Fantastic Sam's

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:8 (NIV)

 

Giggles came from the bedroom.  Plastic people traveled in their molded cars without a care in their primary-colored world.  Soon, innocent giggles shifted to suspicious chuckles.  As I entered the doorway, two very pleased little ones popped up with arms outstretched. “TA-DAH!” they exclaimed as if they had just performed a great magic act.  In a sense they had.  Her once-shoulder-length-curly-hair was now randomly deleted from its original state.      

 

Shock, disappointment and confusion filled this mother.  The scene of the crime was remarkably neat and tidy.  A fluffy pile of beautiful brown hair and scissors were hidden under the bed.  For the first time I recognized sin in my four-year-old’s life.  

 

Hiding is not a new concept.  Adam and Eve were given everything Paradise had to offer, except one tree – the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Enter slithering Satan.  With very little dialogue recorded, we know Eve willingly denounced what she knew was the right thing for what seemed right for her at the time.  Then, she shared her sinful snack with Adam.  Soon after, God came through the Garden to find them hiding, ashamed of their sin.   

 

God wants to shed light on any hidden areas of sin in our lives.  Bask in His light and know while we can’t hide our sin, He can.

 

 

Lord, thank you for Your forgiveness.  Thank you for Your Holy Spirit’s conviction in order to bring me closer to You. Reveal anything in my life that is not pleasing to You. Cleanse me of my sins. I want to know you more. Please be with those who are hiding behind shame and guilt today. Draw them into your light and forgiveness.

 

Lazy Dogs

 

 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit what has been promised.

Hebrews 6:12 NIV

 

I should have known something was “up” when my six-year-old son met me at my car with a transparent “stall job” only a small child can pull off.  As I entered the house with neck craned to prepare myself for a broken lamp, spilled ketchup bottle or new unscheduled haircut on a sibling…I saw them.  Two little marble eyes peered out from under the blanket.  A new pup had made its way into our house via my husband.  The kids were in love.  I was in like.  I’ve had puppies.  The cute wears off about the time the smell wafts from under a bed.  House-training takes patience. 

Like many things, I wouldn’t mind the process…if it didn’t take so dog-gone long.

 

I'll be honest, I like old, calm, lazy dogs. Our  overweight, aged beagle suits me fine. She requires very little and poops outside! God has shown me through this peppy pup to "perk up". Life is for the living and it requires getting up!

 

There is a time to rest and a time to get to work. Even Jesus took a nap on the boat until the storm arose. When He got up, however, He got to work calming the sea!

 

Are you resting in God or just sleeping on the sofa?  Is God directing you in a situation but you just don’t want to give up your ‘nothing’ time?  “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path” Proverbs 3:6.  Pray for His Will.  His path leads to promise. 

 

God, please direct me to not just good things, but “God” things.  Busyness is not my goal.  I want to be on task for You.  Give me energy and desire to serve you.  Direct my path as I walk with You. Lord, thank you for our soldiers who are fighting for our country. Be with their families while they are serving.  Bring them home safely.

Am I Skinny Yet???

 He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. 

Isaiah 50:5 (NIV)

Standing in the grocery store check-out line, I can’t help but “check out” the thin celebrities gracing the covers of countless magazines.  Taking in their seemingly flawless frames nearly always yields the same response:  a quick peek at my own work-in-progress-frame…followed by a sigh.  

 

Does anyone out there LOVE to exercise?  I’ll admit the results of exercise are wonderful:  toned body parts, energy, stamina, natural serotonin…but none of the “payoff” or results come without time and energy invested.  You have to make the effort to get up and move!  I don’t know how many times I have begun a workout routine and, after only a day or two, gone to the mirror expecting to see dramatic change.  It’s not there.  Then the excuses follow:  my metabolism must be slow, maybe my thyroid isn’t working.  Results require time and commitment.

 

Our spiritual work-out is very similar.  Reading the Bible, memorizing scripture, witnessing to others and even praying begins as a daily choice.  You have to “get up” from what you were doing and choose to move in a new spiritual direction.   I would love to have the biblical knowledge and insight of Beth Moore or Billy Graham.  Am I willing to do what it takes to grow strong in the Lord?  Can I expect to flex my spiritual muscles with great effect after a short time in the Word?  

 

Begin today by memorizing a scripture or reading His Word.  Daily disciplines of sitting at the Master’s feet will strengthen your spirits.

 

Lord, I know I am not always disciplined in my commitment to You. Today I commit to be more:  more committed, more faithful and more disciplined. You say in your Word we are more than conquerors. Help me to be more. God, be with the leaders of the Faith as they stand for You.  Watch over our pastors and churches.  Protect them from the enemy’s snares. Help them to not grow weary in the work You have called them to.

 

Oaks of Righteousness

 

(I will) bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3 (NIV)

 

Since the 1500’s, a quiet giant has stood tall in the Wye Oak State Park in Maryland.   Among the impressive characteristics of the Wye were its massive “knees” or buttresses, which helped support the huge tree.  At the end in 2002, the tree measured 31 feet 8 inches in circumference, was 96 feet tall and had an average crown spread of 119 feet.

 

Why does God call us “oaks”?   Oaks are known for their strength and endurance.  Hundreds of years ago, ships were made of oak wood.  Now, furniture and flooring bears the same unique grain.  Oaks have great reaching branches that offer much shade.  Its roots take in water to nourish the tree.  So what does all this mean for us?

 

Given this example, as a Christian woman, I am not interested in being known for my age, weight or circumference!  However, strength, usefulness and kneeling knees are worthy character traits to possess.  If rooted in the Living Water, we can find strength to offer shade to others.  Staying on our knees in prayer strengthens our families and us. 

 

When storms of life come, we can be secure knowing we are rooted in the firm foundation of Creator God.  In His presences we know our calling and our strength is in Him.  We must not be quiet.  We must be oaks of righteousness on display for His splendor.

 

Lord, thank You for the honor of showing Your glory.  Help me to display Your splendor by offering help and prayer to my family and others. Lord, give discernment to our political leaders today. Turn their hearts toward You so they might be known as Oaks of Righteousness and restore strength and dignity to our country.

THAT's a Deal!



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Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.

James 1:27 (NKJV)

 

 

I was blown away watching an afternoon talk-show recently.  A noted fashion designer to the stars was launching a new “affordable” clothing line for “everyday people”.  The several-hundred-member audience was brought to a roar of applause when the simple black cardigan’s price of $80 was announced.  “That is so cheap,” they all agreed.  Maybe for some, spending nearly $100 on one article of clothing is a good deal.  But do you know the cost of that sweater could feed 2 children through World Vision or Compassion International  for a month?  

 NOW THAT’S A DEAL! 

 

Maybe you're thinking that God doesn't really care about your clothes or how much you spend on them. One of the top two topics in the Bible is money. It's called stewardship. A steward is someone who is personally responsible for taking care of another person's property. Everything we have is God's property. He just lets us  use it!

Maybe there’s something in your everyday spending God is leading you to cut out. Consider praying and asking God to lead you according to His Will about your spending.  Maybe He would have you sponsor a child or give from your surplus to a local charity.  One thing is for certain, ask and He will direct you.

 

 

God, you have given me so much and I am thankful.  Help me know where you want me to serve and give Your time and resources. Lord, be with rescue ministries who provide shelter, food and clothing to children all over the world. Show me how I might assist in their efforts.

 

Who Can Find?

A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Proverbs 31:10 (NIV)
 

When we look at the“Proverbs 31 woman” it’s hard not to read of her many capabilities, wipe our brow with a sigh, and raise one eyebrow with a little head bobble and think ... well good for her. Most women have one of two responses: “I could never live up to that” or “Man, I’d better get busy!”
 

What does it mean to have noble character? At some point all of us feel overwhelmed. Mothers care for the kids, buy the groceries, put everything away, do the laundry, and clean bathrooms, all while keeping everyone on schedule and maintaining a sunny disposition. Now, Proverbs tells us a woman should also buy land, make her own fabric and apparently never sleep. How can we possibly measure up?
 

While the world’s standards are often based on the how smooth our face and thighs remain, God looks at our heart. Our “noble character” is demonstrated by the things we do for others and ourselves. Kindness and honesty are some of the honorable qualities the Lord smiles on. Whether you work 40 hour weeks away from home or 24-7 at home, you are valued. Raising a family is a commission straight from God. Being a wife is, too.

 

I’ve known the Proverbs 31 woman: she was my aunt, grandmother, mother, friend and neighbor. Many women in my life have displayed her characteristics. This passage was not meant to discourage women. We all have attributes of the Proverbs 31 woman. We should remember our nobility comes from our Heavenly Father. As we grow closer to Him, our character will develop into one more like Christ.


 

Lord, be with me today as I seek Your Will. Help me to cultivate the characteristics of a Proverbs 31 woman. Help me remember I am valued and important.

 

 

Miss Perfect

 

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect

it until the day of Christ Jesus.

 Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

 

Has anyone else noticed her body changing?  Things that were high aren’t quite so elevated anymore.  Smooth areas of yesteryear find themselves in need of an insurance adjustment for possible hail damage.  Why do we have to change?  I liked the way I looked “back then”.    Hundreds of products line the shelves of stores trying to turn back the hands of time.  But, alas, time marches on.

   

The Bible contains 27 different Greek and Hebrew words for “perfect”.  They refer to a process, not a finished project.  Our longing for past perfection directly opposes biblical perspective.  No matter what you were before, if you are growing in Christ, you are being perfected.  God doesn’t expect you to be perfect – in appearance.  Our significance does not come from physical appearance or moral perfection.  It comes from our identity in The Perfect One – Jesus Christ.

    

Focusing on outer beauty more than inner completeness is a trap we all fall into at one time or another.  However, Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”  God wants you to find your significance in Him.  When you do, everything else will fall perfectly into place.

 

God, I sometimes get distracted by my own self-indulgence.   I know you call me “beautiful” because I am Yours.  Forgive me for losing focus and keep me close to you, so I see Your reflection in my eyes. I want to model Your beauty for my children. Lord, be with mothers throughout the world as they strive to teach their children to value themselves. Help them not focus on outward appearance. Affirm they are special because You created them. Give them confidence in themselves and in You.

His Song

 

 

“The Lord Your God is here and mighty to save.

He will rejoice in you and quiet you with His love.

He will rejoice over you with His song.”   

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

 

 

 

Most mothers, whether they are musically inclined or not, will comfort their child with a little hum or tune.  One of the sweetest things about motherhood is the extremely brief stage when our babies are small enough to scrunch up into a little ball in between our shoulder and chest: the sweet spot.   A little rocking motion accompanied by a tune seems to hush the fuss. 

 

 

Zephaniah tells us God sings over His children.  In His heavenly hum, God comforts our aches with sweet sounds of adoring love.  You are His child, His baby.  He is Your Father.   After hearing the explanation of the concept of God having a song for each of us, my 5-year-old proudly declared, “I bet I know what my song is!”  Eager to hear this tiny bit of insight, I questioned further.  She then said, “Jesus Loves Me.”  I agreed.

 

 

Out of all the songs ever voiced, the message Jesus loves each one of us is the most powerful to grasp.  Without that love, there would be no manger, no Calvary, no salvation or daily grace.  Without that love, mothers would not be capable of loving their families.  When you have a day you need a bit of comforting, you can climb onto your Heavenly Father’s sweet spot. Love today knowing it is only His sacrificial offering that enables you to love others.

 

 

Lord, I thank you for Your Presence today and unconditional love for me. Thank you that You have a song for me and that You rejoice over me. Be with all those around in need of Your comforting today and help them to hear your sweet song in their hearts.

 

 

 

Worthy is the Lamb

 

 

This morning, our pastor brought his entire message while holding a baby lamb. It's bleeting as he slowly walked from the back of the congregation sent ripples of laughter and awes through the room. While he meandered among the near-capacity crowd, I tried to imagine the days of animal sacrifice when this beautiful creature would have been taken to an alter and slaughtered as a price for atonement of sins. Even harder to imagine, how the Lamb of God offered Himself to be cruicified for the sins of the world. My sins.  

 

Just as that lamb entered a dark, cruel world, so did our Lord, Jesus.

Loved by some. Hated by many.

Here to give love and grace to a world undeserved.

 

He came.

He served.

He saved.

He died.

He arose.

He lives.

He is WORTHY.

 

"Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed." John 20:29

 

Christ is Risen, INDEED!

 

 

 

 

Did you know?

Easter

 

Major festival of the Christian church year, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion. In Western churches it falls on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25, depending on the date of the first full moon after the spring equinox. This time span was fixed after the Council of Nicaea (AD 325). In the Eastern Orthodox calendar, which uses a different calculation, it often falls later. A joyful festival and a time of redemption, Easter brings an end to the long period of penance that constitutes Lent. The word is sometimes said to have been derived from Eostre, a Germanic goddess of spring, but other origins of the term more closely associated with Christian traditions have been proposed. Easter has acquired a number of religious and popular customs. The Easter worship service is one of the high points of the Christian calendar, and since the late 2nd century Easter has also been a time for baptism.
The painting of eggs and tales of a rabbit who decorates and hides eggs are among the folk customs associated with the holiday.
Source: Concise Encyclopedia

Easter, originally a Saxon word (Eostre), denoting a goddess of the Saxons, in honour of whom sacrifices were offered about the time of the Passover. Hence the name came to be given to the festival of the Resurrection of Christ, which occured at the time of the Passover. In the early English versions this word was frequently used as the translation of the Greek pascha (the Passover). When the Authorized Version (1611) was formed, the word "passover" was used in all passages in which this word pascha occurred, except in Act 12:4. In the Revised Version the proper word, "passover," is always used.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source

The Power of a Song: Feelin' Good!

 

 

The power of a song. Just a few notes can bring memories flooding back to your mind of a different time and place or take you to a place of refuge and renewal.

 

My recent fiction novel (more to come) features a girl who understands the power of song in a person's life. More specifically, at the end of a person's life. She sings at funerals in a small southern town.

 

I've sung at my share of last services and one stands out in my mind. It's hard to describe a funeral as the "best funeral" ever. However, in this case "best" covers most memorable and personal (isn't that what we want of our lives?).

 

A precious lady in a choir I once directed passed away after battling with cancer for years. She was vivacious and creative, even though her last days on earth were not. Her favorite song indicated she knew a very important secret: Her identity and joy did not come from her current circumstance. In her heart, she was free of disease and treatment. Whole.

 

Great judgement by her daughter (and total disregard to what others might think in the small baptist church), she honored her mother with Nina Simone's "Feelin' Good". Take a look at the lyrics.

 

I pray you know the HOPE that comes from a Savior who offers new life and a new day for you - no matter what you're facing today.

 

 

 

Birds flying high you know how I feel
Sun in the sky you know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by you know how I feel

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea you know how I feel
River running free you know how I feel
blossom in the trees you know how I feel

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine you know how I feel
Scent of the pine you know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And you know how I feel

It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Traveling at the Speed of Trust

 

 

Be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you;
do not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Deuteronomy 5:32
 

Last week, my husband and I had the opportunity to travel to the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild's Writing for the Soul Conference (whew! that's a mouth full!) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I had the pleasure and honor of leading a group of several hundred aspiring writers in worship during the 4-day conference. It was quite a treat.

Our flight from Charlotte, NC flew into Denver International Airport for a short layover. Denver's airport is huge. Our flight from Charlotte "docked" at Concourse B,Gate 2 and our connection was Concourse B, Gate 57. No kidding. Needlesstosay, we were booking it from one end to the other so we wouldn't miss the next flight. Thankfully, this large airport has those fancy-smancy moving sidewalks so we could travel at super hero speed. Some folks opted to rest on the traveling strips, sending my husband into his deep-breathing exercises generally reserved for folks driving slowly in the left lane.

 

 We were scheduled to make the last connection on a considerably smaller aircraft into Colorado Springs. The 20 minute flight from Denver to CS was delayed for thirty minutes, giving us time to grab a giant muffin and Coke for $13. Ok, it wasn't really that expensive but even if it was, after the fast-paced morning jog from one end to the other, we would have paid double!

 

With our departure gate within view and our giant chocolate/banana muffin in hand, Matt and I parked ourselves right beside the moving sidewalk. For some reason, routine maintenance, I would guess, the sidewalk failed to move! For the next fifteen minutes, we watched dozens of travelers approach the would-be-quick-path with expectation, only to find the pathway still.

 

Still. Not blocked. Not moved. Not closed. Just still.

 

See, the path was still there, it just wasn't moving passengers along in the effortless fashion they had grown accustomed. Nearly all the travelers STOPPED in front of the not-moving-sidewalk and rerouted (some with audible expressions of disgust). They actually took more steps and more effort to change their path than if they would have just kept walking in their current one.

 

While Matt and I were blown away and a little entertained by their decisions, I will admit, I've done the same thing in my own life. No, not on a moving sidewalk; in my Christian walk. Many times the path God has for us seems to travel effortlessly, moving along with ease. Then, situations present that require more "effort" and my default reaction is to look for a new route instead of being patient and praying for discernment.

 

When the path isn't moving as quickly as you hoped, don't assume you're on the wrong path!

 

Walk today knowing God has the path laid out before you and our job is to trust Him enough to walk.