Crossing Over

In John 5:24 Jesus speaks of ‘crossing over from death to life’.  How often it is that we limit the application of that particular Scripture to only our conversion experience … when we ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior, dying to self in order to gain new life in Christ.

But let us consider the powerful effect this passage would have on us if only we would apply it to the additional areas of our lives that are in need of a touch by the Christ.  Let me give you an example that may bring this home for you …

Let us consider someone you know who struggles with an addiction … maybe it’s even you.  Of course, the first ‘addictions’ that typically come to mind involve the consumption of alcohol and drugs but consider also the addictions that invade our lives as we shop, or work, or as we respond to the God given pleasures of sex.  Further consider, if you will, that casual chance of gambling or even the everyday need to eat.  And what about those folks who struggle with ‘secret’ addictions like those who clean only to think that more cleaning needs to be done … or those who struggle to be perfectionists in everything they do, those who allow worry and fear to rule their lives or even the person who obsesses to control every situation that arises in their lives. 

How often these ordinary events of life take on lives of their own … slowly but surely becoming addictions that bring death to the very spirit that God has placed inside of us.  No longer are we filled with the peace that God planned for our life for now we are being controlled by something that is not of God.  As the journey turns us away from the light of Christ, true joy fades … often allowing the darkness of depression, fears and frustrations to enter us …  all the while leaving us very little room for hope.

Yes, the truth is that each of us are susceptible to the cruelty of addictions but when you extend John 5:24 beyond your conversion experience you find that God, in all His infinite wisdom, realizes fully the schemes of the enemy and through His mercies provides us the hope of being able to cross over from the imposed death sentence of addictions to the freedom that is possible in a life lived out with Christ.

So ok … we can clearly see the multiple pools of darkness that all of us are susceptible to … and the need that so many of us have to escape the quicksand that we’ve fallen into … but how in the world do we cross over from this type of death to a life that is free of the captivity of obsessions?

In one word … Jesus.  He is the answer to ever question ever asked and every issue that we’ve ever come up against.  In John 14:6 Jesus tells us “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life.” … beyond all the head knowledge (which in and of itself is necessary) beyond the feelings (which often serve to toss us to and fro) beyond all the effort we put out to manage the world around us … there we will find this Jesus who will reveal to us the truth.  There, if we allow Him, He will provide hope and peace and unconditional love.  So willing … so able … to move mightily in our lives … if only we would give Him permission to.  If only we would seek Him in our moment of need and surrender our own worldly desires over to Him.

Easy enough to say … but we’ve been trained up to feed our fleshly desires … surely we shouldn’t have to go without something that we ‘really’ want … something that brings us pleasure?

That, my friends, is a lie from the pit of hell.  Those are the chains that bind us and hold us captive.  How embarrassing it is to see myself stomping my feet … wanting to have my own way … having a childlike tantrum so that I can fulfill my fleshly desires without having to consider the spiritual consequences. 

Is the Light beginning to shine for you … as it did for me?  Has the idol that you’ve created before God been exposed as mine has been?

The path of righteousness (life) leads to a place of holiness (true peace).  It’s a journey … and we have the choice to walk away from this side of death and cross over to Light and Life.  Oh, don’t get me wrong … we can’t get there without Jesus … in and of ourselves we will fail every time … but with unconditional surrender of our own selfish desires, our faith will grow into stepping stones that build a road that will allow us to cross over to true peace.  Freedom FOREVER when our heart unites with His.

Psalm 119:105 tells us that ‘He is the lamp unto our feet and the light unto our path’

Psalm 23:6 tells us that “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”  

I don’t know about you but I could never ask for anything more than that!

Father God, thank You for Your Divine Revelation that brought me into the Light and Life of Jesus.  Full dependency on Him is an awesome thing to behold and I thank You from the bottom of my heart for it.  I pray now Father, in the name that is above all name, Jesus the Christ, that you will go forth and reveal this and more to those who need the freedom of everyday addictions as I did.  Expose and exercise within us the Truth that will set us free indeed.
Amen and amen.

Beside The Still Waters

As my day began, the Lord put one person after another on my heart.  My dad, who passed away 31 years ago today, lead the group but he was joined in spirit by friends, co-workers and family members … all who are in need of a touch from Jesus.  It was then that I heard the Lord whisper in my ear to remind me that “He leadeth me beside the still waters”. 

Well, you don’t have to ask me twice … immediately I went to Him and found myself in a place where He provided refreshment for my soul… peace as I escaped from the chaos of this world … and hope for what is yet to come.

In His presence all issues faded away.  I cared not about the stock market  nor what the doctor’s report was for my friend nor about the destructive choices that are being made by more and more people of this world … no, my ONLY desire was to sit closely enough to Him that I could feel the warmth of His body and hear the beating of His heart. 

Refreshed and comfortable I listened to His words of love.  His kindness melted away every barrier that I ever built up to keep the world out.  Soon, an eagerness swelled within me to let others know about the incredible possibilities that exist when you sit quietly with Him by the still waters.  Indescribable joy fills you and I just can’t keep it to myself … so I asked the spirits of those He put on my heart to join us there.  Lifted from sick beds they came … out of pits of loneliness they ran … a few turned from the valley of the shadow of death to be by His side … there was even one who entered His rest rather than the door of their doctor’s office. 

Blessed are those who seek Him.
Blessed are those who surrender to His goodness.
Blessed are those who gather with Him and are restored in body, soul and spirit.

Father God, thank You for providing for a way of escape from the struggles that are of this world.  Thank You for the perfect plan that is Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.  May all who join Him by the still waters be refreshed, renewed and saturated with hope.  I pray this, Father, in His Holy Name.

Amen and amen

Revelation …

I recently watched a movie that depicted the life of the Apostle John as he endured his time in exile on the Island of Patmos.  As the movie unfolded it wasn’t long before I realized how easy it has been to read in passing about John’s journey in the pages of history without ever truly attempting to comprehend the stark realities of the abusive conditions that he had to endure.

Like John, each of us, in one way or another, have been on a journey through a place that can easily resemble Patmos.  A place where you feel overwhelmed and alone … where it seems like you’re unable to take on one more stone from the quarry … where you must cry out to God for mercy for as my mother use to say … “enough is enough”!

But praise to this everlasting God of mercy for He IS in control … and like John, our saving grace is the revelation that comes as the light of Jesus reveals truth that brings us to our knees.  He is our hope.  He is our only hope.

Chills overcame me when in the movie John fell to his face in utter helplessness when he first gazed upon the face of the glorified Christ.  All who have ever lived will follow John’s lead … without exception, ALL people WILL realize the purity and power of the light of Christ and without exception ALL people – devout Christians who willingly serve Him or those who choose now to go their own way - WILL bend their knee as they succumb to His greatness. 

In the meantime, we are able to endure whatever conditions come our way if we are willing, as John was, to go to Him and seek revelation.  In John’s willingness, Jesus revealed to him the plan that unfolds the ultimate glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ … and, if willing, the revelation that awaits us … even in the here and now … promises to be nonetheless powerful and effective. 

Are you ready … and willing … for the Lord to shine His light into your life?  Psalm 46:10 tells us to ‘Be still and know that I am God’.  Where better than on an isolated island are we able to sit quietly in His presence and relinquish all control over to Him.  Endless beauty of God’s Spirit awaits us as we seek the Light of Christ, and choose freedom … and joyfully give thanks for the revelation that is possible only through the Revelation that is Christ Himself.

Father God, as each of us draws nearer to you I pray, in Jesus’ name, that you will fill us with Your Spirit and reveal all the goodness that is possible to us in and through Your Son, Jesus Christ. 

Amen and amen

Who is This Jesus That I Love?

"Behold the man" ... Pilate said.  He was challenging the rioting mob to open their eyes to this man who claimed kinship with God ... who claimed to be King.  Our challenge today remains unchanged ... but the vision of the 'mob' has changed.  They gazed upon a bloodied, tortured, mangled prisoner who was on His way to execution ... but we, the mob of today, who marvel at His testimony, see that same Man bathed in glory!  Hallelujah!

The day that my eyes were opened to Jesus was like none other in my life.  The teaching that I learned as a child had developed within me the understanding of who this Man was and what it was that He had done for me ... sort of ... but my life was changed forever the day that the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see and my heart to understand that this Man was not only my Savior ... but even more importantly, He was to become the LORD of my life!  Hallelujah!

This Jesus ... in Whom there is no equal.
This Jesus ... in Whom there is the purity of faithfulness, compassion and inexhaustible hope.
This Jesus ... in whose presence my problems 'grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace'.

He is complete in everything that He is and everything that He does.
He completes me ... each of us ... as He shapes us and teaches us to be mirror images of Himself.
Each lesson He taught, every truth He uttered, is used to draw us to the beauty of His beautiful Spirit.

I can't think of Him without first loosing thoughts of myself ... thank You, Lord.  Turning from the realities of this world I am instantly filled with unspeakable joy as I contemplate time spent with Him in the Spirit.  My heart yearns to be totally preoccupied with living in the Spirit ... praying in the Spirit ... hearing, seeing and breathing in the Spirit ... a place of contentment and peace and love beyond description.  A place where paradise is a reality and I am forever united with my LORD.  A place in which my soul and spirit are one with Him.  A place from which I do not want to leave.

We are the apple of His eye and the treasure of His heart.  He takes pleasure in us as we seek to learn who He is and allow Him to guide our every thought.  Father God, I pray that you will ignite the embers of our heart, Lord, to set us on fire to know You ... and be with You ... our Triune God ... Hallelujah, in Jesus' name.
Amen and amen.

Seasons Turn

To everything ... turn, turn, turn ... there is a season ... turn, turn, turn, and a time to every purpose under heaven.  Good song ... even better Scripture! (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

When I was a little girl my family lived in a house that bordered a town park.  Some of my fondest memories from that era of my life were birthed by the hours spent in what became my very own back yard playground.  Even now I can return in my mind to that place and remember the bell shaped merry-go-round that my sisters and I hung upside down on ... the 10 story slide that singed many a bare leg on a hot summer day (ok, so maybe it wasn't quite that big!), and the swings - oh, the swings were my favorite, for on them you could take flight.  But that was another time ... that was another season of my life...

Over the course of time people, rather than parks, became my focus and with this blessing came relationships and a broad bank of memories.  Some people, like my children, will go with me into eternity.  Others have somehow become etched roses on my heart.  While still others were simply a part of God's plan to teach and heal and grow me.  And the seasons continue to turn .....

With the help of a beloved friend I have come to realize that I am but a sojourner ... passing through this life on assignment from the Throne Room.  I wish that I felt secure in knowing that I had been all that God intended for me to be, for every person He intended for me to touch ... but my humanness recognizes my shortcomings.  Consolation comes, however, as I pray that God would grant mercies to cover those things which I unintentionally leave undone.  And still the seasons continue to turn.....

Peace is assured if we wait on the assignments that the Lord has for each one of us.  Just as seasons of this earth turn at His direction, we must wait on Him as the evolution of each season of our own life unfolds before us.  Spring brings with it hope ... Summer strengthens us with promise and endurance ... Fall, with its complexity of beauty and death, bursts forth in both awe inspiring colors and a harvest that sustains and fortifies us during those long Winter nights.  In the midst of any season of life we must be willing to enter into whatever it is that God has planned for us ... going through each season of life with the single vision of being used by God to bring glory to His ultimate purpose.

Remembering Jeremiah 29:11 we can endure any test ... any trial ... any season ... "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  His promises are trustworthy.  Hope in Him sustains us, no matter what the season, for His love endures forever.

May each of us turn and praise His Holy Name ... turn, and praise the Name of Jesus now and forevermore.
Amen and amen.

A Pool of Love

This morning as I woke from a restful night's sleep, I realized immediately that I wasn't alone ... "Good morning, Lord" I said.  His welcomed presence was warm and with it I felt both safe and excited to begin another day.

As the moment unfolded He invited me to sense the presence of the spirits of many of my friends who had joined Him at my bedside.  "Oh look", I thought ... there's my friend whose current journey is riddled with one struggle after another ... and there's my friend who just had surgery ... and there, at the foot of my bed, stands a woman who endures endless hours of loneliness.  Many others who now gathered by the Lord's side were here simply with the hope of hearing a word of encouragement or receiving a soft touch of mercy ........ any sign at all, through me, of God's unconditional love.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus tells us to come to Him and take up His yoke for it is easy and His burden is light.  I am of the belief that this hope filled teaching is both for the sufferer and for the children of God whose assignment it is to come along side of a weary traveler and offer them, through prayers and kindness, some much needed rest from their burden.  Then, and only then, are those who suffer able to bear up under the strain of the burdens that have befallen them.  Jesus doesn't just arbitrarily remove our pain ... sometimes He uses His children to redistribute the weight of the burden so that, through those who are willing to stand in the gap for others, the burden is bearable.

By the power of the Holy Spirit I soon found myself in the midst of an experience that now seems surreal.  With the richness of His Word utmost in my mind I entered into what appeared to be a pool that offered wisdom and healing and hope.  My desire to experience more and more was heightened only by the understanding that this pool was filled to the very brim with nothing less than the Living Water Himself!  Hallelujah!

Oh, the joy that filled me when I understood that we could want for nothing more ... that every need would be fulfilled ... every pain eliminated ... every weight lifted.

Anxious to share the Good News, I returned, without hesitation, to the place where my friends had been.  There I invited each of them to return with me to the pool for cleansing and refreshment and renewal.  Joining together, we praised the Lord's Holy Name and gave thanks for His trustworthy Word ... for His strength in time of need ... and for His endless love.  What an honor it is to be a child of God ... to be used by Him to love on others ... to be a bearer of Good News ... and to be counted worthy to share in the burdens of others.

Father God, the day is young ... refreshed and ready, in Jesus' name, I ask that you prepare my way ... providing strength and wisdom and endurance as Your plan for my life comes to fruition.  Thank You, Father, for the love that consumes You for each of my friends that gathered here with you today.  Bless them Lord, I pray, so that each of them shares in the experience of time spent with You in the everlasting pool of Living Water.
Amen and amen.

It's All In The Beatitudes

The 5th chapter of the Book of Matthew presents us with truths that we commonly refer to as "The Beatitudes'.  Boiling the Lord's message down into a nutshell we learn ... Blessed are those who see that it's NOT all about us ... but rather, it's all about God ... no if's ... no and's ... and expecially NO 'yes but's about it!!!

Take as an example of this truth, a time in your life when you were driven to anger.  Soon the natural effects of the moment engulf you and suddenly your countenance exposes a 'new' you ... someone that is entirely different than the person that you earnestly strive to be.  Then, not long after the moment of ignition, a secondary fire flares up within you as you attempt to defend your righteous position with, 'yes!...but Lord' that disguises itself as self-pity.

This happened to me not so long ago.  Looking back on the event I can see clearly that I was innocently caught off guard.  I fell into a trap set by the enemy but as it turns out, that mattered not, for even in times of innocence, anger is ugly.  Even during these times the cries of 'yes!...but Lord' are heard by someone whose heart's desire is to love unconditionally.  I, on the other hand, must confess to you that with the settling of the dust came one last expectation ... my defiant spirit wanted to hear an apology ... for surely in my innocence I was deserving of that ... but wait ... could it be that I had fallen into another trap? .............

It was then that I found that time spent with the Lord somehow gives new perspective ... divine insight ... that WOW moment in which you're left speechless by an awe of Him ...

During our time together the Lord encouraged me to read the Beatitudes through the lens of His eyes.  There His light illuminated words like mercy, humility, purity of heart, peacemaker.  As the scales began to drop out of my line of vision I could see plainly that in order to obtain the blessing that He so earnestly wanted me to enjoy, I first had to be all that He wanted ME to be.  It was clear beyond measure that I was to 'let go' of everything that I laid claim to and 'let God' take care of those things that only He can change.

Miraculously my heart began to melt.  Without hesitation I could see that my innocence wasn't the main story line here ... and it wasn't me who was deserving of the apology.  I knew, deep within my heart, that I had no right to claim the glory that was His as the heart of the remorseful turned to Him.

Thank You, Jesus, for our time together.
Forgive me, Father, for my haughtiness.
Thank You, Jesus, for the joy that now fills my heart as I clearly see Your footsteps in which I am to follow.

Father God ... always thankful ... always in Jesus' name ... I give You now all my praise for the beauty of the Beatitudes.  May I always remember that they first point to You!
Amen and amen.

Birthing Humility ...

Although it was 33 years ago, I remember, as though it were yesterday, the morning I went into labor with my son, my first born.  I had enjoyed a beautiful pregnancy, a time of amazing preparations and incredible discoveries, but the time had arrived for me to go through the birthing process.  As the contractions became increasingly apparent I sat on the corner of our bed and soon realized that I wanted NOTHING to do with the labor that lay ahead of me.  Fear of the unknown overwhelmed me and despite all that I tried to think of to escape the ordeal ... I had no choice in the matter ... I had to go through the tough part of the birthing process in order to get to the other side where the Lord's glory would so obviously prevail.

The same can be said of situations that come into our everyday lives.  Many of us deal with lifelong afflictions ... and others of us fall upon the unexpected diagnosis of some dreaded disease.  Whether it's something that is suddenly thrust upon us or it's been a part of our lives for a long time, our inclination is to sit on the corner of our beds and do all we can to find a way to avoid the 'labor' that lay ahead of us.  We gather prayer warriors and go to the Lord asking Him to remove the cup from us when, in fact, the assignment that lay ahead of us is to be faced head on.  In God's nature we can be assured that He does not set out to assign us with times of overwhelming labor, and there are times that the Holy Spirit will display His power through divine impartations of deliverance, but equally notable are events in which we ... like Jesus Himself ... find that we must endure the cup for the glory of the Father.  This isn't something that comes naturally ... or by any means easy ... but nonetheless, our ultimate peace will come as we see that we have birthed a humility in which God's glory is displayed.

Our assignment then comes as we study the Apostle Paul's time spent on the corner of his bed looking for a way to avoid his thorn in the side ... his 'labor' assignment.  There, in 2 Cor 12:9 Jesus Himself tells Paul ... "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Not the answer he was hoping for, I'm sure, but when birthing humility ... that perfect surrender of our will over to the will of the Father ... you soon realize that your assignment involves a journey in which we, in and of ourselves, are unable to endure ... to labor.  But given the power of the Holy Spirit that lies within us we can be assured of a day in which we stand before the Lord and hear "Well done, my good and faithful servant." (Mt 25:23)

Father God, seeking to encourage, I pray for peace in times of labor.  I pray that Jesus is seen by all as truth and strength ... as encouragement and love ... even in our darkest hours.  All praise to Your perfect plan.  All praise for Your hand that rests on our lives.  All praise to the King of kings and the Lord of lords ... our Savior, Jesus, in whom we now pray.
Amen and amen.

Mirror, Mirror On The Wall

Recently I celebrated an anniversary at work that puts me on mark to hit what many would consider to be yet another 'milestone'.  The great company that I work for, with its remarkable workers, has faithfully seen me through some of the most difficult challenges I've ever known ... all the while sharing with me some of the most precious moments that lay within the recesses of my heart.  It can be argued whether or not these folks are actually part of my family ... I defy anyone to tell me that they aren't.

As I look back over these many years I remember things ... fun things ... that somehow left indelible marks on my memory.  One such thing was an employee newsletter that asked the question ... "Who do you resemble?"  With the answers to that question came photos of co-workers who resembled Liz Taylor, Meryl Streep and even Benjamin Franklin.  It was fun to see how God craves variety all the while seeking out the fun in paring some of us up as look-a-likes of the rich and famous.

One other standout memory from years gone by relates to the time when employees were asked to help decorate a new Christmas tree in our Human Resources area.  The incredible talents of fellow co-workers offered homemade ornaments of every kind but my favorite was a small mirror that displayed this haunting question ... "Do you see Christ in this ornament?"  Political correctness being what it is these days, sadly, the ornament was not openly displayed for all to see but to this day that mirror ... with its haunting question ... rests on a shelf with the lasting reminder of whom we should aspire to resemble ... Jesus!

It is commonly said that every one of us has a double.  Someone out there who is a mirror image of us, so if I were to ask you now ... "Who is it that you resemble?" ... is there a chance that your response to me would be "Jesus"?  "No", you say, "that's not possible ... He is too perfect.  There's no way that I can walk and talk and love others like Jesus does.  I've been hurt - sometimes over and over again by the same person.  How can I be expected to extend my hand in forgiveness and compassion like Jesus would?  I want nothing more than to be an empty vessel that breathes a willingness to live as one with the Father ... but I know my imperfections - my limitations ... and it just isn't going to happen.  The chances of my truly looking like Jesus are, at best, slim.

Well, I confess that at one time in my life I too thought that way.  I took the tact that my weaknesses were greater than His strengths but I found out that when your focus is YOU there's no chance you'll see a reflection of HIM.  Now, by the Grace of God, what I see when I look in a mirror is the person that the Father sees ... His creation who, being cloaked by the loving Grace of His Son, is as perfect as His precious Son.  The Blood that Jesus shed washed away ALL of my imperfections and in the Father's eyes, I AM without blemish!

So then, my part in all of this is to live with the willingness to humble myself as Jesus did ... even when I don't feel like it.  Hug the unlovable.  Encourage those who are downtrodden.  Forgive the offender.  Over and over and over again ... until they see that you look like Jesus and they want what you have.  Jesus was, and remains to this day, the One we should strive to resemble.  I don't mean to make light of it ... it's not something that comes naturally to any one of us ... but with unwavering conviction and constant dedication you will be amazed at the joy that fills your spirit as people see a likeness of Jesus when they look at you.

Father God, I know deep down that true humility is not within my own power but by Your Holy Spirit I claim Oneness with You as I look to be a likeness of Your WONDERFUL Son!  Father, in Jesus' name I pray that it may be so.
Amen and amen

Behold ... God's Treasure

A dear friend of mine stopped by recently and because God created within her a pure love for flowers and plants and anything that sprouts from the earth, she quickly noticed a need for me to tend to my garden.  As she gently brought this situation to my attention I found myself with a desire to cultivate within my heart the same gardening love bug that consumed her.  Immediately I set out to tidy up ... snipping first a flower that had fallen to the ground as a result of a heavy rain.  The tenderness of her heart, as she offered me direction, was equal only to the tenderness of the treasured gift from God.  Taking the gladiola into her hand she soon found some greenery that would serve to dress this single stemmed blossom up like it was the Belle of the Ball.  Her wisdom, compassion, gentleness and confidence was nothing short of a treasure to behold and I thank God for the many gifts He offered me in this brief encounter.

This morning, as I look at the flower and greenery that was so artfully placed in a vase, I see that God's incredible gift continues to offer blessings for my day.  It is apparent that time has removed the rain drops that once displayed God's nurturing ... and the luster of newness has faded a bit ... but no less brilliant is the beauty of each delicate pedal as they curl up in praise to their Creator.  New, subtle colors can now be detected.  New blossoms have erupted.  New details are standing at the ready to be discovered.  Thank You, Father, that Your amazing glory is never ending!

My friend brought God's beauty into my home and for that I am truly thankful.  I think now of the similarities that can be extended to so many other aspects of my life.  To see the beauty of the friends that God has cultivated in my life ... those who display God's master craftsmanship.  Each frail in their humanness but boundless in beauty as they encourage me, support me and build me up.

Although I go through times in which God Himself must prune the withered branches that gather in my midst, I give great thanks for His constant nurturing.  My heart's desire is to be a true reflection of who He is.  To be the best 'me' that I can be ... and do what I can to bring the best of God out in others.

May I seek to be an empty vessel that displays the beauty that God created within me.
May my eyes see only the good in others ... never their shortcomings.
May I always be willing to love and praise and seek God's will for my life.
An most importantly ... may I leave the pruning of others to the wisdom of God.

Father God, shine your light on those things that need my attention and renew within me, Lord, a desire to let you take care of all the rest.  I pray this, most fervently Father, in the blessed name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.

What If ...

Those common and seemingly insignificant words, at one time in my life, brought waves of terror with them as they slowly, but surely, took control of my life.  If that sounds overly dramatic, let me recount for you the sleepless nights that often brought with them debilitating fears.  Let me invite you to hear the sounds of the ambulance as I was driven off to the ER ... where they assured me that I wasn't having a heart attack.  Or let me allow you to see the love of a sister who sat by my bedside, holding my hand deep into the quiet hours of the night, as she desperately tried to assure me that my children would be safe and secure from the evils of the world around us.

But THANK GOD, times have changed ... grace has been poured out ... and the terror associated with the 'What if" monster has turned into blessings of unspeakable joy.  If THAT sounds overly dramatic to you, let me take you on a journey that may allow you the same blessing ...

What if ... as you woke up this morning you saw an image of the living Christ at the foot of your bed?  And what if ... you heard Christ saying to you "Come, my beloved, spend the day with me.  Come, and I will provide you with everything for your enjoyment" (1Tim 617)
And what if ... every sense within you was heightened to ecstasy in anticipation of what you were about to experience on this day that you set aside to be with the Lord ...
Oh, to see beauty beyond your ability to fathom
... to hear sounds of tenderness that softly demands your undivided attention
... to smell aromas that peak every ounce of your curiosity
... to taste in excess of your ultimate pleasure
... to experience a touch of perfection as waves of true love envelop you
... to laugh endlessly, praise joyfully and sing masterfully with a choir of angels as you spend the day with the love of your life ... Jesus!!!

Where would you spend your day?  And once there, would you openly worship Him in the hope that your appreciation was understood?  Or would you sit quietly, allowing your spirit to enjoy the pleasures that saturate you with images of heaven?

This is what 'Living in the spirit' is all about.  Seeking His pureness.  Resting inthe peace of His promises.  Relating intimately - one heart to another - with our God who IS love.

Initially, my attempts to go there seem futile as tears of unworthiness form a pool around me ... and yet I want nothing more in this moment than to be alone with him.  I am overwhelmed by His eagerness to draw me close to Himself and to lavish His love on me.  Thankfully, I am not strong enough to resist the lure of His presence ... and now that I am here, I sense an all consuming desire to remain here forever.

What if ... what if ... what if ... !  Years ago, long before I knew the Lord's heart, my cry of relief was nonetheless heard and as a result of His unfathomable love, my bannor of freedom read 'SO, what if'!  Now, realizing that all of this and more is waiting for those whose heart is pure, I praise God for the Words given to us in Matthew 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God."

Father God, I pray that Your will can be done in each of us as we realize the joy of living out the 'what if's' of our lives, arm in arm with Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2).  Consume us, Father, with your tender loving mercies, in Jesus' name I pray.
Amen and amen.

The Desire of Your Heart

Not long after giving my heart to the Lord I learned of a verse in Psalms (37:4) that soon became one of my favorite verses in the Bible. In it we are told ... "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." Believing that with God ALL things ARE possible, I bent my knees, poured my heart out to the Lord and spoke boldly about the deepest yearning that was within me ... to be a wife again some day.

My personal testimony is, of course, a tribute to God's faithfulness for He did, in His timing, fulfill the desire of my heart ... but recently the Lord has shed a new light on this treasured verse that I feel compelled now to share with you. This revelation exposes the fact that our list of desires most commonly relate to things that will bring 'instant' gratification to whatever situation we are currently in. Things that affect the here and now ... things that make our fleshly, human side more comfortable, happy and satisfied. But further consideration of this verse brings a question or two to mind ... what if God is telling us in that Psalm that we have so much more at our disposal? What if He's telling us that He will give us not only the desires of our 'fleshly' hearts but also the deepest desires of our spiritual hearts? Let me explain the journey the Lord took me on as He opened my eyes to this awesome revelation in my life ...

As humans we are basically made up of three parts (so to speak) ...
1. the body, which is constantly decaying and will, in time, return to dust
2. the soul, which is made up of our mind, our will and our emotions and
3. the spirit, which is made up of our conscience, our intuition and our communion with God
In the here and now we think first of the things that will bring pleasure and fulfillment to our bodies as well as to our mind, our will and our emotions. Everything within us is centered on 'self' ... our physical well being, our opinions, our attitudes and our emotions. Satisfaction is our utmost desire ... but once we've turned our lives over to the saving grace of Jesus, the new birth within us fosters a desire to live 'in the spirit'.   To live with a conscience that leads us to the things of righteousness. To live with the intuition that leads to the truth of God's promises. And to live daily in a one on one relationship with the God of the Universe. It is from this point forward that a fight ensures within us. We, like all of our ancestors before us, have to fight the 'flesh' on a constant basis so that our spirit will rule victoriously over our very existence.

So let us now consider the desires of our spiritual hearts ... what does your spirit want more than anything else? Do you yearn for absolute integrity? Do you seek to know, with utmost clarity, who this God is that you are worshipping? Do you yearn for faith that is unmovable? Or are you moved to crave the ultimate pleasure ... the living manisfestation of Jesus in your life?

Yes, Yes, and Yes! All these things ... and more ... with all eagerness ... I seek this! I declare this to be the desire of my spiritual heart. I want more of Jesus in my life. Life in the here and now is hard ... so I want to live in the spirit. I want to put my head down on the pillow at night with hopeful anticipation that He will come to me as I sleep and whisk me away to a world that I can't even begin to fathom. I call upon Him to help me ... moment by moment ... to leave the 'fleshly' man behind, and without hesitation, I cry out in a loud voice ... "Come Lord Jesus"! In doing so He would be made completely 'real' to every sense that He created within me ... and to me that would be heaven on earth.

In James 4:7 we are told to "submit to God".
In James 4:8 we are told to "draw near to Him".
In Jeremiah 33:3 He tells us "Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know."
Living in 'the spiritual' requires an unmovable faith.
An unmovable faith requires a never ending union with the God of the Universe. A never ending union with the God of the Universe is the ultimate fulfillment of every Christian's heart's desire.

I pray, in Jesus' name, for the fulfillment of YOUR spiritual heart's desire.
Amen and amen.

A Walk With Jesus

How do you love someone ... not as you have a mind to ... but as Jesus loves them?

Recently, when I prayed for the Lord to allow 'Jesus Love' to rule my life, I immediately wondered if I was capable of such love. Am I alone in thinking that this degree of purity would be impossible for anyone other than Jesus? Such unconditional devotion. Such complete selflessness.

Then, and maybe even more to the point, I began to wonder if I would even be willing to allow myself the luxury of loving someone in such a way. Doing so would mean, of course, that I would have to lay down the 'baggage' that I've carried around for so very long. And let us not be blind to the risks that must now be considered. In order to love as Christ loves, you must be willing to risk many things ... the most frightening of which is vulnerability ... and equal in gravity is the ever hanting factor of trust. YIKES!

Considering what it would take for me to love that deeply, that honestly, that unconditionally, I must confess that I momentarily allowed a spirit of doubt to darken my doorstep. but it was then that I was lead to pour my heart out to the Lord ... reminding him (as if!) of the pain inflicted through selfishness, of injustices that often come without warning and of the loneliness that has a tendency to linger without invitation. All these things and more now lay buried in Pandora's Box and shamefully, my heartfelt desire is to utterly avoid them all.

It was then that the Lord invited me to take a walk with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. As He and I recalled the moments just before His arrest, we spoke of the events that lead Him and His friends to enter this Garden so very long ago. He pointed out to me the injustice of His sleeping friends ... of the depths of the loneliness that He endured ... the sorrow that burdened His soul ... and of course ... the heart wrenching pain that came as a result of the betrayer's kiss .............. and yet ............

As we came to a clearing, He showed me that in order to love unconditionally, even HE had a first pour His heart out to the Father in prayer. Not once ... not twice ... but three times that night He turned to His source of strength. In His humanness He felt the pain of ALL injustice - ALL disease - ALL sin but with the burden of overwhelming rejection upon Him, He realized emphatically that He was willing to risk it all for the opportunity to be God's instrument of unconditional love.

THANK YOU, JESUS!

As I sit in awe of His insight ... His courage ... and His willingness, my heart continues to yearn for the ability to love as He loves. As I return from our walk I realize, without question, that victory IS possible but only with the power of the Holy Spirit within me. One good slap of injustice and I'm instantly angered or offended ... scrambling once again for a reminder of the example He has set for me ... searching for the nearness of Jesus.

His Word tells us that just before He was taken up to be with the Father He declared that "anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these..." (John 14:12) My fervent prayer is to live as a victor ... not a victim ... so I look to the Father and ask that He continue to guide my every attempt to love as Jesus loves. I pray that you too will seek nothing more in your lives than the unconditional love that comes only in and through the Son, for I ask this in His name.
Amen and amen.

Morning Renewal

Yesterday, with its human challenges, is now but a memory. The morning is upon us and without the need of encouragement it brings with it the assurance of never ending hope.

A moment of stillness. A moment of simplicity. A moment of peace. Color bursts onto the scene ... the greens of spring. The yellows. The blues. The pinks. You linger in amazement at the glistening dew ... every drop placed in just the perfect order.

Suddenly you notice the shadows brought about by the warm rays of sunlight ... and the dancing of tender leaves as they ever so gently begin to move about in the breeze.

Morning renewal ... nourishing ... indescribable ... priceless!

Listen ... did you hear that? Did you hear the voice of God saying "Good morning, my child. Welcome to this new day. You are my beloved for whom I have made all of these things. Behold the beauty ... drink it in. Experience the richness of the gifts that I've created just for you. Be still and know that I am the God who loves you beyond your understanding."

Solutions to yesterday's calamities have yet to unfold but somehow, in the shadow of His wing, hope springs eternal. God, in all his splendor, appears in the beauty of an unfolding rose - in the artful sounds of a songbird - in the smile and laughter of a child. Jesus told us that each day would hold its own challenge and I'm convinced more than ever that that's why He created morning renewal.

As we reluctantly turn to begin our day, we feel the assurance that He will be near us until our day is done. We know without fail that we are free to return to him throughout our day and spend a restful moment with Him beside the still waters ... Thank You, Jesus!

Father, in thanksgiving, I ask that you richly bless each of your beloved children with morning renewal ... for I pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen and amen.

A Better Plan

You pray ... believing that the Lord is not only able to bring your deepest desires to fruition but also that He's willing to see the fulfillment of your heartfelt prayers. At the end of it all, songs of thanksgiving go up to the Throne Room like incense that engulf Him. It is then that you begin to realize that, indeed, your will mirrored His. And yet, if the truth be told, you must come to a new understanding ... for the journey that brought about these mirrored wills was nothing like YOU had planned. Nevertheless, within you there is a peace in knowing that His ways are not always your ways but without question HIS ways ARE always perfect.

Let me give you a recent example of this revelation in my own life ... last week, as many of you know, we endured a day long threat of tornadoes in our area. As soon as the predictions were announced my husband and I began to pray against them - directing them as the Lord allows, to go off their predicted path. Confident that we had taken the appropriate stand, we went about our normal routine throughout the evening never giving them a second thought ... that was until ... the phone rang.

It was my daughter. She was on the other side of town and every indication was that the storm was bearing down on her ... and that it was headed to our part of town with no less determination! Rain, thunder, lightning, violent winds ... and my 'child' was alone and frightened like never before!

How could this be!?!? - I had prayed that the storm wouldn't engulf us ... that ALL of my family would go unscathed by such violence! Shouts of anger went up and with ever increasing conviction I declared a safety zone around me ... around my property ... around my family ... and around my family's family!

The moments that followed brought torential rains that pelted everything in its path - the night instantly turned into day as the lightning flashed all around us - thunder roared like an attacking lion - and the winds, oh, the tremendous force of the winds ... so much so that some may say that my prayers were never heard - much less answered!

But wait ... as the winds subsided and the thunder rolled on out of our vicinity, we quickly realized that we, indeed, did endure the storm BUT we came through it without a blemish!! Power lines were in tact ... storm windows held ... a towel (without clothes pins) remained on the clothes line ... no injuries ... no damage ... no need to panic for our God WAS in control! Yes! Our prayers WERE answered!

OH, THANK YOU GOD! THANK YOU LORD! THANK YOU JESUS! Songs of thanksgiving now pelted the air with no less ferver than the rain that had come down. Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!

WHAT! ... giving THANKS? Yes, for although MY plan was to totally avoid the entire storm ... the Lord used this time to show me just how much I needed to trust HIM ... how much I needed HIM! And in the end our wills were, indeed, mirrored! The Lord's plan was greater than mine ... for it brought about a much greater result than mine ever could have, leaving behind a richness in faith that I couldn't have foreseen!

As the evening turned into day I felt the the Lord was leading me to consider two words ... victor and victim ... and I was being asked which word I wanted to claim as my own. Which life did I want to live? As I took time to meditate on the reality of both, I soon ran headlong into the third word that the Lord laid on my heart ... and that was TRUST.

I am richer for this experience. I am no longer in the same place that I was before. I am one step closer to Him. Oh, Thank YOU, Lord!

My prayer, Father God, is that others may see the fruition of answered prayers, all the while being able to surrender to the beauty of Your plans. Being thankful seems trite as I come to an understanding of this event in my life but nonetheless I give You all praise and honor and glory as my heart swell with gratefulness. In and through Jesus, I give you my all.
Amen and amen.

Driven to Conform ... Lead to Transform

Peace comes to a person for many reasons. None, it seems to me now, impact your life more than the peace that comes when God Himself revels to you what makes you ... you. My journey of peace all started one day, not so long ago, when I asked the Lord for inspiration. Blessed be, it was then that I began to see myself through His eyes. Oh, I'm not referring to my physical attributes or even what purposes have been assigned to my life ... no, I'm referring to the core of who I AM.

The details of what I discovered are pure in nature to me, and although I don't want to bore you, I do wish to bring you a taste of the revelation that I encountered so that by bearing my soul, you too may be blessed and encouraged to seek revelation of your own. Suffice as to say I'm learning the value of living within myself so that I am who He created ME to be.

As my journey began, the heart of a simplistic person emerged. Nice is sufficient ... less is better. On the sinister side, the heart of a people pleaser was revealed and sadly, I can see with clarity that rejection was my driving force. True to my tender side, my heart's desire has always been to make others feel comfortable, worthy and loved. In and of itself that's a wonderful thing but as I have learned, the full measure of accomplishment comes only if your motives are selfless! Spirits of fear drive selfish motives while a Spirit of Love leads us to selfless motives. The truth is that Satan himself DRIVES us to conform to this world ... but God, with all His compassion and gentleness, LEADS us to be transformed into His image!

I've recognized for years ... and years ... that I've conformed my thinking and actions around an 'all or nothing' mentality. It's been my 'identity badge', if you will, giving me reason to declare that "I'm not good at balancing anything in my life" (a grim warning here about guarding your words). And although I've been very aware throughout the years of my obstinate attitude, I, nevertheless, accepted the lie that drove me to live a life that was out of balance. Never before did it occur to me to question whether or not God chose this way of life for me. Never did I consider that God, the One who loved me enough to create me and die for me ... the very same One who wants to spend eternity with me, had something much different planned for my life.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that God's Word offers us guidance even where this challenge is concerned. In his loving kindness He tells us in Romans 12:2"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."

It's all there ... just waiting for us ... and I acknowledge freely that I've never been more excited than I am now to go on a journey of discovery! It's been a LONG haul but without reservation I can honestly say ... with the utmost of humility ... that 'I'm in' ... WHATEVER His plan ... I'm totally willing to do and be whatever it is that He has planned for me.

Father God, I pray that you will be flooded with seekers who look to You for inspiration ... who seek Your revelation ... and who willingly take Your hand as You lead them to a peace that surpasses all understanding. I pray most earnestly, Lord, that You will help them discover, but more importantly, that they, without reservation, become the person of Your heart's desire. I pray this all, Father, in Jesus' Name.
Amen and amen.

Thankful Today ... Fruitful Tomorrow

A friend of mine recently shared with me a challenge that rocked her world. In a nutshell she was asked to consider this ... What would you have available to you today if you were given only that which you gave thanks to the Lord for yesterday?

YIKES - I don't know about you but all of a sudden I'm beginning to feel my own world rock beneath me!

Quickly I rush into a mode of thanksgiving ... Thank You, Lord, for the air that I breathe - and the fact that I'm able to take that air into my lungs. Thank You for a sound mind, for my friends, my coworkers and the waitress at my favorite restaurant. And certainly, Lord, thank You for my family, my job and the absence of fear and violence in my life! Thank You, thank You, thank You, Lord, for the countless things that I openly cherish but even more so, those things that I've taken for granted. Truly I realize that I am NOTHING without You, I have nothing apart from you, and I have every reason to spend my entire day pouring out my thanks to You.

But is it all about what He can ... and does ... do FOR us? Or what things He gives TO us? No! It's about the Holy Spirit that lives within us and the abundance that flows through our lives because of Him. For as it is written in Galatians 5:22-23 "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Each of these Fruits flow from us because of the Holy Spirit that lives within us. What more could I ever desire ... what could be greater in my life and more worthy of my eternal gratitude?

Joy is the kiss that seals each unselfish act. Kindness resonates from each of us as we go forth being patient, understanding and considerate. As you give in abundance, surely goodness, gentleness and self-control will be your blessing. An in the end, peace will about as faithfulness adorns our crown of love!

It is only by God's grace that His mercies are new every morning. He prepares us each day for the time in which we will stand before Him. And as we stand in the fullness of who our God truly is, may we see HIM as the God we worshiped throughout our lives and not a mirror that displays a reflection of ourselves as the worshipped god.

It was ... it is ... and it always will be ALL ABOUT HIM but oh, the blessings we have to be thankful for when, through His mercy and grace, He lavishes His Glory upon us.

Thank You, Father, for Your presence in my life through the Holy Spirit. May my heart overflow with thanksgiving each day as I live in wild anticipation of our days of eternity together, for I ask this now, in and through the Name that is above all names, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus my Christ.
Amen and amen.

Let Not My Heart Be Judgmental

Recently I have been filled with the conviction to address the same issue in my life that has plagued all of mankind since the beginning of time ... being judgmental. As my eyes were opened to a particular event in which I stumbled ... and inflicted pain ... I quickly recalled Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge or you too will be judged." The concept of that truth is clearly understandable in my heart but in my humanness, and maybe even in yours, it seems that at any given moment it is much easier to talk the talk than it is to walk the walk.

In my world, the opportunity to judge others comes knocking without an open invitation. I don't set out to form opinions or to develop attitudes but, more often than I like to admit, that is exactly what happens.

As a child, my mother taught my sisters and I the importance of minding our own business. All she had to say was 'M' 'Y' 'O' 'B' and we knew, without question, that we were treading on ground that was to remain a mystery to us. Now, years later, I find that the lesson my mother firmly instilled in us was only the first step in being mindful of my "P's and Q's".

The truth is that we communicate with people every day and as we do, we run the 'risk' of getting involved in their lives. With human nature being what it is, it should come as no surprise that even a brief encounter can innocently set us up to wear a black robe ... with a gavel in hand! As soon as that happens you're just liable to hear a familiar voice in your spirit saying ... "Uh, excuse me, my child ... you are sitting my My seat."

YIKES!

It's then that you realize fully that it is best to love beyond yourself ... Love in a way that only He could equip you to do ... and Love with the kind of love that reflects who HE is ... not who you are.

So now I set out to touch someone's life without coming away with preconceived notions ... without dictating a 'sure fired cure' for what ails them ... and without running head long into a list of things that only serve to drive wedges and create hurtful barriers. Remarkably, thankfully, the ultimate Truth that we need is stated in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible." In and of ourselves, on occasion, we are likely to slip and fall, but by His grace we are free of condemnation and hopeful of forgiveness.

Father God, may this message concerning the challenges of being judgmental, bring each of us a clear revelation of where we stand in Your eyes. Forgive us Lord, for our willingness to succumb to the temptation of judging others. Allow our very souls to be moved beyond measure as we consider the pain we inflict, first on those we judge but more importantly, on Jesus Himself. We delcare YOU, and YOU alone, Father, as the only true and everlasting Judge, and in Jesus' name we give immeasurable thanks for Your Grace that sustains us in our greatest moments of weakness.
Amen and amen.

Anticipating Easter

We're only days away from celebrating what most Christians consider the holiday of all holidays ... EASTER! Christmas (minus the commercialism, of course) is wonderful in and of itself, for it brought about the possibility of a love affair between God and man, but EASTER ... Oh, EASTER, undeniably is the pinnacle of that love affair! And the proof is in the Truth given to us in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." From the excessive depths of cruelty, to the unfathomable heights of sacrifice and redemption ... the absolute love for us, spoken of in John 3:16, is fulfilled "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." HALLELUJAH!

As Easter draws near we see signs of the promises given to all people through the renewal of Spring. Every sense is excited by the rebirth that erupts from the stillness brought on by the long, cold days of winter. The anticipation of Spring sets our hearts to know ... if only minutely ... the true hope that Easter will bring us throughout all of eternity. We who lay ourselves down for the glory of Christ anticipate EASTER like it is the very air that we breathe. We look to it as the very hope that sustains us. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

The other day, as I sat waiting for a new hair-do to emerge at the hand of the beautician who only moments before became my newest best friend, I was asked if I was 'ready' for Easter. Realizing that our definition of being 'ready' may differ greatly, I paused only slightly before telling her that I was, indeed, ready for the greatest holiday of the year. I'm ready to consider yet another re-enactment of the unfathomable brutality that my Lord was willing to endure for ME, AND, I'm ready to receive the indescribable assurance that His resurrection affords to all of us who declare Him as Lord. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLEULJAH!

Father God, I pray that each person reading this message knows You intimately. I pray that the anticipation of this blessed Easter will bring each of us to a new understanding of our need to surrender ourselves to You. I pray, most earnestly, for those who have not yet declared Your Son as thir Lord and Savior. Please, Father God, move them during this season of renewal to a place of Spiritual rebirth and everlasting life.

As always, Father, I leave these requests at Your feet, asking that You view them through the purity of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.
bb

Truth Empowered Lives

We've all chuckled at the truth that lies within the familiar adage ... Garbage in/Garbage out ... but have we allowed that truth to convict our actions? The music we listen to, the TV we watch, the books we read, the people we spend time with ... even the food that we eat. It's true - we ARE what we consume!

WOW - I'm feeling shamefully defensive - filled with reasoning and arguments and even a touch of stubborn defiance. As I squirm in my seat I'm reminded once again of the wisdom that my friend Betty has shared with me on countless occasions ... "read books sparingly - read the Word often". Thank God for the gems of life and for the angels of mercy who deliver them!

As I consider the truth of Betty's guidance, I think of one of my favorite Books of the Bible ... 'Esther'. In it we are told of Esther's challenge to go against the traditions of the time and do what was needed to save all Jews from annihilation. As Queen she had the nation of Persia at her disposal but the cornerstone to the victory that saved her people came by way of her own personal courage to stand up to what 'the world' called acceptable protocol. Drawing her people to herself through fasting, Esther was empowered by God Himself to change the course of history. What an incredible example her act of dependency on God was for us.

If you think about it, the world around us even now presents you and me with the same challenges that beset Esther. Protocol dictated who she could speak to, what she was to wear, even when she could be in the presence of the King ... HER HUSBAND! For us the 'world' wants to direct our thoughts, our viewpoints and our values. Our standards are being jeopardized daily and our convictions severely compromised. Our beloved country is seriously at risk of changing into something that we may not continue to cherish ... or at the very least, be willing to fight for.

Father God, I pray that each of us see Truth as He is. I pray, in Jesus' name, that as our eyes are opened we will be willing to stand up to the challenge of saying NO to those things that are not of You. I pray also that we will be convicted to understand with clarity the saying that teaches us "Right is right, even when no one is doing it. Wrong is wrong even when everyone is doing it."
In Jesus' name, Father, I praise You endlessly.
Amen and amen

Live United

About a year and a half after I was divorced, my sister Barb and I decided that she would come and live with my kids and I. At the time our mother told us that it wouldn't last two weeks . . . that was 28 years ago and to this day we say that we're still just trying to prove her wrong! With all kidding aside, we now look back and give praise to God for the outpouring of His love on our decision. Now we understand that He used this one event to play out His plan of unity in our lives.

When we started this new little family Josh was about 4 years old and Sara was 2. Barb was there to share in the joys of potty training and the heart wrenching pain of the empty nest. Her contribution was priceless to the development of these two totally opposite children.

Well, fast forward to last fall when Josh bought a house through an auction. He and my husband worked tirelessly over the winter to renovate and otherwise change this unlivable house into something that was functional, clean and charming. Then yesterday it happened ... Sara ... you know, the one who was totally opposite from her brother in EVERYTHING ... well, she and her new husband stood united to bring about the birth of Josh as a landlord.

Memory lane here we come ... I was about to wear my mother's shoes! I must confess that the prospect of this much harmony initially shocked me, but oh the joy as it unfolds! I'm sure that it comes as no surprise that my heartfelt prayer is that their unity will long outlast the record that Barb and I have shown them is possible.

As my heart began to pour out this message I ran headlong into Scripture that spoke about unity. For example in John 17:21 it is written "I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one - as you are in me, Father, and I am in You." Then further on in verse 22 the heart of Jesus Himself is poured out as His prayer goes forth to say "may they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me."

It's ALL because of Him. He tells us to: Pray for on another. Be kind to one another. Submit to one another. Bear with one another. Be devoted to one another. One another, one another, one another . . . do you see the resounding theme here? He commanded us to love as He loves and in the end "With God ALL things ARE possible" (emphasis added)

Thank You, Father for this joy unspeakable - love divine. I am blessed beyond measure as You weave this bond. I pray that I am able to sit here 28 years from now and still see the Your imprint on the lives of my children. As always Lord, all praise and thanksgiving pours out of my heart in the Name of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ!
Amen and amen.

Sealed with a Kiss

In Jesus Christ's Name ... the Name that is above all names - past, present and future. Divinely inspired, we obediently apply it to every situation as though it were a kiss. From desperate cries for help to shouts of thanksgiving and praise. But actually, if the truth be told . . .
~We are ignorant of its vast power
~~ We are unable to fathom the depth of its pureness
~~~ We can't even begin to comprehend the length and breathe of its authority
In Jesus' Name healing can change lives
In Jesus' Name spirits must flee
In Jesus' Name eyes are opened unto faith
In Jesus' Name ALL darkness must dissipate
In Jesus' Name hope arises
In Jesus' Name joy abounds
In Jesus' Name clarity offers confirmation
In Jesus' Name purpose inspires us
In Jesus' Name love encompasses our world
In Jesus' Name doubt is washed away and faith is cultivated
In Jesus Christ's Name ALL things are possible

• Nothing is more desirable ... than the Name of Jesus
• Nothing is more comforting ... than the Name of Jesus ...
• Nothing is more beautiful ... than the Name of Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!

They say that sometimes you can't see the forest because of the vast number of trees that are around you but let me encourage you now to take a moment or two as you stand in the shadow of all those trees. Speak His Name ... fathom His love.

There's a gospel song that reminds us that 'there's just something about that Name'. Sappy as that may sound, Scripture confirms for us all the possibilities of life when we seal them with a kiss of that Name!

Father God, You've provided for our every need. The Bread of Life - the Living Water ... all sealed with power, authority and love. Our hearts overflow with desire to love You as You love us . . . oh, that it would be possible ... for we ask it in Jesus' Name.

Amen and amen.

Be Not Anxious

The book of Philippians is commonly thought of as a book that the Lord uses to bless us with unending joy. So much so that it should come as no surprise that countless people rely on its faithfulness to lift their spirits even when one of life's challenges brings a sour taste of lemons into their life. Thank God, for Philippians!

Well, recently the joy of this book was brought front and center for me when my sister's heart was broken over a freak accident that left her cat's leg broken. By the grace of God, Barb was home when the accident happened so after rushing Polly to the Vet she called me to fill me in on what was happening. Needless to say, I felt incredibly helpless. Certainly, no words that I could share would serve to ease her anxious state. Nothing that I could do would even come close to healing her broken heart . . . or Polly's broken leg.

Well, thankfully as soon as I hung up from talking to her I was moved to lift them up in prayer. Speaking out I asked the Lord to love on both of them and to bring them His much needed peace. The amazing thing that happened then brought me to a place of awe for He showed me that even though the event involved an ordinary (be she ever so beautiful) cat, and even though the event itself was ordinary in nature . . . He, the God of the Universe, was willing to whisper in my ear and say "Be not anxious" ... Then, apparently to ensure my understanding, He whispered it again ... "Be not anxious".

We, that was enough for me. I KNEW that these words were familiar and I KNEW that I was being lead to Philippians 4:6! There the Lord tells us "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." So with a thankful heart I praised the Lord for His intervention, for His peace and for His loving kindness unto my sister ... and our little Miss Polly Ollie.

Tonight, I'm glad to report that our little princess is resting comfortably but as I consider situations around me on a scale of 1 to 10, this one with Polly would admittedly fall much lower than say one in which a friend has lost her job, or people were ravaged by war. But how comforting it is that our God ... no matter what the situation ... is with us - standing close enough to whisper His peace in our ear ... "Be not anxious". Thank You, Jesus!

Father, You are far beyond my comprehension and yet I have great thanks for Your willingness to stay close enough to me to actually whisper in my ear. Thank You, Lord. Thank You.
In Jesus' name I give you all my praise.
Amen and amen.

Motivation

There is a treasured art to interacting with people. It begins immediately upon arrival into this world and then, driven by motivation that often defines the outcome, countless situations arise which work to define the artist in you.

Case in point: Recently, during a waiting room experience, I was subjected to . . . oh, pardon me while I check my attitude . . . let's start again . . . recently, during a waiting room experience, I was 'provided with an opportunity' to watch the interaction of a grandmother and her 10 year old granddaughter. Within moments I was most grateful that the evening news was being aired on the nearby television set for if not, I would have bet my life that the headlines in the morning paper would have been that the entire universe was rearranged so that it was now revolving around this child. I'm not sure who was more grateful when my name was called to leave . . . me, or the technician who didn't have to provide service to the child of the hour. Motivation filled the room - each of us with our own agenda in mind.

Try as we might, our motives, more often than not, ARE self-centered. We want what we want when we want it and if, God forbid, disappointment is our lot, then we are likely to impress our discontent on many of those around us. But what do you suppose God's viewpoint of this is? Is it possible that He leads you into life's situations as a means of testing you . . . or challenging you . . . or even ultimately growing you? I suspect that it came as no surprise to Him that I would experience this short, be it nonetheless nagging, exchange of wills. No, I suspect that He had something in mind which would grow me . . . enable me to see the need for His imprint on my own life.

Life's exchanges, no matter what their purpose, give us unprecedented opportunities to work on our motivation. Jesus Himself told us the importance of loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. And in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 God's Word tells us "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!" An then it goes on to declare the ultimate truth . . . "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." This truth, without exception, is the core for all of life's exchanges and ultimate relationships . . . that is, of course, when the strand in the center represents our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

The bottom line is that we need one another . . . God made us that way. As such, our motivation should always be directed to serve others before ourselves . . . whether or not they seem lovable at the time - whether or not they wear on our last nerve - whether or not they love us in return.

Father God, open our eyes to those around us that need a fresh anointing of Your love. Empower us, Lord, to check our motives at Your Door of Grace as You enable us to give of ourselves without first considering our own needs. As always, Lord, I lay this request at your feet in Jesus' name.
Amen and amen.

Better Left Unsaid . . .

If your mother was anything like mine she taught you about the old adage that declares 'Some things are better left unsaid'. In our house she mentioned this truth early . . . and often! And now, with the passing of years . . . and my mother's life . . ., I've learned that the older I get, the wiser she becomes!

An yet . . . it probably comes as no surprise to most of you that the Word of God offers direction that, quite honestly, makes our mother's wisdom seem pale in comparison. The proof comes as we read Matthew 12:36. In it we are told that "Everyone will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every idle word that they have spoken." YIKES! Then, as though that weren't enough, verse 37 goes on to say "For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned." As far as I can tell, from where God stands, that leave no middle ground . . . some things ARE better left unsaid.

An yet . . . the chances are that, in a micro-second, you, like me, have fallen prey to a careless thought that found its way across your lips without prior approval. Maybe through a challenge to banter back and forth with someone while you jockey for a lofty position over them . . . maybe as a way to show your quick wit . . . maybe even as you rush to harshness and share your judgmental opinion about someone. Whatever the reason, whatever your purpose in speaking out . . . you can be sure that your words have equal opportunity to offer either a blessing or a curse.

If only we would stop and realize that the first One hurt by any idle word is our Lord and from there the snowball grows bigger and bigger. Let us heed the warning to bring life, rather than hurt, to those around us. Let us build people up through encouragement rather than tearing them down through thoughtless, idle words. Let me challenge you to take to heart the wisdom of my son when he was in Middle School . . . "Just smile and nod, Ma . . . Just smile and nod."

Father God, we acknowledge the truth that You have set before us. Realizing that we have no control over the evil of our tongue, we seek the abundance of Your life within us. We look with eager anticipation to the day that we stand before You, hoping against all hope that we will hear You say the grace filled words . . . "Well done, My good and faithful servant." As always Father, we ask this all through the blessed name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen and amen.

Love Is . . .

If you're old enough, you probably remember the early 1970's as a time in which the marketing phenomenon of "Love is . . . " burst on to the scene. Everything from comic strips to coffee cups were used to define for us what "Love is . . . ".

Little did the world of advertising know that long before they saturated every corner of the globe with their warm and fuzzy quips, the Apostle John wrote a collection of letters to 'his dear children' in which he nailed the Truth down for us. Among his teachings was the proclamation that "God is love". Oh, the shortcomings of this world's most prolific advertisers!

"Love is . . . God"! Shout it from the rooftops - sing it from the rafters but you're still left with the challenge of fully comprehending it - fully describing it - and fully receiving it. And yet, what human on the planet doesn't desire its richness as we do the very air we breathe? It's power over us is nothing short of a mind boggling mystery . . . all the while being a life sustaining blessing.

Driven by the amazement that settles within you after experiencing first hand God's true sacrificial love, I strongly urge you to spend a moment - maybe even two -and contemplate this thing called 'the greatest of these'. This thing that, through meditation, even William Shakespeare asked and declared . . . "Is love a fancy, or a feeling? No. It is immortal as immaculate Truth".

My heart's desire is to express it fully in words so that it leaps off of the page and permeates every pore of your life . . . but I cannot. Who can reduce God to nothing more than words on a page? No, all I can do is allow the release of the abundance within my heart to overflow as encouragement to you and say . . . go . . . for the time is growing short. These days are full of wars and rumors of wars . . . of famines and earthquakes, tsunamis and threats of nuclear devastation. It is now time to prepare for His return. 'The greatest of these' must be spoken of and shared and received just as Jesus taught us to do in the parable of the talents written about in Matthew 25. Take this life giving - life sustaining treasure out into the fields. Plant it, water it, cultivate it so that the harvest is rich and bountiful upon the Master's return.

Lord God, Father of us all, be with us in these days of distress and release Yourself within to overflowing, in Jesus' name I pray.
Amen and amen.

The 'Perfect' Number

Could it be possible that God's plan for our lives would include the very details of how much we are to weigh? Well, of course it does! As He knit our frames together He also decided what our 'perfect' weight would be. Just think about it . . . two women . . . let's say that they're sisters . . . with seemingly the same frame, from the same gene pool, having the same general habits - one hovers around 125 lbs while the other one struggles to stay at or below 140 lbs. Why? Because God created each of us with a specific weight in mind, a weight that will enable YOU to live out God's plan for YOUR life.

But do we always agree with the 'perfect' number that God chose for us? Well personally, after struggling a lifetime with the issue of weight management, I can tell you unequivocally - NO! Or more appropriately, let me confess my ignorance and say that it just never occurred to me before that a 'perfect' number even existed! I KNEW that I was in a constant fight with issues of weight management but it honestly never occurred to me that I was battling God Himself!

So I guess the question is . . . why . . . why do I, and millions of other people, seek comfort - pleasure - contentment and self-defined beauty through what we eat and ultimately how we look? Why do we rebel and act like children when what we want doesn't mirror what God has chosen for our lives?

Well after careful contemplation it seems glaringly clear to me that a scheme - all at the hand of Satan - is driving us to fall for the same trickery that Eve fell prey to! He KNOWS what our weaknesses are and without fail he does everything in his power to convince us that we don't want what God has planned for our lives. With the dawn of every new day he conveniently and masterfully convinces us to take a path that will lead us to envy, gluttony and self-sufficiency! And through it all we're blinded and lead away from the peace and contentment that can only come from being in God's will.

ENOUGH . . . I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! Yes, long ago God created me with a 'perfect' weight in mind and it's high time that I accept whatever number He has chosen for me. It's time that I surrendered my own opinions and desires over to the One who loves me so much that He willingly endured the brutality of the Cross for me. Think about it . . . if He loves us enough to do THAT do you honestly think that He would choose a weight that would bring us humiliation, disappointment and degradation? NO! The weight He chose may be different than what WE WANT but nevertheless, for His purposes, it IS the 'perfect' number.

So what's next? How do we get to . . . and stay at . . . the number the Lord chose for us? Another diet? More martyred sacrifices? More sweating, and whining and self-righteous boasting? NO! Fueled by pride, I'm convinced that diets are the vehicles that Satan uses to take us on a never ending rollercoaster ride through valleys of envy, humiliation and back through to self-sufficiency - often landing at a place of condemnation! No . . . the answer doesn't revolve around us and whatever determined effort we can put forth . . . the one and only answer is in the all powerful God of the universe who is not only willing . . . but also completely able . . . to stop the rollercoaster ride once and for all. For as it is written in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible but with God, all things are possible!"

So with thoughtful medication and Divine Revelation I believe that the simple answer to this age old problem is moderation. Moderation that comes directly from the hand of God will put you in a place where you're not fighting anymore. No frustration. No guilt. No condemnation! Thank You, Jesus! Moderation will enable you to reach . . . and stay at . . . the 'perfect' number . . . whatever that 'perfect' number may be.

Pray on it. Pray and allow the Holy Spirit to move you into a place where moderation . . . of eating and exercising . . . is the fuel that powers you to a mountain top of contentment!

Also please note . . . this concept isn't confined to weight management. Through the blessing of the Holy Spirit it can be applied to any life controlling deception that Satan has used against you or a loved one!

Help each of us, Dear Jesus, to take the first step to a life of peace and contentment . . . IN YOU!
Amen and amen.

His Wisdom . . . His Glory

In Proverbs it is written that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.
It says . . .
~ if we accept His Words
~ if we store up His commands within us
~ if we apply our hearts to understanding
~ if we cry out for insight
~ if we turn our ear to wisdom and
~ if we think of it as if it were precious silver
~ if we search for it as if it were a hidden treasure
THEN we will understand the fear of the Lord and the birth of Wisdom within us is at hand.

This week the Lord lead me to this teaching. One in which goes on to say that "He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless".

Immediately my thought was . . . well, I know me and I'm not blameless. It's obvious to me that I more closely resemble the defiant one . . . one who is full of rebellion and self-sufficiency. So how in the world could I claim this Word for my own? How could I even dare to suppose that He's waiting to hear me cry out for His glorious Wisdom
. . . and Glory?

Then (once again) it came to me . . . it's not about me and whether or not I'm blameless - it's about the Glory of God. It's about who He is. His power to protect. His willingness to provide shelter from EVERY storm that comes into our lives. It's about His capacity to love, to be compassionate and to pour out His grace. It's about HIM!

We hear teachings all the time that lead us to think about ourselves . . . what we must do to be like Jesus. Although that's important in our walk, I believe that we are to crave more . . . we must crave Him. Crave to know Him. Crave to fear Him. We must fully desire the wisdom that is promised to us in Proverbs for then, and only then, will we be able to fully trust, honor and fear Him.

His Glory is revealed in and through us as we fervently seek to know who He is. His miracles in our lives are undeniable when we allow ourselves to enter into His presence. Let us never stop encouraging each other in our walk to be like Jesus but even more than that let us never stop encouraging each other to get to know our incredible Maker. For in doing so His Glory will prevail in us like never before and His Wisdom will be our blessing.

Father God, thank You for this teaching. In Jesus' name my fervent prayer is that our hearts will burn, like never before, with an all consuming fire to know you more intimately every day.
Amen and amen.