Truth's Vessel

Time in a Bottle

2012-01-28T07:30:00.000-05:00

When Jim Croce sang about it, I really didn't understand why someone would want to save time in a bottle. Time, for me back then couldn't pass quick enough. I couldn't wait to turn thirteen so I could be a teenager. Then sixteen so I could drive and date. Then eighteen so I could graduate and be an 'adult'. Then I couldn't wait to get married, move out of my city to see the world and have babies and be happy! Life, back then was all about living for today and hoping for tomorrow! It didn't make sense to me to want to save time!!

But as I continue to declutter our home, I'm finding I've saved little bottles of time stuck away in drawers and closets and in boxes in the basement.

I found a pile of love letters from my husband. A photo of our son smelling a flower, sledding in the snow, riding a merry-go-round. There were scraps of paper with encouraging words or lists to Santa or stick-figure drawings with balloon hands and feet. I discovered the award my son won from the church's Bible quiz team. A newspaper clipping of my husband in a church play. There were report cards and dog-eared bookmarks. A lock of baby hair. Even our son's first lost tooth.

And as I clean and discard the things we don't need, I realize that we do need these little memories! They aren't clutter at all. I suppose in a way, the boxes and containers and drawers that hold these wonderful treasures are a bit like bottles that hold memorable and treasured times. And there's always a place in my home for another one.

As I look back through all my years, TIME is one of the most important things to give and to receive. We are given 1,440 minutes in every day. Our today might just be the memory-maker that someone chooses to bottle up and save for tomorrow.

Today I'm asking myself, "How can I take advantage of each moment to make a positive, encouraging, loving memory for someone else?"

Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

What about you? Do you have any bottles of time that you've stored away?

Faith Friday - Flowing Fountain

2012-01-27T10:09:00.002-05:00

My husband and I are not water connoisseurs by any means, but we do know a good glass of water when we get one. Living here in a small village, we're blessed to live on the tail-end of a city water line. That means we don't have to pump in the sulfuric, iron-laden, fertilizer-poisoned well-water that lies beneath our local land. The residents who don't have city water have to use complex filtering systems and salt crystals just to make it drinkable.

Our city water isn't bad, but it does have chemicals in it to clean it and keep it clean along it's long route to our homes. But we choose not to drink it because not too far from our home is a natural spring. This spring is so deep and so pure that even without filtration, it's basically contaminant free. And because it stems from wide underground springs, the water continues to flow, day, night, winter, summer, always. And the best part is that it's free. So once a month or so, we take clean containers and drive down to the spring to fill them up. We store the water in a cool area in our basement and bring up containers as needed. What a blessing to have all-we-can-drink, fresh, clean, natural water - for free!

Yesterday a little song came to my mind and it was one of those I found myself humming all day. We used to sing it as kids in Sunday School and we sang it with the toddlers we taught. The song is, "Deep and Wide" (Deep and wide - deep and wide - there's a fountain flowing deep and wide...) Do you remember it? Do you remember the hand motions that went with it?

As a child I had no clue what the song meant. I enjoyed the melody, the simplicity of the chorus, and especially the hand motions. It was a FUN song for a child to sing.

I envisioned pure water bubbling out of a fountain and flowing in a deep and wide pool. I imagined myself running to that fresh water, jumping into it, splashing around in it and just enjoying everything about it pouring over me. But as a child, I didn't recognize the Theology behind it or the Biblical meaning to that simple little song.

Today, no matter what I'm going through - no matter what situation I'm in the midst of, I know that I know that I know - God's fountain still (and ever) flows. All I have to do is run to it and jump in. Jesus is the water of life, to drink of Him is to thirst no more. He is satisfying in every way to a dry and parched spirit. His love flows deep and wide and brings cleansing, forgiveness, wholeness, health, healing, joy, deliverance, freedom and strength to anyone who chooses to jump in.

The world would have us to believe that our problems are best solved by playing and splashing around in the polluted waters of the world. They lead us to believe everything will be great if we'd marry the perfect person, get better jobs and buy more things and bigger homes, better electronic gadgets. Maybe if we could lose weight and look a bit more like the Hollywood actresses. Perhaps if we'd buy more fashionable clothes? Those things might help for a moment, but they will never truly satisfy. Contentment, joy and peace are not found by splashing around in the things of the sulfuric, polluted things of this world. They are found only in placing our complete faith in Jesus and then like a child, running to His fountain of love with expectation! Ohhh.... His ever-flowing love is so deep and so wide that it's all-encompassing. And... it's FREE!

Won't you join me in humming (or singing) that simple little song today? And as you do, will you step into the fountain of God and let him once again cleanse and fill and heal and strengthen you?

Zechariah 13:1 (NIV)

"On that day a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
to cleanse them from sin and impurity."

Addicted to Sticky Notes

2012-01-26T09:44:00.002-05:00

As a bit of a confession here.... I'm a bona fide list maker from WAY back. It's not that I don't have a good memory. My memory is fine, I just tend to forget where I put it. lol

We purchase groceries on the weekend but I begin composing my grocery list in the middle of the week. Beside the grocery list I keep a 'to do' list of things I want/need to accomplish during the week. Checking those items off makes me feel like I am really accomplishing something good!

But my lists don't stop at listing. I write sticky notes for nearly everything! If someone phones and I need to save their number - I sticky note it to my desk. If I find a neat website or some great information that I need to keep/share, I sticky note it. Last week my son and his wife came to pick up a recliner we no longer wanted. I stuck a note on my front door so that as they walked out they'd see that I needed them to stop at Walmart and pick up something for dinner that evening.

The night before last, I stuck a sticky note near some left-over chicken in the refrigerator to remind me that my husband wanted a bit more ranch dressing on his lunch-wrap sandwich I'd be making him in the morning.

Yesterday I had to take my car into the dealership for an engine-light issue, and I put a sticky note on my purse to remind me to take some home-made soup to my parents who live near there.

When I jot down notes to help me with work I truly intend to file that information away somewhere - some day - one day. But the sticky note stays plastered to my desk until all the sticky wears off and I'm forced to type the information into a file and toss the sticky note in the trash.

I'm surprised I haven't created a sticky note to remind me to file away the information on all my other sticky notes. Or a sticky note to tell me to remember to make a sticky note about something. Argh. I've come to the realization that I'm a full-blown sticky note addict!

I don't have a clue what I used to do without sticky notes. Maybe I wrote notes on paper and used tape to tape them up? Maybe I just skated through life forgetting everything?

Or maybe... just maybe I wasn't as busy as I am today.

What about you? Do you seem to be overwhelmed with busy times like me? How do you handle it? Sticky notes??

Been Busy Off-Line

2012-01-13T07:20:00.000-05:00

A view outside our window this morning

G'morning!

How are things in your corner of the world?

It's a blustery morning here. Thankfully we didn't (yet) get the snow they were predicting, but it sure is cold and blowing.

Taking advantage of this slow time of year, I've been busy off-line lately. I'm beginning the process of de-cluttering our home. We've lived here for sixteen years and we seem to have fallen into a pattern saving stuff because "... that might come in useful some day!" Argh. So, although not going all-out and getting rid of everything, I am sorting through some things we haven't gone through in a while and I'm finally tossing out stuff we don't use/want and won't use/want and haven't used/wanted. Lol.

Also I've had some projects to accomplish for work (with one still pending for today). And I spent a couple of days creating a newsletter for my sister's ministry. I do that for her every month.

I suppose that since my time and creativity has been spent in other arenas - I just haven't felt creative enough to post here. :( And I feel guilty about that.

Do you go through seasons where you don't have time and don't know what to post on your blog?

Do you feel guilty - as if you're neglecting your page and your online friendships?

How do you handle that?

Obedience

2012-01-06T08:34:00.000-05:00

I'm doing some 'de-cluttering' in our home. Even I can't believe the stuff we've saved over the years. It's been time consuming, not just because of the act of de-cluttering but also because of the trips down memory lane.

Two days ago I found a letter our son wrote when he was about 5-6 yrs. old. I read it and laughed aloud because I remember well the day he wrote it. He was going through one of his rebellious stages. And after school was finished (we home-schooled), he would bring his toys out into the living room. Being a big fan of Legos, the living room floor would be covered with them as he schemed to design yet another new Lego contraption. Every day as I began to prepare dinner, I'd tell him to start picking up his toys, explaining that it was nearly time for his dad to come home and we'd be eating. He'd almost always respond with: "I will - just a minute Mom." Then he'd offer some excuse as to why he needed a few extra minutes.

You know the scenario. We ended up going back and forth and the Legos didn't get picked up. My husband came home and we had to try to maneuver through the maze of toys all over the living room floor. Eventually DAD stepped in. My husband told our son that he had to start obeying me. And if he didn't listen and pick up his toys when told, he would throw them in the garbage. (I know... today that sounds harsh and cruel and possibly borders on child abuse - but back in the day you used whatever tactic you thought might work.)

Believing that his bark was worse than his bite, our son did obey for a few days, but he soon fell back into the "in a minute" then not doing it at all pattern. One day my husband came home to find Legos all over the place. He asked me if I'd told our son to pick them up. I had - several times. So without a word, my husband walked into the living room, bent down, cupped his hands around a pile of Legos, strolled into the kitchen and threw them in the trash.

Our son screamed and yelled and cried as my husband headed back for a second handful. He merely said, "You'd better start picking up the one's you'd like to keep." Boy, I never saw our son work so fast (or my husband work so slow). But when he took the Legos to his room, he stayed in there a while. At dinner that night, he looked pretty angry as presented his dad with the above letter.

My husband read the letter and didn't say a word. After dinner he took the note into the living room where he picked up a red pen, turned it over and wrote the following:

Then they had a long talk about obedience and why it's so important to obey when asked. And my husband explained that he doesn't WANT to throw away his toys. He shared how much it hurts him to have to do that when our son chooses to behave in a rebellious manner.

Our son is nearly 26 yrs. old now with a 5-yr. old son (and 4-yr. old daughter) of his own. When I read him the notes yesterday, he laughed - then sighed. "Mom... my son is just like that!" he exclaimed.
"I know - that's why I wanted to read you the notes." I smiled.

It's laughable now. But there is such a deeper parallel to this when it comes to spiritual things.

Do you see it?

Holiness - It's Covered

2012-01-04T10:19:00.000-05:00

This morning we did not awake to new snowfall. But that's okay. Yesterday's allotment still clings to the branches and rooftops and earth.

I found myself drawn to the way each tree and bush carries its covering of snow. The dried leafy branches became showy spectacles of luminescent clusters as the snow transformed and defined each dormant limb. The evergreen branches look as though a giant hand sprayed artificial snow on their upper branches. The weeping cherry tree's long-hanging limbs are completely coated with brilliant white.

This is one of my favorite things about winter. I don't have too many (favorite things, that is). I'm not a big fan of this season. Yet it gives me hope to imagine what's going on under that covering of snow. What life is waiting to be birthed - what colors are being created - what fruit is developing - what seeds are waiting to mature and scatter and be planted?

You know, God spoke to me this morning that our lives should be like this. When the love of God blankets us, our lives should definitely be changing from the inside-out.

This is called 'holiness'. Now I know that some don't like that word. Some flavors of Christianity don't embrace the thought of holiness at all. They feel holiness is unattainable and to attempt it is unconscionable. They believe our meager attempts at holiness dilute the sacrifice of Christ. And I agree that for someone to attempt to become 'holy' on their own is a bit like trying to build the tower of Babel to reach God. It's fruitless and worthless.

True holiness can never be achieved by personal striving. It's found under the 'covering' that we receive when Jesus enters our life. When God blankets us with His love, it's not for the sake of becoming run-way Christians that strut around in pride to display "GOD" in our Sunday morning lives. No. God covers us in Love as the Holy Spirit moves and works in us. He fills us and transforms us, edging us ever closer to the heart of God. The closer we come to feeling and knowing God's heart, the more we are fashioned us to look (and behave and think and speak and love) more like Jesus (and less like the world).

We don't attain holiness - we simply surrender to it as we allow God to work His will in us. God chose us to be holy and He called us to be holy in all we do. And thankfully... He helps us be be holy.

On my spiritual journey of transformation, lately God has been working on the way I view others and the way I see myself in relation to them. I know that sounds like a bunch of psychobabble - but truly, this is an area where I know I need Divine intervention and perhaps some healing. Funny how things surface from time to time, and funny how God allows it to surface long enough for us to recognize it and surrender it to Him. Then back under His covering it goes for the Holy Spirit to do His perfect work.

What's God doing in your life under His 'covering' of love?

Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

It's In There!!

2012-01-03T12:01:00.001-05:00

Have you ever (like me) tried to discern God's will in a situation? Sometimes I wish that God would speak directly to us and tell us what to do.

A number of years ago there was a commercial for Prego Spaghetti Sauce that (if you were around) you might remember. The catchy slogan that I still remember today was "IT'S IN THERE!" It was used to tell people that everything good about authentic Italian spaghetti sauce is already in the jar. All people had to do was open the jar to find that it's in there.

You know, so often we tend to do things the hard way. We strive and pray about and theorize and over-think this Christianity stuff. When we don't know which way to turn or what God might want us to do, many times if we'll simply open the Book, we'll find that it's in there!

Whenever I try to discern God's will for any given situation in my life; whenever I am struggling and not sure where to turn; whenever I'm hurting or feeling weak or alone or discouraged; whatever my need - I find ALL the answer is in God's Word.

If you haven't yet, make it a point to attempt to read through God's Word this year. I've done it a number of times and I tell ya.... there's nothing more strengthening than to daily fill your spirit and your mind with God's Word. Reading it aloud in your home (or office) cleanses and fills the area with the beautiful and powerful presence of God. And this coming year when you're faced with times where you might be required to give an account of what you believe - you'll be surprised how God's Word flows from your spirit to your mind and out of your mouth (even for those of us who aren't great at memorizing anything!).

If you'd like a plan to help you stay on track - it's not too late to find one. The one I'm following this year (CLICK HERE to check it out) is sent straight to my inbox so that I can read online! Can't get any easier than that.

Remember... when it comes to discerning God's will, IT'S IN THERE!

Snow (and Snow Cream)

2011-12-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

Well it's that time of year huh? We got our first 'sticking' snow.

Snow is pretty isn't it? But it sure is a lot of work.

This time last year we didn't concern ourselves so much with winter because my husband and I both worked from home. When the snow came, we'd dig ourselves out at our leisure and we'd stay snuggly warm inside until we felt like shoveling.

Things are different this winter though. My husband's office closed in late March of this year. Being over 50 and with this economy, we weren't sure he'd find another job - let alone one that he could continue to work from home. But within two weeks he had offers coming in. He landed a great job with a great law-firm. But the commute was an hour and a half each way to where he would catch a train to ride the rest of the way in to the large city. So since mid-April, he's been doing that.

The commute was time-consuming but not bad. Until the snow started. Argh. We have an old, metal, storage barn in the backyard, but we don't have a garage. So we need to clean the snow from our cars early each morning. And if there's any large amount of snow or if the snow-plow has run during the night and created a mountain at the edge of our driveway, we have to shovel before sunrise when my husband has to leave for work. So I guess we'll have to make a few adjustments in our morning routine to get him off to work on time now.

I remember when I was a child, snow meant something entirely different! We didn't care about driving in it or digging out of it. We simply caught snowflakes on our tongues and examined them when they stuck to the windows. Snow meant sledding and snow-forts. It was all about snow-ball fights and building snowmen (and snow women). And ... it was time for snow-cream!

My grandmother used to tell us that snow was nature's way of filtering the air, so we could never make snow-cream from the first good snow-fall. The first one was too dirty and contaminated she said. But after that - snow-cream was a magnificent treat! Did you ever make snow-cream?

http://thefamilyroom.marthastewart.com/2011/01/20/making-snow-cream/

Here are a few recipes:

SNOW CREAM:

Ingredients:
1 gallon fresh Snow
1 cup White Sugar
1 tablespoon Vanilla
2 cups Milk

Place large bowl outside to collect falling snow. When bowl is full, stir in sugar and vanilla and just enough milk to get a creamy consistency. Serve in small bowls with chocolate syrup, caramel, chocolate chips, candies or other favorite toppings.

SNOW CREAM (variation 1):

Ingredients:
8 cups fresh Snow (or shaved ice)
1 (14-oz) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla

Pour Condensed Milk over Snow and add Vanilla. Mix well and serve in small bowls with favorite toppings.

SNOW CREAM (variation 2):

Ingredients:
1-3 cups fresh Snow
1/2 cup Whipped Cream
1 tablespoon Sugar
2-3 drops Vanilla

Mix Whipped Cream, Sugar and Vanilla until blended. Slowly add enough snow to create desired consistency. Add other flavorings like: Cinnamon, Almond Extract, Chocolate, Eggnog Mix, and preferred toppings.

SNOW CREAM (variation 3 - with eggs):

Ingredients:
2 Eggs
2 cups Milk (or Cream)
1 cup Sugar
2 tablespoons Vanilla

Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add Milk, Sugar and Vanilla - stirring after each addition. Add enough snow to create a creamy texture. Serve in bowls or ice-cream dishes with favorite toppings.

If you've made or eaten snow-cream - please tell me about it!

Resolving to Surrender

2011-12-28T08:05:00.000-05:00

I've heard both sides of the New Year's Resolutions debate. I suppose the end of a year is a great time to reflect on one's life and determine changes that really need to be made. And New Year's Day is a sort of turning point - a new year to begin new habits. "Out with the old - in with the new" as they say.

Do you make New Year's Resolutions?

I do. Sometimes I list them and share them with others; sometimes I keep them more to myself as personal goals. I might not succeed with keeping them, but that doesn't prevent me from making resolutions anew at each year's end.

My list might look a bit like yours. Of course, after the holidays, one of my biggest resolutions is to eat more healthy and get more exercise. Then I typically have on my list to spend more time in God's Word and in prayer. And I usually want to de-clutter the house and tackle some large household projects. I always attempt to treat people with a little more compassion and 'give back' to the world around me.

But this year I'm thinking differently. I still resolve to do all of the above, but my main resolution for 2012 is that I want to surrender. As I take stock of my 2011 and see the changes that I need to make in my life, I believe all of them could be accomplished if I'd simply surrender my thoughts, words, actions and life, more fully to Christ. Surrendering to Jesus would not only take the pressure off of me to 'perform' my resolutions with success, it would give God permission to work in and through me - changing me from the inside so that I wouldn't have to perform at all. Instead, God would do the work and I'd reap the blessing of seeing my resolutions come to fruition.

So, my New Year's Resolution List looks a bit like this:
#1. I resolve to surrender my thoughts to Christ.
#2. I resolve to surrender dreams and desires to Christ.
#3. I resolve to surrender my words to Christ.
#4. I resolve to surrender my time to Christ.
#5. I resolve to surrender my actions to Christ.
#6. I resolve to surrender my 2012 to Christ.

Psalms 139:23-24 (NIV)

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Christmas Flew By

2011-12-27T09:42:00.004-05:00

Is it just me or did this Christmas fly by so quickly? It seems that just as I was beginning to get into the Christmas spirit - it was over. Today lands hubby back at work and me with holiday clean-up. Hmmm...

This Christmas (for me) was a bit weird. I can't explain exactly how - but the entire holiday went by like a blur.

How was your Christmas?

Merry Christmas Friends!

2011-12-19T16:03:00.001-05:00

Well it's that busy, hectic, wonderfully blessed time of year. And I probably won't be on here too much until after Christmas (unless it's to post a personal thought or devotion or two).

There are so many beautiful words of encouragement and great Christmas posts and quotes here in blogland that I think I'll keep this one simple.

From my heart, I want to wish each of you a most merry Christmas. May your best gift be the One wrapped in swaddling clothes and may your hearts and homes be filled with His love.

God bless your my dear friends,

Deb

The Joy of Christmas

2011-12-16T09:40:00.000-05:00

Do you remember it?

That special phenomenon that doesn't occur with any other holiday.
Maybe it was ushered in with the quirky tree piled high with family ornaments. It could have ridden on the waves of sugary aromas from holiday baking. Perhaps it came tightly wrapped with too little sparkly paper and too much sticky tape. It might have sneaked in with the long-lost relatives that came to visit. Sometimes you could feel it build over days and weeks; but often it seemed to just fall without notice. At some point, no one seems to remember exactly when or how, the joy of Christmas always arrived.

When that joy appeared, people stepped out of themselves for a few short days. As their vision cleared and they began to view the needs of others, even the stingiest grinches and grumps felt a softening of heart that they didn't realize had even hardened! Sarcastic language took a backseat to words of encouragement. Contentment conquered striving. Compassion melted away offense. And somehow, at some point in the season, JOY was felt and then expressed.

How is that?

Well, the world may say "Happy Holidays" but we all know it's the Christ who brings the celebration of Christmas. And no matter what our personal or global world is facing, one time a year He is noticed and known. Being recognized as the holy Baby and Savior and Lord, Jesus is worshiped and adored.

I'm sure the shepherds in the field had no clue either. As they went about their mundane duties, protecting, leading, watching over the sheep of their flocks, joy fell to them too. Not a momentary joy. Not a few minutes of laughter and back to status-quo. But a monumental, life-changing, Divine JOY. A joy so profoundly unspeakable that they had to see for themselves. And when their eyes fell upon the baby Jesus, they knew the Giver of this joy was now here, among us.

The shepherds couldn't contain themselves! They returned glorifying God and praising Him for all they'd seen and heard.

Have you felt it yet?

Has the Divine Joy touched your heart this season?

Will you share it?

If Jesus has touched your life - won't you please, with the shepherds, glorify and praise God and tell others about this amazing JOY you've found?

Luke 2:10-11 (NIV)

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Wishing you JOY,
Deb

To Bake Or Not To Bake

2011-12-14T09:48:00.000-05:00

When did life become so complicated?

When our son lived at home, I baked. I was always baking. I enjoyed everything about baking! I spent the few weeks before Christmas gathering my recipes and ingredients and making the house smell deliciously warm and inviting as I created so many candies, cookies, pastries, and even a few breads and cakes. My husband and son and friends were constantly sampling from the variety I kept on our counter. The rest would be boxed or bagged to give as gifts.

Today is different though. And I think I'm sad about that. My husband and I live alone now. Our house is quieter and people are busier. We don't have as many guests as we once had. And although I use to dream of the time when I'd finally have a daughter-in-law who'd get excited about coming over to help with Christmas baking, my daughter-in-law simply isn't into the whole cooking and baking thing at all. So for the last six or seven years I've downsized the Christmas baking some because I've had to do it alone after work.

Well this year my daughter-in-law developed allergies to soy and several other common ingredients. So I have to use only real butter when it comes to cooking for her. And real butter is outrageously expensive and we just can't afford that for cookies. And now we're told that our grandson has developed a severe milk-intolerance. So if I were to bake for him, I'd only be able to use margarine and not butter. The same issue goes for candy-making too. No more chocolates and fudges and brownies for them.

I know I could make batches of both types of cookies and candies. But I am (feeling guilty here) that's quite an expense. And seriously, I'm just not feeling like going through that trouble and time and expense. On the other hand, I do like to bake and I like to take a platter of cookies to the celebration at my parents house.

So I'm left with the question of whether to bake or not to bake. What do you think I should do?

Christmas With Jesus

2011-12-09T09:17:00.000-05:00

J.T.

2011-12-07T11:43:00.001-05:00

Grandma: "What you want for Christmas... Child?"
J.T.: "I want me this cat I found."

The year was 1969. I was twelve years old. An age that was too old for it to be 'groovy' to watch the typical cartoon Christmas specials, but too young to not still enjoy them.

Then came J.T. Anyone remember it? It was aired as an hour-long CBS Saturday morning Children’s Hour program. And although it wasn't necessarily your typical Christmas special, without my knowing why, it encapsulated everything Christmas really means.

J.T. wasn't about make-believe snowmen or how a reindeer's nose glowed. It wasn't set in the last century with ghosts of Christmas past or created for the wonderful life of my parent's generation. J.T. was my generation current! And to this day it's probably my all-time favorite Christmas show.

It was about a young boy from a broken Harlem home. Life in the ghetto begins to swallow J.T. as he learns to steal and connive, but finding a sick, stray cat brings out a sense of love and responsibility that even J.T. didn't know he had. I won't spoil it for those of you who have never seen it. But if you're curious, you might want to check it out HERE on YouTube (you'll have to watch it in 5 parts - but it's so worth it).

If you remember watching it - or if you happen to watch J.T. for the first time - please share your thoughts and comments with us.

Bombs or Beacons?

2011-12-06T10:45:00.001-05:00

The holidays are almost here! Nineteen days till Christmas - one of the most holy and blessed times of the year for Christianity.

The holidays, and the shopping and even winter itself can bring a new set of struggles. But I can't help but ask: "As God's people, when it comes to the Christmas and winter season - are we bombs or beacons?"

Lately people have such short fuses and they're so quick to ignite over any little thing. They blow up at every challenge and they think everything has to be their way and within their control. When it isn't, they complain - a LOT - LOUDLY! Then they retaliate and manipulate and .... explode!!

And that's a shame. Because this is the season to shine for Jesus! To be a beacon of light and peace and hope that draws others to God. Even in horrible traffic, even in packed department stores, even in the hectic workplace! We're called to be light in the dark winter-like places of this world. It's easy to 'shine' when we're surrounded by smiling, encouraging, uplifting people. But we're not to snuff out our light to become explosive bombs when things don't quite go our way! Regardless of all the bad behavior going on around us, we're supposed to represent Jesus.

Heading out for Christmas shopping? Driving to work with those crazy drivers? Well the 'fish' symbols hanging from our mirrors and the Jesus stickers on our bumpers don't warrant us the right to behave like big bombs with little fuses waiting to destroy everything in their path! In the stores, our scowls and snorts and huffs and profanity uttered between clenched teeth; the pushing and shoving and ramming our carts into others isn't at all what Jesus would have us to do!

I guess if I could challenge myself (and you who might be reading) toward being a better witness for Christ, I'd ask that we all remember as we live for and celebrate our Savior and Lord and King, to stop behaving like a bomb that explodes deadly spiritual shrapnel into the lives of the people around us. And let's attempt to handle the Christmas crowds, traffic, celebrations, and holiday activities more like a beacon that glows consistently as it lights the way for others to discover Christ and abundant life with Him.

Happy holidays!!

Spiritually Mature (like - NOT!)

2011-12-05T14:17:00.001-05:00

I like to think that I'm one of the more mature believers. You know... That I'm kind of seasoned in the matters of faith.

Funny isn't it, that just when you begin to believe you're doing just fine climbing the ladder of spiritual maturity, the Holy Spirit reminds you that you're not as high-up as you thought you were. (Well okay, maybe that only happens to me.)

Every weekend before we run our errands and buy groceries, my husband and I pray together. Among other things, we ask God to remind us that we are entering a mission field and to grant us strength and obedience to be the hands and feet of Christ everywhere we go.

I know.... sounds like a great, spiritually mature prayer, right? Well it is - for those who are in tune to what the Holy Spirit might direct at any given minute of your day.

We were shopping at a discount bread store and had our arms filled with breads, pastries and English muffins when we stepped in line to pay. Trying to be friendly, we answered the cashier's "How are you two today?" with, "We're good - how are you?"

She answered, "Ohhh... I'm all right."

Without looking up I responded, "Just all right? What's wrong?" And she pointed to the side of her face. It was obviously quite swollen. My husband sympathized and asked what happened. She said she just woke up that way, that it must be an abscessed tooth. I asked if she was in any pain and she said she was not, but she hoped she would stay pain free until she could see the dentist on Monday. We told her that we were sorry she was going through all that. I prayed a silent prayer for God to heal her, then we paid our bill, grabbed our bags and left the store.

At another store, we ran into a former neighbor who'd attended some of the youth group meetings we once taught. She was now an adult but from what she shared, she had a baby, an unemployed boyfriend who lived with her, and extreme family problems. We listened, sympathized with her, and viewed photos of her new baby. When our conversation was over, we left the store with our cart.

Mature believers? Who was I kidding?? My husband and I missed the mark on both of these Divine encounters. After the fact, we realized that we should have asked the cashier at the bread store if we could pray for her right then. Who knows? She may have said, "Please!" What a joy it would have been to watch God heal that lady right then and there!!

We should have asked our former neighbor where she was today in her faith. If she's been praying for God's direction in her life lately. We should have asked if she and her boyfriend would like to get together for a Bible study.

But we (the spiritually mature couple that we are) missed the mark! We blew two opportunities. We messed up. And instead of being the hands and feet and voice of Jesus, we ended up being more like His silent partners.

I may have been 'in the faith' for a good number of years. But I'm still learning and I'm still growing. I know that God forgives when we miss the mark. But I also know that when we get it right, we bring Him joy! I don't want to be God's silent partner. There are enough of those out there today. I want to bring joy to God's heart and advance His kingdom!

So, hopefully next week God will grant us more opportunities and hopefully next week we'll hear the Holy Spirit clearly and 'get it' right then - instead of after we get home.

What about you? Have you ever missed opportunities? Have you ever walked away wishing you'd have done more? Did the Holy Spirit gently rebuke you?

Of Races and Colors

2011-12-02T07:41:00.001-05:00

As someone who views everything with an artistic mindset, I see things differently than most. Where some rush by life, I am so detail oriented that I often stop in awe when I notice the varying shades and hues and textures and layers and even the sounds, of every day life! Although different, there's as much beauty in the sparkling city skyline as there is in the farmer's field and a mountain forest. There's as much wonder in studying the wings of a moth as there is in viewing the Grand Canyon. There's as much mystery in listening to the ocean's waves crashing to the shore as there is in hearing the buzzing hum of a tiny hummingbird. Every minute detail, no matter how grand or how minuscule points to a Divinely creative, infinite God!

God's majesty, His glory and creativity, aren't just found in nature and landscapes. Take people for example!

I miss living in the city. In the city, I couldn't get enough of the diverse nationalities. The layers of ethnicity ran vast and deep! It was music to my ears to listen to the differing dialects of our neighborhood. On one side - our neighbor was a second-generation Polish ship-builder while on the other side - we had a first-generation Puerto Rican store owner. Across the street was an African American hair dresser and behind us was a Heinz-57 (like me) automobile worker. The children that amassed upon our home after school were so beautifully individual! No skin color or vocabulary was the same. And we shopped at a Polish fruit market, ate fish dinners from the Czech club, bought Gyros from the Greek restaurant and thoroughly enjoyed the melting-pot of cultures, colors, dialects, and lifestyles.

Aren't you glad that God doesn't care where we came from, what our backgrounds are, what languages we speak, what color our skin is, or how much money we have? Isn't it comforting and freeing to understand that in Jesus, we are all equal in God's sight?

Colossians 3:9-11 (NKJV)

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Now, knowing that God created all people (in His image by the way), I don't mind telling you that I'm appalled by the news that a Kentucky church banned a couple from worshiping with their congregation because of the fact that the man and woman don't share the same skin color. Sadly, I'm certain this isn't the only church that behaves this way.

There are churches (and perhaps whole denominations) that take 2 Cor. 6:14 out of context and try to force it to mean that differing races should not "yoke" or marry. It doesn't mean that at all. That portion of Scripture means that for a Christian to unite with an unbeliever (in marriage, in business, in fellowship, in beliefs) would not work because we're supposed to be God's holy people and their ways and lives are contrary to His Word.

But no where does Scripture mandate that Christian people can't marry someone of a differing race or shade of skin. Skin is skin. It's simply the covering that we wear over who we are inside. And if we belong to God and if His Spirit lives within us, we're all the same. Moses (a Hebrew by birth) is one of the best examples. He married Zipporah who was an Ethiopioan/Cushite. By the way... read what God did to Moses's sister, Miriam, when she criticized Moses for marrying Zipporah - Numbers 12:1-15. Yet Zipporah and her family were followers of God.

God doesn't prohibit any of us from marrying someone of another skin color. God's only concern was that we marry within our faith! As a matter of fact, 1 Cor. 7:39 tells us that a widow is free to marry "anyone she wishes" as long as he belongs to the Lord.

Christianity is fractured enough and it has a multitude of struggles as it is. We live in a time when our focus should be on multiplying the kingdom - not about further dividing it! We certainly don't need some ignorant pastor elevating himself and his church by banning mixed-race couples from worshiping or working in his congregation. What's next? Will elitist pastors begin banning couples of mixed height? Perhaps couples who drive Fords won't be permitted to worship at a Chevy-supportive church? Yet we scratch our heads and wonder why so many people are turning (or being turned) away from 'churches' today.

Perhaps one day people will stop taking God's Word out of context and stop using Him to support their own bad behavior. Until then, this Native-American, Irish, English, French-Canadian girl and her Czechoslovakian, Irish, German husband are praying that the Holy Spirit would open the eyes of this pastor (and all like him) and deliver him from his ignorance into all Truth. And may the Lord heal all who have been hurt or abused by churches/leaders who teach this ungodly doctrine.

It's Here!

2011-11-30T06:43:00.001-05:00

What's crunchy and cold and white - loved by few and dreaded by many? Yeah.... you guessed it. Snow.

It's here! We woke this morning to our first snowfall. I know that our nation's heartland received a foot of the stuff, but with our temperatures hovering around 32° - 33° we're getting a band of freezing rain mixed with wet snow this early morning. What can I say? It's that time of year!

Last week we took advantage of a break from all the rain we've been having and we finished putting away and securing all of our outdoor objects. In preparation for winter, we drained our concrete birdbath, put away the bowl and covered the base. My husband cleaned our gutters and prepared the lawn mowers for winter storage. We stored away all of the lawn chairs, yard decorations and grill. And hubby made sure the cars have all the proper fluids, good tires and snow scrapers.

Yet it seems like no matter how much we think we're prepared for winter, we're still not completely ready for it. The older we get, the more we dislike having to get out and shovel and drive in the snow and ice.

Do you remember winter when you were a child? If you were like me and lived in a snowy area, you couldn't wait for a "snow day" when school was closed. Ironic I know - that school was closed because it was too snowy to venture out, yet we'd bundle in layer after layer of warm clothes and rush outside before it was light. No matter where the mercury in the thermometer hovered, we wanted a full day of trudging through it, sledding and sliding over it, laying in it to make snow angels, balling it up for some fierce snow-ball fights, and creating very artistic snow-forts and snowmen (and snow-women). Every now and then we'd even take up a snow shovel and clear our and our neighbor's driveways. Oh the good old days! We'd remain outside until we couldn't feel our fingers and toes or until darkness fell - whichever came first. I can still hear my Mom yelling from the other room, "Don't walk on the carpet, stay by the door to get your snowy clothes off!"

Then smiling with rosy, chapped faces, we'd sit at the kitchen table, wrap our tingling fingers around a cup of hot chocolate (with marshmallows if we had them), and inhale the warm, cocoa steam. Aaaaahhhhh..... The days when snow was FUN! I confess that I miss the carefree times of childhood winters.

Today, the responsibilities of shoveling, digging out, scraping, de-icing and trying to safely walk and drive in the stuff have caused snow to completely lose its appeal. At my age I really don't think it would be wise for me to try to recapture that childhood winter fun. My neighbors would call the authorities if they looked out their windows to find me throwing myself in my yard flailing around making snow angels. Not a good idea. I guess I have to settle for the fact that although I think the first snow is very pretty, I really dread that it signals the realization that we'll now have to deal with it in varying forms and measurements for the next four months. Because - it's here! Argh.

What about you? Did you get any of this first snow? How much did you get? How do you deal with winter?

Wishing you blessings and warmth (and hot chocolate)!

Deb

2011-11-28T13:00:00.001-05:00

Did you enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday?

Our's was both relaxing and fun. We planned a quiet dinner here at home and that's what we had. Neither of us was too pleased with the turkey this year. Every year we've had really moist and tasty turkeys but this year it was tasteless. We won't buy that brand again.

Our son and his family came over later that evening. My husband took advantage of the visit to take some holiday portraits of our grandchildren. Aren't they adorable??? They were so good as we 'posed' them.

Friday was set aside to visit with parents as it was my mom's 75th birthday. We went out to lunch and did a bit of shopping with them. Because she's an ice cream connoisseur, we treated her to her first Dairy Queen ice-cream cake. She really liked it! A lot.

We also did our share of 'holiday shopping' - but not the Black Friday, midnight or 4 a.m. kind. I confess for a moment we did consider it. But thoughts of facing bumper-to-bumper traffic, raging crowds and lengthy lines kept us in our bed long after the stores opened. Instead, we took our time and strolled through the cleared-out stores late Saturday afternoon, then stopped for Chinese food at our favorite restaurant. Did you do any Black Friday shopping? Get any bargains?

Yesterday was so restful. We stayed in where it was cozy and warm and dry.

Overall it was a very good, restful, serene Thanksgiving holiday.

How was yours?

Thanks-giving

2011-11-21T07:51:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving.

Here in America we celebrate it this week. And as is our modern-day custom of indulging in bountiful feasts, gathering with family and friends, football games, and black-Friday shopping, for the most part I have to believe that Americans still enjoy setting aside this day to contemplate what we're really thankful for. If you're like me, you're probably making a mental (if not written) list of the things and people you are most thankful for.

Everyone probably has their own view of one or another historical version of the Pilgrims and Native Americans. And most of us have read the moving Presidential Proclamation of Thanksgiving signed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863. But do we really understand what Thanksgiving is?

I've been pondering this question for a few days. And I began to see Thanksgiving in a new light.

Thanksgiving, of course, isn't just about having a few days off work to eat, visit and shop till we drop. Thanksgiving isn't simply about listing the things we're thankful for. It isn't even about feeling thankful.

If we had a day named, "Missions-giving" and we celebrated it with a grand feast and asked Missionaries to come in and share with us about their work on the mission field it wouldn't really be Missions-giving until we GAVE to Missions.

On Thanksgiving Day we can feel thankful. We can list our thanks. We can celebrate it with all the family frills. But until we give our thanks away - it's not really "Thanks-giving"! Because Thanksgiving is really about GIVING "thanks".

My list of thankfulness is so large that this page could not contain it. From the inside out, I'm thankful and grateful and blessed!

But I ask you - how does one 'give' thanks? How can we give something that's a feeling - an emotion? How do we give an unwrappable gift - something that's not tangible? And to whom do we 'give' thanks?

What do you think? Instead of me telling you my thoughts on how to do that - will you share with me your thoughts?

Hosting Thanksgiving Thoughts

2011-11-18T15:35:00.001-05:00

The leaves are almost gone, the cold rain sometimes mixes with flurries now and the air takes a cold bite out of my cheeks. Yes... Indeed mid-November has arrived.

This month (for me) seems to be flying by. Tomorrow we'll do our weekly grocery shopping and I'll have to add all of the Thanksgiving ingredients to my list. Who knew it would come so fast?

Somehow our Thanksgivings just don't live up to the Walton's/Little House on the Prairie/Andy Griffith Thanksgivings I remember seeing on T.V. A Thanksgiving where family members filter in throughout Thanksgiving morning, bringing their own special touches to our day seems so... Thanksgivingish! I envision the children engrossed in the parade on T.V., the guys sitting around talking football, cars, finances - guy stuff, and the women laughing as they prepare the meal and slapping the hands of the hungry men attempting to sneak just a bite or two. In my perfect Thanksgiving, we'd all sit around the table, grasp hands and share with God all of the things we're thankful for, then we'd eat, laugh, and talk over one another as conversations rolled easily through the meal. Then as the men loosened their belts and settled in for an evening of football, the ladies would clean up the kitchen while the children played board games. Aaaaaah. THAT sounds like the kind of Thanksgiving I'd like to have.

But we have yet to have one of those. It just seems that with us all living at least an hour apart, our family members all arrive just before (or as) the meal is being served. They shed their coats and purses and quickly gather around the table where we pray and pass all the steaming dishes of food. Just as I'm finally able to sit down and enjoy the meal with them, people begin pushing their chairs back and stretching and telling of how they'd love to stay but they have other places to go. They pack up to leave right after (sometimes before) desert is eaten. And I leave the table to scramble and create little left-over bags for each of them to take home.

I really don't like to admit this, and I feel bad about even thinking it. But all that exhausting effort doesn't seem as gratifying when everyone flies in and then flies out so quickly that I haven't had any time to enjoy them being here. And then I'm left alone, up to my elbows in soapy dish water, waiting for the turkey to cool enough to tear the rest of it off the bone.

This year my husband asked me not to make any obligations for Thanksgiving. He didn't want to host the event in our home and he didn't want to go anywhere. He just wanted to enjoy a cozy and relaxed Thanksgiving here. Now for me, this year, that sounds wonderful! Of course we've invited our son and daughter in law and grandchildren to stop by on their way home from her family's celebration. But we're not officially hosting it this year. We'll see how it goes. But I'm betting we're going to enjoy it!

What about you? What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Do you host it at your home?

Hurtful Situations

2011-11-15T09:09:00.001-05:00

Two of my distant family members are facing a difficult day.

My uncle, who suffered through the last stages of Alzheimer's for months, passed away last week. Today, my aunt will stand, shaking with emotion, in a cemetery and watch her husband leave her to spend his days in eternity. Death.

My cousin who's been supporting our aunt these last weeks, will find herself standing in a courtroom today. She too will stand shaking with emotion as her husband leaves her to spend his days with another woman. Divorce.

Both of these women will lose their husbands today. Both of them will go through a gamut of emotions. Both of them will fight the flood of memories that fly, scrolling, through their thoughts at any given moment of this day. They will alternately give in, more than once - to the gnawing, raw, lump of pain that swirls from their stomach to their throat, to flow uncontrollably out of their eyes. For several days they will find themselves battling to focus on breathing and doing and being.

It hurts. Loss of any kind HURTS!

And God knows how much and how deeply.

If there can be one good thing that's certain about this day, it's the fact that both of these dear ladies knows and trusts Jesus Christ as not just their Savior, but also as their Lord. They know and understand and rely on the fact that HE IS WITH THEM. Without Jesus, neither would know how to cope at all. They know that in their brokenhearted-ness, Jesus is near them (Psalm 34:18). In their wounded-ness, Jesus binds up the wounds and heals them (Psalm 147:3). In their mourning, Jesus is Comforter and will one day replace their mourning with gladness and praise (Isaiah 61:1-3).

It's okay to feel hurt. We all experience it in differing degrees, in differing circumstances. Jesus experienced hurt - and betrayal - and people turning their backs on him. Jesus knew hurt. And Jesus knows your hurt too.

If you are facing the difficulty of hurtful situations, instead of allowing it to overtake you - take it to Jesus. Let the Counselor bring you through the hurt to gladness and praise. He can. And He will, if you seek Him.

Hugs and blessings and prayers,

Deb

Monday Morning

2011-11-14T07:42:00.001-05:00

Good Monday morning to you!

I haven't been on here because the hard-drive on our main computer decided it had had enough and quit working. Hubby bought a new hard-drive and our son tried to restore everything (hubby usually does a 'back-up' now and then) from our back-up external hard-drive. But the back-up that we thought we had - we didn't. Argh.

So after two separate attempts, a couple of weeks, and hundreds of hours of messing with it, our computer is 'mostly' back up and running again.

Technology. We are all in awe of it when it works, and frustrated to the point of tossing it out the window when it doesn't. Part of me longs for the days of hand-penned letters sent through the mail and scratchy, crackling, long-distance service on heavy handsets wired to the wall of our homes. Yet, another part of me is extremely grateful for the convenience of sitting in front of a computer (or other elect. device) to read and write a bunch of virtual words that describe reality behind the screen.

Anyway... it's good to be back to blog-land.

Other than working on this computer, we have been putting away and battening down the outdoor items for winter, buying up the foods we'll need for Thanksgiving, and preparing our home for the coming cold months. After a few days of heavy winds and now rain (supposedly turning to snow by mid-week), most of the leaves are gone from the trees. :( The farmers worked furiously over the weekend to get their corn in before these rains. I really don't know, but it looked like they harvested a good sized crop this year.

How are you all? Have you gotten over the physical effects of the time-change? Are you enjoying the cooler temps and autumn feel to the air? Are you snuggling in and preparing for winter?

I Am a Christian

2011-11-01T09:36:00.003-04:00

I am a Christian. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit. Inside of me lives the Spirit of God. The Spirit of Jesus Christ.

Since last night was Halloween, I decided to dress up the Holy Spirit a bit, you know, in celebration, in fun. I placed on a black wig, added a bit of make up and some plastic fangs and "Wall-Ah!" Me and God were disguised as a vampire! Pretty cute huh? Okay, maybe not 'cute-cute' but you have to admit, I made a cute and scary vampire.

I went with some friends to a Halloween party where we enjoyed several pumpkin spiced brews served from a cauldron kept cold by smoking, dry ice. We danced to the monster-mash and got appropriately smashed.

With a good buzz (okay, maybe it was more like a GREAT buzz), I took the hand of Jesus and the hand of my devil-dressed friend and together we followed the crowd from bar-to-bar to 'trick-or'treat'. Man... I don't know what all they put in those drinks and snacks, but I WAY overdid! But hey... that's what ya do on ~~holy-day~~s holidays - right?

It was SO FUN - I hear. I'm not totally sure what happened after midnight - things got a bit fuzzy around 11:30 or so. I don't know where Jesus went, but I know that we were very responsible cuz we all piled into a cab and paid to be driven home. I woke up this morning looking even scarier than I did last night - ewww... My fake blood was smeared all kinds of crazy. I hope I can get it off my pillowcase.

When I checked my messages after puking up the last of whatever I drank, I saw there were over 300 tweets from my friends. I'll have to check those when I get to work so I can make sure we had as great a time as I think we did. But for now, I gotta shower, put on some appropriate office attire and get back to work. After all, the pastors and leaders of the church are depending on me.

Hugs and blessings to all (and if yours' are the shoes beside my bed will you please text me??)!
Deb

(NOTE: For those of you who are shocked, this is a fictional story about me. Sadly though, it's not so fictional about many Christians this morning. Read into it what you will, but take from it the truth that the modern 'church' is sorely missing the mark. We ARE the temple of the Holy Spirit - let's not ever forget that - not even for 'fun'.)

1 John 1:5-6
2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Ephesians 5:8
Ephesians 5:11

Adultery

2011-10-27T09:05:00.001-04:00

Adultery.

Obviously no one wakes up one morning deciding this would be a great day to trash their marriage and ruin the lives of their family. Adultery is a gradual slide of destruction that begins with a slight compromise of thought that can’t be satisfied. The cheating spouse attempts to see how much excitement and fun they can have without breaking their vows. But it doesn’t take long before compromise surrenders to temptation and finally ends in full-blown betrayal.

The happily married couple will tell you that it’s wise for both spouses to completely avoid any activity that might cause temptation. After all, marriage is a covenant that deserves to be protected! When that covenant is kept, marriage is the most intimate relational and physical connection between two humans. When the covenant is broken, it’s a destroyer of trust, hopes, and lives.

As “Christians” we preach that our faith isn’t about “religion”. Instead we tell others it’s about our “relationship” with God. But do we really mean that? I guess I’m asking the question: “Are we really faithful to God?”

None of us wake up and decide to trash our relationship with the Lover of our souls - Almighty God. As Christians, it’s the goal of our spiritual enemy to tempt us away from our covenant with God.

This is the time of year when that “tempter” goes all-out to entice the Bride of Christ to compromise. He knows better than we, how any compromise can lead to full-blown betrayal. People of God - be on guard. Protect your covenant with God! Keep the doors to temptation closed by watching what you participate in during this Halloween season.

Halloween isn’t an innocent, redeemed holiday filled with scary excitement, dressing up, and candy and games. Halloween is a spiritual temptress dressed to seduce God’s people into compromise with the hopes of never being satisfied until it ends in full-blown betrayal of our covenant with God.

Will you fall into spiritual adultery? Or will you avoid any activity that causes temptation?

I suggest that we all grasp the hand of our First-Love and with Him, remind the tempter that we’re in a covenant relationship. I guarantee if we do this, Satan won’t walk, he will run from us and our families.

(James 1:13-15, John 10:10, Matt. 6:24, Eph. 5:11, James 4:7)

CLICK HERE to read my series on HALLOWEEN

HALLOWEEN - Seriously

2011-10-14T09:19:00.000-04:00

Although most so-called Christians (sadly) don't care anymore, there are a few who are still wondering whether or not God's people should participate in the 'fun' aspects of Halloween.

I wanted to re-post the teaching series I did a number of years ago on the topic and allow each of you to decide for yourselves.

VISIT HERE to begin the series. You can also access any lesson in the series through the sidebar links.

I pray that Lord will enlighten His people to the Truth and that He will grant us all strength to walk in it and not compromise.

Couch Potato Christianity

2011-10-03T07:45:00.000-04:00

Dieticians today believe that although Americans eat more than enough food, we’re malnourished. We’re eating the wrong types of food and not getting proper nutrition. Overly-processed, sugary, high-sodium, fatty, fried foods and sugary, alcoholic, and/or highly-caffeinated drinks offer nothing to benefit our bodies. On the contrary, they’re more like poisons that will eventually destroy us.

The Holy Spirit impressed to me this morning that the “body” of Christ is just as malnourished. Instead of eating of the Bread of Life and drinking from the Rock of our Salvation, we’re filling-up on the "junk" of this world. And it's poison to the "body of Christ". It will eventually destroy us. Yet, we frustrate ourselves wondering why we don’t see the power of God moving through us to our communities today. Can it be that by our own choices, we’ve become unhealthy, weak, unproductive, ‘couch potato’ Christians who would rather lie around and send someone else to do God's work?

I want to be a vessel God can use. I desire to know when I lay hands on the sick – they ARE healed. I wait for the day that with one touch, I will watch the dead rise back to life! I long for the words to speak that will immediately impact hearts and turn people to Jesus and His saving grace. I want to be one who RUNS this race to the finish, taking everyone with me that I can. Not someone who receives salvation and sits comfortably on the START-LINE snacking on carnal junk while waiting for Jesus to return.

Unless I choose to leave the “junk” of this world alone and dine on the Word of God, I will remain an unhealthy, apathetic, malnourished “couch” Christian. And I don’t want that. Do you?

"If I read the newspaper I come out dirtier than I went in.
If I read my Bible, I come out cleaner than I went in, and I like being clean!"
~~ Smith Wigglesworth

Coffee With Jesus

2011-09-28T09:17:00.003-04:00

Fall is Here

2011-09-23T10:31:00.002-04:00

Welcome Fall!

This is my time of year. There's not a lot about fall that I don't like.
What do you like or dislike about fall?

What Ever Happened to Audio-Adrenaline?

2011-09-22T11:03:00.002-04:00

Ever wonder what Audio Adrenaline members are doing today?

Mark Stewart (formerly of Audio-A) and the Hands and Feet Project

Birthday Weekend

2011-09-20T16:22:00.001-04:00

Have you ever had one of those times when someone just makes ya feel so very special?

My husband created a secret, strategic, multifaceted plan for my birthday this past weekend. Sounds interesting - doesn't it?

His plan was to drive me all the way to Cleveland, Ohio (where I hadn't visited for many years) to spend the day riding the train and exploring interesting points from east to west and north to south. We made plans to jump off at our first stop for breakfast at at a true city deli . The place was a typical, small deli right near the train station but the atmosphere and food were HUGE! If you are ever on the West Side of Cleveland and want amazing food in a true deli atmosphere - visit Joe's Deli.

Joe's Deli

We left Joe's and hopped back on the RTA train. After a few stops, we headed all the way to the 'end of the line'. While on the train we met an Angel. Seriously. His name was "Angel" and he was the most friendly person who had so much in common with my husband. Angel was waiting for the library to open and decided to ride along with us on our journey. It was such a pleasant ride and conversation that we didn't even realize when the train stopped that it was the last stop on the line. lol

My hubby

We visited Shaker Square. Although the morning was still quite cool, Shaker Square proved to be sunny, warm, and so very inviting. From the quaint, artistic shops to the farmer's market vendors lining the middle of the square it was a very pleasant experience.

Wind Turbine Case Western Reserve

From there, we traveled to University Circle and strolled through Case Western Reserve University where we saw a towering wind turbine in the center of campus.

Cleveland Museum of Art


The Good Shepherd

We walked about 2 miles to the Cleveland Museum of Art. If you have never visited this epic museum - it's AMAZING!! We didn't have the needed full day to tour it, but we were blessed to have visited on a day where they were having a sidewalk chalk drawing show. From the youngest to the oldest, there were so many participating. There was a live band playing and what a joy it was to see the children and adults dancing under the trees to the jazz and oldies band. We entered the museum right near the exhibits that displayed statues, artifacts and paintings from the era right before and after the birth of Jesus Christ. Again... from the little we had the time to view, this museum is so worth the investment of a full day.

From the museum, we road the train back toward downtown Cleveland again.

Train Terminal

Graffiti

Everywhere I looked I saw abstract design and awesome textures and artistry. Even in the graffiti! We spotted some true artwork on the sides of walls and painted over old billboards. This one made us 'think'.

Hard Rock Cafe

We lunched at Tower City in the Terminal Tower downtown. They have a gigantic food court and we certainly went around several times trying to decide where to eat. After choosing to eat Chinese, we took more photos like the guitar at the Hard Rock Cafe'.

Wow - now that's a fast train!

West Side Market

Then back to the train station in Terminal Tower where we watched the trains come and go as we waited for our next train. Within moments we reached our destination of the West Side Market. OHHHHH what an awesome place. It's a sensory overload of cultures, smells, sights, sounds and people! I wish we'd have brought a full-sized cooler! The prices were great and the samples were scrumptious and everything was so fresh and well displayed. Everything from fish to baked goods - from Italian bread to Greek olives - from flowers to beef.
And to hear the vendors hawking their wares in all languages and to see all the beautiful colors of God's people working and shopping under the same roof. Amazing!

It was a beautiful and busy and fun day. But I had no idea that the next day my husband had planned a surprise birthday party for me! Wearing my new "Cleveland Browns" shirt and helping my husband wax his car, I was shocked when my mom and dad and nieces drove up with birthday cake.

My sister lighting the candles on my cake while my grandchildren watch and I wait

Then my son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren came. Then my sister and her husband. Then my nephew and his VERY pregnant wife. Wow. It was a complete surprise. Every one of them kept it secret and never once let me know what was going on. We thoroughly enjoyed our get-together, the family visit, and the pizza my husband bought for us all.

But little did I know it wasn't over yet! My husband took Monday off work and we relaxed away our morning wearing our P.J.'s and drinking coffee. Then we drove out to Barnes and Noble where he and our son bought me a couple of books I've been wanting. Then my husband took me out to dinner at Red Lobster!

Whew. What a birthday! My husband way overdid himself. It was a birthday that made me feel so special and so very loved. One I'll never forget and will always treasure. What a blessing

9/11 and The Church

2011-09-09T15:12:00.001-04:00

(Note: Please refer to the footnotes to be directed to the resources quoted in this post)

Out of the rubble of terrorism rises several different perspectives in the American church. Two of these viewpoints elevate themselves over the others as we enter the ten year remembrance of the Islamist al-Qaeda terrorist attack on American soil.

But before I discuss those two viewpoints, I need to back up and remind us all of why we're about to recognize the tenth anniversary of 9/11.

Nearly 3,000 human beings and the confidence and lifestyle of a nation died that day. The aftermath is still being felt throughout the world. But do we (as God's people) really grasp why this happened?

In 1996 Osama bin Laden wrote a 'fatwa'. A fatwa is a matter of Islamic religious law issued by a religious authority. According to sources, this fatwa was entitled: "Declaration of War against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places" (a) and sent to all supporters. In 1998 a second fatwa was created and signed by Osama bin Laden and four other Islamic militants (b). This issued the following orders to all "ALL MUSLIMS" -
"The ruling to kill the Americansand their allies – civilians and military -- is an individual duty for everyMuslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it, in orderto liberate the al-Aqsa Mosque and the holy mosque [Mecca] from their grip,and in order for their armies to move out of all the lands of Islam, defeatedand unable to threaten any Muslim. This is in accordance with the words ofAlmighty God, "and fight the pagans all together as they fight you alltogether," and "fight them until there is no more tumult oroppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God. ... We – with God’shelp – call on every Muslim who believes in God and wishes to be rewarded tocomply with God’s order to kill the Americans and plunder their money whereverand whenever they find it. We also call on Muslim ulema, leaders, youths, andsoldiers to launch the raid on Satan’s U.S troops and the devil’s supportersallying with them, and to displace those who are behind them so that they maylearn a lesson."
There were other underlying reasons, but the main motives given for this declaration of war against Americans was due to the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia, the U.S. support of Israel, and sanctions against Iraq. As well as the fact that the Muslims did not want "Christians" sharing what they consider their holy mosque (where they believe Mohammad departed from this earth into his "Night Journey". Yet, for Christians, this is the place recognized as where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son, Isaac (not Ishmael - as Muslims believe) and where it's believed Solomon built the holy of holies (the temple of God).

This declaration of war against America and its citizens isn't speculation, it's fact. The fatwa documents commanded all Muslims to fight and kill any and all American civilians and military everywhere they find opportunity and to battle America until Islam prevails. Thus, 9/11 was strategically planned and executed (although failing to hit some of the targets but still killing innocent lives and devastating families, cities, lifestyles and nations).

After ten years, we can see the rebuilding efforts. We've come to rely upon the National Terrorism Advisory System (d), new Aviation and Transportation Security Laws (e), and the Department of Homeland Security (f) to watch out for our country and its citizens. Following new guidelines (g), we obtained passports and the identifying documents needed to return to our country from a visit to bordering Canadian and Mexican neighbors and other countries. But more than just security has changed. We now think in terms of "pre and post" 9/11. Even Hollywood changed the types of movies it produced in the months/years following 9/11. Colleges introduced "Domestic Security" courses that didn't exist before the attack. The treatment and benefits of veterans who have served post-9/11 has changed. Foreign and Presidential Intelligence programs were developed to keep the President informed on ongoing classified foreign and domestic surveillance. And the U.S. Patriot Act was signed into law enabling law enforcement agencies the ability to search previously restricted records in order to intelligence information (h).

With America being the Judeo-Christian country it is, it's not unfathomable that post-9/11 changes have also filtered through the pulpits of our churches and into American Christianity.

After licking her wounds and wobbly finding her footing again, the contemporary American church finds herself uncomfortably straddling a chasm so deep and so wide that unless she soon makes a decision about on which to stand, she will be completely split in two. These are the two viewpoints I spoke about at the beginning of this post:

On the one side are what I call, the "Love Children" - the hippies of Christianity. These are the free-spirited, flower waving Christians who may not know anything else about Scripture but most certainly tout Luke 10:27 and Matthew 5:44 that we're to love God and our neighbors and our enemies. These are the one's who (in the name of love) open their church doors to offer their sanctuaries for the worship other religious groups such as Muslims, Pagans, and Spiritualists. Since 9/11, these "love churches" have accepted and embraced a diverse field of beliefs that weren't previously accepted in the church of God. Today they openly applaud all beliefs and teach against none. In their church you'll find no condemnation, no judgment, no restrictions - just "love" of God and love of neighbors. So much so that they deem Muslims to be their "brothers and sisters". These Christians want America to rise from the rubble embracing all differences and teachings and gods, in hope of making the world one united utopia of Christ's love. Of course the attendance of these "Love Churches" is blasting the doors off their buildings because everyone is accepted, and love (without definition or boundary) rules and reigns.

On the other side are what I call, the "Patriot Christians" - the red, white and blue, flag waving Christians. Their bumpers are plastered with "Pro-Life, Pro-God, Pro-Gun" bumper stickers. They believe in God and His Word, they fight for their rights, they stand with pen and clipboard at local gun stores and bark out for people to sign their political petitions. On Sundays they're found in their ancestral family pews where they sit tall and listen to their pastor shout-out a message of how the enemy has overtaken our country and how if we, as God's people will "vote the sucker out!" Americans will again live in glorious peace and prosperity as God intended here in "His country"! They often teach an 'anti' message about the "sodomites, Muslims, heathens and Democratic liberals". These Christians have a deep, protective love for this country and for the God Who's blessed it for these hundreds of years. They can accurately quote portions of the Declaration of Independence and the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution and John 3:16. They have a difficult time separating their Christianity from their Patriotism because to them, America is still one nation UNDER GOD. They desire for America to rise from the rubble in power to defend her Judeo-Christian history and values, and be the "Christian" nation it once was. These red, white and blue churches aren't as popular or as packed as the "Love" churches, but lately there are a lot of nation-wide socials that are serving up a lot of tea.

So the two viewpoints that are at the forefront of Christianity these ten years since 9/11 are the "pro-love" Christians who in the name of Christ, accept and embrace all Muslims (and everyone and everything else). And the "pro-country" Christians who want our country's leadership to step-it-up and oust all enemies from America's soil so our country can again return to God.

What should God's people believe?

Here it is in a nutshell: From eternity past there have been enemies of God. From the beginning, "deception" slithered its way into the garden with a plan to displace God and His divine plan for this world. God warned His people throughout the Old Testament and the New, not to have anything to do with those of other nations, beliefs, gods. Why would a 'loving God' tell us to have nothing to do with the people of other beliefs? God knew that if we mingled with other nations, beliefs, gods - it wouldn't take long for "deception's venom" to strike, filling His people with a deadly poison.

Yes. With the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus - Grace entered the world. Jesus preached a powerful message of "love". A love so deep that it warned us all ahead of time about the evil, one and promised to one day defeat the enemy of God. Jesus would not just crush the enemy's head, but eventually He'd toss him to the eternal flames. Jesus Himself taught us that evil isn't a person or a group of people, but something spiritual that invades the hearts of individuals and peoples (Mark 7:21-23). We're taught to be careful and watch out for "deception".

America wasn't attacked because we were a prosperous nation or because of oil, or because a specific political party was leading our government. On 9/11/2001 America was attacked by al-Qaeda because Islam (read the fatwa yourself) does not want to share anything - not land, not beliefs, not holy places, not even our church buildings or sanctuaries - with Christians. If you ever doubted that America was a nation of Christians, an attack like 9/11 will help dispel your doubt. The terrorist attack that took place on Sept. 11, 2001 may have drastically taken thousands of lives, but it was spiritual in nature. And the enemy believed he gained a victory that day.

Out of the rubble of 9/11 a united people arose as one. While the dust was clearing, so was the spiritual vision of a people who'd been walking blind! Directly after 9/11 previously empty churches were filled with seeking people. Why churches? Why didn't these people go to bars or restaurants or spas or shopping? They went to churches because something in them told them just how real was this spiritual enemy. And that reminded them that their need for a spiritual protector, a Savior was just as real. They came to churches because they knew they couldn't find what they desperately needed anywhere else.

To bridge the chasm that the American church straddles today, doesn't mean we're to embrace Islam and find 'common ground with them' at all. On the contrary - LOVE dictates that sin is sin is sin and we're to have nothing to do with it. But it also doesn't mean we're to stereotype and preach hatred or violence toward everyone either! To bridge the chasm and bring unity to the body of Christ on this issue simply means that we must understand our battle is not with individuals and peoples and religions and nations. Instead, our battle is with principalities and powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual forces in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

If we want to see America return to her former glory and its churches healed and growing and producing good fruit then we, as American Christians need to first, return to God in repentance. Then we need to equip ourselves with the spiritual armor provided to us in Scripture. We must learn anew to humble ourselves in bowing our knees to God and to GOD alone! Then we must pray fervently, for our country, it's leaders, and yes... even for our enemies! We must stop seeking everything that glitters and fulfills the desires of the flesh and begin seeking God's face and following his ways of holiness. And finally, if we want wickedness, and terrorism, and the enemy to flee, we ourselves need to turn from our own wicked ways. THEN.... God will hear from heaven and heal our land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

References:

(a) 1996 Fatwa of Osama bin Laden

(b) 1998 Fatwa of Al Qaeda

(d) National Terrorism Advisory System

(e) Aviation and Transportation Security Laws

(f) Department of Homeland Security

(g) U.S. Customs and Border Protection

(h) Top Ten U.S. Government Changes Since 9/11

PLANET PR

2011-09-06T11:12:00.001-04:00

This morning as I enjoyed my coffee with God, I came across a familiar verse that the Holy Spirit again illuminated for me.

I've recently begun using this little spiritual trick when I'm starting to feel anxious or troubled by something or some one. I've always practiced taking those negative thoughts captive - and tossing them out. But I've learned if I don't immediately fill my mind with 'good' thoughts, all day long those negative one's will continuously battle to get back in! And I tell myself, "Hey! Didn't you just cast those thoughts out? Why are they fighting so hard to come back?"

Well, although taking our thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ is a GREAT spiritual exercise, I am learning there's more to it than that.

This morning I'm reminded that just casting out bad thoughts isn't enough. We then have to fill our minds with 'higher thoughts' - and the best way to do that is to follow Paul's advice in Philippians Chapter 4.

After taking our thoughts captive and forcing them into obedience to Christ, or casting them aside if they refuse to conform, I believe it's essential to raise our thoughts to what I call: "PLANET PR". That's an acronym I created so that I could remember Philippians 4:8. I sort of rearranged Paul's list there, and came up with something I could easily remember when I'd need it most. In Philippians Chapter 4, Paul tells us not to be anxious for anything, but in prayer, with thanksgiving, make our requests known to God. When we do this, the peace of God will guard our heart and mind. But to finalize the effort - to close the battle - Paul tells us to think about (meditate on) the things that are: (sharing the NIV list here, the KJV has different wording for the same list)

P = Pure
L = Lovely
A = Admirable
N = Noble
E = Excellent
T = True

P = Praiseworthy
R = Right

I tell ya, this really works for me! If my mind starts to head down a negative path of any kind (when things don't go my way - when I think about the rise of food and gas and everything! - when I'm offended or impatient - when someone has hurt my feelings), it takes a bit of effort, but if I take those thoughts captive as soon as they get in, and stop them from traveling around in my mind, then replace those thoughts with "PLANET PR" - everything takes on a different - a 'higher' perspective. The problem might not have changed, but its affect on me has changed! And I'm able to experience that peace that passes all understanding.

Wanna try it? I can guarantee you it will work for you too.

Life After Birth

2011-09-01T11:45:00.000-04:00

Photo from Web MD

There's a story that goes:

There are twin babies living inside the womb. As they grow and room becomes tight and difficulties arise, one baby says to the other, "There's a whole new world out there! When we leave here, we can breathe fresh air into our lungs. There's grass and trees and mountains and rivers. That world has lots of people, bigger than us and they can walk and skip and run and play. There are all sorts of animals that crawl and walk around, and fish that swim in water, and there are birds that fly in the air. There are bicycles and toys and games. The people there eat amazing foods. They even go to school and learn things ..." He went on and on about how great life was going to be after they left the womb and joined the others in the new world.

The other twin listened, then shook his head and said, "You're absolutely crazy. There is no life after birth!"

Just because people today can't clearly see beyond the confines of this world into eternity, they refuse to believe there is life after death. Yet their beliefs don't alter the reality that there is life after death.

Yet just as a pregnant mother anxiously awaits the arrival of her child - God also anxiously awaits the arrival of His children into eternity with Him.

In Matthew Chapter 24 Jesus speaks of how things will be before His people will be ushered out of this world and into His presence. He literally describes it in the terms of a spiritual birth - even defining the "birth pains" as His people are nearing the time of leaving this world and entering eternity.

Continuing on the parallel Jesus described, like a physical birth where the baby is 'tied' to its mother in the womb, today we who live on earth are 'tied' to this world of flesh. But one day unbeknownst to us, that cord to this flesh will be severed. Our bodies will die. Yet our spirits will continue to live on and they will enter into another place for all eternity.

For those who have received Jesus into their lives and who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we will enter into the presence of God. Why? Well because while here on this earth, we accepted Jesus' offer to 'save' us. Obviously He didn't save us from this world - we're still living here and we go through struggles just like everyone else! So what exactly did Jesus do for us?

Jesus made a way for our spirits within us to come alive in Him! For those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have become sons and daughters of the Most High God. He placed within our spirits, the seal of His living Holy Spirit that leads us and guides us into all truth. As His children, while here on this earth, our spirits are specially 'marked' or 'tagged' or "identified" as "Admission Paid". Then, when the cord is cut that holds us to this earth, and when our bodies die - free of charge, without question, we automatically enter into the new place that Jesus prepared for us in eternity.

For those who refuse Jesus while living here on this earth, they are like the other twin and they believe there is no life after death. Regardless of what they say they believe, the reality of the matter is that there is life after death and their spirits WILL enter eternity. But will they enter into the arms of a loving Father who anxiously awaits their arrival and has prepared a special place for them? Sadly, because they refused God's offer of adoption, the answer will be no. They have refused eternity with God. Eternity for them is described as a constant darkness filled with weeping and pain and the gnashing of teeth. It will be a place of ever-burning fire and wickedness. People will wish they could die, but they can't. For this is their eternal home.

Some people become really upset at God, thinking of Him as some heavenly tyrant sitting on His throne playing games with the souls of men, sending some to Hell and some to Heaven at His every flippant whim. They wonder how a loving God can send someone to Hell.

Although God is a jealous God and all judgment belongs to Him - it's not true that God 'sends' people to Hell. Remember the Mom who anxiously awaits the birth of her child? Have you ever witnessed the heartache of a family that suffered a miscarriage? Or the devastated emotions of a woman who delivered a dead baby? I know that's not pleasant to think about. But THAT is exactly how God feels when people refuse to be 'born again'. He knows what eternity without Him holds!!! And He wants NO ONE to die. It breaks God's heart when people refuse eternal LIFE with Him. It's because of His LOVE that He wants to save us from Hell!

No matter what anyone tells you, no matter whether you believe it or not - the reality of the matter is that there IS life after death. One day we will all leave this world, but the question is: "To where will we go?" Please just think about it. And if you have any questions about how to receive God's FREE Gift of eternal life - PLEASE EMAIL ME.

Family Tree

2011-08-26T09:49:00.000-04:00

My sister and I tried to do our family tree last year. She joined one of the genealogy sites for a free trial period and together we fervently worked trying to decipher the 'who's who' of our family.

We ended up with a family tree we were somewhat confident with, but we hoped to some day go back and fill in some of the blanks and make certain we had things really correct.

Well my cousin recently took up the chore of tracing the family roots. And like us, he's had to leave the 'branch' and travel down a lot of long bunny-trails by following other genealogies and documents to discern if someone is or isn't part of our family. This is a very difficult chore as the record keeping back then was absolutely horrendous! There has to be more than just a name that corresponds with our family or it could be wrong. For instance, there are government documents where my grandfather's birth name was given, and there are some where they used only an abbreviated version of his name, and some more where they recorded only his nickname. You'd think all government documents would require his real, birth name to be recorded. But apparently not so. On some documents of the same year, his name, address, wife and children were the same, but his age varied by several years!

So someone searching for truth can't go just by the name or age alone. They have to ask a series of other questions. "What was the birthdate, where was he born, to whom was he married, what were the names of his children, where did he live at any given time?" And from there, by aligning as many facts as they can, they are usually able to conclude if that person is 'theirs' or not. And THAT takes a lot of work!

Admittedly, my mind doesn't think linear like that. It hurt my brain to try to untangle it all. I had so many papers and scratches on those papers and post-it-notes beside those papers - it was a mess! At times our family tree began to look a bit like the Christmas lights stored in our basement - a huge ball of confusion where we couldn't tell the beginning from the end!

I know we'll eventually get it (as I hope my cousin is better at this than I was). But it's a huge task to undertake!

I'm so glad that in Christ, we don't have to trace our lineage down from Adam to Jesus to us to prove our ties to God. I'm so glad we don't have to head off in some other direction, looking for answers and clarity and place or position in the Kingdom. We don't have to sign up for the free-trial subscription to learn who we are and where we come from. In Christ, we're all simply SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD. We are all God's children. And our children are God's children. And all who come to believe and receive Jesus are God's children. Isn't that wonderful?!? Isn't it freeing to know that we don't have to do anything or strive to create any family trees? God's family is simple: GOD --[ JESUS --[ US. Whew... no tangled mess there. And for that - I'm so grateful.

What about you? Have you done your family tree? Do you belong to God's family?

FAITH - A Revelation - A Teaching

2011-08-19T11:14:00.000-04:00

I know this is long.
And I know it will offend a few.
Since I strongly feel that this is a timely message (as it was to me), I couldn't find a good place to divide it into parts. So I'm posting it in its entirety. I pray that the Holy Spirit will allow you to read it all and to see/understand what He's shown me over the last few days. May the Holy Spirit rise up in God's people and fully equip them for the time/day in which we live.
For those who do read it all, please leave a comment to let me know if you 'get it'. ~~ Thanks, Deb

I've been filled with questions for many years. Questions like, if Jesus said we will, why aren't God's people doing the things that Jesus did - and greater (John 14:12-14)? Why is it that every week, all over the world, people are walking out of church services and Christian gatherings, the same (or worse) than they were when they walked in? Why do we have church buildings, two to three to a corner, yet the neighborhoods are 'going to hell'? Why doesn't the world want what we, as Christians, have?

Do you ever ponder those questions? Just recently I've been asking God to answer them for me - to reveal to me what's going on! And today I want to share the answers I feel the Holy Spirit revealed to me according to God's Word.

When John (the Baptizer) had been killed, with His own heart grieving, Jesus withdrew to the only quiet place He could find - on a boat on the lake. Confused and afraid by this violent beheading of John, great crowds of people sought Jesus for counsel and comfort. They came from all the surrounding towns and seeing Jesus leave in the boat, they gathering on the shore to wait for His return. Scripture says, when Jesus landed, He had compassion on them and he healed their sick. Now we're not talking a handful of people - we're talking five thousand men along with many women and children. Can you see Jesus? Walking among those who sought Him, lovingly touching their heads, healing their bodies, igniting their hearts with hope.

But as night began to fall, the disciples (also caring about the people) came to Jesus and reminded Him that the area was remote and that the people must be hungry. They told Jesus to send the crowds away so they could all get to the villages for food, before it got too dark.

Now here is where the Holy Spirit began to reveal the answers to my questions by using very simple, very small words. I like that - for sometimes I can be pretty dense, so simple, small words are good!

Jesus replied to the disciples that the people didn't have to go away. He said, "YOU give them something to eat".

The disciples looked at Jesus like He wasn't hearing them.... Didn't they just tell Him that it was getting dark and food wasn't anywhere near them? Didn't they just say that He needed to send the people to the nearest villages so they could get food?

But instead of 'getting it' - the disciples scratched their heads and fired back excuses.... "But Jesus....." (I imagine them saying.) "Duh... We CAN'T feed them! There are many thousands of them and all we have on hand is five loaves of bread and two fish. We need to send them somewhere else..."

Now don't you think Jesus knew that when He told the disciples "YOU" feed them? What would have happened if the disciples would have turned and said, "Okay folks, line up, single file now, no pushing there... We're going to show you the power of God and we're going to watch Him multiply this food"? I mean, what if the disciples would have taken the fish and the bread, held it high above their heads and thanked God for it, then began handing it out, one by one to the people? Obviously Jesus felt if they'd have done that, each person would have received his fill and the disciples would have witnessed how God could work through THEM.

That was a test. Test #1 on faith. The disciples failed that one. Test #2 came directly after that when Jesus sent the disciples, by boat over to the other side of the lake while He went up on the moutainside to pray. Close to morning, as the wind and waves pitched the boat, Jesus walked out on the water to meet them. Do you remember the story? They assumed He was a ghost, but Jesus convinced them who He was. And Peter (don't ya love Peter?), replied, "Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water." And with one (simple, small, word), Jesus said, "Come."

I'd have to give Peter an "A+" for how he initially responded to this test of faith. He didn't second guess this time; he didn't question what Jesus was saying or what He meant. Peter got straight up out of that boat and walked on the water. But I'd have to give him a failing grade for not continuing to walk in faith and for displaying unbelief. Initial instinct was to walk in faith. But when he took his eyes off Christ, he couldn't believe he could do it, and he fell. Jesus caught him, saying, "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

When Jesus physically walked this earth, to those who followed Him He gave authority to trample on demons and to overcome ALL (another simple, small word) the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19-21).

When Jesus bodily left this world to sit at the right hand of His Father, He sent His very Spirit to indwell and empower His followers. That Holy Spirit counsels us and leads us into ALL (another simple, small, word) Truth as He speaks only what He hears from the Father. Through us, the Holy Spirit brings glory to the Father.

So, Jesus gave us authority over all the enemy - He gave us His Spirit to guide us and work through us.... Then as He parted from us, Jesus gave us what we term, "The Great Commission". He told us to 'GO' (another simple, small, word), to 'PREACH" (yep...), to DRIVE OUT DEMONS (we have the authority ya know), to SPEAK in tongues (as the Holy Spirit gives us utterance), to PICK up serpents (a symbol of discernment - picking out a malicious spirit), if we DRINK poison it won't harm us (symbolic of how the enemy can't curse us or harm us - but also literal at times), and LAY HANDS on the sick and they WILL be healed.

ALL Authority. The Indwelling, 24/7, Counsel and Truth bearing Holy Spirit. The Great Commission clearly spelled out as to what we're supposed to be doing. We've got it all. There's nothing more God can/will give to us on this side of eternity. When Jesus hung on the cross, the last words He uttered were, "It is finished." He accomplished everything He needed to do for us, for the world.

SO WHY AREN'T WE DOING WHAT HE COMMANDED? Back to my original questions: Why are people are walking out of church services and Christian gatherings, the same (or worse) than they were when they walked in? Why do we have church buildings, yet the neighborhoods are 'going to hell'? Why doesn't the world want what we, as Christians, have?

I finally can answer that.

We're not doing the things that Jesus did (and greater), because when we hear the Holy Spirit prompting us, "She is sick..." "He lost his job." "That family is torn apart." We don't instinctively walk in faith. Sometimes we, 'the people of faith', turn our heads and do nothing. Sometimes we plead and cry and beg for God to do something - anything!! Often we blame the church, or the government, or the world - or the devil! Mostly we don't even step out in faith (as Peter tried to do), we are content to simply pray the martyr prayer that God will give us the 'grace' to get through whatever it might be that's attacking us and assume that the Great Commission must have been for another people, another time.

Folks....We either believe the Bible or we don't. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without FAITH, it's IMPOSSIBLE to please God. Where is our faith???? Obviously God's not pleased with the state of His people-church today. If He was pleased - there wouldn't be enough buildings to hold all the people who sought to become Christian! We, God's people of today, are not a people of faith at all. We're a bunch of wimpy, luke-warm, apathetic, powerless people who'd rather gather in religious duty and talk about our struggles than to overcome them through the power and blood of Jesus. We'd rather pay money to send someone else to do the job. We'd rather get the tormented folks out of our presence and to a psychiatrist. We want the lost to go find peace anywhere else but in our nice sanctuaries. The hungry, we direct to food-banks, social agencies, the government. We recommend specialty doctors or over the counter medications to the sick. And as we scratch our heads and wonder, "Doesn't God hear our prayers???" The blame lies solely with us.

We aren't accomplishing the Great Commission because we, God's "people of faith" are walking in unbelief more than we walk in faith. We're sinking - flailing out here - not going forward in our faith - not glorifying God through our faith - not considering faith at all. We're looking at ourselves and our own capabilities, we're focusing on the things around us and the things we don't have, instead of focusing on the Almighty, All Compassionate, All Consuming and Loving, God who dwells within us.

I know this has been a lot to read. I know many of you skimmed through it or skipped it alltogether. But for those of you who did read it, I'd like to offer a few questions to honestly consider.

"Do YOU believe God's Word to be infallible?"
"Do YOU believe Jesus spoke only as His Father directed?"
"Do YOU believe the Holy Spirit dwells in YOU?"
If so....
"Do YOU have the faith to believe God's Word and then to live as Jesus directed and the Holy Spirit empowers?"
"Do YOU have the faith to preach the Gospel anywhere? In the grocery store, office, bank, across the fence to your neighbor?"
"Do YOU have the faith to drive demons out of your family members who are tormented; out of the visitor who won't stop swearing in your home; out of the person who calls and says to you, 'I am so filled with fear/anxiety and I don't know why'?"
"Do YOU have the faith to ask God to fill you to overflowing with His Spirit - even to the point where He enables you to speak/sing/pray in tongues as His Spirit leads?"
"Do YOU have the faith to discern good and evil around you and to shake off all evil and leave it in the dust?"
"Do YOU have the faith to not fear the enemy when he comes against you and tries to get you to swallow his lies, fears, anxieties, doubts?"
"Do YOU have the faith to lay hands on sick people and KNOW that God will heal them?"

NO? Well, if you find you have failed this little 'faith quiz' - don't feel alone. And don't feel defeated. When a boy's father brought a boy to the disciples to be healed. The boy was seizing and couldn't speak. He was foaming at the mouth and had been having these episodes since he was a little boy. The demons in him had even thrown the boy into water and fire to try to kill him. And the father said to Jesus, "If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." Jesus responded, "If you can? EVERYTHING is possible for him who believes." The dad responded, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Jesus healed the boy completely.

If you find that you're like the majority of Christians and don't have the faith it takes to GO, DO, and BE all that God has commanded, go to Him and ask Him to help your unbelief. Then don't take your eyes off of Him. If you already possess that faith - it's time to rise up and walk in it every day - every moment. For if you and I begin to BE a people of faith, I guarantee you, we will be a force to be reckoned with. An army that takes back what the devil has stolen and advances the kingdom of God. The churches will change, our neighborhoods will change, and our world will change. And God will be pleased.

Matthew 14:16-17 (NIV)
Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. YOU (emphasis mine) give them something to eat."
"We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered.

Mark 16:15-18 (NIV)
He said to them, "GO into all the world and PREACH the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will DRIVE OUT DEMONS; they will SPEAK in new tongues; they will PICK UP SNAKES with their hands; and when they DRINK DEADLY POISON, it will not hurt them at all; they will PLACE THEIR HANDS on sick people, and THEY WILL GET WELL" (emphasis mine)

Mark 9:21-23 (NIV)
Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us."

"'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I DO BELIEVE; HELP ME OVERCOME MY UNBELIEF!" (emphasis mine)

"Must-Have's" VS "Back-in-the-Day"

2011-08-16T12:02:00.004-04:00

I attended a baby shower this past weekend. And although this probably officially declares me to be completely ‘out of touch’, I have to say I was SHOCKED at some of the “must-have” gifts for modern nurseries.

While the younger ladies all proclaimed their approving “OOOOOO’s and AAAAAAAH’s” some ladies my age and older sat looking at one another as if we’d landed in the midst of an alien baby-shower!

Now get this…. modern “must-have’s” for nursery today include things like:

“Intercom/Video Monitors” that allow the Mommy the welcome convenience of freedom to roam about spending time away from baby’s room. And the even more ‘techie’ version that analyzes the pitch of the baby’s cries and accurately identifies the culprit. That way Mommy can quickly resolve whatever the issue and return to her own peace and quiet (or Social Networking). The more expensive versions will actually ring Mommy’s cell phone when baby awakes.

Now… “back in the day” we had these two low-tech instruments that we wore on the sides of our head. They were called ‘ears’. And I tell ya, a mother’s ears were definitely tuned to her baby’s slightest whimper from whatever room of the house she may have been in. And we certainly didn't want our phones to ring! By the way... no batteries or electricity were needed for our baby monitors.

“Milkscreen” – a ‘test’ designed for Mommy’s who like to drink alcohol. It analyzes a sample of breastmilk and detects alcohol, so that you can keep your baby healthier.

Ummm…. What is there to say here? Okay, I’ll go with this, “back in the day” Mommy’s who were breastfeeding didn’t drink alcohol because they wanted what was best for their baby. They didn’t go off and enjoy a stiff drink, or two, or seven - while baby napped.

“Baby Wipe Warmer” is an electric warmer just for baby’s disposable wipes. The soothing temperature prevents baby from being shocked by a cold, wet, disposable wipe so that Mommy can ‘safely’ change baby’s diaper.

Oh for goodness sake… I KNEW I was at an alien baby shower! “Back in the day” we didn’t need electricity to warm our disposable wipes – because we didn’t use disposable wipes! And I’d venture to say that none of our babies were ever in any danger from a warm, wet, wash-cloth.

“Diaper Monitor” is a battery operated gadget that hooks right to a baby’s diaper to alert Mommy with a ‘soft alarm’ when baby needs to be changed.

Unbelievable…. “Back in the day” I too had a ‘diaper monitor’ built right into my hand. It was my index finger and it slipped right into the front (I had a son) of baby’s diaper to determine if it was wet. It was inserted at the ‘soft alarm’ that came from baby’s mouth when he was uncomfortable in his wet diaper. No batteries were required for my finger.

“Digital Bath Spout Cover” Digitally displays the water temperature of the bath to protect baby from getting scalded and covers the spout to keep baby from being bumped in the bathtub.

“Back in the day” Mommies weren’t so dim-witted that they couldn’t determine lukewarm water from scalding water. We used our wrists and forearms to establish the temperature of everything from baby’s forehead, to formula, to ear-oil, to bath water. And we used our eyes to watch baby in the bath. Never had to replace batteries in either.

“The Robopax BabySitter” rocks and moves a baby/child up to 77 pounds, in a stroller, nearly 24 inches forward and back about 60-70 times per minute.

“Back in the day” we had a musical rocking chair! It was a plain, wooden rocker where Mommy’s would sit and snuggle and sing to their babies. And sometimes our rockers could move twice that speed! Without electricity.

“Baby Care Timer” is a palm-sized device that helps today’s busy Mommy to remember how long it’s been since her baby’s last feeding, changing, nap, etc. (Now if Mommy just had a device to remind her where she left her Baby Care Timer??? )Seriously???

“Back in the day” we Mommy’s somehow instinctively remembered when our baby ate, approximately when he’d need changing, and when it might be time for a nap. And if for some reason we did happen to forget – baby would definitely remind us **wink**.

“All-in-One Travel System” is an infant car seat, car seat base, stroller, carriage, and baby carrier. Mommy can carry baby in her carrier directly to the car and strap her in, then arrive at their destination to take her carrier out and place it on its wheels for a stroll.

“Back in the day” we also had baby carriers – they were attached to our shoulders and were called ‘arms’. When baby outgrew the ‘football hold’ he shifted to our other carrier – called ‘the hip’.

I understand each generation strives to improve on the last. And believe me; I know that technology is spinning at a rate so fast that it can’t keep up with itself. But I must say that at the age of nearly 54 years old, I’m a very healthy, very sound-minded individual who raised a son who’s likewise very health and very sound-minded. I find that my mother and I both managed to raise children (and our ancestors before us) without ANY of these expensive, energy-sucking, “Must-Have’s” for baby’s nursery.

I can’t help but wonder if these modern devices really 'improve' on instinct and common sense? Do they really benefit or hinder modern mothers in their mothering? What would young mothers do if all electronic devices failed and they had to depend on the barest of basic necessities to raise their children? Hmmm… perhaps that’s another blog for another day.

What about you? Have you seen any of the ridiculous new gadgets out there that are supposed to simplify our lives? Name a few.

Busy Weekend!

2011-08-15T11:02:00.002-04:00

What a busy weekend we had!
First there was the baby shower for my nephew and his wife. I arrived at my sister's home early so that I could help her and my nieces load up the car. First we loaded all the boxes of decorations. Then my sister carried out the cake she'd made (hmmm wonder why she didn't trust any of us with it???)

My sister carrying the baby-shower cake

Then we drove down the road to the rented hall and rushed to decorate before guests arrived.


Table Decorations

Mom and Dad to-be Table

Gift Table


Window-sill Decorations


Sonogram Photo and Plaque


Vases and our Cookies


Diaper Baby Decoration

Daddy and Mom to-be Arrived


And so did the guests


And more guests


Wow - Good Cake!

Mommy opening gifts.

Before we knew it, the food was all gone, the gifts were all opened, the cake had nearly disappeared, and it was time to clean it all up. Gladly, everyone pitched in. Including my 4-yr. old granddaughter, who was more than happy to take charge of cleaning up the balloons!


Balloon Girl

And we're out of the Rental Hall

From there, we all jumped into our cars and headed to my parent's house for my Dad's 86th Birthday . . .


Mom, Daddy, Me

Where we all forgot candles for Daddy's cake. So my mom held the lighter and my Dad blew it out! (Well... ya gotta improvise now and then.)

It was a busy but fun day - filled with family and friends and lots and lots of love.

What did YOU do over the weekend?

Daddy's Birthday

2011-08-12T14:35:00.001-04:00

I must be on a baking-ministry kick lately. (hee hee)

My sweet Dad is turning 86 tomorrow. And let's face it, most of our Dad's have about everything they could want already, so I had no clue what to get him this year. I was at my wits end trying to think of something.

Then I remembered that when we all go out to eat together at a buffet, my Dad always gets a special desert. So I thought I'd make him one from scratch today and take to his birthday party tomorrow.

I'm sure you'll know what it is once you see the ingredients.

It called for some of these:

Just mix them up and bake:

Let it cool and mix together these:

Then put it all together!

This was the easiest, most fool-proof (believe me - I'd know) Carrot Cake recipe I've ever made. I didn't add the pecans it called for - I was going to substitute walnuts but I remembered my daughter-in-law is allergic to nuts. So I'll just finely chop the walnuts and take them in a small container to sprinkle over everyone else's slice of cake. I really hope my Dad likes it. He's a sweetheart and he deserves a sweet birthday cake!


Daddy and Mom

Ministry = Lady-Bug Cookies

2011-08-10T08:04:00.009-04:00

So often we think WAY outside our daily lives when we think about the word 'ministry'. For most, 'ministry' looks like Joyce Meyer standing on a stage in a huge convocation center, teaching a few thousand people. It might look like a mission-trip to some remote, 3rd world country where a group helps build a church, or school, or orphanage. It might even look like a dilapidated, blue-painted, former, school bus that chugs through the inner-city and picks up 'bus-kids' to take them to church on Sunday. And yes... those ARE great examples of ministry.

But sometimes ministry is more simple - more personal than even that. Sometimes ministry looks a bit like Lady-Bug cookies.

"What do Lady-Bug cookies have to do with ministry?" you might ask?

Well, my sister has such a huge heart to serve others. And when asked to help out with her daughter-in-law's baby shower, she absolutely volunteered! She was put in charge of the decorations. Then she was asked to bake the cake. Then she was asked to make the gift-basket for the winner of a raffle. Then she was asked about party-favors.

Trying to do all of this on a budget wasn't easy. So since the theme of the baby shower was 'Lady-Bugs', she decided a great party favor for each guest would be a home-baked cookie made to look like a Lady-Bug. But there was one problem..... My sister's oven is broken. She had 100 cookies to bake and no oven!

So I offered to help her bake the cookies in my oven.

She arrived around 7:30 yesterday morning and we began.

My oven was kept busy all day. The aroma was AWESOME! And the cookies looked GREAT! First we baked, cooled, then began piping outlines onto the cookies.

After the piping dried, we 'flooded' the areas with colored, meringue frosting.

Then while those were drying, we added the details to the one's that had already hardened.
Some had red wings ...

And some had pink wings. Aren't they adorable!?!?

And each one was individually bagged ...

Then stacked in boxes and loaded into my sister's car at 4:45, for the trip back to my sister's house.

It was a long day, and we were tired, and a bit achy from bending over all day. But we took the opportunity to share so much, and to laugh, and to sing, and to encourage, and to enjoy a salad for lunch and fruit smoothies and lots and lots of love with one another.

THAT my friends, is "ministry".

See.... "ministry" is thinking of your daughter-in-law and going through the effort and work of making home-made Lady-Bug cookies for her baby-shower. And "ministry" is offering your home, your time, and your help to your sister to make those Lady-Bug cookies. And "ministry" will be gifting each lady at the baby-shower with one of these adorable Lady-Bug cookies. So yeah... "ministry = Lady-Bug cookies"!!

Ministry. It's not complicated at all. It's not something so far-fetched and so 'way out there' that ALL Christians can't ever do it. Did you know that to "minister" simply means "to serve"??? Yep. Just serving another person is to "minister" to them. And I happen to think that makes God's heart smile. I know it does mine!

What ways can you "minister" to someone today?

Camouflaged Pajamas or the Armor of God?

2011-08-05T09:54:00.006-04:00

I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry
Shoot the artillery
I may never fly o’er the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)

I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)
I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)

I may never march in the infantry
Ride in the cavalry
Shoot the artillery
I may never fly o’er the enemy
But I’m in the Lord’s army (Yes, sir!)

I remember singing that song while marching to the piano in children's church. I had no clue what being a Christian had to do with an army. I sure didn't want to be in any army! But I did enjoy the singing, the marching, and especially the shouting "YES SIR!" at the end of every verse of the song.

Today, I know a bit more about being in the Lord's army. I understand that this army doesn't battle flesh and blood and that our real war is against the rulers, authorities, powers and spiritual forces of darkness (evil). ~ Ephesians 6:12 ~

This morning as I was thinking about battles and war, the Gospel armor (Eph. 6:11-18) came to my mind. I pondered what kind of 'warriors' we really look like in the spirit-realm. Are God's people wearing any armor at all? Do we know where our Swords are? And do we know how to use them? Or do we look more like a yawning, slumbering, drooling group of rag-tag soldiers lounging around in camouflaged pajamas that blend us in to make us look more like the world and less like the army of God?

All the world is beginning to wake up and see what's been going on. Obviously everything is spiraling out of control financially. But did you know that everything that's happening is written in God's Word? The apathy and sleepiness of the modern "falling away" church - it's in there! The greed, selfishness, pride, pleasure seeking - it's in there! The sexual immorality and promiscuity - it's in there! The droughts, earthquakes, famines, floods, diseases - they're in there! And yes... even the current financial implosion of the world - it's in there!

We live in an unprecedented time! A time for God's people to wake up from our snoozing, take off our comfy, camouflage pajamas and boldly declare which side we're on! It's time for us to flex our spiritual muscles, stand up, put on our Gospel armor, and take up our Swords for battle! Oh... the world is currently a ripe harvest as people everywhere are seeking answers, solutions, saving. But the army of God has apathetically snored as the enemy marched right into our camp to steal, kill, and destroy the harvest fields around us!! No more!

Oh my fellow soldiers - wake up! Now is the time to return to the Lord with our whole hearts. Don't lie back and live in defeat anymore. The kingdoms of this world don't rule us! Put on the armor Jesus died to give you. Delve into His Word as if it were literally your bread and water. Rend your heart, weep, fast, and cry out to God to open our ears that God's army would hear what the Holy Spirit is saying. Then follow the Lord as HE leads His army forth in power and might. March! Go with God and take back what the enemy's stolen. Battle in His might, in HIS strength. Then watch... that daughter who's fallen away - that brother who refuses to believe in Christ - that husband you've been praying for - - - watch as the enemy begins to tremble in fear and loosen his grip from your loved one's. As you stand in his presence and pick up your Sword and begin to speak God's Word in full authority, WATCH! Watch as the enemy releases your loved one's and then turns and flees!

Oh may the Lord rise up a force to be reckoned with - an army of mighty warriors beyond number, who will march in obedience to His command - "YES SIR!"

Joel 2:11-13 (NIV)

The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it? 'Even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

30th Anniversary "Romantic" Get Away

2011-08-02T17:39:00.010-04:00

Okay... I have to share this with you.

Sunday was our 30th Wedding Anniversary. And wanting to get away to celebrate, we couldn't go too far since my hubby started a new job and was only allotted one day off. So we booked a cabin a few hours from our home. We enjoy staying in secluded and romantic cabins, especially in the hills near a national forest. But this was one where we've never stayed before.

The cabin's website advertised: "Secluded, Comfortable, Romantic". And that one could "observe the natural beauty from the new secluded cabin that's fully equipped for the perfect getaway for couples and small families wanting to be close to nature". Other than that, details were a bit vague, but it sounded like something we were very interested in!

The owner led us up the hill and down a path. The cabin did indeed look secluded.

We thought if the outside was this nice, we'd be just as surprised at the inside!

The owner opened the front door and we stepped inside.

Okay, it was sparsely furnished, but had a VERY spacious main room ...

that's combined with the kitchen and dining area.

A worn but still nice loveseat near the door.

A recliner (that was actually broken) was aimed at the TV. (There was also a couch under the slanted roof on the other side of the cabin next to the refrigerator.)

And boy what a back porch! We found that the lock on the sliding door was broken, but we could deal with that. We used the fire-poker and a piece of firewood to secure it closed for the nights and while we were away.

Now we knew there was no stove to cook on, but the owner promised there were hot-plates for cooking. So we could deal with that. Except there were no hot-plates after all. Okay, a microwave, toaster and grill would have to do.

Very 'rustic', this cabin had no decor, no pictures, no feminine touches whatsoever. But we could deal with that.

Then.... he showed us the bedroom...

The two beds (a sagging queen mattress laying on wood, and a twin) were hand-fashioned into a type of bunk bed. Okay... not so romantic at all, but we could deal with that - if only ....

the shower wasn't directly at the foot of the bed (less than 2 feet away)! Okay... not especially 'comfortable'! But we could deal with that - if only ....

the toilet wasn't directly beside the bed! If you sat on the toilet, you had to be careful when you rose, or you'd hit your shoulder on the wood frame of the top bunk bed. Now this toilet had NO enclosure whatsoever. No 'stall' and no stall door. Not even a curtain!! So if you're shy about doing your business in front of whoever is sleeping in your room, you might want to think about the alternative (the woods behind the cabin would be more private)!

Yes.... the inside of the cabin was indeed a surprise! Seeing our expressions (must've been priceless!!), the owner (who now rents three cabins) explained that this cabin had been the first one he'd built. And he confessed to having built it as a 'clubhouse' for his kids! That explained a LOT!

Like the reason for the three-foot tall sink and the four-foot high tiny mirror also near the foot of the bed, beside the shower stall..

And the tiny, slanted shower with a shower head no taller than my husband's chest, and very little water pressure, and only cold or warm water.

But once we began to relax,

and enjoy the hot tub on the back porch in the woods,

and the view,

and the campfire and marshmallows,

and each other - we simply pretended to be "clubhouse kids"! And we genuinely had a great time and a very relaxing, romantic, and happy 30th Anniversary!

Girl's Day Out

2011-07-28T08:20:00.007-04:00

Yesterday I took a day off for a special "Girl's Day Out" with my sister and her two sweet daughters. My sister and I live about an hour apart, but rare are the times we can just spend together. So this was a day to treasure.

With everything else she does, my sister is currently involved with the preparation of the baby-shower for her first grandchild. She had to finish shopping for decorations for the baby-shower, so I thought I'd utilize that opportunity to gift her with a Girl's Day Out where she could relax and shop in stores that she didn't have in her area. So as we planned our shopping trip, I told her to make sure to bring her camera as I was planning to take them somewhere special too.

As we piled into my car, I gave my nieces each a sheet of paper and a pen. On their papers I'd printed lists of things like "Find a house with blue on it. Find someone wearing a hat. Find hay. Find something with leopard print ..." And then there were things they had to do like: "Skip through a parking lot. Say 'HI' to a stranger. Jump up and down on a sidewalk ..." I promised them that the first one to complete their list would win $5.00 to spend at the craft store. They had such fun checking the items off their list. (By the way, my oldest niece one that one.)

While the girls competed in the back seat, my sister and I were able to chat as I drove us to a mansion/estate that's now being operated as a formal garden and tourist attraction. Typically it costs $5.00 per car to enter the estate and I was prepared to pay that admission fee. But as we drove up to the gate, the gate attendant smiled and said, "Go on in. It's free today till 10:00 a.m.." Oh what a blessing!

The morning was absolutely gorgeous. We couldn't have asked for better weather! We spent the entire morning roaming the grounds and taking a lot of photos. There were fountains and lattice-edged gardens. There were statues and ponds and shrubberies of all shapes and sizes. The many formal and casual gardens held every imaginable flower, plant and herb. There were benches and tables and pathways where artists sat in the morning dew sketching and painting on paper and canvas to capture their interpretations of their view. Peacocks roamed the grounds, as did numerous other wildlife. We saw Koi swimming amongst the lotus blossoms in the ponds, honey bees behind their glass cases, baby ducks, hawks and large black crows. We strolled through the woods, dipped our fingers into the fountains, pretended to have tea and scones at one of the wrought iron tables, and giggled and laughed as each moment drew our hearts closer to one another and closer to our Creator.

From there, we drove to the nearby craft store where we planned, replanned, then planned some more for the baby-shower motif. Finally settling on a few things, we paid for them and realized we were all quite hungry. So we agreed that to lunch at the nearest Chinese Buffet. Yummmm....

From there, we visited another few stores and giggled and shopped till we were all yawning and ready to call it 'a day'.

It was indeed 'a day'. A good day. My sister didn't get all of the supplies she needed. But I know for certain that we all got so much more out of our Girl's Day Out. We got that bit of precious time to spend together to enjoy one another and the marvels of God's creation all packed in one beautiful day!

The Sounds of My American Morning

2011-07-26T10:12:00.013-04:00

"Ting. Ting. Ting." The metal connector that secured the rope to the pole rang out a familiar patriotic tune as the American flag waved in the morning's gentle westerly breeze.
Early this morning as I rode my bike around our little, rural village, I heard the mingled sounds of Americans and nature waking to their day. I was reminded to pray for our country.
As I rode, the tall farm fields sang "Chit-Brrrreeeee" as the red-winged blackbirds perched atop the corn stalks. A few screen doors clicked closed as men began their morning's retirement coffee and newspaper on the front porch. Booming to life, then shifting through its gears, a Harley hit the back roads on the way to its owner's factory. With a "whisshhhh", a dump-truck emptied its load of gravel into a neighbor's new driveway project. Clinging to the thigh-tall, Queen-Anne's Lace flowers were brilliant yellow and stark black gold-finches that warbled such an exquisite, light, morning melody. To their song was added background singing crickets as they hopped through the surrounding tall grasses. A dog spotted me, lifted his head and "woofed" a lazy alarm before lying back down in the early but warm sunshine. As my tires hummed on the less-traveled roads, in the distance I heard the familiar "Clip-clop - clip-clop" of an Amish buggy carrying a working man to his neighbor's sawmill. Rounding the corner and heading back toward my home, a semi-truck's jake-brake sounded it's loud, vibrating rumble as it neared the slower speed near the intersection. An old van groaned its hesitation as it drove through the intersection, carrying our neighbor to the nearest large city to work. A rooster, a bit late in my opinion, crowed-in the day as our neighbor's chickens, ducks and geese clucked through the dew-laden grass in search of more protein to go with their breakfast grains. And always and everywhere, the crescendo of the cicadas rose and dipped as they welcomed in yet another warm, summer day.
These are the sounds of my town waking up. My small, farming community - where people take to their beds at a decent hour to wake early to work hard. When evening comes, they gather up their families to play hard. Here is where the main event is held in the ball-field where the parents cheer as our neighborhood children play out their summer's baseball and softball games. The black-angus cows grazing in the fields surrounding our neighborhood will one day be the burgers America flips on their back-yard grills. The corn and soy beans and wheat that survived the scorching heat and thankfully drank in the recent rains, will be harvested day and night, then sent by truck, then train, then ship - to countries all over the world. It will become our cereal, our breakfast biscuits, our bread, our oil and even our fuel. These dairy farms supply the milk for the country's cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Our chicken farmers provide the eggs that America enjoys each morning and bakes in our cakes. Our little factories supply drills, pumps, books, car parts, and the screws, nuts and bolts that hold our country together.
This is morning in small-town America. Where the church bells call the congregation to meet precisely at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Where the fire department is volunteer. Where the volunteer community clubs keep the ball park and the community looking nice. Where the few, elected village council members carefully listen to their constituents, take their positions seriously and serve with pride.
I don't know what this morning might sound like in Washington, D.C.. I'm sure the sounds coming from there aren't as comforting or as praiseworthy as the sounds I heard in my own little village. But I shudder to think what sounds I might (or might not) hear in the next few weeks/months if America's government can't get out of it's own prideful way and settle this debt issue once and for all. The stock market bells around the world will negatively react to our country's leaders inability to pay its own debt. Yet the officials we elected will continue to spew rhetoric while they receive pay from our already impoverished pockets. Our citizens will no longer be hitting the early morning back roads on their Harley's. They won't be starting new driveway projects. They won't be riding their buggies to the sawmill. They won't be hauling supplies in their big-rigs or driving their work vans to the big cities for work. And they won't be retiring because they can't afford to.
Perhaps we could learn a lesson from our nature friends. Morning after morning they rise to greet the day with singing. "How can they sing with such turmoil in our government today" you ask? Perhaps it's because they don't sing to our government. They awake to thank the One who holds the governments of the world on HIS shoulders! With gratitude they sing their morning praise to the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. His is a government of increase - not debt! His is a government establishing balance, justice, and righteousness. His is a government that will never default or fall or fail.
Let us all focus not on the governments of this world - but on the King of Kings who rules over them all. Let us take America's leaders boldly to God's throne in prayer, and ask that our Father would guide our country and direct each person who is involved in this debate. Then let us - in the fullness of peace - wake each morning to thank our God and to sing our praises to Him as the rest of His creation continues to do. For whatever happens, whatever direction our country chooses to take, Jesus is the One who holds all things in His capable and mighty and loving hands. I wanna rest there and listen to the comforting sound of the beating of His very heart - don't you?

Lessons From Bees

2011-07-22T10:24:00.002-04:00

Have you ever seen anything like this?

This is our birdbath. During the last few days, late every morning honey bees begin to gather here and they frantically drink up the water and then haul it away. This goes on all day and late into the evening.

We didn't see more than a dozen honey bees all last summer. Some illness (they believe pesticide-related) had affected all the honey bees in our area and it nearly wiped out all of the colonies. Bee keepers were frustrated that their bees had died and none were returning to the hives. The price of the scarce honey had skyrocketed.

But this year it seems the bee colonies are again increasing and doing very well!!

A neighbor up the road has a beehive. And we see several dozen to perhaps seventy-five honey bees begin to gather at our birdbath every morning. We had never seen so many bees drinking water! I researched it and found that when the weather gets hot, honey bees will find the nearest source of water and a particular type of worker bee will 'haul' water back to the hives. Apparently these "water-carriers" carry approximately 6 liters of water back to their hive on any given summer day with more on sweltering days. With weather like we've been having, that's a LOT of water! Then like little fire-hoses, the bees cover the hive with the water. From there, "fanning bees" suspend from the hive and from one another, where like a large fan, they flap their wings aimed at the water-covered hive, to cool it off. They have to maintain a temperature no higher than 93 degrees for their eggs to properly hatch.

No electricity, no air conditioning, just a lot of working together to accomplish the goal. I'm absolutely amazed at the wonders of God's creation. Aren't you?

Although just last year honey bees were nearly extinct in our area and the hives were empty and not producing, just by a few bees working together in unity for the common good of the hive, their numbers have greatly increased. The hives will produce a good harvest this year.

I believe that we can take a lesson from these bees. Like a pesticide, sin is affecting the church today. Most churches are nearly empty. The houses of God aren't producing much at all. But if we'd all learn to lay aside jealousy, coveting, bitterness, pride, apathy, selfishness, and greed, and if we'd truly work together in unity for the common good of the kingdom, I really believe we'll see God's church begin to rise from near extinction to produce a harvest of good fruit.

What do you think?

A Family Moment

2011-07-21T12:03:00.005-04:00

I hadn't seen my cousins since I was a young teenager, and one of them I hadn't seen since I was about three years old. I was excited to hear they were coming to visit my parents earlier this week. I didn't get to see them the first day they arrived. But I drove up there early the next morning to reunite with them at my parents' home. As we looked one another over, we remarked on the family resemblances and who we each looked like. Obviously the lines of time and life and personalities had created their own facial road-maps, and fifty to seventy years of gravity had also done some work, but we were definitely recognizable as "family".

Although time - for a bit - stood still and permitted us the opportunity to reminisce of the past, observe one another in the present, and discuss possible future visits, for the most part all conversations were kept light, fast-paced, and humorous. The clock ticked way too fast and before we knew it, they made the decision to leave for the next leg of their journey. I wasn't ready for that. It felt like a whirlwind had come blowing into our lives after decades, only to whirl back out again leaving us clutching only a handful of physical traits that connected us as 'family'.
Don't misunderstand. I'm extremely grateful for the family moment. But as they drove away, I realized that after so many years of not seeing them - seeing them was about all I did. When they left, my heart sank. Although we were related, we hadn't had the opportunity to 'relate'. I didn't know much more about them than I did before their visit. I didn't know where any of them lived. I didn't know their children's or grandchildren's names. I didn't know how they coped after the deaths of their loved one's. I didn't know much about their likes and dislikes, their struggles or victories, what were their stands on certain topics. Everyone talked a lot, but very little was said and not much was shared.
I wish our "family moment" would have taken place a few decades ago - before FaceBook and texting and tiny jpg photos on a little camera screen. It would have been so different if this reunion could have happened in a time where people actually sat down together, in person, and genuinely inquired about one another. Back when a reunion visit wasn't abbreviated and filled with LOL's - but when conversation was meaningful and people seized the "family moment" and cherished it, knowing full well that they might never see one another again. Back when FaceBook wasn't available and people actually had to depend on real-life, real-time conversations. When they had to study the face of the person they were conversing with and look deep into their soul to the place where the spoken words come from. When over one more cup of coffee, hearts were bared and shared and lives really connected.
Although I am blessed for the visit, that type of connection just didn't happen for me in this family moment. I don't know if it even does happen today. Do you think it does?
But as my cousins were leaving, three out of four of them said to my sister, "See ya on FaceBook!" And then to me, "Deb, you HAVE to get a FaceBook account so we can stay in touch!" So while some believe that social media enhances relationships, I'm one who wonders if it's the very thing that's keeping us from truly relating? Hmmm.... Reminds me a bit of this commercial:

What do you think?
Is social media hindering or enhancing real relationships?
Would people today rather simply check someone's FB status than actually relate in conversation with them?

This Thing Called Faith

2011-07-15T16:17:00.009-04:00

Faith.

Many Christians today live their lives as though their salvation experience was the epitome - the climax - of their faith. But salvation is only the beginning of this thing called faith.

Did you know that faith is a manifestation (visual representation, a personification) of the Holy Spirit? Because the Holy Spirit dwells within us, He makes God known through us. Our faith (or lack of it) is seen by others who judge God by what we do or say and how we live our daily lives.

Let's be real here. It takes a LOT of faith to believe that we'll safely arrive at our destination when we get into a 2-ton vehicle and drive it at 65-75 mph - swerving around curves, zooming over hills, whirring across steel bridges and maneuvering it through man-made tunnels. Especially when we do this while surrounded by other drivers doing the same thing possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol or distracted by texting, talking on the phone, putting on make-up, reading a book or yes...even watching a video!
It takes faith to believe that a commercial airliner weighing nearly 200,000 lbs, made up of six-million parts, 171 miles of wiring, and that flies between 23,000 and 41,000 feet in the air at a cruising speed of 565 mph, will land us safely where we need to be.
It takes faith to believe that tomorrow our government's politicians will be a step closer to solving the country's problems of healthcare, social security, medicare, unemployment, fuel costs, the environment and terrorism. It takes faith to trust in doctors, medical procedures, and medications. It takes faith to take a prescription today and believe that it won't be on the list of FDA banned and unsafe drugs tomorrow.
Without thinking, we easily place a LOT of faith in all sorts of things that can and will and do fail us.

I hate to say that American Christians trust a car, or a plane, or our government, or a medical diagnosis, more than we trust God. But, when it comes to placing our faith in Him, most American Christians just can't seem to do that. We have partitioned God off and placed Him into three faith boxes. The first faith box is the 'salvation box' where we found Him and accepted His offer of salvation. The second faith box is the 'church box' where we go to sing about Him and hear a paid-educated pastor speak about Him on Sundays. The third faith box is the 'eternity box' where we will meet Him and get to see the place He's preparing for us. We're not sure exactly what the third box will look like, but we know we don't want the alternative! Outside of those three boxes, our faith isn't exercised or used or displayed in any way.

Let me remind you that our God continues - without fail - to hold the universe in place while He orders the sun to shine non-stop. He ordains the earth to revolve around that sun every 365.2 days and to rotate on its own axis in mid air, every 23 hours and 56 minutes... The One who created it all - and who created us all... The One who knows even the most minute detail of our lives because He specifically designed us and then set us into our mother's womb so that we could be born into this world for such a time as this... The one who we trust to take care of us throughout all eternity - we don't consider in our daily lives.

Why is that?

Like I said, it takes tremendous faith to drive modern vehicles on today's highways, and to fly in a plane. It takes faith to believe that our government will fix the all the crises of today. It takes faith to agree with a doctor's diagnosis and pop a little costly pill into our bodies and believe it will relieve our symptoms and/or heal us. But Jesus tells us if we will have even the smallest amount of faith in Him - even as tiny as a mustard seed - we will be able to speak to our life's obstacles and situations in His authority and they will be removed (Matt. 17:20). Why? Because it's nothing in and of ourselves that can do it - it's all about God and what He can and will do for those who place their faith (even the smallest amount) in Him. And something Divinely miraculous happens when we do that - our faith grows. Soon, you'll find that God can't and won't be kept in any of those three boxes - He is the Supporter of your day - the One who holds you through every situation - the One who strengthens you and provides for you and comforts you and fills you with His power and presence. You'll discover that God is everywhere and His love pours from you to others in everything you do.

Without faith it's impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). I desperately want to please God. And I want my words and my actions and my heart to manifest (reveal) Him to others so they too can experience 'faith' in Him too.

What about you?

And Then There Was Light!

2011-07-11T11:30:00.005-04:00

     We've been having a problem with kids banging on our door then running or hiding in the middle of the night. It's mostly on the nicer nights that they do this to us and our neighbors. But if we leave our porch light on (so far) it deters them.
     We've been leaving our porch light on nearly every night since we're experiencing a string of nice weather. Even though we have a low-wattage, fluorescent bulb in it, we just didn't like the idea of keeping that light on all the time. So we figured we'd go a little more high-tech and invest in a motion detector porch light.
     We browsed through the selection in one of the local hardware stores and we found one that had a sensitivity adjustment, a 180° sensor, and ohhhh yeah, it had a hefty 300 watt Hologen Floodlight! Ooooo ooooo... we'd not only startle and deter the little delinquents - we'd burn their eyeballs out! So, we bought it!

     Early yesterday morning my husband set out to install it. Getting the old porch light off wasn't a problem. But the new porch light didn't have the exact size or shape of mount as the old one. It took some drilling and caulking and a few new connectors on the wiring. But after spending some creative time in the hot sun, my husband got it installed.

     "Okay, go inside and turn it on so we can set it." He said.
     I stood inside the door and flipped the switch and YES! The light came on! But, no one was around the porch or moving near the sensor. Hmm... maybe an adjustment... my husband adjusted it.
Then he slowly crept toward the porch. The light didn't come on. Hmm..... "Turn it off, maybe it needs to reset or something." We turned it off, waited the 60 seconds the instructions said to wait, then I turned it back on. Yaaay... it must be working. Now he just had to set it to capture movement near the porch instead of way out in the yard.
     He moved the multi-directional sensor and pointed it more down toward our stairs and porch. Then he walked out into the yard and crept toward the stairs. Nothing. He walked beside the house toward the porch. Nothing. He moved to the other side of the porch - nothing. He waved his arms directly at the sensor. Nothing. He walked out into the yard to get the instructions again and CLICK! It came on. We tried again, and again.
     I thought maybe he was too tall and it was pointed down so much that it could only detect shorter people. I DON'T KNOW - the heat, the frustration - something made that sound good at the time! (heee hee). So time after time he readjusted it as I was the one to walk slowly toward the porch and up the stairs. Nothing. My husband selected the most sensitive setting and we tried again. I slowly walked up the stairs and stood directly in front of the sensor. I waved and jumped and threw both hands into the air. Nothing!!! ARGH! I gave up. I shook my head and turned to walk down the porch and CLICK! The light came on.

     We did this over and over and over again, in the searing 95° sunshine. By this time I was praying that the kids across the street weren't secretly videotaping the sunburn that was developing on us through our porch aerobics and hoping they weren't posting the video on YouTube. It was nearing noon and we were both tired of messing with this temperamental piece of imported bovine feces.
     While my husband was taking down the new motion-detector light, I polished and cleaned the old one then we put it back up. Today we have a tarnished (but clean), highly caulked, 23 watt fluorescent, motionless, porch light that works GREAT! It only took us $40 and four hours of working in the sun to realize that sometimes simplicity is better!

Love Letters

2011-07-06T09:48:00.004-04:00

I have a stack of letters that means so much to me that I keep them in a fire-proof, locked box. They're love letters written to me by my husband during the time before we were married and throughout our nearly thirty years as man and wife.

Now and then I'll take my little key, open the box, and bring out the stack of letters held together with a ribbon. Just the feel of them in my hands brings a beautiful rush of warm, loving memories. Holding them to my heart, I allow myself a moment to reminisce. Then carefully untying the ribbon, I select a letter or two and sit in the chair by the window to begin reading. Oh, my heart swells and emotion rises to stick in my throat as I again experience the intense love my husband poured out to me through pen and paper. I read how he longed to be with me, how my smile makes him smile, the way he enjoys making my nose crinkle when I laugh, what it did to his heart when he held my hand. He promised me that one day we'd be together and that we'd have a home and a family and that we'd love one another forever. And I believed those promises and back then I longed to see their fruition.

Even today, those letters remind me of the reason I fell in love with my husband and of why I chose to be 'his' forever. They still rekindle my love for him. They instill in me a fresh desire to serve him and to allow my life to show him just how much he's loved and appreciated! Even though I've experienced the manifestation of his great love, those letters continue to flood my heart with joy and fill me with a sort of completeness.

Did you know that God left us love letters? God's Word is a living Book that binds together His love letters to us.

Some Christians might read through their Bibles. Some may even devoutly attempt a devotional reading plan. Many Christians only open their Bibles on Sunday at church. And sadly, the majority of God's people rarely open their Bibles at all.

But if you will realize that God's Word isn't just a good piece of literature; it's not just another historical account of the life and times of Jesus Christ; it's not simply a book of rules and regulations written solely for a specific group of people in a specific era. God's Word is an actual stack of Divinely penned love letters, written specifically and personally to YOU from the Almighty Creator of all things. If you can grasp that, then I truly believe you'll begin to receive what God wishes to share with you.

When reading God's love letters, there's nothing wrong with experiencing His love! God intended for His Words to pour into your heart and rise up within you a great desire for more of Him. Allow the Words of your Betrothed to rekindle, revive and transform you into someone who can't get enough of Him. It's okay! It's perfectly normal to feel His love and to give yours to Him! Don't ever let anyone accuse you of being too 'emotional' in your Christianity. After all, isn't God "LOVE"???

Freedom

2011-07-05T11:23:00.003-04:00

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then,
and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Freedom.

No matter our opinions about this country and its leaders, we all pause for a short time each year to celebrate the fact that we're blessed to live here, in these United States of America. With all of her quirks and all of her struggles, we still enjoy freedom in this great country of ours.

Thinking about freedom caused me to ponder a number of things this long weekend. As my mind does at times, my thoughts traveled down a path. This one was a path of "What if . . .???" I questioned in my mind: "What if we didn't live in America? What if we lived in a country where we and our children were forced to live in less than desirable conditions? What if no matter how old or young, we were forced to work twelve to fourteen hours a day, standing in the fields, working in the factories, cleaning the kitchens, tending the farm animals, sewing clothes? What if nearly every penny of our earnings went to the business owner or to the government? What if we were forbidden to use the internet, or own a computer, or have a cell phone? What if our government mandated how many children we could have and when? What if we had to eat the same meager meal, every day? What if we were never permitted to own or drive a car and had to ride bicycles or walk everywhere? What if we had to attend one government sanctioned church or no church at all?"

Would we still be 'free' if we lived one of the countries that doesn't allow us freedom?

Don't get me wrong - I'm extremely grateful that I live in the United States of America. But here's my point: As Christians, no matter where or how we live, no matter what the situations or circumstances that surround us we are FREE. No matter the price of gasoline, the state of the union, the economic status, we are FREE.

The Samaritan woman knew that freedom down deep in her being when Jesus spoke Truth to her. The demoniac experienced it when Jesus delivered him of all demons. The leper felt it when Jesus healed his hand. The blind man saw it when Jesus healed his sight. The deaf one heard it when Jesus touched his ears. Peter admitted it when he felt the shame of denying Jesus. Thomas confronted it when he placed his hand to the wound in Jesus' flesh. Mary Magdalene recognized it when Jesus appeared before her from an empty tomb. And the multitudes received it on the day of Pentecost.

It was this same freedom that caused a song to rise from Paula and Silas while they were locked in prison. This freedom was so strong that five of the twelve disciples were crucified, two were speared to death, two were stoned to death, and one was beheaded because they believed and lived and taught it.

This freedom is the freedom of all freedoms! It's the most costly, yet it can't be bought, or achieved, or earned. This freedom is simply received. And when you have it, you know that you know that you know - no matter what your circumstances, no matter where you live or what's going on in your world - you're FREE!! Now that's worth celebrating!!!

John 8:36 (NIV)
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Are you 'free'?

Visit From My Cousin

2011-06-30T08:30:00.001-04:00

What a wonderful time we had earlier this week. My cousin and his wife (the first two on the left - I'm not in the photo, I'm behind the camera) came to visit my parents for a few days. They live in Arkansas and we've lived up north for over fifty years. When I was young we'd travel there to visit once or maybe twice a year. That great distance kept us from being able to enjoy getting to know each other and being close. We didn't have the internet back then, and long-distance phone calls were expensive and kept to a minimum with the adults doing the majority of the talking. So as the miles and the years would have it, what little relationship we did have, drifted apart.

It grew to be over thirty years since I'd seen my cousin and my husband had never met him. Most of us had never met his wife. It was SO good to see them.

What fun it was to reminisce and laugh about the times we got one another into trouble with parents and grandparents. And what a joy it was to hear about his life now. It seems like just yesterday that my cousin was talking me into eating these little, green, tart apples on the tree in our grandparents' backyard (and giggling to himself when I spent the night in the bathroom). Today we're both over fifty and we're both (thankfully) wise enough to avoid eating crab-apples.

This visit was monumental for me in so many ways. I'm still processing much of what I feel the Lord did through it. It spoke volumes of how much family really does mean - even distant family. At nearly eighty-six, my dad has become great about keeping in touch with most of his family, but I've not been so good. I'm ashamed of myself for not contacting my cousin more often than just the occasional Christmas card - and for never getting to know his wife. This week God revealed to me the tremendous importance of family and of investing time and love into relationships. I hope to do much better in this area and I look forward to renewed relationships with all my distant cousins. I'll keep ya posted on how that goes!

Blessings on your day and I pray you all have a great, family holiday!

A Penny Saved is a Penny Earned

2011-06-23T14:00:00.003-04:00

Okay.... I admit, over the years I've developed a number of pet-peeves. I know that most of you are more 'spiritual' and you don't have pet-peeves. You're probably mature enough that nothing bugs you and you move through each day with all the grace and love of Christ. But (sigh) I guess I'm not there yet because there are a number of things that just absolutely bug me.

One of my pet-peeves of late is when a store puts something on sale and doesn't honor the sale price. This happens every week at one of the local, family-owned grocery stores in a nearby town where we shop.

We go through this exact same situation with different products almost every time we shop there. We don't know who's doing the math, but someone's getting it wrong every time. This past week the store advertised 2-liters of Coca-Cola on sale with their coupon.

Now here's where the pet-peeve comes in. The ad read, "Buy 3 bottles of Coke for $4 and get the 4th free with store coupon. Total Sale Price 4-for-$4". Now we're literalists - we expect to get 4 bottles of Coke for $4 because that's what the ad reads. So we took our coupon and our 4 bottles to the register. Now try to keep up with me here ... The register rang the first two bottles at $1.33 apiece and the third bottle at $1.34 for a total of $4.00. The "free" bottle rang up at $1.34. Then the Cashier deducted the coupon at $1.33. This resulted in the 4 bottles of Coke being $4.01 instead of $4.00.

I waited as my husband began. "Ma'am, that's wrong. You're charging me $4.01 instead of the advertised $4.00." The teen-aged cashier rolled her eyes and held the coupon to his face like he must have been nearly blind, "The coupon has printed on it 'Maximum $1.33' - I can't give you $1.34." And she turned back to her register.

My husband explained that he saw the coupon, but the total of the four bottles came to $5.34 then she deducted $1.33 which left a total of $4.01 instead of $4.00. He suggested she deduct a penny from the last bottle she rang up to make it the correct sale price. She yelled to the head cashier, "Can you come here? They have a problem with the way this is ringing up!" This drew the attention of everyone around us including the young man who was bagging our groceries. He walked over and looked at the coupon and the register tape and said, "They're right - you're charging them $4.01 for something that's advertised at $4.00." The cashier basically told him to shut up and get away. The head cashier came over and began explaining to us that the coupon's maximum value is only $1.33. My husband again suggested that they charge us $1.33 for the last bottle, not $1.34. She said they had to charge $1.33 - $1.33 - and $1.34 to make the $4.00. My husband said, "I understand that, but can't you deduct a penny from the last bottle that you charged me $1.34 for?" They rolled their eyes some more, huffed, scratched their heads and didn't want to back down on this penny. We weren't backing down either. I reminded them their ad stated that we'd get 4 bottles for a total of $4 - not $4.01. A penny is a penny is a penny and we weren't going to be cheated out of another one. Finally the head cashier said, "Go ahead and deduct a penny from the last bottle!" The cashier did so. For us. But we wondered what she'd do for the next customer using that coupon? And how many more customers don't even notice they've been robbed of a penny?

Now of course I understand that a penny isn't worth much today. Many people toss their pennies anywhere and everywhere. But I'm one of those who still gets excited and I rush over to pick them up when I spot them in the parking lots and on the sidewalks! I count my pennies very carefully. They're hard to earn today and they're even harder to save!! To me, a penny is worth something - even if it's only the principal of the matter! A penny saved IS a penny earned.

We've decided that it's no longer worth our frustration to shop at this store anymore. We'll simply take their advertisements and our pennies to our local WalMart where they amicably match competitor's prices.

What about you? Do you have any pet-peeves? Do you argue to save a penny?

My Weekend

2011-06-21T09:09:00.000-04:00

I trust you all had a good weekend?

We chose to celebrate Father's Day with my dad on Saturday. Not knowing what to get my dad this year, we were glad my mom suggested that we just make him some home-made hummingbird food. He bought a little feeder and some food, but the hummers didn't seem to like the store-bought stuff. So we bought him a feeder similar to ours and I made him a double batch of strong food to attract them to his feeders.
He was glad to have the new stuff to try. We enjoyed our visit with him and my husband worked on my dad's computer while my mom and I did a bit of shopping and took a stroll around their neighborhood. It was a good day.

On Sunday, my son and our two grandchildren came over while our daughter-in-law worked. I grilled BBQ chicken and made a nice pasta salad and corn on the cob for everyone. It was another good day.

As I think back on how the weekend went, I'm so touched by the fact that I was blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate Father's Day with all the men of my life. My dad has always held (and will always hold) that special "Daddy" place in my heart. My husband who has lived the truest example of "Dad' before me and our son. My son who's beginning to discover what all fatherhood entails. And my grandson, who at the brand-new age of 5 yrs. old, is learning just exactly how people are related.

I feel as though I've come full-circle in some ways.
Having an adult father-daughter relationship, and to be able to run to my dad for wise counsel is still a blessing I don't take for granted! His wisdom is a fount and his words are a joy to my life.
Experiencing parenthood and raising our own son with my husband, through the ups and downs, is not something I'd trade for anything in this world. Observing my husband hold God's hand as he maneuvered his way through the experiences of fatherhood helped me to better understand the tremendous responsibilities of such an honored position.
Now, watching my son with his children ... He's just as proud of his son and daughter as we are of him and my dad is of me. He's experiencing the speeding of the clock - as just yesterday his son was born but when he wakes tomorrow his little guy will be graduating high-school and marrying and having children of his own.
The maturity in me sees some of the little mistakes our son makes with his children as I'm sure my parents saw us make with our son. But the wisdom in me closes my lips, smiles, and prays. I'm reminded that as my dad had to learn, and as his dad had to learn, so too our son has to learn much of this father-hood thing for himself. I pray that my son, like his own dad, and like my dad, will hold God's hand and petition God to guide him through. For being a dad was never an easy responsibility, but being a dad today is very, very difficult. Our peers used to vie for our attention - today (literally) the whole wide world vies for the attention and affection of our children! Fathers definitely need all the help they can get. Technology and electronic gadgets may make great babysitters, but only God can make a great dad!

How was your weekend? Did you celebrate Father's Day?

The Importance of Keeping Our Word

2011-06-16T10:02:00.001-04:00

My sister phoned yesterday. When she calls, we spend so much time pondering really important, deep stuff of life like why her lap-top is always covered with make-up and why I get lost traveling in a straight line! Of course we don't solve many of the world's (or our own) problems, but we do enjoy chatting about them.

We enjoy chatting so much that I wear an earphone/microphone so I don't have to hold the phone while I go about my daily routine and still talk to her.

So, yesterday she called and I plugged in my earphone and I did some housework as we chatted. We were about fifteen minutes into catching-up a when someone beeped-in. She had another phone call. "Oh, I really need to take this one" she says, "I'll call ya right back, okay?"

I continued doing my chores.

About five minutes later the phone rang again. Thankfully I still had my earphone in my ear so I answered, "Well that was quick!"

Oooops... it wasn't my sister. It was a friend of my husband's calling to tell me he figured out a website design problem he'd had. I listened to him share the details (many of which I had no clue). He was in the process of trying to explain it all to me when someone beeped-in to his phone. "Sorry, I need to pick up this call - I'll call you right back." Okay... I now had two people who promised to call me right back. I left the earphone in my ear and phone in my pocket as I continued my work.

After about a half-hour of waiting and an ear that was beginning to ache from wearing the earphone, I concluded that neither of them was going to call me back.

In the meantime, my boss was out of the office on Tuesday. But before she left, she said she'd contact me with the details of a new project when she returned to the office on Wednesday. Yesterday being Wednesday, I checked my messages all day looking for this work from my boss. Wouldn't ya know that the whole day went by and although I got a forwarded Email from her, there was no communication concerning the project. I even checked last night before bed, wondering if she sent it to me late. But, nope. Nothing.

Okay....That made three people in one day who said they'd do something that they didn't do. Now I fully understand that people really might INTEND to do what they say. And I know that in our busy world, they get sidetracked, they receive another call, unforeseen things happen, it gets late and they have other things to accomplish - things happen that prevent them from keeping their word! But am I the only one who's finding that this has become the rule rather than the exception?

I know that many people used be as good as their word. Have people today become THAT unreliable? Have our words become so flippant that nothing we say can be relied upon? I just can't get used to this sort of thing. I'm a real literalist when it comes to doing what we said we'd do - keeping my word.

I guess my question is - if your intent is really good and you mean to do something, why not just end a conversation with, "I have another call, I'm going to have to get back with you another time"? Or, "I'll be out of the office tomorrow, but I'll get you the details for that project when I get a free moment." Because sadly, when you flippantly tell people you're going to do something - there are still neanderthals (like me) out here today that literally take you at your word. And we wait for you to carry out that word. Sometimes all day.

Do people tell you they'll call you right back - but don't?
Do you ever tell people you'll call them - but don't?
How would you rate the importance of people keeping their word?

            1 - VERY IMPORTANT
            2 - IMPORTANT
            3 - KIND OF IMPORTANT
            4 - DOESN'T REALLY MATTER
            5 - NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL
            6 - DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING ANYONE SAYS

Atlatl (??)

2011-06-13T11:25:00.001-04:00

I did something really neat this weekend and I wanted to share it with you.

Have you ever heard of an "atlatl" (pronounced: aht-lahtl)? The atlatl is an ancient spear-throwing tool that was used thousands of years ago and was adapted for use by the Native American Indians.

It's a small, wooden handle that holds a 5-6 ft. long spear. A notch on the back (can be made of bone or wood) holds the feathered and 'nocked' (or notched), end of the spear to the atlatl. It feels a bit awkward at first, but once you get the balance of the weapon it's amazingly light and agile.

My husband wanted to visit a local Native Artifact Show in our area this weekend. I really enjoy anything Native, so I was all for it. After viewing several flint-knapping exhibits, we saw a young man showing a lady how to throw the atlatl. I was fascinated at the speed and accuracy the man had in throwing the spear with the tool. The lady suggested that I try it. I admit I was reluctant - I don't know why, but I hesitated until both she and my husband convinced me to try.

I asked the man a few questions (he was so helpful) about how to hold it, how to throw it, etc. And I gave it a try. WOW! That 6 ft. long spear rose up, made a beautiful arc and landed somewhat short - but not far from the paper targeted hay-bales. It was fun! I wanted to try again. I asked about how the wind affected the throw and the young man explained a few more things to me and I gave it another try. I hit the target!

I only tried a few more times, but I learned to very much appreciate how powerful and fast, and what a great hunting weapon the atlatl and spear could be. The young man's spear would bury into the hay-bale target at least 1 & 1/2 feet! We learned that these were used to hunt mammoths in ancient times and the Native Americans used it for hunting everything from fish to deer to buffalo. With little practice, it's speed and accuracy were amazing! And the stealthy quiet of the arrow as it whisked through the area would definitely make the atlatl a necessary and efficient hunting tool for anyone to use.

It's good to know that even a 50-something lady like me could bring down a deer to provide for my family if I needed to. Oh yeah.... I have visions of myself holding my own hand-carved atlatl and a few 6 ft. feathered spears.... Uh huh... I definitely could see me creeping through the woods, stalking a deer (or two - or three). Of course there are a number of people who believe I need to work on keeping quiet long enough to hunt an animal without scaring it away. (hee hee) Maybe hunting's not really for me after all.

What interesting things did you do this weekend?

Faith Friday - Look Up!

2011-06-10T14:36:00.002-04:00

We all live in this world. And in this world we have our struggles. There are the high gasoline prices and the soaring grocery prices. Loss of employment and lay-offs are ever threatening. Everyone around us seems to be on edge and ready to snap at a moment's notice. Of course we can't forget the 'acts of nature' - the tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, droughts, and now hurricane's are developing. And just when we think we're eating or drinking healthy - we're told that stuff is dangerous to our health! Oh and I can't forget the young people of today. Argh! If you're blessed enough to have one or two of those at home, you know what I'm talking about. With school, friends, peer-pressure, bullies (off-line and online), computers, satellite TV, video games, sports, ear-buds plastered inside their ears, cell-phones glued to their hands - thumbs blazing at texting/sexting, wow.... the world is really pulling at young people today. Okay, maybe I was speaking about most of the adults I know too. But the point is - we live in this world all right!

I'm a fairly laid-back person. I have my opinions (just ask my hubby), but for the most part, I kinda take life as it comes and look on the bright-side of most things. But there are times when this world begins to overwhelm me. When my neighbors force us to listen to their profane music, when punk-kids bust our back door at 3:00 a.m., when the 'check engine' light comes on in our new car, when work slows down to nothing and I still have bills to pay, when arthritis affects my right hand and I've got to finish a baby-blanket, when I'd really REALLY like nothing better than to eat an entire quart of Moosetracks ice cream but I know I can't have it. Yeah - times like that - I begin to feel a bit overwhelmed by the stuff of this world.

I was thinking about a trip we made to Florida back in the winter of 2008. We left here at the beginning of a snow storm. They had to de-ice the plane and we weren't even sure we'd be able to take off. But we boarded that plane in our winter coats, scarves, gloves and hats. And the plane flew off without a hitch.

Once up there above the snow clouds, the sun was beginning to rise. The colors were absolutely majestic! The mono-tone world we'd left behind was nothing compared to the brilliant pastels and the textures of the clouds. As I watched, the warmth of the sunshine began to dry the last of the de-icing fluid on the wings. Everything up there was so beautiful.

While up there, God revealed something to me. Nooo.. it wasn't like the Twilight Zone episode where William Shatner looked out over the wing of the plane and saw some alien or monster. It was more like a knowing that filled my spirit.

God reminded me that no matter how bitter this world might seem on any given day - if I will only look up I will see Him. Above it all, high above all the messes and struggles and trials of this world, our God is there. He is with us! He's fighting for us, holding us through it all, carrying us when we're too weak to walk it out. God is listening to us pour our hearts and prayers to Him for our children, our spouses, our loved one's. He is watching us and crying with us. He takes us by the hand and guides us through everything we face here in this world. And He leads us into His peace. We simply have to remember to 'look up' to find it and to receive it.

I'm finding myself looking up more and more as I grow older. It seems that this world I live in is going crazy sometimes, and there's nothing I can do to stop it. But I know the One who has it all in His control. Do you? If you do - won't you join me in looking up to Him as we occupy until He returns?

Times Change

2011-06-08T12:11:00.002-04:00

Monday was the first day of summer vacation for our local school. Oh I remember when that meant rising with the sun to play outside all day and falling into bed completely exhausted from play.

But.... times change. It seems like the kids of today enjoy staying awake all night and sleeping away their days. Other than athletic jocks at their games, I don't see many kids outside during the day anymore! They're all inside sleeping late. When they do wake sometime in the afternoon, they stay indoors playing video games and watching one of the 600 satellite TV channels streaming into their bedrooms. We do hear some of them roaming the streets after dark - so we know they're alive. There hasn't been some sort of freaky, isolated, epidemic that's killed off all our children and teens.

On Monday around 3:15 a.m. my husband and I were jolted awake by someone pounding on our front door and then ringing our doorbell. This same thing happened repeatedly last summer, and at first it frightened me SO BAD! At that time, I was certain our house must have been on fire and someone was banging and ringing to wake us and get us out! But it was just a couple of teens playing pranks on the neighborhood.

So in the wee hours of this past Monday morning, after the initial shock of being wakened from sleep, I realized it was happening again. I suggested to my husband that we just ignore them this time and maybe they'll move on. I was wrong. The kids weren't going to stop till they knew they woke the residents. After they banged on the front door and rang the snot out of our doorbell, it was quiet and we were almost back to sleep when they ran, banging on the siding and windows all along the entire length of the back of our house. THAT scared me! To bang on our door is one thing - but to bang on our windows and side of our house was something else.

We got up but left the lights off so we could see out and hopefully catch the young punks in action. I was at the bedroom window peeking out of the slats on the blinds and I saw nothing. My husband went to the front of the house and didn't see anything out the front windows. As we went from window to window trying to identify them, they pounded so hard somewhere on the side of the house that it seemed as if they were nearly breaking in.

I ran to the front door and peered out the peep-hole. As soon as I did, someone banged on the bottom of the very door I was peeking out of. Instead of doing the practical thing and flinging open the door, it scared me so bad that my only reaction was to pound back from my side of the door! Argh!!! I guess I'm not a real good thinker in intense situations.

My husband turned on the porch light and called the County Sheriff's office. They promised to send someone out to investigate. At 4:15 we tried to go back to sleep as we had to be up at 5:15.

Later that day I was doing some yard-work and I noticed something strange about our back screen door. It's mostly glass with a screen, but below the glass is a metal panel. Those kids had pounded or kicked it so hard that they bent in the metal panel and damaged our door.

I called the Sheriff's office again and spoke with the dispatcher. I told her of the damage and that I was going to talk to our neighbors to see if anyone else heard/saw anything that night. She asked me to call the Sgt. that was handling the case and let her know these details.

After speaking with four other neighbors, three of them said they too experienced the banging, knocking, ringing during that hour. But none of them were able to spot who was doing it. The other one said it may have happened there too, but he slept so soundly that nothing could have disturbed him.

Our mayor was notified and his response was that we should all get "big dogs" and when the knocking begins at one door, let the big dog out the other door. The Deputy Sgt. in charge of the case gave us a few other suggestions. We filed a police report - so if/when they catch the pranksters, there will record of criminal damage.

If they are ever caught, I have a few suggestions as to what sentences might be beneficial. **smile** I would love to see them wakened up at 5:00 a.m., forced to get up, work physical labor all day long. Maybe mowing lawns and doing yard work to tire them out?? Forbid TV, video games, cell phones, computers, or MP3 players. Simply send them to exhausted bed before midnight - and just when they are good and sound asleep, bang some pots and pans somewhere near their sleepy heads to startle them awake. Make them get up for about a half-hour, then allow them to go back to sleep. Repeat the banging several more times throughout the night, giving them just a bit of sleep before making them rise again at 5:00 a.m. for another full day of physical labor.

Alas though.... That's just my 'dream punishment' for these kids. Reality dictates that if they are caught and sent to the Detention Center, things wouldn't go the way they used to go for juvenile delinquents there. Instead of schoolwork and physical labor and truly receiving "punishment" - kids today typically enjoy satellite TV, computers, gaming systems, technological gadgets, and good meals even in Detention Center. After all, "times change" don't they?

The "WHATEVER" Attitude

2011-06-02T09:45:00.000-04:00

Our neighbors are your typical American family. Thirty-ish parents with three overly-athletic children.

They moved in to the vacant house next door after the prior thirty-ish parents with two children abandoned the place a year or so earlier.

As quiet as it had been without neighbors, we were very glad to see life move back into the house next door. For the most part, these new neighbors were fairly friendly but they kept to themselves. We welcomed them to our area as we tried all the neighborly things. We took them Christmas cookies and cards. We congratulated the kids on their sporting achievements and chatted about their garden and the weather. They lightly responded to our neighborly attempts, but they never seemed to want a relationship any deeper than just casual neighbors. We thought perhaps it was a generational thing where they were only close to people their own age. But over time, we realized these neighbors aren't close with anyone. They pretty much keep everyone at arm's length.

Last winter we had no clue the neighbors were gone on a short vacation until we realized they'd left their little dog outside. The poor dog was an indoor dog until then. He had never been outside day and night before. With the cold and snow, the little guy was not happy with his fence and doghouse. He barked and barked his discomfort, non-stop all day long. When night came and the neighbors didn't, we knew it was going to be a long and noisy night. The next day the dog's 'voice' was now hoarse, but he continued barking. When the second night came and the dog was still barking, we resorted to using earplugs to get some sleep. Late the third night, the neighbors arrived home and they put the dog in the house with them. Finally it was peaceful again. We didn't mention the incident to them as we didn't want to embarrass them - and we knew they didn't typically go away for long.

Apparently athletics can and do often require travel. And having three children who were greatly involved in every imaginable sport, our neighbors began taking more short trips. The second lengthy trip was a couple of months ago. Our grace had been stretched to the breaking point after another full day and night of barking. I left a short note on their front door telling them that we didn't think they were aware that whenever they left - their dog barks non-stop. In the note I explained that we'd checked his food and water and saw that he wasn't in need, but he still barked.
When our neighbor saw me outside, she came over and told me they got the note. I told her I was glad they got it and how sorry we were to have to have let it. I explained that we couldn't find anything in particular that their dog was barking at, he just seemed to want to bark. And we didn't know what to do and hated to complain.
Expecting her to be embarrassed and apologetic, I was shocked that she appeared angry and that she had quite an attitude! Originally I wasn't planning to bring it up, but I finally told her about the previous time they'd left and how the dog barked for three days and nights. Her response was that they want him to bark when he needs to - so they don't discourage his barking. She said it looked like they'd have to have someone dog-sit from now on! I told her that was probably a good idea for us and for their dog. She walked away, but tossed her hands in the air and said, "WHATEVER!"

Things with our neighbors 'cooled' a bit. They stopped waving at us and acknowledging us when we were outside. But we were glad the dog wasn't barking anymore. We tried to be friendly and neighborly, and we still waved and offered conversation. Sometimes they responded, sometimes not.

The barking, though, was gradually replaced by something else. The husband took a position as one of the assistant athletic coaches in our local school district. Apparently this caused him to begin lifting weights. So he filled his garage/barn with equipment. Every afternoon, when he came home from work, he went straight to their garage, which is located next to our home, and he worked out. That in and of itself isn't a bad thing at all. But apparently working out can't be done in silence. Opening the large sliding door, he cranks up his stereo as he goes through his weight lifting routine. When finished with his work-out, he then turns up the stereo even louder and does other outdoor work. Again, we didn't say anything. We knew they were young and athletic and apparently never learned the appreciation of listening to the birds and frogs and the quieter sounds of nature. So... again, we extended grace.

As springtime progressed, so did their outside time. Out came the trampoline, the pool, the power-wheels, the soccer goal, the yard toys, the pitching machine, the lawn tractors. And up went the stereo. Right next to our property they built a fire-pit. They placed their grill, coolers of beer, tiki-torches, picnic tables and chairs all around it. As we tried to work in and outside our home, we now had to listen to BOOM, BUMP, BOOM, BUMP, THUMP, BOOM of their stereo's bass. But we continued to extend grace.

Until this past weekend.

We were outside, and as usual the dad next door had turned the stereo on and the volume was way up. While we worked in our yard, their music was outrageously loud and we heard not just the bass-line, but the lyrics. Now my husband is a musician, so typically music won't bother him. But when when we literally had to shout to hear one another as we worked outside, we were both growing increasingly frustrated. Although their entire family and some teen aged friends were next door, no one was anywhere near the garage and no one was listening to their music. So it was a blessing to our ears when the CD ended and it was finally quiet! The quiet lasted no more than five minutes when someone started the music again.
This time the 'music' was a hand-copied CD of various tunes, many were techno-rap. And when a song came on that was filled with profanity and derogatory racial slurs, I was ready to cry. This song spoke of drug-use and it was peppered with the name "Jesus" - but not in a respectful way at all! My husband finally tossed down the tool he was using and said he'd had enough. He walked through the neighbor's yard to the the husband/dad who was running the roto-tiller back in their garden. My husband pointed to their garage and asked the man if we had to listen to that profane music? He told our neighbor that we don't appreciate hearing that stuff.

The neighbor wasn't apologetic or even embarrassed that we (and his children and the other neighbors) were hearing profanity and drugs and angry lyrics blasted throughout the neighborhood. He wasn't sorry at all that his music bothered or offended us. Instead, he instantly developed an 'attitude'. At first he frowned at my husband then he went right back to his tilling. My husband came home and said, "I guess we do have to listen to it!" But after a few moments, the man walked to his garage, turned down the music, came out to put his hands on his hips and loudly proclaim, "THERE! I turned it down some!"
I responded, "Thank you. We don't want to hear those kinds of words - that's horrible."
To which he laughed and said, "WHATEVER!". Throwing his hands in the air, he walked away laughing and repeating, "WHATEVER!!"

Well..... that's exactly my question. "WHATEVER....?"
"WHATEVER happened to common courtesy and thinking of others?"
"WHATEVER happened to decency, morals, and family and community values?"
"WHATEVER happened to feeling conviction at being wrong?"
"WHATEVER happened to being embarrassed, apologetic and humbled over disturbing someone else?"
"WHATEVER happened to respect?"
"WHATEVER happened to being neighbors?"

Argh.

What about you? Have you ever experienced neighbor issues? Ever had to deal with neighbors like these?

NON-Prophet Orgs.

2011-05-25T15:38:00.000-04:00

Noooo I didn't misspell the title. I typed it just as I meant it for this topic.

I know by now many of you have heard about all you can stand on the Family Radio president turned end-times prophet. Quoted this week as saying that he, himself, is “flabbergasted” that his rapture prediction didn’t come true, Harold Camping seems to have developed a pattern of getting it wrong more often than getting it right. Loudly and boldly proclaiming to the world via his radio broadcasts, billboards, hundreds of volunteers handing out informative pamphlets, media interviews, as well as utilizing his website, Camping prophesied the coming of the Lord Jesus, the rapture of the church, and the destruction of the world as we know it. His prophesy spoke with absolutely certainty that you too can know that this would happen beginning with the rapture of Christians on May 21, 2011.

I am a Christian. I have absolutely no doubt about my Christianity. But I am still here, and so is Camping and so are all those who believed his prophetic words.

According to reports, this isn’t the first time Camping has missed the mark in his rapture prophecies. He first predicted the rapture would happen in 1994. Obviously this didn't come to pass. Now, after his flabbergastedness cleared, Camping was quoted as saying judgment day will come on October 21, 2011.

I’ve seen some of the photos of the members of his lost flock as they aimlessly wandered to their empty Sunday service looking for answers from their hiding leader. I’ve heard some of the interviews and statements from the hurting people who gave everything they had to help Camping promote repentance as wel as spread the news of the coming of Jesus on May 21. I read the reports of the deaths/suicides/murders that took place from the fear Camping’s prophecies brought to already unstable people. And I know some of the conversations that came before May 21^st and those that came after.

Harold Camping is a false prophet. He is a “NON” prophet who has personally benefited from manipulating and deceiving people with his proclamation of God’s Word.

But Harold Camping isn’t alone in the NON-Prophet Organization department. There are hundreds, thousands, if not millions of so called “prophets of God” today. So many Christians today claim to be able to tell our fortunes ahem… I mean… discern and hear from the Lord so they can give us a timely and encouraging “word” from Him. There are schools of prophecy designed to teach people how to “hear from the Lord” and how to correctly prophesy to others. There are major prophetic organizations and conferences and movements and websites and TV shows. Christians and non-believers follow these so-called prophets. Some hang on their every word. They sign up for their mailing lists and e-newsletters. They pay to travel all over the country to attend their conferences. They sow financial seed (donate money) to their organizations.

Now folks, all throughout Scripture, God has never had a problem communicating what He wanted to say to His people or to the world! God never became “flabbergasted” when He was wrong – because God has never been wrong. And any “prophet” who spoke for Him should have learned never to be wrong either. God was adamant in that IF He spoke to someone to relay a message to the people, they were to do and say (and sometimes even dress and behave) just as He instructed. If a prophet refused, at the very least they might end up as temporary fish food. At the worst, the penalty for falsely speaking for God was public stoning to the death. If a prophet got even one part of a prophetic word wrong, they faced stoning. That's how strongly God felt about the issue of false prophets.

There’s enough right about the gift of prophecy. It’s an amazing gift when used by and for the glory of God. We certainly don’t need a plethora of false (NON) prophets running loose spouting to the world that God is saying or going to do something He is not. Please don’t get me wrong here. I am not suggesting false prophets should face public stoning (God already mandated that so it isn’t up to me). But I am curious why some of these false prophets aren’t arrested to face charges of inciting panic, financial manipulation, misappropriation of funds, and ruining lives through manipulation and deception.

One day there will be a loud shout and the Lord Jesus Christ will descend from heaven. At a trumpet call – the dead in Christ will rise first. Then those who believe and follow Jesus will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet Jesus in the air. And this will happen as fast as the blink of an eye. It will not happen first in one place, then travel throughout the time zones to ‘catch up’ everyone else around the globe. NO ONE knows the day or the hour – not the angels and not Jesus Himself!

We’re simply reminded to be ready – for the earth’s groanings and the signs are fairly right that it can happen at any time. Isn't it ironic that one of the 'signs' we're to watch out for is the fact that 'false prophets' will rise and deceive even God's people? Hmmm...

Instead of worrying our heads over when and what time Jesus will return and instead of investing our time, money and energy into NON-Prophet Orgs – can we all just get back to being busy about our Father’s business and occupying until Jesus comes?

Just my thoughts on the topic. What are yours?

IN Jesus

2011-05-19T13:46:00.001-04:00

Does a catchy song ever get stuck in your head? Try as you might to forget it, you are surprised (and frustrated) to find yourself humming it throughout the day? Typically for me it's the opening tune to a sitcom or a commercial jingle! lol.

Well, along that train of thought, there's a verse of Scripture that's been coming to my mind a lot over the last week or so. Since God's Word is ... well.... GOD'S Words I thought it best to go to Him to ask if He is trying to speak something particular to me through that verse.
So when John 16:24 ("Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.") came to mind and 'stuck' there, I went to the Lord in prayer.

Many people throughout time have named their sons Jesus. And even before the birth of Jesus Christ, there were men who carried that name. So what is it about the name "Jesus" that's so important that the world daily blasphemes it, modern philosophies try to diminish it, contemporary churches try to hide it, and the enemy attempts to counterfeit and annihilate it? And why is this verse sticking in my head?

I love the little overlooked words of Scripture. Even though many of the smaller words aren't found in the Greek and Hebrew, they are there not just to put together a full English sentence for us, but to help us grasp the concept of the statement.
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus is sitting with His disciples eating. That event came to be known as "the last supper". We know the story. It's the night Judas betrays Jesus and He's arrested. And as it's all coming to pass, Jesus is having a serious conversation with His disciples. He's explaining to them that He chose them and appointed them to go bear kingdom fruit. He warns them of what's to come and how the world will hate them. Then Jesus tells them that He will soon leave them, but the Spirit of Truth will come and guide them into all truth. Jesus lets them know that He will be going back to be with His Father - and that until now they haven't asked for anything in His name. But if they will ask in His name, God will give them whatever they ask and their joy will be complete. And Jesus goes on to help define what He means in John 16:33 (NIV)
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
And in John 17:21 (NIV) Jesus prays to His Father: " ...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

"IN my name" - "IN me" - "IN you" - "IN us". The small word "IN" is key to understanding what is so important and so special about the name of Jesus. Obviously Satan and his demons believe in Jesus. So what sets Christians apart from them? The difference is that demons may believe in Jesus, but they will never place their faith and their lives IN Him.

If we are truly IN Christ, when we pray - we pray God's perfect will because Jesus spoke and did only what His Father told Him. Jesus was "one" with His Father. When we are IN Jesus, we are "one" with Him. His Spirit directs our prayers, Jesus intercedes and the Father hears precisely what's needed. Yet so often we (I) pray a shopping list of requests to God, "Heal this one, Deliver that one, Grant traveling mercies, Fix this, Bring nice weather . . . " If you were to ask me how the Holy Spirit directed my prayers, I'd embarrassingly have to admit that He didn't! My flesh and my emotions and my needs drove my prayers.
I feel the Holy Spirit is impressing me today to press IN and rediscover that "one-ness" with Jesus. To be "IN" Him and know that He is IN me. And for me to lay aside (crucify) the flesh and allow His Spirit to move and work and pray through me.

John 11:25-26 (NIV)
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

How about you? How does John 16:24 speak to you?

Faith Friday - SO SHINE!

2011-05-13T16:49:00.000-04:00

My husband commutes over sixty miles to work. Part of that commute is by car, the other portion of his travel is by train. He does this twice a day, every week day.

When he came home yesterday, he shared with me about one of the train conductors (they are still called conductors aren't they?) or one of the people who drives the train. He said this lady is always so friendly. She smiles and greets every customer. This isn't the typical transit worker personality. He said no matter what kind of day he's had, she absolutely lights up his commute. He wonders if she's Christian because she just shines and brings joy to everyone.

I told my husband THAT'S the kind of Christian I want to be. One that doesn't focus on gloom & doom, or on the darkness that's blanketing our world. Instead, I want to SO SHINE for Jesus that whoever I meet will enjoy being around me. I want to be that uplifting person who encourages and uplifts others.

This world is definitely growing darker by the moment. There's so much evil out there that we can all lose our focus if we're not careful. But I don't want to be the kind of Christian who gripes and moans and complains about it all. I would rather be the Christian who draws attention to Jesus. I want to so shine the Light within me that it pierces the darkness and all eyes will be drawn to Christ. And I'm going to begin working on that (with God's help) right now!

What about you? Do you ever find that you become so overwhelmed with the dark things of this world that you don't shine the Light? Oh Father help us all to 'so shine' for You.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)
"Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Testimony Tuesday - What Goes Around ...

2011-05-10T11:02:00.002-04:00

I know someone who's a collector of old sayings. You know the kind. "A penny for your thoughts. A stitch in time saves nine. Another day, another 25.339¢" Oops that last one was MY version of the quote. But you understand.... old sayings like those. My friend saves old and even not so old but good quotes. I think it's an admirable little hobby.

Personally I don't collect them. I've heard many though. Admittedly I've also proven a number of them true! I'm sure you've all heard the old saying, "What goes around - comes around." Typically for me it proved that in my dishing out something - I ended up having to eat a bit of it myself at some later date. Not fun.

But this past Mother's Day, that saying came true for me again, this time in a good way. You see, I enjoy reading. So when our son was a baby, I spent countless hours reading books to him. Books fascinated him. The bright pictures, the rhyming words, the thrill of a story. It became our nighttime ritual to say prayers then snuggle together reading books until he nearly fell asleep. When he wasn't feeling well, we read books. When the weather was too nasty to go outside, we read books. When he wasn't reading, he watched Reading Rainbow on TV then had to visit the library to find the books he'd seen on the show.

Our son grew to be THAT kid who held up the line checking-out the maximum amount of library books. He enjoyed Christian adventure series books for children, Focus-on-the-Family's children's magazines, toy catalogs, anything with pages he could read and turn. My father-in-law saved the Sunday comics for him each week. For Christmas he wanted, of course toys, but yeah.... lots of books. He loved reading!! And I loved that he loved reading.

I was very happy to hear he didn't lose his love for reading. Even after he married, he'd call to share his excitement at finding a bargain book at a garage sale or thrift store.

I guess it was natural for someone who enjoys technology and reading to eventually combine the two. A few weeks ago our son bought a Nook Color. When he brought his Nook over, I found it fascinating, but I thought I wouldn't care to buy one. After all, there's something holding a real book in your hands, the sound and feel of your fingers grasping the corner of a page and turning it, and yeah there's the smell of the cover, ink, and binding glue. I thought his Nook was a great gadget for people like him - of the 'technology age' - but I wasn't sure I'd like one for me. Although, secretly I believe I wished one day to have one.

Well, this past Mother's Day, my son came over and handed me my Mother's Day gift. A Nook Color!!! I was totally shocked. He told me that he knew I loved to read and because of that, he wanted me to have it.

I have to tell you, it's definitely a fascinating gadget! I've already downloaded several free books and have my name on waiting lists for lending libraries to borrow some more. I don't think (for me) it will ever take the place of a real book, but even as I'm learning it, I am loving it! It definitely has its place among people who enjoy reading. To get books (and more) anytime of the day or night without having to leave the comfort of my home is amazing!! And I enjoy the crossword puzzle and the ability to go online and surf the web and listen to music. This is the absolute best Mother's Day gift I've ever received. But I think our son knew that it would be when he gave it to me.

The love of reading. What goes around - comes around. And in this case, I am so very thankful.

Miracle Monday - Under God's Promise

2011-05-02T14:04:00.000-04:00

Oh Monday's are typically not fun, ya know? This morning we woke around 5:00 as usual and went about our morning routine. The sun began to lighten the sky and the birds began to sing just as my husband was ready to leave for work.

Every weekday morning I stand in the door and watch him leave, praying for him and his travels and his workday. But this morning imagine my surprise as I watched him walk to the car and right above our driveway - up over his head - I noticed some color in the sky. My eye followed the ribbon of color down over the trees across the street. It had a familiar shape. I followed it up over my husband and down the other side. I'd never seen a rainbow in the western sky (or directly overhead). But yeah, it was a rainbow!

I shouted to my husband, "You have a rainbow right over your head!"

He looked straight up and around and down and smiled and said, "I'm under God's promise!"

I ran to grab the camera, but I wasn't able to capture it all in one shot. I had to stand on the porch to get part of it, then down on the last step to get more (all in my socks - standing on a cold rain-soaked porch). But the above photos show how pretty it was. Notice how the rose color seemed to stay inside the semi-circle? I have no clue why. It was certainly a miraculous sight to usher in any day - especially a Monday! What an awesome God. What an amazing day!

Happy Mother's Day Story -" She Carried Me"

2011-04-29T11:08:00.002-04:00

With Mother's Day just a week away, I've been giving some thought to motherhood. I felt this would be a good time to begin a series based on my ponderings about being a mother.

The first post is about my own mother.

Being a mother comes natural to some. To my mom that was about the only way she knew to parent - naturally.

She was youngest child (with her twin brother) of seven living children born during the depression era. By the time my mom was born my grandmother had raised five other children and buried a few more. My grandmother was the practical sort (as most were during the depression). "Love" to her meant that she rose every morning before dawn, lit the stove and began her day of washing, ironing, mending and making clothes, caring for her chickens and garden, canning, baking, scraping together three meals, and keeping a sparkling home for her family. She literally didn't have any left-over time or energy to shower lavish attention on every one of her children. She wouldn't have dreamed of trying to attend each child's school or sports or choir event. Love back then was very practical. Dad's worked hard at any work they could find and mom's worked hard at making and keeping the family together and healthy. On Sunday, instead of rest, my grandmother rose extra early to prepare to walk her family to church and return to create the massive Sunday dinner that followed. That type of practical mothering carried my mom safely through to adulthood but it wasn't the greatest example of how to actually be a mother.

Back in the day, my mom had been married for just over a year when she finally discovered she was pregnant. She weighed all of ninety-pounds. No, she didn't have an eating disorder (those were unheard of back then). My mom was just a petite, dark-haired beauty who'd soon find herself proudly wearing the day's trendy, strategically pleated, tent-looking, cotton blouses and matching skirts to cover her growing baby-bump.

I just can't imagine this tiny, wisp of a lady carrying a baby! But carry me she did. When at the fullness of time, I was born a hefty eight pounds-two ounces, people marveled that someone so petite could carry and deliver such a big baby. But the birth didn't stop her from carrying me.

There weren't any baby-slings, or car-seat carriers; there were no baby swings, play saucers, activity seats, or bouncers. The only baby-carriers were the arms of the mother. I have photos of her carrying me, a round-faced, chubby-armed baby constantly riding her hip. By the time I reached the toddler stage it looked as if I should have been carrying her!

As I grew, my mom may have stopped carrying me physically, but she didn't stop carrying me in other ways. Her petite lap was never too small to hold a fevered child. Her little hands, with delicately painted nails, were never too busy to nurse a skinned knee. And boy did I give her a lot of nursing practice! During my adolescent tomboy years there were times she'd have to rush me to the doctor for yet another tetanus shot and to the emergency room for more stitches. When she didn't have a car at home, she'd frantically rush to a neighbor to borrow their car to carry me or my sister to the hospital. My mom lovingly carried my physical pain.

When bad weather threatened, like a protective hen, my mom couldn't rest until she gathered us with her, under her watchful care. She'd calm our nerves by singing to us or telling us a story about the wind and the thunder. (I wonder if God really DOES bowl?) Her protecting love and calming stories carried me through many storms of life.

As a teenager sometimes at night I'd hear her sniffing, crying over the hurts she knew me or my sister had experienced that day. Maybe it was a friend who turned against me, or a boy who liked another girl. Maybe it was over the grades I tried so hard to get, but didn't. Maybe it was about my not having lunch money and her not having lunch to give me. Or perhaps it was over her constantly bickering daughters! My mother's crying scared me. Obviously if Mom cried, things must be really bad! What I didn't understand back then was that mother's could literally FEEL their children's pain. And when their children hurt, they hurt. A mother's solitary tears were the only way they knew to emotionally carry their children.

Over the years as I matured and married, my mom was the first one I'd call when I had questions about homemaking, jobs, relationships, and the stuff of adult life. Often she had answers, sometimes she didn't. Instead of trying to carry me and my adult issues on her own, she carried me to One she knew could handle them - God. My mother prayed fervently for me and for my sister and for our growing families. There came to be a huge comfort - a rest - in knowing that day and night, Mom faithfully and fervently carried my concerns to Jesus.

Today, my still petite, little mom has "mothered" now for over half a century. She was "Mom" through the end of the rockin'-fifties, the tumultuous sixties, my radical teen-aged seventies, the eighties and nineties decade of marriage and childbirth for her own children. She's carried in a new millennium, great-grandchildren, and a brand-new era of economic recession/depression. She's still spunky and fun and welllll.... MOM! Her mother may not have lived the best example for her, but my mother's example taught me that no matter how strong we think we are, no matter how determined or driven - not one of us mothers can carry our children on our own. We need God's strength and wisdom and comfort to help us while we carry our own children. She taught me that He carries us as we carry our children. And carry - we will. It's just what Mom's do.

Thanks Mom, for carrying me all these years. And for living the example to show me how to carry the family God entrusted into my care. I love you!

They're Back!

2011-04-26T09:32:00.001-04:00

Anyone who knows me understands my love for those buzzing, peeping, iridescently colored little creatures called hummingbirds.

Having grown up in an more urban area, the only hummers I saw were in books or on National Geographic shows. Even then, they fascinated me.
My first experience really meeting a hummingbird came after I moved here to a more rural village. I was with a midwife, visiting an Amish family. Sitting on the couch in their living room I kept hearing a "bzzzzzZZZZZZZZZ" noise behind me at the open window. I didn't want to turn and look, because I knew full well how farms were infested with horseflies. I was certain I was hearing large horseflies. But as the sound persisted and kept coming and going, my curiosity got the best of me and I looked out the screen.

Oh to my wonder, there were numerous hummingbirds at a window feeder. I backed away slowly and whispered to the ladies that there were hummingbirds out there. They laughed loudly and told me they knew this. I had a few thousand questions and they graciously gave me their answers and their recipe for hummingbird 'nectar'. They assured me if I'd place a feeder out - I too would have them visiting my home.

That was over fifteen years ago. Every year since, we put our feeders out when spring begins to - well - spring! And over time, we've learned to watch the hummingbird migration map so that we can be certain to get our feeders out as the sojourners are traveling through on their way north.

Typically, we see our first hummer arriving around mid-May to late-May. This year I was surprised to see the map revealed that they were spotted in our area as early as April 11. We put our feeder out last week and we hoped and prayed that it wouldn't freeze during our still cold nights. It didn't.

On Easter Sunday we were traveling to my sister's home for dinner when my husband said he just felt that we'd see a hummingbird at our feeder that day. I was overjoyed because I too felt that same thing! Well, it ended up being a long day with lots of family obligations and we came home to visit with more family and we forgot about the birds. But last night as I stood before the window doing our dinner dishes, I saw the familiar blur of a zooming hummingbird! Yep. The little guy buzzed up and landed at our feeder like he'd been there before (they do return to the same feeders each year), and he enjoyed a lengthy meal. And I again quietly backed away and like I do each year, I whispered a 'welcome back my friend'.

I'm so thankful for these little creatures. They truly do usher in spring with the daffodils and cherry blossoms. They bring color and personality and brilliance to my day. My hummingbirds (I guess I do come to think of them as 'mine' and I even name some of them) are indeed my warm-weather friends.

If you'd like to learn more about hummingbirds - visit HERE.

The Resurrection Power of Jesus

2011-04-21T12:56:00.001-04:00

I've been pondering the resurrection power of Jesus lately. I know... I know... that's a heavy and in-depth topic to ponder. But as Good Friday and Easter are nearly here, I've been thinking a bit about my life before I asked Jesus into it.

Looking back, I realize that like most of humanity walking the earth today, I was alive. (That's always always a plus, huh?) By that I mean like the majority of the population, I was going about a daily routine - being as good a person as I chose to be - deciding what and what not I wanted to believe - and patterning my life after a series of someones somewhere that I admired along the way. In doing this, I went through my phases. I wanted to be a free-spirited hippie, but I was vehemently against drugs and free-sex. So about as far as I got was to dress the part. I thought about how peaceful it’d be to roam the earth in search of whatever I might find, but the woods outside the door was about as far as I dared to roam alone. I loved the whole save-the-world, recycle, protect the wildlife, ecology movement (still do). But I never seemed to do well growing a back-yard garden or canning my own vegetables or taking on many causes. I valued the work and life of Mother Teresa and those who could dedicate everything to helping others. But I didn’t do well being around sick people. So as I searched hard for what life was all about and how I fit into the scheme of it, the one thing I knew for certain was how to eliminate who I wasn’t supposed to be.

Finding myself eventually happily married and having a child, I thought life would be fulfilled! Sadly, way down deep and coming to surface every now and then, there was still that nagging question of who I was and where I fit in to this life. It felt sometimes like although alive, I wasn't yet really living.

The world was greater, more dimensional, than I could see. I knew that there was more out there, more to know and experience, more to bring into my life. But how to get to that dimension was frustratingly beyond my own personal abilities. I was growing weary of searching and trying everything I could find to complete myself and define myself. So I eventually relaxed and stopped looking. I came to believe life was nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other and doing what we do till we die. Making every day count? Well, it sounded poetic, but mostly I existed just to exist and to try to enjoy being here for however long it lasted and I tried not to think on eternal things.

I don’t know exactly when I started to warm to the idea of true Christianity. My husband eventually received Christ and I watched as his life literally took on purpose and meaning. This wasn’t the doing of ‘church’ – or 'religion' - this was the work of something Greater. There was a surety, a serenity, a meaning to his life. Something I lacked and desperately wanted.

I'd like to say the heavens opened up and I heard a Hallelujah Chorus of angels, but when I invited Jesus into my life it was more like a blanket of knowing covered me. Eventually a new dimension of "me-ness" gradually began to come to life. I won't say everything became cushy and rosy and good. Life really didn’t change much. Our neighborhood was still drug-ridden, groceries and mortgages and utilities were still expensive. Wars and illnesses still killed people, disasters still struck, and hatred and prejudice still ran rampant among mankind. But instead of seeing on the surface and reacting to what I saw, everything took on a new depth and width. Something in me woke up and switched from emotional and physical to spiritual. Life was no longer just about what I felt or thought. I saw people differently. I judged situations differently. Life took on an intensity that I never knew it had. Even natural things like flowers, birds, clouds, waterfalls, etc. took on a new color and form and meaning. And although nothing really changed – EVERYTHING changed.

The longer I’ve known Jesus, the more I’ve come to understand that He didn’t live and die and defeat death to rise again – just so that we can sit in our churches to sing three songs, hear a pointed message, put our money in the plate, and make it to the restaurant before the other denominations let out. Yes, Jesus died and rose again that we could spend eternity in the presence of God – but there’s SO MUCH MORE to it than that. Jesus died and rose again so that we too may experience a resurrection of sorts here on this earth. That we could become alive in Him and really understand about living life - to the fullest.

That’s the resurrection power of Jesus Christ!

Do you know the resurrection power of Jesus Christ?

Wondrous Wednesday - What a World

2011-04-20T10:20:00.003-04:00

Here we sit in our chairs of uncertainty. We glue ourselves to the news reports to learn every detail about the latest world disasters. Who can keep up? Is it another earthquake? Another series of tornadoes? More floods? Oil spills and leaks?

We figure, and we configure, and we refigure our budgets; we try everything within our power to pull so many bills out of constantly shrinking paychecks. We wonder why a gallon of gas costs more than lunch at a decent restaurant and what the price will change to before we can make it to the pump. And who'd have dreamed that 'healthcare for all Americans' would mean that the cost of being forced to buy it would break the banks and backs of so many who need it? How do we choose between prescriptions or food or mortgage payments or utilities or gas to get to and from work - - - if we still have jobs to work at?

What a world!

I don't mean to demean anyone's struggles here. Believe me I know those struggles are very real! But I also know although it seems everything about our world is spiraling out of control, there is a constant that we often miss. In the midst of this mass of contemporary chaotic mess, as sure as the sun still rises, the rivers keep running, the grass continues to grow, the trees keep budding, and the birds still rise to sing their morning praises - GOD IS IN CONTROL.

Click to view and listen to a short movie my husband made while on one of our hikes.

No matter what you're facing in today's chaotic world, take a moment to listen and look around you. Regardless of the Stock Market's activity, the fish of the streams and the birds of the air continue to live the fullness of each day. They don't worry about the economy. The governments of this world aren't who they place their faith in. God, their Creator, their Sustainer, their Provider is who's in control. This is the reason we too can rise and face each day and truly give praise to God - our one Constant in the midst of uncertain times.

What a God!! What a love He has for all His creation!! What a world He's created that points us straight toward Him!! Won't you praise Him with me today?

Matthew 6:26-27 (NIV)
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life ?

Matthew 6:30 (NIV)
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Isaiah 55:12 (NIV)
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Testimony Tuesday - Mary and Deborah

2011-04-19T09:02:00.001-04:00

Do you ever wish you could be more like someone else? Have you ever wanted a different personality or gift?

There are times when I'd like to be able to sing beautiful melodies to God. I hear them in my head. In my mind I can sing in tune and every note sounds bright and clear and lovely. But something is completely messed-up between my thoughts and my mouth. I'm not ashamed to say that there is absolutely no way that I can carry a tune. I'd rather tell you that than try to actually prove it! Ohhhhh.... believe me.... you don't wanna hear it.

Singing is not my gift. Over the years my gifts have changed and morphed a bit. Sometimes certain gifts were given only for a short season - like the one time I was able to interpret word for word what a visitor spoke in Spanish. I don't know more than five words in Spanish. That only happened once (although I've prayed for it to happen more!).

Yeah.... I've taken those gift-surveys a number of times. But I don't really need a survey to know my 'bent' (the way God designed me). I love to 'listen' and 'hear' and observe. I know things. By that I mean things are revealed to me that others don't see or hear. For the longest time I thought everyone could see and hear like I do. I couldn't understand why my husband didn't 'catch' what a person was REALLY saying (behind their words), or that others didn't 'get' what a person wasn't telling. People have told me that they are very uncomfortable around me. They say it's not anything I do or say. It's just that they sense that I "know" things about them that others don't know. And typically, I do.

Yes, that's a prophetic gift. And it's discernment. But I'm not one of the prophetesses who can tell you what your future holds as "thus saith the Lord". I simply see and discern things. And often I use what I discern to teach and preach and lead groups and individuals.

On this Testimony Tuesday, as a 'testimony', if I had to describe my gifts and my personality based on persons in Scripture, I'd have to say I'm somewhere between Mary Magdalene who experienced the life-changing love of Jesus and who ran like the wind to joyously announce to the others (as the first ever evangelist!) that she had seen the risen Lord. But that Mary personality is mingled with some of the prophetess and confident leader, Deborah. I have my days where I just want to sit at the feet of Jesus and soak in His words and bask in His love then run to tell others what He's revealed to me. And other days where I can sense and see the enemies that come against my family, my community and our nation, so I take up my Sword and stand against them. I guess if I have to ponder it, it's a good combination for me!

What about you?
What are your gifts?
What gifts do you wish you had?
Who in Scripture is your personality most like?

Faith Friday - Didymus Christians

2011-04-15T10:24:00.002-04:00

NOTE: Sorry for the length of this one - I really tried to shorten it - but it's just gonna be what it is to make the point.

Mentioned in just a few places in Scripture, the Apostle Thomas isn't really well known. Named as one of the original Apostles of Christ, this is the Thomas about whom was coined the phrase, "doubting Thomas". Thomas was also known as "Didymus" (See John 11:16).

Thomas was with Jesus when Martha and her sister Mary came sent word that their brother Lazarus was sick. Jesus didn't rush to them at that moment. In fact, Jesus stayed where He was for two more days. Then Jesus spoke to His disciples that they would be returning to Judea.

The disciples were concerned about this. They knew Jesus might face public stoning or worse, if He returned to Judea. Thomas arrogantly spoke that they should all go along and die with Jesus!

Well, most of you know how that story ends (if you don't - I HIGHLY encourage you to read it in John 11:1-45), and although this miracle is well worth blogging about - it's not quite where I'm headed today. Instead, I wish to move on with Thomas.

Now remember, Thomas is so dedicated to Christ that he publicly speaks that he is willing to follow Jesus to the death! The next time we see Thomas in Scripture is when Jesus is speaking during the last supper. Judas had left the room, and everything is tense. Jesus had just told them that someone would betray Him and that He would only be with them a little while longer. Jesus goes on to tell His apostles that they should watch for Him to return, for where He's going, they can't go, but they can follow later. Jesus told them He would leave, prepare a place for them, then come back to take them to be with Him.

Jesus hadn't spoken this way before. He'd never told them that He was going to leave them alone. Thomas, who'd been zealously dedicated before, now asks Jesus since they don't know where He's going, how will they be able to follow? Can you see any progression here? First Thomas is willing to follow Jesus to the death. Now even though Jesus is trying to calm their hearts and is assuring them that one day they will be with Him - Thomas starts to question what he's heard from Jesus.

The next time Thomas is mentioned is when Jesus rose from the grave and went to meet His disciples who still met behind closed and locked doors. Jesus revealed Himself to them and breathed upon them His Holy Spirit. Strangely, Thomas wasn't among them. We can only speculate where the apostle Thomas might have been and why he wasn't with the others?

Soon after the absence of Thomas, the disciples run to tell him that they've seen Jesus! OHHHH.... you'd think that a follower of Christ would be elated and excited and that the Spirit within him would JUMP! Oh wait.... Thomas wasn't there when the Holy Spirit was breathed upon the disciples. Hmmmm.... So instead of joy, Thomas doubts. Basically he says that he won't believe anything about the resurrection of Jesus unless he, himself, can see the nail marks and put his own hand into the would in Jesus' side. Basically, Thomas is now saying, "Jesus will have to prove Himself to me. I won't believe until I can physically see and feel that this is Christ." My feeling is that Thomas went from zealous arrogance and spouting that he would follow Jesus to the death - to questioning the words of Christ - to falling away from fellowship - and now to full-blown doubt.

This, my friends, although ancient in story, is happening all over Christianity today. Jesus touches the lives of some who know that they know that He is Who He says He is. They receive Christ into their lives and choose to follow Him - no matter what the consequences - no matter how difficult. But, when things get complicated, when times grow rough, when something seems uncertain and they are confused or anxious or afraid, many Christians begin to question what they really believe about Jesus. Then they fall away from their faith in Him and His promises. And when the Holy Spirit shows up and 'breathes' on those who are seeking God, these fallen one's aren't there. They hear about mighty moves of God; they hear about lives changed; transformed, washed clean, they hear about healings and deliverances and hope restored; but these things don't cause their spirit to jump. They aren't excited or moved. Nothing seems to bear witness within them. And before they know it - they refuse to believe anything Jesus said unless they can physically see it and touch it for themselves.

I know this is lengthy, but I wanted to make a point today. My point is that if someone who walked with Jesus, who sat at His holy feet, who learned from Jesus and personally heard His teachings - could progressively fall away in their faith - anyone can. In this day of churches and ministries and individual Christians trying to redefine exactly what it is they believe - - please don't be deceived.

There is a deceiver in our midst today. He is the same ancient deceiver that caused Thomas to fall away and doubt. Sadly, throughout our world (especially here in America) there are churches filled with Didymus (doubting) Christians who don't understand this Christianity thing and who doubt the teachings of Christ. If your church or the fellowship you attends is teaching or preaching a gospel other than that of the birth, live, death, burial, resurrection and soon return of the ONLY begotten Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ - get out of there now. If your church teaches there is no hell - or no heaven - or that all roads lead to an eternity with God - get out of there now. If your church is more a social-club than an extension of the ministry of Jesus - get out of there now.

And if you are feeling at all like Thomas in his unbelief and doubt, run (don't walk) straight to God and ask Him to help your unbelief. He will do this. After all, when doubting Thomas did see Jesus, it's not recorded anywhere that he spouted off his unbelief to Jesus. But Jesus knew. And Jesus, in His great love for even doubting Thomas, revealed His scars to him. He will do the same for you too.

John 20:29 (NIV)
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Transformation

2011-04-13T08:50:00.002-04:00

You know it's been a LONG winter around here - obviously because I've mentioned that fact like a few hundred times. lol

Two weeks ago we thought we were finally breaking out of winter and into warmer temps when we had a day that looked like this:

Just look at those beautiful crocus blooms. It was so sunny that I had to use a polarized filter on the camera so as to try to capture the pretty, deep purple of the flowers. There were bees in many of the little flower cups. The sun was shining, it was in the high 70's. We even heard a number of spring peepers chirping in the woods. It was gorgeous! What a beautiful transformation from the dull, dreary, monotone winter months.

I think that's one of the reasons I enjoy spring. The world literally transforms from nothing to something! It's as if new life is breathed into something cold and dormant, causing everything to push forward, grow upward and produce it's fruit.

Beautiful. Absolutely inspiring!!!

But the next day looked like this:

Ohhhh such is life in these parts. Argh.

I guess even 'transformations' take time. Although spring is fighting to advance, winter isn't ready to let go and hasn't surrendered the battle just yet. Although it's sunny now, we awoke to 31° and the end of the week is promising us a mix of rain and snow again.

I suppose I can't get too discouraged when I think of transformation. After all, I'm still a work in progress. Every time I think the Holy Spirit has performed a gorgeous work in me and the 'fruit' is about to burst forth - I discover that there's still a bit of that old nature that doesn't want to let go. It rears its ugly head and tries to battle its way through to the surface again. Yeah, as the Holy Spirit works God's perfect Will in my life the battles become less intense and easier to win. Sometimes after winning those, a new enemy pops up and tries to overtake God's work in my life. But God knows the plans He has for me - and for you! And His plans are for our good - for our transformation - to cause us to look and act and think more like Jesus.

Winter may be holding on, but we are assured that without a doubt - SPRING IS COMING! Happy transformation time!