary. It will be replaced and obliterated by a wonderful eternity.

But what about until then? Do we have promises that apply to the meanwhile? Another one of the best: “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). No matter what happens in this life, God is with us. The Bible’s frequent application of that truth is that we need not fear. If He is with us, He knows our situation. He knows how we are handling it. He knows what we need. He is able to sustain and deliver.

No, we can’t be assured that God will give us children, possessions, and some of the other promises He made to individuals in the Bible. But we can be assured that we serve a good God who makes good promises to us. These promises reflect His desire to interact with us. They reflect His care and love and goodness.

Finally, we must not forget that God is not like people. He does not make empty promises just to make us feel better in the moment. Neither does He make well-intentioned promises that He forgets about or cannot keep. When God makes a promise, He means it and He keeps it. Thank God for His “exceeding great and precious promises,” promises that through Christ are “yea” and “Amen.” God cannot lie, and if He has promised it, He will perform it.

May God strengthen and encourage you as you serve Him this week.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03232025 Mornings

Dear Missionary Lady,

Good morning in the name of the God who makes mornings. I’ve never really been a morning person, but sometimes I am up in time to enjoy the beautiful mornings that God makes.

Usually it is when I am on my way to refresh my spirit with some time in nature. As the dawn paints the sky, I often find my thoughts going to these words: “When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakening cries, ‘May Jesus Christ be praised!’” He is the painter of creation and the maker of great beauty.

Psalm 65:8 describes the sunrise and sunset this way: “Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.” The sunrise sings out with joy as it displays the beauty that God has designed.

When I was in Mexico, there was a hymn we sang frequently. The first stanza of “Cuán gloriosa será la mañana” translates to “How glorious will be the morning when Jesus the Savior comes. The nations, united as brothers, will give welcome to the Lord.” I used to say, “I don’t like mornings, but …” and then break into that hymn.

That will be our best morning and will lead to our last morning. Even if you love mornings, the day is coming when you will not miss them. Regarding heaven, Revelation 21:25 shares, “There shall be no night there.” Not only will there not be night, but there will be beauty beyond any dawn we have ever seen. “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 21:23).

Can you imagine?!?! The glory of heaven will exceed anything we have ever known, because it is the dwelling place of the God who is resplendent in glory. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

May God brighten your day and week, even as we progress toward that glorious day.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03152025 Trusting God

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God in whom we can safely trust. “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him I will trust” (Psalm 91:2).

I have been pondering trust lately. Trust is when we make ourselves vulnerable by yielding our privacy. Trust is also when we purposefully allow ourselves to be vulnerable – letting someone else make decisions or perform actions that will impact us.

Our first experience with trust comes in our families. Our siblings know us in ways that no one else does. Our family members see us at our best, which isn’t a problem, but they also see us at our worst, and that’s where trust matters. Our parents make decisions for us and impact the direction of our lives. They give us our world view, which is very difficult to change later on. We will allow family members to do things for us that we would not trust to anyone else.

We trust emotionally when we talk to someone about our deepest thoughts, longings, and struggles. Whether that is a family member, a friend, or a counselor, we risk when we share what is most sensitive to us, because we don’t know what the person’s response will be. The listener might minimize, laugh, scold, belittle, remain disinterested, become impatient, or gossip; any of these responses causes pain and betrays trust.

We trust physically when it comes to our doctors. We allow doctors to do awkward examinations and procedures, and this requires trust. The more we trust our doctor, the easier those procedures are. We also trust them to recommend courses of action based on how they interpret our symptoms. The risk could be minimal (diet, exercise, common medications), or the risk could be significant (unusual treatments, new procedures, surgeries). Yet we follow these recommendations based on trust in their knowledge.

Marriage requires trust in every way. There is obviously physical vulnerability and a tremendous amount of emotional vulnerability. There is the whole idea of “for better, for worse.” There is no guarantee that the handsome, healthy, spiritual, intelligent, principled man of 25 will maintain those qualities at 45 or 65. He could turn into a lazy bum, an invalid, a monster, or a rebel – and the commitment is for life. He is trusted for major life decisions, and he might not always make the right ones. There is great risk in marriage, and therefore there is great trust.

In each of these categories and examples, people will at times betray our trust. They will hurt us and will take advantage of our vulnerability. This is where trust in God becomes such an incredible thing. God is always trustworthy.

When it comes to our emotions, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:8). “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart” (Psalm 34:18).

Our relationship with God is spiritual, not physical, but we can trust God with our bodies. “I am fearfully and wonderfully made … My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret” (Psalm 139:14-15). “Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not” (Psalm 71:18).

We can trust God financially. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills” (Psalm 50:10).

We can trust God with the direction and decisions of our lives. Sometimes God guides us and allows us to decide if we will follow His leading, and sometimes God orchestrates life events over which we have no control whatsoever. Trust means we will follow where He leads, even when it doesn’t make sense or is not our preference. Trust also means we rest instead of fighting when He orchestrates the direction of our path. In either case, we say, “Okay, God. I accept and follow Your plan because I trust You to do what is right.” It will not always be what we would have chosen. It will not always be easy or comfortable. But it will always be right.

We can trust God with everything that we are, even our greatest weaknesses and struggles. We never have to be embarrassed or frightened to come to God. There is nothing that we can’t talk to Him about. God isn’t waiting to crush us when we tell Him our failures; He wants to help us with them. When we come to Him, vulnerably admitting our struggles, we are actually admitting that we need His help. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (James 1:5). “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).

I have tried to picture in my mind what trust in God would look like. Here are my words. Rest. Relax. Settle. Be embraced. Be comfortable in His arms. Be calm. And my favorite: Serene. Or to use a Bible picture – “Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child” (Psalm 131:2). This picture corresponds to the practice in verse 1 – “LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.”

Wrestling these thoughts into written words has filled my heart with love and appreciation for God, as I focus on how I can trust Him and be at rest. May God help us to trust Him as we openly come to Him as we are and as we rest in Him for all that will come.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03092025 Refuge in Storm

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of God, our storm shelter. That description may seem a bit irreverent at first, but it is exactly the way God describes Himself, and it is a wonderful truth.

Having a shelter during a storm is very important. It can mean the difference between life and death, between preservation and destruction. Certain types of storms particularly highlight the need: tornados, hurricanes, sandstorms, blizzards, forest fires. These are the kinds of storms in which people die without a shelter to protect them. How about a fierce storm at sea? A large ship might be able to withstand the storm, but a small vessel has little chance. Think how helpless a small vessel would be if it is too far out at sea to make it safely to a port. There is nowhere to hide out there.

Life brings a great variety of storms. Some of them won’t do more damage than getting us wet and messing up our hair, but others are far more dangerous and overwhelming. Thank God that we always have a storm shelter in which we can hide.

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast” (Psalm 57:1).

That word “calamities” could include a lot of storms. It carries the idea of something rushing upon us, or falling upon us, or ruining us. Are you in that kind of storm? Some of you are. Some of you have been for a while, and some of you have recently been surprised by a rushing storm.

Here are two words of encouragement. First, “overpast.” This speaks of a transition, of crossing over. This will happen with every storm. There is coming a time when the clouds will break up and the sun will shine through. The winds will die down, and there will be a great calm. It might not happen until heaven, but most of the time, it will happen here on earth. Storms are for a season, and then God breaks their power.

Second, “refuge.” This is a place that we can flee to for protection. It is not a tumble-down shack, but rather a strong place that is worthy of our trust. It is also intimate and has a warm, safe feeling – under His wings. The great thing about this shelter is that we are never far from it. We might think we are out in the middle of the ocean, remote from any place of refuge, but that is never true with God.

I have read about firefighters in the middle of a vast forest fire. The winds can suddenly shift, surrounding them with flames and cutting them off from any escape route. As a last line of defense, they have a blanket-type shelter that they can put over themselves and tuck in around them. Even as the fire sweeps right over top of them, they might be able to survive.

In a way, that’s how I like to think of God’s protection – (except that His is more sure). Our situation might be that remote and hopeless. We might be that alone. The shelter might seem like the bare minimum. But it is available anywhere, anytime. That little bubble might be the only safe place for miles around, but it is a bubble of safe space. It is a trustworthy refuge when it would seem like there is none possible.

Take heart. Your storm will end. In the meanwhile, you have a trustworthy shelter, both strong and gentle. He is always available, even when you feel remote and removed from hope. May you have great peace as you wait within God’s bubble of protection.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03012025 God's Presence

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

We know that God is always with us, but there are vast variations within that knowledge. There are times when we know His presence in a powerful and palpable way, as incomprehensible peace and comfort flood our souls during times of great trouble.

There are other times when we know and sense His presence, but in a less profound way. We are assured and aware that God is with us, but in the sense of a steady and faithful presence, either during trials or in the everyday normality of life.

There are yet other times when there is nothing particularly obvious about His presence. We don’t doubt that God is with us, but we don’t necessarily have any overt confirmation or sense of it. We simply know that it is true and rest in the truth of it.

Then there are times when our doubt wants to creep in. Circumstances want to shout out that God is nowhere near. Scoffers (and Satan) taunt us that He has forsaken us. In these dark and troubling times, the only way we know God is with us is to cling in faith to His promise.

The Bible recounts a story in which two men in the same situation were at opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to knowing the presence of God. One man saw the abundant demonstration of it, while the other quaked in fearful doubt.

The king of Syria had sent a great host of soldiers, complete with horses and chariots. This army surrounded Dothan, where Elisha and his servant were staying. When the two men awoke in the morning, they were greeted by this alarming sight.

The servant did not see God’s presence. He cried out to Elisha, “Alas, my master! How shall we do?” (II Kings 6:15). Elisha was calm and reassuring. “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (6:16).

Who was right? Elisha was. The actual situation was that “the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (6:17). In addition, the LORD (who was there!) smote the enemies with blindness so that they were helpless to do anything. Elisha led the entire army to the king, where they were graciously released to return home, having learned their lesson.

Was God with Elisha, who saw the manifestation of His presence? Yes, indeed. Was God also with the servant, who did not see the manifestation? Yes, the reality of God’s presence was no different. God didn’t suddenly appear for the servant after Elisha’s intervention. He was already there. The servant’s doubt and lack of perception did not change the fact.

I love how impressive God’s presence was. This was one of those soul-bolstering moments when God’s presence was not just true; it was astronomical! The servant wasn’t sure it was true at all, when in reality, he was surrounded by a great heavenly host of power and protection.

Why did the servant doubt? In part, it probably was due to his experience. He had not seen all that Elisha had seen, so it wasn’t as natural and not as reinforced to him to assume God’s presence. In part, it may have been a matter of faith, that he had not built the same strong relationship that Elisha had with God. In part, it was divine choice. The servant eventually did see the vast heavenly army, but only after God opened his eyes and deliberately revealed Himself.

Lesson 1: When we don’t sense (or strongly sense) God’s presence, that doesn’t change the fact of it. He IS there.

Lesson 2: God is often (and probably always) with us on a level of which we have no idea. We can’t imagine how thoroughly and abundantly God is working on our behalf. This is true not only of the extent of revelation of His presence, but also of His ability to deliver and give answers.

Lesson 3: Sometimes God chooses to reveal His presence in amazing ways, and sometimes we just have to take it by faith. It’s no less true when we don’t have a dramatic experience.

Lesson 4: Our experience may not match someone else’s experience. That doesn’t mean God isn’t with us just the same. Although Elisha and his servant started out very different, God delivered them both. In the process, He gave the servant a faith-building incident he would never forget!

My desire is that you would be keenly aware of God’s presence, especially if you are in a time of particular need. My prayer, whether you strongly sense His presence or not, is that through faith you would rest in peace in the reality of His presence. He is with you more than you know!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA