04192026 Unusual Love

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our loving God. There is no person who loves us with the same incredible love that God has for us. Even so, whether it is from God or from people, we sometimes struggle to understand and appreciate all the demonstrations of that love.

The author of the gospel of John (John the apostle, as he was led by the Holy Spirit) tells us, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus” (John 11:5). This commentary is for the benefit of the readers. Everyone who was present in the story already knew that Jesus loved these three individuals. When the sisters sent their message to Jesus, they worded it in those very terms: “Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick” (v. 3). The Jews who had gathered to mourn watched Jesus at the tomb and observed, “Behold, how he loved him!” (v. 36).

So Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters. How then did He respond to their appeal? Oddly, the declaration of love in verse 5 is followed by the response prompted by that motive. “When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was” (v. 6). If we simplify the thoughts of the two verses, we arrive at something like this: Jesus loved them, so when He heard Lazarus was sick, He waited two days. That does not seem to make sense to us. We would want to say “Jesus loved them, so when He heard Lazarus was sick, He rushed to their side” or “He healed him from afar.”

Why did Jesus wait? Actually, given the time factor in the story, it is quite likely that Lazarus was already dead before the messengers reached Jesus. Certainly, there was insufficient time for Jesus to walk there by normal means and reach Lazarus in time. (He waited only two days, but Lazarus had been buried for four days.)

Ironically, Jesus did not need the sister’s messenger. He already knew Lazarus’ condition. In verse 14, He informs the disciples that Lazarus was dead, which Jesus knew only in His divine knowledge. No one had told Him that. So if He had wanted to, Jesus could have arrived without an invitation, showing up just in time to prevent Lazarus from dying in the first place!

So if Jesus loved them, why did He allow Lazarus to die? Why did He wait? As in any situation in our lives, it would be impossible for us to know in this particular situation all of the reasons for God’s actions (or inactions). But this passage does give some insight.

In verse 4, Jesus declares that “this sickness is … for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” In verse 15, He tells the disciples, “I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe.” Jesus used Lazarus’ death to teach about resurrection in verses 23-26. Jesus used the situation to reiterate His divine mission in verses 41-42.

Reading between the lines, we can add to these insights. We know that Mary and Martha ended up with a far greater demonstration of Jesus’ glory and power by the resurrection of Lazarus than they would have by his healing. Imagine living the rest of their lives with the memory of this experience! The same was true for the disciples; their faith was strengthened. Many of the Jews believed on Jesus because of this event (verse 35).

In fact, the resurrection of Lazarus, so powerful and so dramatic, was probably the last big “revival” before Jesus’ death. As close as He was to His death, Jesus still wanted to reach as many people as possible with His truth. Sadly, we see the chief priests and Pharisees respond to this by gathering a council and intensifying their pursuit of Jesus’ death (vs. 47-53).

It was only a matter of days before this plan surged forward in Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion. Unlike all the other times when Jesus declared, “My time has not yet come,” in this case, His time had come. The resurrection of Lazarus was the catalyst. But Jesus had to wait two days, so that the greater-than-impossible situation was reached – of someone in the grave for four days.

When difficulty or even tragedy comes into our lives, we cannot think it is because God does not love us. That is never true. On the contrary, it is precisely because of His love that He takes the steps He does. He will work His plan and be glorified. He will sustain us and show His glory to us, often giving us deep anchors that will carry us through the rest of our lives. Very often He will use our experience to strengthen the faith or to challenge believers around us. It is reasonable that He wants to draw unbelievers to Himself through our experience. And ultimately, God is working His great plan for the ages, and sometimes that involves smaller plans within our lives. We don’t see the big picture, but God does.

When God delays to answer our prayers or to intervene, does He still love us? Absolutely! When He gives an answer that is different than what we desired, does He still love us? Unquestionably! When we are disappointed by God’s responses, is He still working on our behalf and for His glory? Guaranteed! While we may not understand, we can and must rest in the loving plan of God, which in the end will be best for us, best for those around, and best for God Himself.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA 

04112026 Living Water

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the Living Water, who can quench the deepest thirst of every man.

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:10).

Our church had a baptismal service on Sunday, in which two women were baptized, both of whom were saved as adults. One came from a broken home and a history of feeling something was missing, and the other came out of Catholicism and the emptiness of religion vs. relationship. Based on their testimonies, I think both would acknowledge the truth of the above verse. Their souls were thirsty, and God gave them satisfaction.

Not for the first time, I was reminded of my own “boring” testimony. I grew up in a Christian home, and I believe a made a childhood profession, but if so, I did not clearly recall it. After years of doubts, I was saved (or became assured of my salvation) at the age of thirteen.

Many times I have heard stories similar to my own. I believe the vast majority of Christians I have known share similar testimonies; they grew up in Christian homes and in good churches, and salvation was a matter of time. They always knew the truth, and it was a question of when they would make it personal. They, like me, were not rescued from a life of spiritual squalor or deep angst. Certainly, some of them were more aware than others of the emptiness in their souls, and in reality, we did have empty souls, but the intensity of that emptiness was well-masked by the relatively protected and truth-filled environments in which we grew up.

As a result, I find some challenge in sensing the meaning of certain hymns. For example, “All my life long I had panted for a draught from some cool spring, that I hoped would quench the burning of the thirst I felt within. Hallelujah! I have found Him whom my soul so long has craved! Jesus satisfies my longings; through His life I now am saved.”

God interacts personally in drawing each person to Himself, and recent pondering has led me to appreciate how special even “boring” testimonies are. Here are some of my thoughts. The Halfway Covenant of the 1600s allowed unconverted children of church members to be baptized and become church members. This led to a church membership that appeared healthy but was actually weak. The church was diluted; compromise and worldliness crept in. Many of the great revivals, including the Great Awakening, were in response to these situations of seeking to truly win people who claimed to be Christians.

Anecdotally, I have heard that it can be tough for Christianity to last more than three generations. The first generation, rescued from the world, is fervent for Christ. The second generation is solid and firmly established. The third generation finds Christianity to be routine. They did not personally experience the great rescue, and they did not see it second-hand (as children in the home). There is nothing dynamic to make them choose what has always been chosen for them. So we all know people that have walked away from Christianity under scenarios similar to that.

Why do those people say they walked away? Often it is because of hypocrisy in the church or because of experiencing pain due to the failures of Christians around them, either their parents or church leaders. Here’s the reality – none of us are perfect. Someone who grows up surrounded by Christianity is going to have plenty of chances to see examples of hypocrisy and is going to experience the pain of failure by others. From that aspect, the young generation has a high level of risk for falling away. Growing up in the blessed environment that they do, they don’t often experience that great soul thirst, and it is easy for them to become disillusioned when “what they have always known” is less than perfect. They don’t have a compelling passion to seek God when they don’t sense their thirst, as someone lost in the mire of the world might.

My conclusion is that it is no simple matter for church-raised children to accept Christ. There is nothing routine or boring about it. It is a work of God’s drawing and of divine grace that enables these young ones to make a true profession and passionately claim Christ.

Having said all that, I’m not in any way diminishing the powerful testimony and impact of those who are saved more dramatically. Families’ stories of redemption have to start with someone. And it is amazing and encouraging to see how greatly God can transform a life. We need people to be saved from those scenarios. But we also need the children and grandchildren to be saved. There is such possibility for stability and strength in the church when we have generations that are taught right from the beginning, rather than having to constantly start over with instruction and discipleship. If the second and third generations are not coming to Christ, that is certainly reason for concern.

Maybe this seemed like a bunch of rambling. It’s not meant to be that. It is some personal reflection, but it is also a call to praise God for every single convert. Praise God for the ones who are saved when their life situations may have made them seem like unlikely candidates! And praise God for the ones who are saved when their familiarity and potential contempt for Christianity might have held them back from a personal decision! Thank God that He is able to work in every possible dynamic to draw men to Himself. May He continue His good work. There is hope for all, because God’s invitation is for all.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

04052026 Only God

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who can do what absolutely no one else can do!

This week I considered this verse from Micah 4:3. “And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

There are world leaders, supported by armies and sometimes by diplomacy, that have helped to bring the end to certain wars. But men always rise up to fight again. New wars arise. World War I was called “the war to end all wars,” yet just twenty-one years later, the world was embroiled in a new war far more devastating than the first. This story has repeated itself on smaller scales over and over again.

The truth is that no human leader will be able to bring a final end to wars and fighting. But God will! When He establishes His peaceful reign, there will never again be war.

That’s not the only thing God can do that no one else can do. God created the heavens and the earth, along with all forms of life. God controls the weather, with the Flood being an extreme example. Modern man is desperate to protect the planet, but God is the one who sustains His creation and holds it together. God has done miraculous works, such as healing hopeless conditions, causing barren women to conceive, and even raising people from the dead.

On the spiritual level, God also does what man can never do. God provides a solution of salvation for hopelessly lost mankind. God transforms lives by making men into new creations with new hearts. God powerful convicts and guides people through what looks like mere printed words on a page, but which in reality is the living Word of God.

When it comes to eternity, God will continue to do what man cannot do. He has prepared an eternal home called heaven. He will execute “space travel” on the most incredible level through the rapture. He will establish an earthly government that controls the entire globe, in which all nations and citizens will be submissive. He will put an end to all evil. He actually will destroy the earth, which in spite of man’s fears, they could never destroy to the extent that God will.

Today we celebrate something else that man could never do. In the full picture, we have a virgin birth with a child whose real Father is God Himself. We have a perfectly sinless life, and we have a substitutionary sacrifice that will cover the sins of every human in history who chooses to accept it. But then – what a wonder – we have Someone who raised Himself from the dead after being in the tomb for three days!

With all these impossible-except-for-God actions on the grandest scale, we can certainly rest in His ability to do difficult things in our own lives and on much smaller scales. God can do what no one else can do!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03282026 Clothed in Christ

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of God our Redeemer and our wonderful Savior Jesus Christ.

I was recently considering this verse. “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

The word for putting on is a reference to sinking into or being engulfed in a garment. It is commonly used for the putting on of clothing; it is not so much a reference to the state of being clothed as much as the initial act of wrapping oneself in the clothing. That’s what happens when we are saved. We become wrapped in Christ so that when God looks at us, He does not see our natural defilement, but rather the righteousness of Christ. Such an act makes us look like someone we are not.

My mind went to the story of Jacob. So that Jacob would receive the blessing that Isaac was preparing to bestow on Esau, Rebekah helped to disguise Jacob. She took Esau’s best clothes and put them on Jacob. She took the skins of goats and put them on Jacob’s hands and neck. Jacob felt and smelled like Esau. But everyone in the family (except Isaac, temporarily) knew that this was a deception. Jacob was not Esau. There was no legal or moral basis for him to be considered to be Esau. This was treachery and pretense. The wearing of the clothing and skins was illegitimate and a false representation.

Not so with us and Christ. God intends for us to be clothed in Christ. It is His provision for us so that we can be accepted. It is the way for God to legitimately view us as righteous and undefiled. In the parable of the wedding feast, after all the “important” people rejected the king’s invitation, the king sent his servants to gather people off the street to attend the wedding. One man, however, did not wear the proper wedding garment, and he was expelled from the wedding. Those who are called by God are clothed by God in the substitutionary robes of Christ. God provides this clothing and invites us to put it on. Thus we are able to be accepted in His sight.

Edward Motes wonderfully captured this truth in his hymn, “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less.” The final stanza states, “When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found: dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.” A newer hymn by Chris Anderson puts it this way: “His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange! Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage. Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified. In Christ I live, for in my place He died.”

Praise God for His wonderful provision! Only by being clothed in Christ are we able to come to the wedding and be accepted by the King. May God encourage you anew with this truth, and may He bless you by granting you opportunities to help others put on this wonderful garment.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03212026 Just Passing Through

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings from the God who oversees this broken world but who lives in a perfect and beautiful world.

I think you probably can relate to me, in that the longer I live in this broken world, the more aware I become of how profoundly it is broken. Thank God that He is still redeeming broken individuals. He is still bringing healing to broken homes and broken families, even broken communities and countries, where His love is accepted.

Overall, though, society is waxing worse and worse (2 Timothy 3:13). Even the earth itself groans under the heavy weight of sin and its influence (Romans 8:22). As Christians, we also groan. “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23).

While we live and serve in this broken world that often burdens us, this world is not our home. “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). That word “conversation” refers to community or citizenship. We are citizens of heaven, sojourning here for a few years. Like Abraham, we “look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

“This world is not my home. I’m just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” (Robert Earl Keen)

Moving day is coming – when we will finally go to our real home country for the first time. And there “shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03142026 God Never Sleeps

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who never yawns. That may seem like an odd statement, but it points out how different God is from man. Just think – how many times have you yawned today? Have you longed for a nap? At what point in the day do you start wishing it were bedtime?

We are weak and frail. We run out of energy. We need daily (or nightly) restoration so that we can keep going. There are (hopefully) rare instances in our lives when our sleep is thwarted in an exceptional way. Perhaps a child is in the hospital in serious condition, or some other emergency happens that keeps us awake all night. We don’t function very well under those circumstances. And if the disruption lasts longer than one night, we are in really rough shape. We might struggle to walk, talk, or make decisions; before long, our bodies will sleep even though we are trying not to allow that to happen. The unbelievable record for staying awake is nearly nineteen days! After Robert McDonald set that record, Guiness World Records eliminated the category, due to the severe dangers and risks inherent in long-term sleep deprivation – hallucinations, mood changes, paranoia, memory loss, and sleep issues that can linger for decades. The human body simply cannot withstand such challenges.

God does not have such limitations. “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary?” (Isaiah 40:28). God doesn’t get tired, no matter how long He stays awake. In fact, He stays awake constantly. God never sleeps. “He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:3-4).

This means, among other things, that God is always awake and alert to help us. His guidance of Israel was constant. “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night” (Exodus 13:21). His hearing of our prayers is constant. There is no possible time that He does not hear our cry. “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” (Luke 18:7).

God suffers no detriment by His constant wakefulness. His alertness and ability are just as incredible in the night as they are in the day. Unlike us, God is not limited, confused, or hindered by the effects of darkness. “Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee” (Psalm 139:12). God owns the night, just like He owns the day. “The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun” (Psalm 74:16).

It is rather ironic that what is so limiting to us – the darkness of the inevitable night – is actually a reminder that nothing limits God. There are times that we would like to disrupt the cycle of day and night. Maybe we want a day to last longer so that we can get more done or so that we can enjoy a special occasion. Maybe we want a night to be longer so that we can get more sleep, or we want the night to be shorter so that we can experience what the next day holds for us. But no matter how hard we try, we cannot break that cycle. We can’t add or subtract even a minute from what God has decreed. This unbreakable routine stands as a visual reminder of the faithfulness of God. Just like we can’t disrupt day and night, neither can we thwart anything else that God has set out to do. “Thus saith the LORD; if ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, that there should not be day and night in their season, then may also my covenant be broken” (Jeremiah 33:20-21). Just as surely as we can’t break the daily cycle, so certainly can God not break His Word.

May our ever-watchful God give you strength for your days, rest for your nights, and peace to trust Him to enable you and watch over you. Sweet dreams!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03072026 Forgotten Forever?

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the faithful God who remembers His children. Here’s one illustration. This winter in my corner of the world has been a tough winter. Long stretches of very cold weather. Numerous snowstorms, including one pretty big one. Snow that lingered on the ground week after week after week. Lakes and ponds that still remain mostly ice-covered, delaying migration of waterfowl. So many days that are dreary, damp, and chilly. Long stretches without seeing the sun.

At times it seems like the winter will never end! But it will. It always does. Why? Because God promised that it would be so! He promised Noah that the seasons of planting and harvesting, of cold and heat, of summer and winter would never cease. So every year God faithfully puts the winter away and takes out the summer. He has never failed yet. The evidence is strongly in His favor – over 6000 years of consistency.

The weather is one thing, but how about our individual lives? Doesn’t it sometimes seem like God has forgotten about us? That in the ups and downs of life, we have been abandoned in the downs?

Consider these anguished questions from Asaph, who apparently felt just that way. “Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy gone for ever? Doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies?” (Psalm 77:7-9). Asaph doesn’t merely feel like his struggles have lasted for a long time; he feels like they will never end. He keeps projecting the possibility that God’s silence will be forever.

We don’t know what Asaph’s specific struggle was. We don’t know how or when it turned around. We do know that Asaph was able to gain victory in his soul. He did that by deliberately remembering what God had done in the past. He recalls the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. I believe his contemplations may have also included the creation of the world and Noah’s flood (vs. 14-20). Whatever specific events Asaph was recalling, he was purposefully reminding himself of God’s great works.

The truth that sustained Asaph is implied. God doesn’t change. The same God who did all those great things in the past is able to do great things in the present and in the future. Why? Because He never abandons His people. He does act favorably toward them. He is merciful. His promises don’t fail. He is always gracious. His tender mercies keep pouring forth. Just like with the weather, God has a great record of consistency with His people. The evidence is strongly in His favor – thousands and thousands of believers through thousands and thousands of challenges over thousands and thousands of years.

Some winters are harder than others. Some winters last longer. Some have more snow and ice. Some have more intense cold and a greater quantity of dreary days. But they all end at God’s command. Seasons of life are the same. Some are tough, even to unprecedented levels. Some seem interminable. Some are especially oppressive and discouraging. But they will all end at God’s command. He will show His mercy and grace and tender mercies. He does remember and will respond. Take heart! Spring is coming!

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

03012026 Complete Love

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God who loves us incredibly and who is worthy of all our love.

Recently, I was encouraged by this verse. “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” (Mark 12:30).

The remembrance of this verse was not the starting point for my thoughts. Rather, it was the Spirit-directed answer to my preceding thoughts. I had been considering some of the changes in my life and how I am not currently able to do some of the things I have done in the past. I’m thinking of good things like church attendance at all services or avenues of service and outreach, things that would seem to indicate a heart of passion for God. Additionally, my mind and mental energy don’t allow me to pursue to the same level some of the in-depth Bible study or meditation that I have done at other times in my life.

Those realities have troubled me, because they seem to speak to me of a heart that has grown cold toward God or perhaps complacent. It seems like a cooling of passion and a settling into a less-devoted and less intense Christianity. While I am not going to release myself from the challenge of desiring and striving for greater love for God, I believe the verse above was God’s answer to quiet and comfort me.

Total love. That’s what the verse calls for. All my heart. All my soul. All my mind. All my strength. What a tremendous challenge that is for any of us! It is also individual. The thoughts that God gave me were in particular related to my mind and my strength. I am to love Him with all my mind and all my strength – not someone else’s mind or someone else’s strength. And with all the mind and strength that I have currently – not with the mind and strength that I may have had at other times in my life. Whatever the current capacity is for each individual, that is what God asks for. Just 100% of whatever exists.

That may not look the same during illness as it does in health. It may not look the same for a mother of four young children as it does for a single lady. It may not look the same at 80 as it does at 20. It may not look the same for an intellectually gifted person as it does for someone with a mind crippled by disease or disability. The capacity of the mind and strength varies dramatically between those scenarios.

On the other side, there is all my heart and all my soul. It seems to me that this might be the opposite situation. That our capacity in these areas can probably remain at the same level, or even increase, through the changes and stages of life. These aspects are a challenge to me – to fully love God with my heart and soul. I am reminded of the verse about our outward man perishing, but our inner man being renewed day by day. The body and mind will weaken, but the heart and soul can grow stronger.

As I love God fervently with my heart and soul, that will make me want to serve Him as much as I can with my mind and strength. But God does not expect or require me to give more than I have, just all that I have.

I hope this thought will encourage someone else – to realize that all the outward expressions of love do not need to be the same as someone else’s or even the same as they have been for you at other times. As we earnestly seek for all the inward expressions to remain and even grow, may God help us to rest in giving Him all that we are capable of.

“More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee! Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee; this is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee, more love to Thee!” (Elizabeth Prentiss)

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

02212026 Forgives and Restores

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle, forgiving God. In this final segment of the focus on the gentleness of God toward us, God assures, “I would rather forgive and restore you than destroy you.”

The previous entry had to do with the false perception of a distant and impersonal God. This entry takes that mindset one step further. Through the years there have been trends and emphases (expressed through denominations, churches, or pastors) that have featured the harsh judgment of God. While it is right to examine every aspect of God’s character, a lack of balance has caused some Christians to grow up with a misunderstanding and wrong impression of God. They can have an unjustified (and resentful) dread of God. They can see Him as angry, unpredictable, volatile, vengeful – raining down destruction and judgment without warning and disproportionate to the offense. This constant fear of God’s pouncing on them for the smallest offense leads to an unhealthy view of an impersonal and uncaring God who doesn’t try to help His followers. But God compassionately understands human weakness. He sees the heart of earnest Christians, and He says . . .

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” (51:1).

“But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again” (78:38-39).

“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities” (103:10).

“Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption” (130:7).

God says, “My dear child, I do hate sin, and I do not like to see you walk in it. However, I do love you, and I am completely aware of the frailty of your human flesh. Because of My great love and because of My compassionate understanding, I have restrained My responses of judgment toward you more times that you can imagine. I have suffered long, giving you many opportunities. If I wanted to harshly judge you, trust Me that you would no longer be alive. It is never My desire to destroy you but always to correct you, restore you, and strengthen you. I always want to see you take steps forward in your journey with Me, and it pleases My heart to encourage and support you in that process. If you confess, I will forgive. I will restore. I will continue to use you. When you fail, don’t hesitate to come humbly to Me.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

02142026 Close to God

Dear Missionary Lady,

On this day devoted to love, there is a gentle God who loves us deeply. His tender heart assures us, “I want to be close to you so that you know Me.”

Many people have the impression that God is cold and distant, remote and unapproachable. They think He is so big and important and so focused on the task of running the earth and doing the universal things that He has no time or attention to give to individuals. Anyone with a reasonably accurate understanding of the greatness of God might have thoughts that run along those same lines. But God says . . .

“When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek” (27:8).

“I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings” (61:4).

“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts” (65:4).

“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly” (138:6).

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth” (145:18).

God says, “You can find Me and be near to Me, because I want you to find Me and know Me. I invite you and call you. I notice you – yes, you individually – in the midst of everything else. I am not too high or exalted to see you. I am very near, and I want you to live in close relationship with Me. Seek Me. Call on Me. I will bring you near.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

02072026 Supports Hurting Souls

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God, who cares deeply for us. He cares in every way, including the ways that matter most. God declares, “I care when your spirit is hurting.”

There are different kinds of pain. Even in the realm of physical pain, there are varying levels; a heart attack or traumatic accident rank higher than a paper cut or a common headache. Beyond the levels, some pain is easily perceived by others, while other pain is overlooked and perhaps misunderstood. People can see a broken bone or a bleeding wound, but the pain of some illnesses is internal and hidden. Physical pain, however, is not the worst pain. There is pain that can exist deep in the spirit where no one can see it. Often people cannot understand it even if it is described to them. This pain of the spirit can be agonizing and crushing, even making someone feel that he cannot survive it or go on. When it comes to this kind of pain, God says . . .

“My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies’ sake” (6:3-4).

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (23:3).

“Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul” (25:1).

“Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses” (25:16-17).

“I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities” (31:7).

“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about” (32:10).

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (34:18).

“Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul” (54:4).

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (55:22).

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” (56:8).

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (61:2).

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us” (62:8).

“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me” (63:8).

“Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue” (66:16-17).

“Because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me” (86:17).

“In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul” (94:19).

“Like as a father has pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (103:13-14).

“Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant” (119:76).

“In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthedst me with strength in my soul” (138:3).

“When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path” (142:3).

“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds” (147:3).

God says, “I see your tears and your anguish. I see when your heart is crushed and broken. I know your pain, and I know when that pain increases to a level you feel that you can’t withstand. I know your weakness, and I have great compassion for you. Lean on Me. Talk to Me about it. I am ready to hear you. I will support and uphold you. I will comfort you with My lovingkindness. I will strengthen you inside where you feel so weak and give you boldness to carry on. I will heal your pain and restore your soul. Lift up your wounded soul to Me. Cling to Me, and let Me sustain and restore you with My love and support.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

01312026 Caring for the Neediest

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God. Most leaders ignore or look down on the poor and simple; they interact with the popular and renowned. But God claims, “I care about those who are in greatest need and profoundest hurt.”

There are members of society who can be overlooked and devalued. Perhaps they are viewed as not contributing anything. In fact, the evaluation may be that they are only detracting. Their care places undue demands on those around them. They are so needy that no one can adequately meet their needs. Perhaps relationships with these people are undesirable. Their situations are uncomfortable to consider. Their pain and deprivation feel awkward and even irresolvable. It is easier just to ignore these very needy people and to focus instead on the important people. Instead of discriminating against those in the lower echelons, God cares deeply about those who exhibit great need and experience great hurt. He says perhaps more to these people than to any other group. His compassion declares . . .

“When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble” (9:12).

“For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever” (9:18).

“The poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless” (10:14).

“LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress” (10:17-18).

“A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains” (68:5-6).

“For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners” (69:33).

“He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer” (102:17).

“For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death” (102:19-20).

“Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow. He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way. Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock” (107:39-41).

“For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul” (108:31),

“Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children” (113:5-9).

“I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor” (140:12).

“The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing” (145:14-16).

“Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: the LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: the LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down” (146:7-9).

“The LORD lifteth up the meek” (147:6).

God says, “Come to me, you who are weary and weighed down. Come to me, you who are unnoticed and unloved. Come to me, you whose needs are not met. I notice you, I love you, and I can meet your needs and ease your burdens. I will be your listener, your helper, your provider, your defender. I will comfort you, strengthen you, include you, sustain you. To me, your life is about more than mere survival. I want to reach into your depths, snatch you out, and reverse your position. In the right time, I will completely change your pain, sorrow, and loneliness; in their place I will give you healing, joy, and acceptance. Trust Me to care for you and to lead you out.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

01242026 Doing Special Things

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God. He holds us as beloved and special, and His love takes action, as He declares, “I want to do special things for you.”

Sometimes we can feel humdrum and ordinary. In human relationships, we can feel like we are on the fringes – perhaps overlooked - included in the group, but never near the center. Not the first one looked to for help or leadership, and neither the first one singled out for acknowledgement or assistance. In the divine relationship, we can mimic these same feelings. We can fall into doldrums where it seems like we are not special to God. Sure, we are His child, but it doesn’t seem like anything noteworthy is going on. We can feel unnoticed and taken for granted. We slog away week after week, and we don’t see the extraordinary intervention of God that we hear reported by others. If we aren’t careful, our discouragement can turn into doubt about whether God actually takes pleasure in us. But God says . . .

“For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield” (5:12).

“But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me” (13:5-6).

“He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me” (18:19).

“Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips” (21:2).

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (23:2).

“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace” (29:11).

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness” (30:11).

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way” (37:23).

“Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. … He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee” (81:10,16).

“I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, to his saints” (85:8).

“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (103:5).

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him” (103:11).

“For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness” (107:9).

“He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings” (107:35).

“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion. He hath given meat unto them that fear him” (111:4-5).

“For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation” (149:4).

God says, “I want to do wonderful and bountiful acts on your behalf. Certainly there are times within My greater plans when you might not perceive abundance or bounty, but even then I am working all things for good. Surely if you think carefully, you will be aware of the multitudes of times when I have bountifully provided, when I have wonderfully answered prayer, when I have done amazing things beyond the bare necessity. I do these things because I love you deeply and desire your good. My love compels me to treat you as special by showering you with My abundant interventions: protection, provision, strength, comfort, guidance, reversals, pleasures, superfluous blessings. I work powerfully for you because My love for you has no bounds.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

01172026 Special to God

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our kind God – the one who is warm, loving, and accepting – the one who reassures, “You are special to Me. I care about you. I claim you as Mine.”

Human relationships can be inconsistent. I suppose the most common shortcoming is that we tend to take our loved ones for granted. We get used to the status quo, and we forget to express our love. We all have observed the sappy romanticism of dating couples and newlyweds, and we also realize how unusual it is for that overt display to continue through all the following decades of marriage. That doesn’t mean the love is any less, but we can become careless and less intentional in our expressions of it. As a result, many married people at some point reach the conclusion, or at least the doubt, that their spouse doesn’t love them anymore. The same can happen with parents and children as the years and stages progress. Especially as women, our memories are short, and we need frequent reassurances of love. There are lots of people in our world who feel unloved, and sometimes that is only because the people who love them neglect to overtly express that love. We want to feel special to someone, and God says . . .

“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself” (4:3).

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (8:3-4).

“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings” (17:8).

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (23:1).

“Withhold not thy tender mercies from me, O LORD; let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me” (40:11).

“We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (100:3).

“He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives” (106:46).

“For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself [have compassion] concerning his servants” (135:14).

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy [kind] in all his works” (145:17).

God says, “My dear child, you are unable to comprehend how precious you are to Me. I have chosen you. No matter how insignificant you think you are, I notice you, and I care about you. You are the special object of my affection, and I will display my love in part by giving you all that you need, by creating a place where you belong, and by showering you with my care and compassion.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

01102026 When You Want to Hide

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God, who understands that sometimes all we want to do is disappear when life is too much for us. His words of comfort and reassurance are, “I am with you when you want to run and hide, and I will shelter you.”

There are days when each of us just wants to pull away from life and hide. Maybe we want to pull into our shells like a turtle. Maybe we want to escape to the mountains or the seashore or a deserted island. Regardless of our preferred real or imagined favorite retreat, we probably want to escape the presence of people. We want to be alone, peaceful and quiet, far from the demands, pressures, dangers, and attacks of life. In the midst of our desperation, we simply desire to disappear, and we wish there were a reliable and convenient place where we could be sheltered and secure. God says . . .

“In the LORD put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?” (11:1).

“Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them” (17:7).

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (23:4).

“Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city” (31:21).

“How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings” (36:7).

“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” (57:1).

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler” (91:4).

“The LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul” (121:5-7).

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me” (138:7).

"If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me” (139:8-10).

God says, “I know that life can be totally overwhelming and that sometimes you want to escape or hide. I am here for you as your refuge and retreat. I am a place of nurturing, comfort, protection, and safety. In the darkest and most threatening places, I am with you to protect you. I will hold you close under My sheltering wings. I am the best place to shelter when you just want to flee, and I can keep you until the danger has passed. Run to Me and rest in My care.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

01032026 God Never Abandons

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our gentle God, who is constant and faithful. He gives us these comforting words: “I am not going to ignore you, abandon you, or turn my back on you.”

There are various reasons, both intentional and unintentional, why those who have been involved in our lives might withdraw from us. True, such a hurtful change might stem from selfish and malicious reasons: envy, bitterness, anger, lack of forgiveness, and so forth. But many times the reason is less sinister. Sometimes the change is gradual and without hard feelings, prompted simply by the changes in life and interests. People get married or have children; they take on a new job or a time-consuming ministry; they move geographically; health concerns limit them or consume their time and energy; they face time-consuming family situations. These types of changes are less choices of rejection than they are inevitable adjustments. Finally, abandonment by others could simply stem from careless oversight. With the constant adjustments of life and routine, interpersonal alignments can gradually shift. There is even the unavoidable barrier of death. Whatever the reason for the diminished interaction, it can feel like abandonment, rejection, and betrayal. These changes happen because humans are finite; they have limited love, limited time, limited energy, limited compassion, and so on. God, on the other hand, is infinite in His characteristics. Because He can be everywhere at all times for everyone, with a perfect love and faithfulness, God says . . .

“The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee” (9:9-10).

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up” (27:10).

“For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off” (37:28).

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (46:1).

“For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance” (94:14).

“Thou have beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me” (139:5).

God says, “I will never leave you and I will never, ever forsake you. I will be faithful. I will always love you. I will always be there for you. I will never run out of time for you or be unavailable. I will stand by you even if everyone else has abandoned you. You can find loving, compassionate help from me – always. Turn to Me when you are lonely or needy.”

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA