All That I Am Today
(A ministry for THIS moment)
"Offering everything we are to the Lord."
most writing is by South Dakota author BJ Reese
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On this page, we examine all the ways in which God is a part of EVERY moment of our lives.​
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If you would like to comment on one of the articles you read here, there is an email form at the bottom of the page for you to do so. I look forward to hearing from you!
WINGS OF HOPE
(When I Need God's Support, He Offers Perfect Encouragement)
Read All Our Wings of Hope Articles:
Read All Our Wings of Hope Articles:
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PURIFY ME
October 13, 2023
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Job 23:10 (NIV)
“But he knows the way that I take; when he
has tested me, I will come forth as gold.”
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Sometimes, the changes we go through in life leave us wondering if God is even there.
What is He up to? Why doesn’t He do something? Why does He allow such hardship and struggle in my life?
In this passage, Job offers valuable insight into that question. God uses those trials
to shape us and purify us . . . in the hope of, one day, seeing His own glorious
reflection in the “gold” He brings forth from those trials.
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To His Glory . . . BJ
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NOT TODAY, SATAN!
August 19, 2023
Earlier this year, an old and treasured friend called me on a Saturday evening. As soon as I heard his voice, I knew something was wrong. After all, we’ve known each other nearly 60 years. I should be able to tell. Tim explained that he was in the hospital, with pneumonia. The doctor had told him his lungs were shot . . . and he probably would not fully recover. In fact, the doctor seemed to expect that Tim didn’t have much time left to enjoy life on this Earth.
During church services the next day, I was intensely impacted by the praise and worship songs. In fact, I cried all the way through them as my mind processed my friend’s phone call. It was as though the lyrics were merging with Tim’s news.
The sorrow in my heart built to a devastating level, and it seemed like Satan was celebrating the gloom I was feeling. Just then, the worship team built the song they were singing to a passionate crescendo. As I sang along, I felt a shift in my emotions. The crushing despair was being transformed as I sang . . . into a fierce determination.
Later that day, the words to this poem came to my mind. My spirit had found a way to record a memory of what had happened in my heart that morning . . .
NOT TODAY, SATAN!
The sadness washes over me;
I can’t lift up my head.
The music plays, I hear the words,
But my heart is filled with dread.
The words I heard in last night’s call
From a treasured, lifelong friend;
Mix with the words of worship songs,
And my tears don’t seem to end.
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The doctor says my friend will die –
That it just might happen soon:
The devil hears, and shouts with glee,
He delights in all this gloom.
Just when I think he’ll win this time,
Cuz the sorrow just won’t stop,
The power in the music builds,
And I see the mountain’s top.
“Not today,” my mind cries out.
“You can’t have my heart today.”
A fighting spirit rises up,
And chases the gloom away.
The God of Love has filled my heart,
As only my God can do:
My spirit screams out, “Not today!
I will NOT give in to you!”
“The God of Hope is in this room;
And He’s fighting as we sing.
When I’m too weak to carry on,
All the strength I need, He brings.”
To His Glory . . . ~ BJ Reese
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To His Glory . . . BJ
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July 14, 2023
Free from Sin and Death
“because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of
life set me free from the law of sin and death.”
~ Romans 8:2 (NIV)
What a marvelous hope this verse offers us!!! By accepting Jesus as our Savior, we are no longer bound by sin and death. Yes, our physical bodies will one day “give up the ghost” and leave this Earth behind. But our souls have been released from that fate. The Holy Spirit guides us through this life, and helps God to prepare us for the eternal life that Jesus bought for us with His own life.
​ To His Glory . . . BJ
See you next time . . .
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WAGONS, HO!​
June 12, 2023
Traveling the highways and byways of this country, you notice many things along the way. Some of them capture your imagination. A recent trip home from Minnesota was just such a day . . .
We were returning from a visit with Rich’s family, and decided to take a quieter, more leisurely route home. We followed state and county roads, instead of the interstate. It was along the last stretch, connecting a county route to I-90, that I first saw this curious sight.
Just south of Philip, I noticed a sign on the roadside, near the junction with a rancher’s road. It read, in part:
“Original Wagon Wheel Ruts, Old Deadwood Trail . . .”
Because of highway speeds, I didn’t get a chance to read the rest . . . but the sign had done its job. For the rest of our trip, I found myself watching for those old wagon ruts. They followed a fence line that ran parallel to the highway, nearly all the way to Rapid City. I caught myself smiling every time I saw them.
To be honest, I had seen them in the past, but had never given a thought to what had caused them. I certainly hadn’t expected that they were from the 19th century! Now, every time I travel that route, I’ll be looking for them, and imagining the courageous pioneers whose sturdy, heavily loaded wagons left that trail so very long ago. And, I will marvel at the difference in travel times, between their journey and mine.
For us, it would take only 1&1/2 hours to traverse the miles between that sign and our driveway in Rapid City. For those brave adventurers of the 19th Century --- looking for a new home --- that same journey would take nearly four days! To make the trip on time for a Monday appointment in Rapid City, they would have to leave Philip on Thursday!
This quick, 600-mile trip to Minnesota, from which we were returning, would have been a much different story for the folks who left those wagon ruts behind. Instead of the five and a half total days we were gone, they would have needed 20-30 days, just to arrive in Minnesota . . . and an equal amount for the return trip. Add the four days we spent visiting family, and their trip is now over two months!
Our weekly ride to church (28 miles) takes us about 40 minutes. For the wagon train in which my grandmother arrived in the Pacific Northwest, it would have taken a full day – or longer – on dry roads. In order to arrive on time for Sunday morning services, Grandma would’ve had to leave home early Saturday morning. Similarly, the 55-mile drive to visit my son and his family in Belle Fourche is a one-hour trip. Grandma’s wagon train would have needed two days. To join them for Saturday dinner, she would have to leave home on Thursday.
So many things in our world have become second nature to us. We take them for granted, and never give a second thought to how precious – or simple – they actually are. I urge you . . . every now and then, take the time to think about --- and be grateful for --- the conveniences you have in your life, my friends. They were purchased at a great sacrifice, over a surprisingly lengthy period of time.
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To His Glory . . . BJ​
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May 13, 2023
A Precious Inheritance
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
~ Psalm 127:3
Most of us parents think of our children as something we did. Some grand accomplishment born or our bodies. The above passage offers a new way to think
of them . . . as a heritage --- from God Himself.
Heritage – something that is inherited; that is passed down from one generation
to the next.
Hmmm . . . if this is God’s definition of our children, perhaps we should treasure them more, don’t ya’ think?
​ To His Glory . . . BJ
See you next time . . .
April 12, 2023 (Celebrating 5 years)
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INTRODUCTION TO "WINGS OF HOPE"
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In the early 1990s, while I was working with battered women, a name came to my mind. “Wings of Hope” sounded like a good name to give our support group. I kept the thought to myself while I tried to come up with an acronym for the letters to represent. I never came up with one, so the group was never given that name. Not able to let go of the idea, I kept all my notes and put them away.
Years later I started college, working on a Sociology degree. I planned on opening my own counseling center one day. Again, the old name popped into my mind: it would make a great name for my counseling center. Apparently, this was also something that was not meant to be. About halfway through school, I felt the Lord leading me in a different direction than I’d originally planned. I would not be opening a counseling center, after all.
Again, I found myself unable to completely abandon the name that kept popping into my head every now and then. For reasons I didn’t understand, I was still drawn to it. I knew that, someday, God would show me what “Wings of Hope” was going to be used for. So, I put all my notes away in a file and waited. It would come, in God’s time.
A profound experience at a women’s retreat, in 2012, left me with the clear sensation of the Lord setting my feet down firmly on a new path in my life. Excited, and anxious to learn the specifics, I worked hard at listening closely for His direction and guidance. I soon felt myself being drawn into some sort of ministry, even though I still had no details. Having an idea where He was Leading me, my excitement tangled itself with impatience. I could hardly wait to find out where we were going.
Meanwhile, my life brought many new opportunities for me to learn how to let go of my worries and concerns . . . to stop trying to fix things and let God do His work. Through a series of family dramas, He was teaching me to let Him handle ALL the things I couldn’t change or influence. For nearly two years, those opportunities kept coming, waiting for me to get a clue.
Finally, in the Spring of 2014, He Showed me another piece of the puzzle. A string of articles for the Hill City Gathering Place web site and the Little White Church newsletter spawned a new idea. A regular monthly column on the Gathering Place web site. It’s name? “Wings of Hope”.
FINALLY! A place to use the name I’d carried around for over two decades! I was excited and thrilled! This time, the words in the acronym came effortlessly: “When I Need God’s Support, He Offers Perfect Encouragement”. I presented the idea to Jack and Mary, and they loved it! So, that became its first home. Today, I am honored to launch “Wings of Hope” as a part of this web site.
Psalm 91:4 promises us shelter beneath God’s wings. Therefore, I’ve chosen that verse as the Scripture reference connected to the title of this column. Many times in my life, I have seen this promise at work in difficult, painful, even terrifying situations. I’ve also seen it in times of unspeakable joy. He has made His presence known to me more times than I could count. To His Honor and Glory, I dedicate this column.
Here, we will share a journey of how God applies His Truth to EVERYTHING in our lives. Allow me to clarify something, here. Many times – in the body of a particular article – I may mention God’s name only. However, I am perfectly aware that He does not act alone in the ways He works in my life. His influence in our lives has been made possible by the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus made for all of mankind. Together, they use the Power of the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds with a multitude of emotions and thoughts. Even if I don’t mention them all in the story I’m telling, I know they are ALL a part of it. In this column, we will look at the role they play in everyday life.
Thank you for being here. It is my prayer that the Lord will use this column to help you recognize and welcome His presence in your everyday life. Please join me every month as we explore the amazing love, insight, peace, safety, comfort and trust that can be found under His precious “Wings of Hope”.
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To His Glory . . . BJ
LET GOD OUT OF THE BOX!
March 14, 2023
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One morning last month, I was having a long, heartfelt talk with God about something that has bothered me for a long time, on and off. Every time I pray about this, I always end up feeling like the words were all wrong. Like I had asked for the wrong things. Still, I found myself trying again . . . this time, telling God how I felt I was asking for the wrong thing. Somewhere in the quiet that came when I ran out of words, I heard it. That one word that was hiding under all the other words --- hoping I wouldn't find it: evil.
This thing that bothers me brings with it the dark realities that can only come from Satan and the messengers he sends to torment us. Doubt, anger, fear, insecurity, resentment, unforgiveness, and prideful self-righteousness . . . these are not thoughts God would ever place in our minds.
And yet, there they are. Every. single. time. So, I run to God and pray about the thing that sets off these dark emotions. Today, though, my prayers revealed something I hadn't seen before: I've been putting God in a box.
I sit there, telling Him what the problem is, and what I want Him to do about it --- wait --- what?!!? Do I really think I'm that smart . . . that I believe God needs MY advice about how to correct this problem? Wow! Pride doesn't get any bigger than THAT!
Once I heard the truth of what I was doing, I lifted up my request again --- making sure to rephrase it: "Please, give this person Your strength, courage, and wisdom. Protect them from all evil. Hold them close to you. Save them . . ."
Then, I wrote a word of caution to myself, and posted it on my prayer board: "Stop putting God in a box."
I asked God's forgiveness for my arrogance, and renewed my request for Him to teach me the right words to pray when I am troubled. Feeling much more at peace, I went on with my regular morning prayers and devotions. I love that God listens to us --- even when we're wrong!
Pride creeps into many unexpected and surprising places, my friends. Stay alert . Seek a clear understanding of what it looks like in your daily life. And let God guide your efforts to eliminate it.
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See you next time . . .
To His Glory . . . BJ
February 13, 2023
God's Legacy of Love
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that
curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father with is in heaven:
for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
~ Matthew 5:44-45
Too many times in life, we “pick and choose” those people with whom we will share the milk of human kindness. This passage reminds us that the sun and the rain are poured down onto ALL of us. Here, Jesus tells us God’s will for how we should treat those who aren’t kind to us . . .
​ To His Glory . . . BJ
See you next time . . .
LEAP OF FAITH
January 16, 2023
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“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred,
and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.”
~ Genesis 12:1
Imagine yourself in the following scenario . . .
For eight years, your family of six has been planning a cross-country move. The financial means to complete that plan have been elusive, to say the least. Finally, the way to make it happen reveals itself, encouraging you and your spouse to choose a moving date. Two weeks later, your spouse dies unexpectedly.
Following a compulsion which you cannot fully explain, you decide that you’re going to make the move, anyway. As your friends and coworkers learn of your decision, they have questions:
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“Do you have family there?” (“No.)”
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“Well . . . you have friends there!?” (“No.”)
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“But . . . you have a job waiting for you?” (“No.”)
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“Well, you have a place to stay when you get there?” (“No.”)
Your answers to their questions result in a variety of reactions. Some of their facial expressions are almost impossible to describe. You are labeled ‘really brave’ by some . . . and ‘out of your mind’ by others. Still, you are certain you’ve made the correct choice. You continue with the necessary preparations for this major change in your family’s life.
As the summer wears on, your two oldest children --- both adults living on their own --- make the decision to stay behind. Although they’ve looked forward to this move for eight years, they have jobs to consider. As you remind yourself that they’re old enough to make this choice, and have the right to do so, you face a totally unexpected truth. This dream that six of you pursued for so long, will only become a reality for three of you.
Could YOU go? Would YOU follow through and complete the plan that was started so many years earlier? Could you step out into that vast unknown, defying your fears, to follow an inexplicable compulsion? I did . . .
Looking back on that decision, I have a greater understanding and respect for Abraham (Abram). In Genesis 12, God calls Abram to leave his family, his father’s house, and his country, to go . . . “to a place I will shew thee.”
Can you imagine? “Pack up. Go. I’ll tell you where you’re going after you leave.” WOW! What faith it must have taken to obey that call!
When I answered the urge to complete our moving plans, I was mentally and emotionally devastated by my husband’s sudden death. I couldn’t think, let alone make decisions. Faith became the only thing I had left that I could count on. I clung to it desperately, like a drowning man latching onto a life preserver. I didn’t know anything else to do, but to follow that mysterious urge. Listening only to the still, small Voice I heard in my heart, I instinctively went where It told me to go. I have NEVER regretted that decision!
Today, I hunger, daily, for the sound of that Voice which compelled me onward in 1999. It is the sweetest, most reassuring ‘sound’ in my world. The LORD led me here, to a life of joy and purpose that I could never have imagined. When I look back at the path I have travelled since I made that monumental decision, I see a steady stream of miracles and wonders stretching out behind me.
Are you facing big decisions in your life? Are you feeling confused and overwhelmed by them? Clear the clutter from your mind. Sit in a quiet place, and call out to God. Tell Him what you’re thinking and feeling. Be honest about it.
Then . . . LISTEN. Wait for the sound of His Voice to manifest itself within your spirit. He WILL tell you what you need to know.
See you next time . . .
To His Glory . . . BJ