Randomness: 10 Facts About Me

1.  I danced (on-stage) with Michael Jackson when I was a 10 (he was 14).

2.  I was in a television commercial in which I told my mother, "Why don't you just butt out?!" (it was an anti-smoking commercial)

3. My sisters and I used to make up dance routines and have our own dance contests.  And, one time, when my mom wasn't home, we performed a singing concert, using the living room coffee table as a stage!!!

4. My dad was a "mad scientist" for his own Gorilla Girl show, in which he turned a beautiful woman into a gorilla...  and I got to see the show all by myself, one time, and ran screaming out of the showroom when the gorilla came out.

5. It's my life's ambition to play The Entertainer on the piano.

6. I have twin sisters in heaven.

7. Jesus is my life, breath and joy!  He is my encourager, sustainer, and the One in whom I completely trust.  (There's no one on earth I trust as much as I trust Him.)

8.  My all-time favorite treat is black licorice ice cream.

9.  When I give a gift, I prefer to do it secretly.

10. One time, I snuck in my bedroom window (on the second floor)... really, really, really late at night... and knocked the clock off the window sill, and it fell into the swimming pool!  I had to go back down and fish it out with the pool net… All the while, my dad was asleep on the couch in the family room, right below my bedroom!!!

Can you name ten random facts about yourself?

walk a little straighter, daddy

"Walk a little straighter, Daddy.  You're leading me..."

it's an old song that tells the story about a boy whose father is drinker...  he drinks to get drunk, and makes the boys's life miserable.  the song is pretty powerful.  as the boy grows towards manhood, he pleads with his dad to "walk a little straighter."

my dad would be gone for weeks at a time, leaving my mom home with little babies to care for.  later on, my stepfather would get off work late at night, getting home hours after his shift was over.  i knew when he got home, though, because he bounced from one side of the hallway to the other, all the way to his room.  (i guess he thought it was funny.  i didn't.)  neither set of footprints led anywhere i wanted to go.  sadly, i did plenty of "trippin' and stumblin'" until i came to know Jesus.

i shared this with a friend...

there's a Dad whose footsteps are reliable every single day. the Bible says that God's word is a lamp to our feet, and a light for our path. it also says that He leads us in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. i'm kinda' glad that the father i had on earth wasn't perfect... (it took me a long time to come to that)... if it wasn't for my father's crooked path, i might not have had the eyes to see the absolute perfect path of my Heavenly Father.

i love how the song ends... the boy, now a man, has determined in his heart to walk a different path than the one his father made for him. that happened to me when i was younger, too. i was sure i'd do things differently.  it wasn't until i came to know Jesus, though, that i was really able to make good on that goal.  i don't always do things perfectly. but, with the help of my Heavenly Father, i have hope that i'm doing it better each day.

Wisdom

what's it mean?

1. the ability to make sound judgments

2. insight or intuition

3. extensive knowledge

which of those sounds most appealing to you?

they are all definitions of wisdom. and they can be yours!!!

"how?" you say?  well, let me tell ya'!

there's a book called, the Bible. and it's a pretty big Book - lots of reading. BUT, there's a little book within the big Book called, Proverbs. there are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. and they're short, easy-to-read chapters.

if you were to read one chapter of Proverbs each day, by the end of one month you'd be well on your way to amassing tons of wisdom!

what? you're not up for reading the Bible every day?

ok. well, what about... reading just when you felt like it (?) and you could try to "feel like it" once or twice a week. and on the days that you feel like it, you just say to yourself, "what day of the month is it?" and the answer is (for example), "the 23rd." so, on the 23rd, you would open your Bible to the book of Proverbs, and find the big 23 (indicating chapter 23), and just read that. and the next time you feel like it, you say, "what day of the month is it?" and your answer is (for example), "the 12th." so you read chapter number 12 in the book of Proverbs. (yes. you can do that. there's not some Bible-reading angel that comes and thumps you on the head cause you're reading it out of sequence.)

then, you know what's happened? you've read two whole chapters in the Bible. and from those two whole chapters, you have learned something new about life, love and yourself. imagine what would happen if you kept doing that for a long time! wow!! people would go, "hmmm.... that person seems to have incredible insight!" (imagine that!)

King of Glory

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it,

the world and all who live in it;

for He founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend to the hill of the Lord?

Who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart.

who does not lift up his soul to an idol

or swear by what is false.

He will receive blessing from the Lord

and vindication from God his Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek Him,

who seek Your face, O God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O you gates,

be lifted up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty,

the Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates,

lift them up, you ancient doors,

that the King of glory may come in.

Who is He, this King of glory?

The Lord Almighty -

He is the King of glory.

~psalm 24

I love this psalm! It's such an encouragement to me. It's also a convicting reminder. Everything that "is" belongs to the Lord. He made it, and He blessed it; it's His. He doesn't treat us as our souls deserve. He has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing under heaven." We turn from Him, curse His name, and go our own way; and, yet, He calls out to us, and draws us to Himself "with lovingkindness." It's amazing. And He doesn't regard us as puppets. We have free will.

How do we come into His holy presence? Not by our own good works, that's for sure. All that's required is that we open the gates of our hearts. That we seek His face. Turn to Him, and receive salvation... honor and blessing... vindication and reward. Wow. That God Almighty would seek to show His love for me... and allow me to receive it!! Turning to Him means turning away from my sin. And when I do that, trusting in the Lord Jesus to save me, my hands are washed in the blood of His sacrifice on the cross. Clean hands and a pure heart.

"Who is this King of glory? The Lord Almighty - He is the King of glory."

glory - (n) splendor; fame; a state of well-being. (v) be proud of; rejoice in

Jesus Christ - King of glory!!

What are you longing for?

Did you know that if you...

"Delight yourself in the Lord;

...He will give you the desires of your heart." (?)

It's true!!! It says it that in Psalm 37 (verse 4).

Now wait a minute... you say you desire to be with *this* guy, or *that* girl... or you want *those* pants, or *that* bling... or whatever it is that's got your heart going yakety-yak... BUT... the Word says... Delight yourself in the Lord... AND He will give you the desires of your heart.

What's God like? Who is He, anyway? Are you *delighted* by what He says and does? Have you made Him a priority in your life? The Bible says that until you do, you won't find the fulfillment you're looking for... not in that guy, or that girl, or those clothes, or that stuff... BUT *when* you do (find pleasure in seeking God), LOOK OUT!!!... 'Cause the desire of your heart is what He's all about!

It's in the Word!

Higher

"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord. "And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." ~Isaiah 55:8-9

Isaiah was just a guy. And the Lord spoke to him. He said, "Don't let the world around you get you down." You are not defined by what's going on around you. It's what's on the inside that matters. And, more importantly, who you are in Christ.

Are you His? Trust Him.

Can't hear Him? Call out to Him in faith.

Couldn't care less? Well, my friend, I do.

That's what it's all about.

He thinks differently.

He's way beyond my imagination.

His ways and thoughts are higher.

What a relief!

When Jesus Calls

"Tell Him I'm not home!"  Have you ever thought about that?  That just popped into my head.  I was actually gonna' write something like, "When Jesus calls, will you be ready?"  But the reality is, many of us have already chosen to live with the attitude of avoidance where He's concerned.  BUT...  this is a new day.  I'm here to challenge you to start it out with a sincere examination of where the Lord (if He *is* Lord) fits in your life.  For the record, in case you didn't know, He is absolutely Lord in my life.  Although, I must admit, too often it doesn't always show.  Did you know that Lord means master?  But, get this...  Jesus said, "I no longer call you servants - but friends."  So, even though He's Lord and Master, He relates to us on a level of humility and grace that accepts us as no lower than Himself.  Don't get me wrong...  He IS God Almighty.  (Let us never forget.)  But He is also your brother, Savior, and friend... if you belong to Him.

So... when Jesus calls, will you answer?

Who's Peter?

more and more frequently, i'm reminded of the all-encompassing nature of our salvation. yes, it is a gift by faith, alone, that we are saved. BUT, true faith is a seed that takes root, blooms, and produces fruit. it is God's grace that allows us to taste of a fruit we could never earn - that we don't deserve. nothing i have done, or can ever do, will cause me to be worthy of His grace which is salvation in His name.

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is near-sighted and blind (ouch!), and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Therefore, my brothers (and sisters), be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

~2peter 1:1-11

God is God... I'm Not

The Bible says that man was made in the image of God.  Why is it, though, that we keep trying to create Him in our own image?  That's idolatry.  And when we do that, we end up with a mistaken identity of who we really are, and an incredibly faulty understanding of who God is.

First of all, God is love. He loved the world so much that He sent His Son to die so that those who believe in Him would be with Him for eternity. He loves every person on earth. And it started way back in the beginning.

At the beginning of creation, God walked and talked with man (Adam). He gave man the freedom to choose to obey God or to disobey Him. Man chose to disobey and this caused a separation between man and God. Sometime afterward, God chose a man named Abraham, and through him established a plan for man to be reunited with God. Abraham's people became the nation of Isreal - the Jewish nation. These were God's chosen people. And the one who would bring about reconciliation would be born from Abraham's descendants - the Jews.

This brings us to Jesus. The promised One. Jesus said, "No man comes to the Father, but by me." He wasn't speaking metaphorically. You see, just as one choice (to sin) caused division between man and God, so one choice (to follow) reunites us with God. Because of God's mercy, we can be saved from ourselves. Just before the flood occurred, God acknowledged that all the thoughts of men were only wicked all of the time. God had to intervene.

The Lord is righteous, and we are only made righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that it is by believing that we are justified and are saved. God is just, and will not tolerate rebellion. AND He is merciful, and will provide for those who love Him.

The Bible says that the "Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth." Jesus said, "I am the Way and the Truth and the Life." Only when we call on His name will we be saved.

The truth is... He is God.  And I am not.  (You are not.) 

My hope is that we continue to allow ourselves to be made in His image (not our own)... and love Him for who He really is.

Being Led by the Lost

hmmm....  you know, it's come to my attention that the more we live in church, the more likely we are to do and say the right things.  however...  speaking the language isn't the same as living the life.  and doing the right thing isn't the same as being righteous.

why are so many kids who go to church living like they're going to hell?  is it merely a question of peer pressure, and identity, and abandonment?  i'm not so sure.

here's what it all comes down to...

belief.  belief is what brings about salvation.  and belief is what brings about righteousness.  (galatians, chapter 3)  if there's no belief, there is no salvation... and there is no righteousness.  if there is belief, there is righteousness. 

am i oversimplifying?  is it really possible to be sinless?  isn't that what righteousness is?  the truth is, if i am in Christ, i may still commit sins... in fact, i know that i will.  but, if i am in Christ, i will sin less than i would have had i not believed.  (and less, and less, and less)  the irony is that the more i am conformed to the image of Christ, the more i recognize my sin, and realize my despair.  but my *hope* is in knowing that i am saved, through faith (belief) in Jesus Christ.

what does it mean to believe?  it means more than just saying so.  it's believing with all of my heart, soul and mind to such a point that it affects who i am...  because believing ushers in the Holy Spirit.  and i believe that there's no way for the Holy Spirit to enter a person's life without making visible and lasting (continuous) change.

that's the way i see it.

chains (xxx)

(this is a revision of a letter i wrote to a dear friend.  i could write this letter countless times, and still not send it to all the people who should see it.  i'm sharing it here in the hopes that it will touch someone's heart.  feel free to pass it on.)


Dear Friend,

I wish, with all my heart, that you could hear me and know that what I'm saying is true. The pornographic images you have been viewing are harmful to you and to your friends. So much of what I'm saying comes from my own painful past, but there's more to it than that. I was hurt deeply by a man who was supposed to protect me. I was just a little girl, and he had become so obsessed with sexual images, and impure thinking, that he crossed a line. Of course, I don't think you'd do what was done to me - at least I hope not. But what you will do is compromise the love your future spouse and you will share with one another. The images you're allowing to get into the framework of your mind are forever changing the way you view men and women, and the beauty of the sexual experiences that are meant for you to share with your marriage partner for the rest of your life. Sex is a very good thing. But it becomes a bad thing when it isn't used in the time and manner that God intended it.

Friend, viewing pornography grows to become much more than just a curiosity. It actually becomes a really big part of your life.  That concerns me a LOT. I care about you. I want for you to be free, and unashamed. I have a feeling that if I were to ask you about this, face to face, you would be very embarrassed, and feel very ashamed. That feeling of shame should tell you that there's something wrong. I will tell you, from my own experience that the feeling of shame is like a prison. Worse than that, it's like a really heavy set of chains, that are bound around your arms and legs, neck and shoulders. I would give just about anything to see you free from those chains. You should be walking with confidence, and in freedom. The sadder possibility is that you don't feel that anything is wrong, at all, with those pictures. I hope that's not true.

Jesus said that He came to free us from the things that enslave us. The Bible says that the trappings of a seductive woman are a snare that hold us captive. Friend, I'm praying that you will seek to please God, and to be free from the chains of pornographic images. Sexy men and women are not going to bring you true pleasure. You may feel good for a little while... but in the end you will be empty and desperate. Your wife should be the only sexy woman in your life. (And, ladies, your husband the only sexy man.) The Bible says that it is her love that should cause you to feel drunk with passion (it's in the Bible!). With the way you're setting yourself up, you'll be seeking pleasure from a well that will never thoroughly satisfy you.

I'm praying for you, Friend. I really do care.  And it really does matter.

Two Wolves

A native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he
felt.  He said  "Sometimes I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart.
One wolf is vengeful, angry, violent. The other wolf is
loving and compassionate."  The grandson asked him, "Which wolf will
win the fight in your heart?"  The grandfather answered:  "The one I
feed."

What are your "two wolves"? 
Which one are you feeding?

the King of me

the king of me...

In some ways that's good.  But in some ways it's not-so-good.  You are in charge of what happens with you.  You can say "no" when you want, and you can say "yes" when you want.  But, are you absolutely sure that you know the right times to say no and to say yes?  I know I'm not so sure.  That's where my King comes in.  Yeah... you knew I was gettin' there, didn't you?  Jesus is the King of me.  Through His Word, and by His Spirit I can know that I'm truly loved and cared for when I trust Him to show me my yes's and my no's.

can't stop the message

i tried to avoid posting this...  it's true. the Lord put this on my heart a while back, and i said, "ok, in the morning." He reminded me in the morning, and i went to my computer, and decided, "nope, not now." something came up later, and i said, "ok, i'll do it." i went to the computer, Bible in hand, sat down, signed on, and said, "nope. can't do it." i go online elsewhere, and He shows me something else. i said, "ok, i get it..." i pull up my blog, get ready to post, and say, "nope... it's not gonna' go over well. i'm not doin' it." (i'm not kidding, you guys, this really happened!!) ok, so i sign on tonight (not for that at all!), and the Lord used something someone else posted (on my blog - thanks. *sigh*) to push me in the direction He's been leading me for the past 24 hours!!!!!!!!! *ugh!* if the Lord is nothing else, He's persistent!!! (oh, but He's so much more!!!)

ok. so, do you wanna' know what it is? here it is...

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You are doing this already, and we encourage you to do so more and more. 2 For you remember what we taught you in the name of the Lord Jesus. 3 God wants you to be holy, so you should keep clear of all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control your body and live in holiness and honor 5 not in lustful passion as the pagans do, in their ignorance of God and his ways. 6 No one should wrong his Christian brother or take advantage of him, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. 7 God has called us to be holy, not to live impure lives. 8 Anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human rules but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (1Thes4:1-8)

Ladies and gentlemen, I avoided this topic because it seems like there's a lot of condemnation going on, and it's so much more "fun" to encourage one another, rather than to admonish one another. But, the fact is, this is important for all of us to remember (even me!!)

If you claim to be a Christian, you need to be living like a Christian (me, too!) A guy named Chuck Swindoll had this to say...

"If we truly believe in a holy God, holy living will be our goal."

Will we do it right all the time? Probably not. But our lives should not be habitually full of sin. Our belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ makes us sinless. Not that we won't sin... but that we should be sinning less. Get it? What is the biggest thing that people your age are facing these days? S E X. What does the Bible say? "Live in a way that pleases God(!)" I promise you... you WILL be blessed!!!

When All Is Said and Done

when all is said and done...

will it be said of me, "well done"?

will my life have reflected a bit of God's glory?

will my family remember any good in me?

will my friends miss something significant about me?

will i kneel or stand before the Lord?

will i sing or be silent?

will He welcome me into His arms?

will i willingly receive whatever it is He has to offer me?

will i love Him fully?

will i be relieved to be Home at last?

will i recognize others & be grateful that i had shared the Savior?

will He call me by name?

does He know who i am?

have i fooled myself and the others around me?

or was i truly a Christian?

I thought you were a Christian!

I thought you were a Christian!!?

Now, this is just plain odd.  Not all my friends are Christians.  And I think that's cool.  Well... I don't think it's cool that they're not Christians.  ('cause that raises all sorts of questions about what happens next, but...)  I just think it's cool that they are my friends, in spite of the fact that they're not Christians.  I like all kinds of people, and I hope that all kinds of people like me.  That's what this world is all about.  BUT...  I know that many of my friends are Christians.  Or, at least, they say, from time to time, that they are.  Here's what's odd...  some of the ones who say they're Christians are not demonstrating a Christian faith.  They tend to send all sorts of signals that are oh-so-confusing.. and pretty disheartening!!  Odd, I tell ya'.  It's just plain odd.  Now...  I'm not here to tell you how to live... But, if you say you're a Christian, you gotta' know that there are some things that simply do NOT make Jesus Christ happy.  It makes me want to ask, "Why would you do those things?"  Here's another question: (for Christians and non-Christians)  What does it mean to be a Christian?

the goal is love

"But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."  ~1Timothy 1:5

"We're not really living until we learn how to love."

In this simple sentence from Paul's letter to Timothy, what does he say is the source - what should he  strive for - in order to achieve the goal?  (hint: there are 3 things)

~a pure heart
~a good conscience
~a sincere faith


Of those those three elements, is there anything lacking in your life?


~ Is your heart pure?  Are your motives right?  

~ Do you have a clean conscience?  Are there things that you're hiding, that need to be confessed?  Is there sin that you need to turn away from?


~ Is your faith real?  Have you truly surrendered to Jesus Christ?  Do you trust Him completely?

In my own life, I know that it's my heart that gets in the way of my giving and receiving love the way God intends for me to.  Seeds of bitterness or anger, pride, and selfish motives - all of these are the things that get in my way.  What I need to do is commit my fears to God; allow Him to get rid of the anger and bitterness that sometimes takes root; and love Him with my whole heart!

I pray that each of us would examine our own lives, and bring to God the things that require His loving touch, that we might be completely His, and reach the goal He has set out for us.

will you make a difference?

there was a child who was playing on the beach.  the tide came in and washed up lots and lots of starfish onto the sand.  as the tide went back out, this little boy realized that the starfish would die unless they were returned to the depths of the water.  one by one, he began tossing them out to sea with all of his might.  a man came along and asked him what he was doing.  he said, "i'm saving the starfish!"  the man said, "there's no way you can get all these back out into the ocean all by yourself."  as the boy flung another one out into the water, he said, "well... i made a difference for that one!"

will you make a difference?

Love Heaven More

I heard a woman speak, many years ago, who had become blind at age 15. She talked about how discouraging it had been.  But this woman had such grace and such a beautiful love for Jesus.

She shared a story about something her little boy had said to her that was so amazing to me. They were going to play a game together, but were having a tough time because of her disability. He very sweetly agreed to choose another game, but she could tell by his tone of voice that he was a little sad about it. After a few moments of silence, he said something so profound (he was, like, 10 years old!). He told her that he didn't think that the Lord would heal her sight while she was here on earth, and that the reason for that was (and this is what he told her), "Jesus wants you to love heaven more." He explained that if she were to be able to see again, on earth, she might like things here so much that she would not ever want to go to Heaven.

Because we believe in Jesus, Heaven is our real home. It's the place that we should be longing for! I just thought it was so cool to consider the fact that the first face she'll see is going to be that of her Savior, Jesus Christ?! I want to always remember the truth that Heaven is the better place to be.

The Bible says that God has placed eternity in the hearts of men (Ecc. 3:11). I pray that so many more would all come to know the Lord, and realize the hope of Heaven deep within their hearts!

"...and His resting place will be glorious." ~Isaiah 11:10

Are you ready for heaven?  

Mullins' Escape - Answered Prayer

Years ago, we had a cockatiel that we named Mullins - after one of my favorite music artists.  

This is the story of our heartbreak, uncertainty and reconciliation.

Written several years ago...

I took our cockatiel (Mullins) out of his cage, and brought him upstairs with me while I finished some chores. He was a great little buddy.  As I was putting away clothes, he flew out of the bedroom, down the stairs, and out the back door. Before he reached the back door, however, he bumped into a window. (ouch!) This probably shook him up a bit. I had run down the stairs and saw him just as he flew over the back wall, landing in the drainpipe of the house behind us. From my backyard, I could see his little yellow head as he perched in this temporary sanctuary. I sent Aaron outside to call Mullins. Mullins loved Aaron.  Aaron called, but Mullins wouldn't come. Aaron came back inside and went out again after a few minutes. This time, Mullins climbed up onto the edge of the drainpipe. We were hopeful that he would come right over. However...as he lifted off to take flight, some pigeons from the house next door also took flight.  I'm sure he felt as if they were in pursuit. In his fright, Mullins soared off over the top of our house. Out of sight and certainly unreachable.

Later on, I walked through the neighborhood. Mullins could have been anywhere! I was quite discouraged. After the kids got home, Taylor and I made flyers and posted them on mailboxes (we have the community-type boxes). Before we set out, we prayed. We asked the Lord to protect Mullins, and we asked that He would help Mullins find a home if he were not to come back to us. We knew that God could tell Mullins how to get home. Of course 'could' and 'would' are two different things. Later that night I prayed, Aaron had prayed, and Taylor was praying.

The next day, I realized that the mailman had removed the flyers we had posted the day before. We decided not to re-post them. We continued to pray. It was not looking good, though. The night before had been cold. A small bird like Mullins can catch cold very easily and that's the end of it. He's not a wild bird, so he's not able to find his own food and water. 36 hours is a long time! In the mean time, we left his cage on the back porch, with plenty of fresh seed, water.

On the next day, still no Mullins. That morning was colder than the one before, which meant that the night had been colder, too. I realized the day before that I was going to miss his little voice and his whistles. We have a lovebird, too. They call to one another. Sylvester would miss his buddy. Things didn't seem very hopeful...until that afternoon.

When we got home from school, there was a message on the answering machine. A boy had found our bird. He was three blocks away (on the street that I reluctantly went ahead and posted flyers on that first day). The boy, Patrick, said that he and his friend were playing outside earlier and spotted Mullins on top of the roof. Patrick, 12 yrs. old, climbed up on the roof and brought Mullins down. He took him inside where his mother put some water out. Mullins was VERY thirsty, they said. They had him in a little cage. We were so excited!!

When we picked Mullins up, he barely weighed anything! He was starving and very weak. I gave Patrick a $20 reward, since that is what we had promised on our flyer. We went home, clipped Mullins' wings, and set him up with plenty of food and water in his own cozy home.

In the meantime, Patrick tracked us down and returned the reward. He said he was glad that he was able to help and that's all the thanks he needed. Great kid!! We decided to leave a gift for Patrick and his friends on his doorstep. The card said, "Thank you for saving Mullins!"

You can be sure that we thanked the Lord for answering our prayer in such a fantastic way! We thanked Him for keeping Mullins safe, for bringing him home and for giving Patrick the courage to do what he did - both times!  We were fortunate to experience such a happy ending.  It was a great picture of the Lord's sovereignty, provision and care.

"In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge...

Be my rock of refuge to which I can always go..."

Psalm 71:1,3

ACTS

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ~1Chronicles 16:10

My heart says of You, "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek. ~Psalm 27:8

If you seek Him, He will be found by you... ~1Chronicles 28:9

Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.   -Isaiah 55:6

What would you do, if you could not speak to God?  The Bible says that a day is coming when He won't be found.  That people will wander around seeking refreshment from Him... like someone who is parched, and in desperate need of water... and He will no longer be available to them.  Can you imagine?!

You see, there are people who say, "I have plenty of time..."  They may think that getting to know who God is something they can do "later on."  That He'll somehow "cramp" their lifestyle.  But the thing is, He wants to know you now... and He wants for you to know Him... to get over your preconceived notions of who He is.

Seek His face.  There's not been a single day that I've been sorry that i turned to Him. Oh, there have been lots of days that I've questioned continuing on with Him. but not once have I regretted having searched Him out. And those days that I wonder whether or not I want to keep walking with Him are always met with a loving and faithful response: "Trust Me," He says. "I'm not going to let you go."

So, yeah... Go ahead... Ask Him who He is... He actually died to show you.

Adoration - tell the Lord you love Him and why... Psalm 139: 14

Confession - confess the things you know are wrong and receive His forgiveness... 1John 1:9

Thanksgiving - thank Him for what you have been given and for all He's done... Psalm 92:1

Supplication - ask Him to supply your needs  (for you and for others)... Philippians 4:19 

More time…

Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. ~1Chronicles 16:10

My heart says of You, "Seek His face!" Your face, Lord, I will seek. ~Psalm 27:8

If you seek Him, He will be found by you... ~1Chronicles 28:9

Let's Pray…

Dear Lord,help me to respond when You call to me.  Nothing I do is because I'm righteous or good.  Help me to recognize that it is by Your grace that I accomplish anything good at all.  I want to know You better every day of my life.

Now what?...

Write out your response to each of these questions:  Who's your best friend?  When was the last time you spoke?  What did you talk about?  Can you imagine how long that friendship would last if one of you decided to never speak to the other again?... How often do you speak with God?

Pride and the Scarlet Letter

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. -Proverbs 11:2

In The Scarlet Letter, a young woman is forced to wear a letter on her clothing that stands for the sin she's committed - so everyone can see it.  I've thought of that Scarlet Letter when it comes to my pride. The Bible says pride is sin. Maybe I should be wearing a big red "P" on my shirt. As I walk with Jesus, though, I realize the dangers of pride and I yank the stupid thing off and throw it away.  I don't want to be arrogant, so I repent. So often, though, I don't realize that I've really just traded the large "P" for a smaller one that I keep tucked in my pocket.  I've traded worldly pride (which is "so obvious" and "so ugly") for what seems to behave much more appropriately: pride in my walk, my growth, my insight, etc… Yuck!

I usually don't realize that I've puffed myself up until the Lord has seen fit to let my air out! A trial or a pain comes along to show me just how human I am.  I've hurt someone with my attitude, and I realize how much I need Jesus. Every once in a while, I see that letter sticking out of my pocket and repentance saves me from a shock wave. 

Knowing that I'll never be perfect this side of heaven, I'm almost grateful for the sin of pride. It's something I have to deal with on a daily basis.  Humility puts other people first, I struggle with that. Do you? Each one of us has been called to die, every day, to ourselves. Every day, I am to lay myself (my SELF) at the cross of Christ.  That's the only thing that will keep me completely dependent on the Lord (eyes on Him - not me!) each and every day.  

More time…

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceeds the evil thoughts,...as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.  -Mark 7:21...-24

…(P)raise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything He does is right and all His ways are just.  And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.  -Daniel 4:37

All of you, clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time.  -1Peter 5:5-6

Pray…

Dear Lord, please take away the pride of my heart.  Help to me remember, every day, that what I have and what I know comes from You.  I want to give You the credit, and not take it for myself.  Thank You for everything You've given me..  In Jesus' name.  Amen. 

Now what?...

What are some of the things you are proud of?

Is there a difference between "good" pride and "bad" pride?

How can pride be dangerous?  How is humility an appealing characteristic?

Word Challenge...

Look up the words humility and pride, and write down your thoughts on the differences.

Alice in Wonderland

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."   -Luke 13:24

Something sort of crazy happened as I was reading this passage in Luke (13:23-30).  I had a picture in my mind of a doorway, and lots of people coming to enter through it - thousands of people, coming from every direction.  I was supposed to go through the door, too.  I thought of Alice in Wonderland.  And how she was supposed to fit through that tiny door, but she was so big.  Like Alice, I would drink from the bottle and be reduced to just the right size to fit through the door.  It's what all the other people who would fit had discovered, too.  (Oh! And what a beautiful Garden awaited Alice through that door!)

There were others who tried to get through.  But they were so puffed up (with themselves) that they would never fit.  Others refused to let go of all the things the world had to offer.  Those who thought they knew the owner of the house had pride and service and gifts (or so they thought).  They found themselves to be more important and took themselves far too seriously.  Oh, but I could be like them!  It's as easy as taking a bite from a cookie.  A couple nibbles is all it takes to blow up to the size of a house!  The roof would be drawn as my hair, and each foot would extend from a doorway all its own.

Ok, so Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, knowing that He will die on the cross, and He says, "...enter through the narrow door."  What does He mean?  Drinking from that bottle - living water, Jesus calls it - means dying to myself.  That's not easy.  Making myself smaller in my own eyes, and not becoming puffed up with all that He has made me to be.  Or that I think I'm supposed to be.  It also means not giving in to the temptations that are all around me.  We are being made new, and He is doing an awesome work in my life.  He is truly wonderful!

More time…

Read Luke 13:23-30

If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it.   -Matt.16:24-25

…but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.  Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.  -John 4:14

Let's Pray…

Dear Lord, help me to be aware of the kind of person You're calling me to be.  Let me not be consumed with my own importance.  Please also let me not give in to the temptations I face every day.  Remind me of the wonder of who You are, and how You're able to get me exactly where You want me to be.  I love You, Lord.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Now what?...

What ways are you tempted to think of yourself more highly than you should?  Or...

What are some of the personal temptations that you're facing this week?

Write out a prayer confessing these things to God, asking Him to forgive you, and to help you stand in the truth.

The Lord is...

Psalm 23

The LORD is my shepherd, (overseer)
I shall not want. (provider)
He makes me lie down in green pastures; (sympathizer)
He leads me beside quiet waters. (encourager)
He restores my soul: (calm assurance giver)
He guides me in the paths of righteousness (holy leader)
For His name's sake. (one who regards reputation)

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (conqueror, comforter)
I fear no evil, for You are with me; (mighty protector)
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (disciplinarian)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (righteous judge, sustainer)
You have anointed my head with oil; (elector, sanctifier)
My cup overflows.  (generous giver)

Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, (true and faithful lover)
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (eternal life giver)

The LORD is... my Shepherd.

Side note

There are so many things I want this blog to be:

• Encouragement
• A witness
• Life
• Truth
• Convicting
• Inspiring
• A blessing
• A means of growth
• A means of knowing God more fully

Yet, I'm so erratic and unfaithful that it seems it is more likely to be:

• An unfinished project.

Or, maybe not.

Maybe it will be what it is to be as a testimony to what God can do with each and every small act of faith we express... or expend.

Today, I'm going to compile and post many previous writings.  My hope is to provide the means to finish a simple gift for a special group of young ladies. (For each of them to use in any way they see fit.) After which, I may come back and reorganize... We'll see.

*wink*

A New Heart

the last time i checked,

GOD was in control.

but then, i made a move.
it wasn't a good move.

it was something that came from out of nowhere.

or, maybe...
somewhere down below.

deep down within my soul.

somewhere hidden, and foul (quite frankly).

so now what?

do i hand it back?

do i turn around?

what do i do?

Lord, can You help me?

will You help me?

control is not good in my hands.

 

my hands aren't wise.

my heart isn't pure.

will You make me new?

His response.....

"I will give (you) an undivided heart and put a new spirit in (you);

I will remove (your) heart of stone and give (you) a heart of flesh. 

Then (you) will follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws. 

(You) will be my people, and I will be (your) God." 

~ezekiel 11:19-20

By way of reminder, the Lord responds to me, restoring my heart and mind as I call out to Him.  That undivided heart and new spirit was given to me on the day I gave in to His call to love Him completely.  To trust Him with my life. (the same is true for you!)  My heart of stone was changed to a heart of flesh.  A heart that was set free to love and to be loved.  "Now go," He says, "and sin no more." (John 8:11)

Eternity

He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the hearts of men… -Ecclesiastes 3:11

She was a really strange lady. I was 18, and working in a department store. She would come into the sportswear department looking for clothing of white linen. All white. All linen. She said it was the only thing she could wear because it was what God wanted (or something like that.) I don't think she ever really tried to convert us, but something in her eyes made us feel like she thought we should join her. I remember the girl I worked with once asked me what I thought of her. I thought she was a nice enough lady. My co-worker asked me if I believed what she said was true (about God.) I remember I shrugged her off saying, "I believe *she* believes it."

Hope

Hope is being broken beyond repair,

and knowing that even so, the Lord will make you whole.

Hope is being so wounded that you can't imagine living life again,

yet you live beyond that moment.

Hope is being lost, and you take a step in the direction of faith.

Hope is hoping beyond any shred of hope that God is God and He will prevail

...and He does.

Without hope, we die.

Even those who are at the end of hope, still have it.

It is hope that helps us to move forward, and ultimately experience the reward of faith.

Faith, hope and love...

and the greatest of these is love.

Lord, help me to trust in Your unfailing love.

Amen.

Meant to be Broken

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted…  -Isaiah 61:1

"Everything's meant to be broken."  A teen guy had posted that on his mySpace.

When I saw it, I felt sad.  Like something bad had happened.  Then I wondered, "Is that true?... Is everything meant to be broken?"

Silly Girl

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. -1Corinthians 13:13

Many years ago, I was talking on the phone with a guy I knew. (That's when phones were connected to the wall!) I was a very young woman, and I'd spent my teen-age years trying to fill an emptiness in my heart with this or that guy. No matter how far I went, nothing seemed to really work out. While I was on the phone, I flipped open a Bible my grandpa had given me, and started reading…

Falling in Love with Jesus (rambling...)

Man!  I just love Him.  I was talking my kids on the way home one night.  More like lecturing, actually.  I didn't mean to, but it just seemed like I needed to share what was on my heart.  At the time, my love for Jesus ran so deep (it still does!) and I think it was hard for them to understand why I would do some of the things I would do.

What happened in my life, before coming to know Jesus personally - like, more than just a "going to church" kind of knowing Him - was crazy.  I was doing so many thing that were just... wrong.  Not because someone said it was wrong, but because I knew in my heart that it wasn't good for me.  Or for anyone else, for that matter.  I wasn't proud of the things I was doing.  (that's your first clue, btw) 
 
Then I prayed in a little bitty church, with my sister by my side, and tears running down my cheeks, to receive His gift of grace.  I gotta' tell ya... I was different.  He made me different... from that moment on.  I was absolutely, 100 percent in love with Jesus Christ.  And it didn't stop there.  Many things happened over the next few months, and even years... things that only He could help me get through.  Things that only He could set right again.  Oh!  And there was so much buried from the past.  Stuff that I really needed to deal with, and let go of.  I tell ya', if I'm not more in love with Him today than I was in the beginning, then I've missed the whole point.  Do you ever feel that way?  Like you're missing something?  I pray that my kids... and that most of you... won't have to go through the worst of life before they fall head over heels in love with Jesus.  Do it now!  Make the rest of your life count for Him.  And if you don't understand what I'm talking about, that's ok.  Keep seeking.  Keep knocking.  Keep asking.  He's dying to show you His love!!!

Faith That Saves (part 2)

"In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory." - Ephesians 1:13-14

This, I believe, is also testimony to the spiritual rebirth that Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John, chapter 3. Nicodemus asked, "What do I have to do to be saved?"  And Jesus replied, "You must be born again (of the spirit)."  My personal testimony is that I received the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit (moving in, and living inside me) at the exact moment that I decided to believe in Jesus Christ.  It's interesting, to me, that I wasn't baptized (in water) until a month later.  On top of that, I didn't actually "decide" to repent before I was saved.  It was almost like repentance happened in the same moment that I first stood up to say, "I believe."  It was part of my heart's response to Jesus.

Faith That Saves (part 1)

Question: Is faith in God enough to save you?

For me, it comes down to a simple set of passages that describe the type of faith that leads to salvation.  Did you know that even demons have a kind of faith in God?  The Bible says, "Even the demons believe," but they are not "saved." And they are certainly not affected by the power of Holy Spirit.

Saving Grace

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.  -John 1:16

Think about your worst day.  I'm not talking about a day when everything went wrong.  I'm talking about a day when you were wrong.  A day, a week, a month, a year when your behavior or your attitude was just plain bad.

That bad day?  That's when Jesus loved you most.  He stretched out His arms, and rather than wrapping them around you on, He went to the cross.  He paid the price for your sin, so that You could receive the blessing of His love - forgiveness.  That's grace.

Have you ever thought about the love the Father has for you?  That one gets me.  That He would love me so much, even at my worst, that He would die for me.  Wow.

The Bible says that anyone who calls on the name of the Lord - with a sincere heart - will be saved.  If you have not yet believed His message of salvation, please talk to someone about it today.

More time…Psalm 66:16-20;  Psalm 139:7-10; Romans 5:6-8; Ephesians 1:3-8; 1John 3:1

A simple prayer…

Dear Lord, what a precious gift is Your love!  Thank You for saving me.  Thank You for showing me how much I mean to You.  Lord, help me to stay faithful to You, and to love You back.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Now what?...

Think about what Jesus did to show His love for you.  What are some of the obstacles that keep you from accepting of His love?  Have you fully responded to His love?  Review the verses listed above, and write out a prayer of commitment in response to God's love.  You can do this at whatever level of understanding you have today.

The Words of a Love Song

Ashley Reynolds had posted a song on MySpace, years ago, that spoke in volumes to me, unexpectedly.  This is what I wrote in response.

~oh, ashley... did you mean for the words of your song to speak to my heart as if they were the words of the Lord? that's what's happened tonight. in my despair, the Lord spoke to my heart with your words. He said, "All that you bring to the table is love. And that is so much. That is so much..." in response, my heart rested in Him as He brought more than enough to feed my empty soul. it is by His grace that i am what i am. and it is by His grace that i'm able to give to those who are most important in my life. ashley, thank you for the words of that song. and thank you for your continuing encouragement. you are a blessing, dear one. you are a blessing.~

I had watched the movie Spanglish, and the ending brought a huge realization.  There was a stand-off between a mom and her daughter.  The mom said, in her thick Spanish accent,  "No space between us!"  It was emotional and desperate and true.  In that moment, I applied it to my relationship with my step-daughter.  I wanted so much to be close with her.  But I also knew that she was/is her mother's daughter.  Not mine, by birth.  Having been so in love with Ashley's song weeks before, it was hidden in my heart.  And, at just the right time, the Lord used those words to minister to me as I bled, emotionally.  I was called to love a child who was not my own.  And I did.  I was realizing that I had not been loving unconditionally.  My expectations had gotten in the way.  She was not my own.  There were certain things I could expect - but a return on my investment, when I wanted it, was not one of them.

Love is a gamble that we take.  And in the words of another old song...  "It's never for nothing."  Margaret Becker sang, "It's never for nothing, when you love with no return.  It's never for nothing.  You light your candle in the darkness.  But it's never for nothing."  Lord, help me to completely trust Your love.  Help me to trust You.  Please forgive my selfish piety.  Help me to honor You from this day forward.  Father, give me enough grace to share with others.  Ashley sings, "All that You bring to the table is love, and that is so much. That is so much.  (It really is) more than enough to feed us."  Father, help me to be grateful for the love that You've given.  Thank You for loving me.  May I always be satisfied in You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

***
Now, that same daughter... my beautiful daughter... has her own precious little baby growing inside.  Tatum is 26, and she's expected to give birth in July.  I am so hugely blessed by the tender-loving relationship we share today.  Her dad and I get texts within minutes of the news she gets concerning the baby.  That's a closeness I never thought I'd have, back then.  It's a closeness I cherish and hope to honor forever!

You Love, He Gives

Although you've never seen Him, you love Him.  Even though you don't see Him now, you trust Him and so rejoice with a glorious joy that is too much for words.  You are receiving the goal of your faith: your salvation.  - 1Peter 1:8

Are you filled with a "glorious joy that is too much for words"? 

If you answered "yes," you've discovered something that not a lot of people have today.  If you answered "no," keep reading... (I hope you'll keep reading if you answered "yes," too.) 

Prayer

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice. -Psalm 55:17

Did you pray this morning?  It's so easy to get up and go about your day without ever looking to the One who loves you most.  So much is lost, forgotten, neglected when we leave out the most precious and maybe even the simplest part of our relationship with the Lord.

Stop and tell Him what you're thinking and how you're feeling.  Start there.  Ask Him to search your heart and clean out anything that's keeping you from a closer relationship with Him.  Thank Him for the things He's given you and done for you.  Ask Him to give you a clear direction in how to pray for yourself and others.  Praise Him - because He deserves it.

Now what?…

Do it.  

What does it mean?

At once they left their nets and followed Him.  -Matthew 4:20

What does it mean to follow after God?  

i see a little kid. and a Big Man, and the Man's legs are long. the little kid is walking beside the Big Man...he's very eager. his little legs are moving very quickly, and very closely as he keeps up with the Big Man. as he walks, his face is often turned up towards the Big Man's face. the child looks at the path, too. his face darts from the Big Man's face to the path, and back again. he's asking questions, and filing the responses away in his little heart. he wants to be with the Big Man, and he wants to be like the Big Man. every once in a while, the Big Man picks up the little kid, and, oh! what joy! then He puts him down to resume the journey. the little kid is following after the Man. relentlessly pursuing. beside, and behind, and occasionally a step ahead. although, when he gets a step ahead, he tends to get in the way. so he realizes it's best to walk beside or behind, where he can really follow... and learn... and grow.

More time…

Whoever humbles himself like a little child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  -Matthew 18:4

A simple prayer…

Dear Lord, remind me, again, what it means to follow You with childlike faith.  Let me not get caught up in wanting to grow up so quickly that I lose sight of the innocence of childhood. Give me the courage to ask questions.  Give me the wisdom to tuck Your answers away in my heart.  Teach me not to get in the way of Your plans.  I want to follow You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.   

Now what?...

Draw a picture, or write a poem or short story of what a loving pursuit of Jesus would look like to you.

Write your own prayer describing your struggle, as well as your desire, to follow after God.