The Lord Has Spoken

"A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord: make straight in the desert a highway for our God"- Isaiah 40:3 (NIV).

I've always known this was a prophecy about John the Baptist, but I had a revelation upon reading it over the weekend (pun intended). The verses immediately following read: "Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken" (vs.4-5). That sounds like the Rapture. That's when all people will see Christ returning. Could Isaiah's prophecy be more than just about John the Baptist? Could it be a prophecy about us as well? John the Baptist said, "In the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" (John 1:23). Are we walking and living in a wilderness? Yes, we are. Should we be telling people to prepare the way for the Lord, that He's returning? Yes we should. That means we are all "a voice of one calling in the wilderness." The question is: Are you using your voice? Because Isaiah says: "For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." When God speaks we should be listening. 

Now I See

"Jesus said, "For judgement I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind""- John 9:39 (NIV).

Jesus does not blind unbelievers; the world does. "The god of this age [the world] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:4 ). This pertains to spiritual blindness, not physical blindness. Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder were both blind, both gifted pianists. They had to listen intently to music in order to become so accomplished. Theirs was physical blindness; similarly, spiritual blindness depends on who you're listening to: the Lord Jesus or the world. It's not hard to hear the world, is it? You're swimming in it; how could you not hear it? Where can you listen to Jesus? In the "light of the gospel." That's where the glory of Christ is displayed. Let the spiritually blind pick up the Holy Bible and then they will see. It took years for Ray and Stevie to perfect their gifts. Don't think one perusal of the Good Book will suffice. As time goes by, and your Bible collects dust, even the most ardent believer can slip into spiritual blindness, because the world never stops talking to you. Pick up your Bible, dive deep and listen; make your time with the Lord the desire of your heart and you will both see and hear wondrous things. 

Making Him Known

"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, Who is Himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made Him known"- John 1:18 (NIV).

I won't say who it was, but I was treated to a dinner years ago by a friend who shared that she believed in Jesus, but that He wasn't God. Many of the world religions recognize Jesus as a prophet, but not the Son of God. The Bible clearly states, as in today's message found in the Gospel of John, that Jesus is God's Son and is, Himself, God. In Jesus, we glimpse the invisible God; the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15). That would have been an excellent time for me to witness to my friend, but did not, because I felt unprepared to defend my faith. I'm older now and wish I had the moment to re-do, because my faith is stronger now. Why? Because of years of reading the Bible. It's spiritual exercise; spiritual armor; spiritual wisdom. Like my body, exercising for a 5K, I have to prepare for these spiritual encounters. It very well could have been that failed attempt at dinner that spurred me on to be better prepared. I hope God placed a better disciple in her path after my silent defense. Remember: Jesus is always our best Model: A close relationship with the Father is key to making Him known.  

Charlie Brown Christmas

"And there were shepherds living out int he fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night"- Luke 2:8 (NIV). 

A Charlie Brown Christmas is 50 years old now and still shown every Christmas season, but did you know that networks had asked Charles Schultz to omit the scene with the Christmas story? If you remember, Charlie Brown was discouraged because of the holiday commercialism. He was directing the Christmas play, when it all came to a head during one of the rehearsals, and he asked if anyone knew the real meaning of Christmas. That's when Linus walked to center stage, the spotlight shown on him, and he spoke up: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rest."" (Luke 2:8-14). Then Linus said, "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." I'm so thankful Charles Schultz didn't cave into the networks. What a treasure we would have lost embedded in his animated movie; more importantly, if we don't keep Jesus as our reason for the season, what a Treasure we will have lost. Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas. We need to ponder anew God's great love in giving us His only begotten Son.

Pizzazz

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it"- Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV).

Have you ever seen a video of a small child who had somehow climbed into a toy vending machine? Once inside, they're trapped and cannot get out. All those toys lost their luster quickly. The broad gate, of today's Scripture, is filled with worldly delights, immediate gratification, and temptations galore. Whereas, the narrow gate looks restrictive and minus all the pizzazz the broad gate showcases; but, it's a trap. The broad gate's earthly delights are limited to the time a person is here on the earth; afterwards, that choice leads to destruction. If you seek eternal life, the narrow gate is the only way. Frances Chan once demonstrated earthly life and eternal life using a long white rope. The very tip, about four inches long, was red, representing our time on earth. The remainder of the rope, which you could not see because of its length, represented eternity. So what does eternity showcase: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" (1 Corinthians 2:9). That's the pizzazz God has prepared for those who love Him; those who choose the narrow gate. Like the child trapped in the toy vending machine, we were all once lured under the same seduction and needed to be saved. Jesus freed us; He is Way; He is the Gate. Wait patiently upon the Lord: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

All I Want For Christmas

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God"- Ephesian 2:8 (NIV).

The Christmas rush is on. The stress for me isn't about the money, though money is a close second, the stress comes from trying to figure out what to buy for each of my loved ones. I want the gift to be practical, desired, and fairly priced. The trouble is I don't know what's in the heart of others unless they confide in me. Then I have those who say, "I don't give hints. I want to see what others will gift me with." They just don't realize the pressure that creates. As kids, we made lists for our parents, as did my children. Of course, children aren't shy about letting you know what they want. We don't have to make lists for God. God knows our heart and is aware of our desires. His gifts are always practical, desired, and price is no obstacle for the Creator of all things. He doesn't ask for lists from His children; He asks for faith. Our prayer should be for more faith, just as His followers did in Luke 17:5: "The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!."" It's a double gift actually, because with faith comes the gift of grace. I'll make a list for my loved ones this Christmas; they don't know my heart. But to the Lord, Who does, I'll pray that all I want for Christmas is increased faith. 

Ripping Kudzu From The Ground

"The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the Word, making it unfruitful"- Matthew 13:22 (NIV).

We have been fighting kudzu this entire summer. Kudzu is not indigenous to this area. It was brought over to help control erosion. It backfired, because kudzu hasn't been the answer, it's become the problem. It covers everything in its path, growing up to a foot a day, or 60 feet per season. The only way to kill it is to find the root ball and tear it from the ground. The worries of this life are like Kudzu in our souls, choking out the Word. It grows exponentially, too, foot by foot, making us unprofitable to the Lord. We have to search out the root ball and rip it from our lives, or left unhindered, we will be covered by it and the Word will be choked within us. Worrying is a state of not relaxing. Find what bunches your shoulders up into knots, like Kudzu vines wrapping around you, and hand it/them over to God and don't reach out and reclaim it/them; allow God to be in control of your life. When you are worrying (not relaxing) you are basically resisting God. Learn to identify your Kudzu, pray specifically for His help, and then give it to God: release it. It may take one, or it make take many times, but keep looking for that root ball. God has the answer: He is the answer.

Choosing Jealous

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me, and my household, we will serve the Lord"- Joshua 24:15 (NIV),

I knew a week after I met my husband, that he was the man I was going to marry. I'm glad to live in a society where we can choose who we want to marry.That's freedom to be happy and to love. That's also a lot of responsibility, because the onus is on you. If you choose wrong, you'll be wedded to years of regret and suffer feelings of unfulfilled happiness and unrequited love. I'm happy to report I chose well. Joshua was laying it out to the Israelites. It was a warning to choose carefully whom they would serve. Choosing wrong, when it comes to which god we serve, has eternal consequences. There can be no fence-straddling, no wishy-washy allegiance, because God is a jealous God: "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14). We all have to make a choice; we can't have more than one. I'm beyond certain that my husband doesn't want me in a relationship with any other man; just as God doesn't want us to be in relationship with anything or anyone that would supplant Him in our lives. We have the freedom to choose, the responsibility falls on our shoulders: But as for me, and my household, we, too, will serve the Lord. I choose Jealous and I have chosen well. 

Muster the Vigor

"She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks"- Proverbs 31:17 (NIV).

The ESV translation says "and makes her arms strong." Before the inventions of washing machines, heating systems, and electric stoves, the jobs of washing clothes, chopping firewood, and preparing meals required upper body strength. A weak woman would be no added benefit to her husband or children. The Proverbs 31 woman is the woman whom we all aspire to be compared to. She rises before the sun and works all day (v 15), not just at home, but out in the community as well, and her lamp does not go out at night (v 18). Idleness is not one of her characteristics. She's the wife every man hopes to have one day. As we women work, 'as unto the Lord,' we have to keep our bodies in physical shape. Disuse of muscles weakens our arms, backs, and legs...and the word "vigorously" is a momentary thought; one in which we might scoff. We can't keep up with the Proverbs woman if we don't exercise. She'll run circles around us. Could you imagine a world filled with Proverbs 31 women? What condition would the family unit be in today if that were a reality. "Her children [would] arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he [would] praise her" (v 28). Christian woman need to be fit for God's service so that they can muster the vigor to work vigorously. "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate" (vv 30-31). If you know a Proverbs 31 woman, encourage her to continue, and if you want to become a Proverbs 31 woman, ask the Lord to prepare you for service and then muster the vigor to start moving.

Motion Sensor

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven"- Matthew 5:16 (NIV).

There is a motion sensor in my office and I've found that if I sit still for long, the light goes out, not coming back on until I move. I could sit still for hours and remain in the dark. That's useful in saving energy, but in the world of sharing the Gospel, being still, keeping the light from shining, is counter productive to the Lord's commands. You aren't "saving" anything if your light is not shining. I pass a house each day that recently had a team of people building an extension onto the front porch. They had a sign posted outside: The Jerusalem Project. These people were God's hands and feet. They were a light shining for others to see. Even now, I can't help but look at the new addition each time I pass by and think about what God has done for that family. I personally know the woman is a widow. This story begs me to ask if I've been sitting in darkness, my light not shining, because my motion sensor hasn't detected any movement in a long time. We are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), designed to bring glory to our Father. The Lord is in the "saving" business: "For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth'" (Acts 13:47). Oh, that we really had a motion sensor to remind us to move.  

Investment in Giving

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"- Luke 6:38 (NIV).

The pastor preached on giving, the morning devotional was about giving, and my Bible reading was about the widow's mite; her giving all her livelihood. I think God is telling me my message should be about giving. Giving isn't just about money, both time and effort fall under this command, too. One of the devil's strategies is to keep our lives so busy we don't have time to give of ourselves. It's easy to reason and put off until a more opportune time...but years later you find you don't really have anything in common with your spouse, your children are grown, your parents are aged or no longer with you, and your friends, if you are lucky enough to have some, are in the same condition as you. The world tells us what a successful person's life should look like, both in our personal life and our home life, but the reality is we get what we put into things, including relationships. Ripples in our life journey can be ignored for a time, but sooner or later, we see the results of ignored relationships; even our relationship with God. Do you see the devil in this? He plans to blind and lead us down the wrong path. Cell phones now tell us how much screen time we've had weekly. It boggles the mind that I've been weekly on my cell phone for hours; hours! What if we had an app that told us how much time we spent on our relationships, including time with God? I bet it would be eye-opening. Let's pray our screen time is less and our time invested into relationships is increased. God's promise is to pour blessings into our laps when we give of ourselves. Giving is a good investment with great returns.

Finally

"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory"- Luke 21:25-27 (NIV). 

Hurricane Michael is certainly shaking up the heavenly bodies this morning. I've never seen a hurricane make landfall from that direction and follow the path it's taking up through Georgia and the Carolinas. Areas are still cleaning up from Hurricane Florence, which came from the opposite direction just weeks ago. With all this roaring and tossing of the sea, Christian hearts tend to beat a little faster. It makes you wonder, if Christ came today, what would He find? Would people be running to hide, like cockroaches when the light is turned on? I do believe there will be many whose hearts will melt with fear and dread, because Jesus has fulfilled Scripture and returned. Those are believers, caught up in this world, who aren't watching; who aren't ready. Some actually want Jesus to delay His return; they're enjoying this life and don't want it to end just yet. Then there will be the few, because few is what Scripture points to, who will be watching and will shout and dance when they see Jesus coming in all His glory. I want to be one of the few, who, with arms stretched wide open and head tossed back, welcome the Savior, our King, with tears of joy and adoration. While many hearts will be saying, "I'm not ready yet, Lord!" our hearts will be saying, "Finally!" 

Easy As Breathing

"The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth"- Psalm 145:18 (NIV).

Our district superintendent is a wonderful man. I know a lot about him: his age, who is wife is and children are, where he lives,and that he's a very intelligent man. I work in the same building with him, but seldom do I talk to him. On the occasion that I do, I feel awkward and later dissect our conversation, wishing I had been a little less nervous; that I was able to breathe easier in his presence. I wouldn't feel that way if I talked to him more often, but time and opportunity don't present themselves. At least that's the excuse I give. This parallels well with talking with God. Prayer is key to a powerful, emotional relationship with God. The more you pray, the stronger the relationship, and the greater your faith. The quality of your prayer relationship with God affects every other relationship you have on this earth. Prayer is a gift that is slowly unwrapped and forever cherished. And one day, we'll commune in the Lord's presence, speaking to Him directly. So, prayer, in essence, is practice for that day. A day that will be a continuation of the prayer you last prayed in this life and then picked back up face-to-face when you reach heaven's door. It'll be as easy as breathing. Let's seek to be such a frequent prayer warrior that there will be no awkwardness when we meet Jesus; because, that day is certainly coming for all of us. Death or Rapture; it's coming. So, whether you're lying in green pastures, walking beside still waters, or walking through the shadow of death, pray. Pray! God is with you; He is ever present and waiting, aching, for your prayers with each breath you take. 

Divine Arrangement

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver"- 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV).

My daughter, all of five or six-years old, presented her grandmother, my mother-in-law, with a bouquet of yellow daffodils. Muddy footprints revealed her path into the kitchen to present her gift; accompanied by an ear-to-ear smile. My daughter epitomized the cheerful giver. I was speechless. Her grandmother gave her a long, snuggly hug, then, prepared a lovely vase for the armload of daffodils. The final arrangement adorned the middle of the table for all to see the lovely gift from her grandchild. What a beautiful, heart-warming exchange I witnessed between the two of them. As we walked out to our car, to head for home, I confirmed the big vacant patch in my mother-in-law's flower garden. Knowing eyes looked back at me when I turned to my mother-in-law. I'll never forget that day. My daughter was a cheerful giver and my mother-in-law was a cheerful receiver. Indirectly, I was gifted by being witness to the love shown to a child for a gift that ultimately cost the receiver. Our gifts to God are accepted with love, but ultimately all things belong to Him. Any gift we bring is minuscule in comparison to what God has given us: salvation at the cost of His Son. What love is this? Our Heavenly Father accepts our cheerfully-given gifts, cleans up our "muddied" pathways, calls us His child, and makes a bouquet out of our gift. That's a Divine arrangement.   

Full Satisfaction

"The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops"- 2 Timothy 2:6 (NIV).

Today is Farmer's Day at our high school. Everyone gets to wear overalls, plaid shirts, and boots. Red bandannas are hanging out of back pockets. There's a John Deere tractor parked out front and many are taking advantage; making it a Kodak moment with their fellow farmers. It's a fun day; a comfortable day. In reality, farming is hard work. Today's Scripture says a hardworking farmer, who plows, plants, and harvests a crop, is to have their share. If they don't, then the farmer is nothing more than a slave. They are forced to work. God doesn't force us to work, but He also doesn't make the work easy simply because we are obedient to the call. There's a lot of lessons to be learned in farming: trust, discipline, diligence. It doesn't come without toil and it doesn't happen fast. Crops are labor intensive. Because we are not slaves, we get to choose whether or not to go into the fields and it's an everyday choice. Those who choose not to go are sluggards. "A sluggard's appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied" (Proverbs 13:4). The "share of the crops" means to be "fully satisfied." We all want to be fully satisfied, sluggards and diligent alike. Do you understand the Scripture? "Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing" (20:4). Jesus said the fields are ready, but the workers, the farmers, are few (Matthew 9:37). Harvest time is coming and Jesus has the sickle in His hand. We are not slaves, but called to be fellow farmers in His fields. We will be the first to receive if we are diligent. So, pull on your overalls and pull up your boots. There is full satisfaction awaiting you.

Revelation

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it"- John 1:5 (NIV).

Accepting that I have nighttime vision problems has not been easy for me. Being restricted to daylight hours, reduces my opportunities to get most things, outside the home, done before dusk arrives; especially, during the winter months. There is a different type of darkness that robs us of opportunities: Darkness only the devil can produce. It's a thick, heavy blanket that Satan throws over us to spiritually blind us, to restrict us from God's work; but, today's Scripture comforts us in knowing that darkness in our life is defeated by God's Light. God's Light throws off the darkness, granting us freedom, but more importantly, revelation. God reveals Himself when darkness veils us; He unravels the blanket of darkness until we are shrouded in His Light. This is a truth, plainly spoken: "When Jesus spoke again to the people, He said, "I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life" (John 8:12). God, in His mercy, covers us with Light; with Jesus.    

Master Finder

"Am I only a God nearby," declares the Lord, "and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?' declares the Lord"- Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV).

When my girls were young we played hide-and-go-seek. I would close my eyes and begin the count, while they giggled and squealed, frantically searching for a place to hide.Then they would curl up on the couch and cover their head with a pillow. They couldn't see me, but I could obviously see them. Imagine a game of hide-and-go-seek with God. It's impossible. He would always know where you were hiding. There may be times in your life that you wonder if God does not see what is happening in your world. Your secret hiding place is not secret to God. Maybe it's crumbling, broken, shattered, and God seems to be far removed from finding you. Today's verse reminds us that God fills everything; He's everywhere. His presence is promised and can be relied upon. Those frantic moments in our life, when we are trying to find a safe place, God is waiting on us...He's counting down to find us and He will find us. Just as I removed the pillow from my child's face, God tenderly reveals His presence to His children. I think the key is to get past the frantic feelings and wait on God. He can see you; your secret places are obvious to the Master Finder.  

Good Reviews

"Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God""- Revelation 19:9 (NIV).

We had circled the restaurant three times, in a two-block radius, without finding parking. Parking in a historical city, like Charleston, South Carolina, is hard to come by. We finally found a spot two blocks away and walked to the restaurant. The reviews had been very good, our mouths watering the closer we got. Finally reaching our destination, and starving at the late hour, we were dismayed to be turned away. They were too full and it would be an hour before they could begin to prepare our food. There was nowhere to wait inside the small restaurant. This incident reminded me of a supper we will not miss, no matter how crowded; in fact, the more crowded the better. There won't be any circling like a vulture to get a seat at the wedding supper and our hunger will be satisfied with streams of living water. John ends his prophecy with this statement: "He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus" (v.20).That statement either gives you great joy or heart-skipping fear. Will you be inside at His supper or outside circling? By the way, the reviews are very good!  

Drawing Attention

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another"- John 13:34-35 (NIV).

Jesus was talking about loving fellow believers. In doing so, the watching world judges us to be Jesus' disciples. Don't we want to be identified as such? I cannot think of any better compliment, even if meant as an insult, than to be called a disciple of Jesus Christ. Scripture says God is love (1 John 4:8). When love flows from one Christian to another, the love is really Spirit, it's God, moving through one believer to another. We become a conduit, a pathway used by God, streaming His essence and power, filling each other up...with love; with God's presence. If only we could visibly see it; if it were bright red; or if it had a discernible warmth to it  It would look like the stage of a music concert with brilliant technicolor and pyrotechnics drawing everyone's attention. Everyone can easily identify there are musicians on that kind of stage. Today's Scripture tells us that everyone can easily identify Christ's disciples, too, by the way we love one another. What better way to draw everyone's attention to Jesus. And all we have to do is obey Jesus' command.   

With All My Might

"Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might"- 2 Samuel 6:14 (NIV).

I love worshiping through music: both traditional and contemporary. My church does a great job of having both. Our praise team sang "Oceans" Sunday morning. Then the choir did an old time gospel that had some of us swaying side-to-side on our feet (no church-wide clapping though). We don't raise our hands or shout out "Amens" (well, maybe sporadically), but we do sing joyfully. Our limp hands are not due to the choice of music. The point of my devotional thought is that I think God loves to see His church worship Him with abandon, regardless of what culture accepts as worship. It's very freeing to let go of any fear of judgment while worshiping. I experienced that type of worship at a Beth Moore Bible study in Charlotte, North Carolina. We all traveled, by public bus, to her meeting, with Bibles in hand. During her study, we found ourselves on our feet with our hands lifted high above our heads, singing and praying. It was one of the most beautiful worship moments of my life; very liberating. That must have been how David felt. He didn't care what others thought of him; he loved the Lord and danced before Him with all his might. Don't think that David's culture was any different about being as judgmental as modern culture. His wife despised his behavior afterwards (v.16). I loved his retort: "I will celebrate in the Lord's presence, and I will degrade myself even more than this" (v. 21b-22a). David was a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). What kind of church would we be, what impact would we have, if we worshiped Jesus with all our might? 

Eyes Open

""Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with Me for one hour?" He asked Peter"- Matthew 26:40 (NIV).

Jesus didn't say, "Couldn't you men keep watch for one hour." This is the first time I contemplated the 'watch with Me' part of His question to Peter. Jesus didn't just want His followers to watch, but watch with Him. At first blush, you might think Jesus wasn't wanting to be alone, these His final hours, but I think He was thinking of them. They were about to go through a very traumatic event...and they were sleeping. They should have been watching for their own accord. We are never quite as anxious, fearful, or excited when it doesn't concern us or we think it's not pertinent to our well-being. But, when the shoe is on the other foot, sleep isn't going to pull us under its spell. In fact, sleep would be hard to find, just as it was for Jesus. Jesus had given them warnings that the the Shepherd would be struck and the sheep scattered (Matthew 26:31). Jesus had told Peter he would deny Him three times that night (v.34). Don't berate Peter. We are all "Peters." Jesus has warned us what is to come and we are to "watch and pray" (26:41). Watch and pray; or will we be found sleeping at our post, like Peter, and the other disciples? Jesus may seem slow in coming, but He IS coming. Don't let His return become a traumatic event, but, instead, a joyous gathering for those who have kept their faith alive...and their eyes open.   

Son #1 and Son #2

""What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' "'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go""- Matthew 21:28-30 (NIV).

I can identify with the second son. We say yes, yes, Lord...send me. We truly want God to use us for His kingdom, but many times we put conditions on His requests, whether we like to admit it or not: it's not convenient, I don't have the resources, I'm tired, that's not my gift, I just don't enjoy doing that sort of thing. God asks you to do something and your reasoning begins to wrestle with your spirit. You know, deep down,what is right, but you just don't want to have to do it, so you resolve that you'll do the next thing God brings your way. Jesus asked, "Which of the two did what his father wanted?" (v.31a). Which one of the two do you want to be? It's alright not to want to do the work; but, it's not alright to be disobedient when God asks you to go and work. Our Triune God said, "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Loving God boils down to being obedient to God. Though Jesus asked the Father to remove the cup of suffering He was about to endure on the cross, He was still obedient. We can pray for God to remove something in our life, but it should always end with us being obedient. Where has God asked you to go and work today? Better question: Are you going to go?

Gaining Everything

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs"- 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV).

Love is one of many emotions, but love is much stronger than all of them, even hate (v.13). We can have great gifts and multiple talents, but without love we are just noise; we gain nothing (v.1-3).  First Corinthians is called the "Love" chapter of the Bible, and rightly so. Love is listed as the first of the fruits of the Spirit. It's is not always easy. There are some very hard people to love out there: they misuse your love, refuse your love, deny your love. Jesus knew very well how that felt; yet, to the end He loved those who mistreated Him, even asking God to forgive them for their hatred toward Him. His love conquered! Now we are commanded to love. Once, when asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22-37-40). Let that sink in: All things hang on love. Without love, we gain nothing. With love we gain everything!

Living Prepared

"Be very careful, then how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is"- Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV).

Every opportunity is either an opportunity gained or an opportunity lost, never to be offered again. Time rolls on toward the inevitable end, where we meet the Lord face-to-face. With each seized opportunity we gain a measure of wisdom, of understanding, of what the Lord's will is. "Be very careful" should not be overlooked or under esteemed. It's not just "Be careful," it reads "Be VERY careful." Warning signs are throughout the Bible, similar to traffic cones, signs, and blinking lights. We know what happens if we ignore them...we wreck! We pay close attention when driving; we need to pay just as closely, no, more closely, to the way we live. Be prepared to act. Like the parable of the ten virgins waiting for the groom. Only five were wise, and prepared, for His arrival. The other five, unwise and unprepared, ended up facing a closed door and the Lord telling them He did not know them. They could no longer come to the wedding of the Lamb (Matthew 25:1-10). They missed their opportunity. Where do we start to gain wisdom? Delve into the Word, commit it to memory, and live prepared. 

Closing the Door

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"- Matthew 6:6 (NIV).

We can pray anywhere and anytime, but prayer needs to be in isolation with the Lord. Closing "the door" can be interpreted as closing the door to all outside interference. The doors of our mind creak open during prayer time: plans for the day, past events, conversations, problems, even what we want to eat; the closed door opens and our focus is no longer on the Lord. We have to close "the door" to other things when we pray. It's a discipline that gets better with practice. Praying about things, big and small, that are on our mind is different: God is the focus, He is involved. It's when we've opened "the door" that we're basically no longer praying. God is patient and merciful. I usually ask His forgiveness and return my focus to Him, closing "the door" once again. Remember...practice makes for a better prayer life and a stronger relationship with the One who wants to hear our every thought. That's the best reward of all.    

Passionate Living

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles"- Matthew 5:41 (NIV).

Sarah Palin said, "Today, push yourself! Exhaust yourself. There is great joy in finding out what you're made of! God blesses your effort, especially if you go the extra mile." We hear we are to give our personal best, but it comes at a price. We have to draw upon self-discipline, perseverance, endurance, and inner strength. No one can help us with this. We have a power source from the Holy Spirit within us, but He is not going to make us keep going. He will empower us, but only if we move forward. That extra mile does not come easy, but a day finished well is a victory and a personal testimony to the faithfulness and strength of the Holy Spirit working within us. Margaret Thatcher said, "Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do and you've done it." You even find yourself listing off what you've accomplished through your suffering that day. Listen to what the tireless Apostle Paul had to say: "We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, Who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-4). Find out what you're made of; let your day be a day of passionate living. God will bless you for going the extra mile. 

Pay Offs

"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them"- Hebrews 6:10 (NIV).

When we became Christ-followers, we became servants. In a world that values accomplishments, people seek validation and praise for the work they do. We want plaques and ribbons, bonuses and titles, with the awards being presented in front of colleagues and friends. We want our family to be there, too, so everyone knows that hard work pays off. In truth, this world does not reward most servant deeds. Consider the following: If you need to be praised for a job well done, who needs to feel appreciated or you won't continue the work, then becoming a servant will be much harder for you. Servants are overlooked, pushed to the back, and unrecognized. If this world is not rewarding your service, rest assured that God is faithful and will reward you one day for a job well done. Hard work does pay off, in the end, for a servant. Continue the work God has given you.  

A Brick House

"Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food"- Genesis 1:29 (NIV).

God has cared about our health since creation took place. Part of His creation was intended to feed us; to keep us full, but also, the plants and trees were to keep us healthy. Hippocrates, known as the Father of Medicine, said, "Leave your drugs in the chemist's pot if you can cure the patient with food." He also said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." God wanted us healthy, because He knew our bodies would one day become temples of the Holy Spirit. "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). God has given us what we need, but we ultimately have to chose between a healthy lifestyle and an unhealthy lifestyle. If God gave each of us a nice brick house, soundly structured, with running water, and power, we would take care of it like our lives depended on it. He has...and it does. Gifts from God are not taken lightly; therefore. our bodies, houses of the Holy Spirit, should be taken care of: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. That includes what we place in our bodies. Every bite we place in our mouth is either an opportunity, or a missed opportunity, for a healthy body; a healthy temple. We will be held accountable for any neglect and/or misuse one day. I say this with love: Let us take care of ourselves. Know Who you belong to and the gift that God has given you.

Give Ear and Come

"Give ear and come to Me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, My faithful love promised to David"- Isaiah 55:3 (NIV).

Another broken heart, another betrayal, another left feeling hopeless. Humans are bad about breaking their promises, or covenants, between couples, friends, families, and colleagues. There is one covenant that sinful man has not been able to break. God made a covenant with David: "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before Me; your throne will be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16). The promise was fulfilled through Jesus and, upon His return, He will establish His kingdom here on earth...forever. David's disobedient sons, generation after generation, would fail God over and over, bringing the nation to ruin, but God is faithful to His covenant...forever. Believers knew God would raise up a righteous, obedient Son to rule the kingdom. ""The days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land"" (Jeremiah 23:5). God's covenant cannot, and could not, be broken by sinful man, nor can it be broken today with all the sin we see in our world. Jesus is coming back. It's part of God's covenant and He has kept and will keep, His covenant. He is faithful. He only asks that we "listen, that [we] may live." God's covenant is with His children, with you and me, and all who "give ear and come to [Him]."

Left Overs

"[B]eing confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"- Philippians 1:6 (NIV). 

Each year our church chooses a committee to recruit people to fill in all the open slots for numerous committees at our church, such as: Acts 1:8, Budget and Finance, Community Awareness, Children's Ministry, Music, etc. The chosen people, once they agree to serve, are presented to the whole congregation for a vote of approval, which was this past Sunday. I was rolling off my current three-year commitment, ready to serve on another committee, but never received a call to serve on one. Maybe, I was wrong and my three-year stint wasn't over. I searched the listed names under each team, but my name never appeared. Like the childhood way of choosing team members for a game, I was a leftover, not chosen. Don't worry, because I'm not, I know God has something for me to do; He always does. Today's Scripture reassures Christians that God always chooses us for His team. The positions may change, but it's always for God's glory and for our completion in transforming us into the image of Christ. David was relegated to watch sheep, until God called him to fight a giant and anointed as king (1 Samuel 17). Amos tended Sycamore fig trees, until God called him to be a prophet (Amos 7:14). Many times, God uses those not chosen, the leftovers, to be His chosen in His kingdom work. If you are sitting on the sidelines, be confident, God is at work in you...until the day of Christ Jesus.

Spiritual Tantrum

"When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?" Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me""- John 21:21-22 (NIV).

Measuring our lives to the lives of those around us can lead to spiritual tantrums. I was one of four children my mother had in four-and-a-half years. She tried so hard to make us all feel equally loved and we were always prompt in letting her know when she was slipping. I remember getting eye level with the cups, as she filled all four with Kool-Aide, making sure the level was equal between the four. Anything less than equal was met with a childish tantrum, but, don't we still do it as adults? Instead of complaining against our earthly parent, we harbor discontent with our Heavenly Parent when we see a fellow believer blessed when we feel lacking. That discontent is equal to a spiritual tantrum. However, we can comfort ourselves that Peter. the rock, suffered the same malady. Jesus had just told him how he would die for following Jesus...Peter's response, "What about John?"  Jesus tells Peter He makes those decisions and John's fate isn't any of Peter's business. Notice, Jesus doesn't tell Peter He SHOULD follow Him, but that he MUST follow Him. There a distinct plan for each of Jesus' followers. Scripture says, "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:16). Your story, my story, was written down before we were ever born. My brother may have had more Kool-Aide in his cup from time to time, but I always got my portion and was refreshed. We must trust Jesus to provide, as we take up our cross and follow Him. 

Naked Branches

"Then He said to the tree, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And His disciples heard Him say it"- Mark 11:14 (NIV).

The peach tree my daughter planted five years ago was not appreciated by me, until it started bearing peaches last year. Excited, I Googled how to prune the formerly unwanted tree, put compost around it, and had my husband erect a small fence to keep the deer from enjoying any of my bounty. Unfortunately, something has caused the tree to wither. Only 10-15 leaves remain on the once healthy tree, and the immature peaches are hanging on naked branches. Why? We aren't certain. My husband added more fertilizer, but it could have been disease or parasites within the tree. Near the end of His ministry, Jesus cursed a fig tree. He was on His way to the temple, where He overturned the tables and drove the money changers out saying that instead of making the temple a house of prayer for all nations, they had turned it into a 'den of robbers' (v.17). On the way back, His disciples noticed the cursed fig tree had withered. Jesus gave them the "with faith, you can move a mountain" message. He began by saying, "Have faith in God...whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (vs. 22-24). The cursing of the fig tree was an object lesson for all of us. The withering of leaves meant the tree was going to die. The fig tree represented Israel's faith, though leafy, the true state of the temple was on deadly grounds. In fact, within forty years the Jews were forced out of Jerusalem and the temple destroyed (70 AD), never to be rebuilt. How is this an object lesson for today's church? Have Christians, Jesus' church, merely been looking good (all leafed out), yet not producing fruit? Has nurturing and growing faith been replaced with "what's in it for us?" We need to look at Jesus' judgment on the fig tree and be aware of any signs of withering. Jesus' response, to His disciples, was four profound words: "Have faith in God." We need to pray and ask Jesus for the kind of faith that produces kingdom fruit. Then believe it and receive it. If not, we'll be like my peach tree...naked branches on a dying tree. "If you do not remain in [Jesus], you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned" (John 15:6).    

Live As A Believer

"Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them"- 1 Corinthians 7:17a (NIV).

Day after day unfolds, similar to the day before: I wake to my annoying alarm, eat breakfast, go to work, work four hours, eat lunch, work four more hours, go home, eat dinner, and prepare for bed. There's nothing extraordinary about routine days. Routine days may feel like you're not accomplishing anything for God's kingdom, but our routine days are preparation days; days that God is working in us, in order to further His kingdom through us. For example, Moses led routine days of shepherding sheep, for 40 years, until he saw a burning bush and was called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Gideon was threshing wheat, pretty routine for the man who was about to fight, with only 300 men, and defeat the Midianites, scoundrels who had been terrorizing the Israelites for the past seven years. The point is, these great men were leading routine lives, doing routine things, day after ordinary day, when God called them to do extraordinary things in extraordinary ways. God's timing, God's ways, and God's thoughts are beyond our comprehension. While you lead your routine life, live as a believer: study God's Word, pray continuously, and trust in His perfect will. "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14). Routine days are not by chance. There is purpose in everything God does.

Inexhaustible One

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand"- Isaiah 41:10 (NIV).

I lost one of my hot curler clips at my sister's house over the weekend. Well, I did find it, but in pieces after her front yard was mowed. Hot curler clips, for you women who have naturally beautiful hair and don't use them, or in case you're a man, are used to hold hot rollers in your hair for at least 15-20 minutes to give your hair some body. The loss of the clip seems minuscule, but then, what's to hold the roller in place without the clip? You may wonder what I did this morning; well, I held the curler in place, switching arms as each tired from being held up high when the blood drained down to my elbows. It was a funny sight, even to myself. The pain we ladies go through to make ourselves look as pretty as possible! Ha! Today's message made me realize how weak our own strength is in upholding ourselves. God's right hand never tires, never becomes strained, and never stops. On the other hand, (no pun intended), we humans wear out. We grow tired, strained, and eventually give up, even with our best effort. God is always with us, to strengthen us, and when our strength falters, He upholds us. He's far better than any clip we could ever find. If you are struggling, trying to uphold yourself, call on the name of the Lord: "I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live" (Psalm 116:1-2). Why exhaust yourself when the Inexhaustible One is waiting to uphold you?     

Don't Miss the Trolley

"Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left"- Matthew 24:40 (NIV).

My family went to "The Island," a popular shopping island in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. So much so, that you park and catch a trolley to the island. My husband and I rode with our daughter and son-in-law that morning. We had just parked when we saw the trolley loading. Everyone bolted. We could hear the conductor announcing there were no more seats, but you could see there were seats scattered throughout the multi-car trolley. We were all darting across the street, but I got stopped by a car as I was crossing. I managed to get to the other side just as the trolley pulled off with everyone in my party on board...except me. I waved as they pulled off. My daughter phoned her dad, who thought I got on with her, then everyone got stressed out. They had left Mom behind. The movie "Left Behind" is about the Rapture; a story about those who were left behind after Christ plucked His followers from this earth. Those left behind, in the movie, were so stressed out to have their loved ones missing. As the movie progressed, some discovered why they were left behind, why they missed their "trolley," that their lack of faith caused them to miss the most important day in their eternal life. My story ended well, I decided to walk to "The Island," instead of waiting on the next trolley. I ended up beating everyone there. They were so happy to see me waiting for them as they got off the trolley. We've all laughed about leaving "Mom" at the trolley depot. We need to be ready when Christ's "Trolley" comes; because He said, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father" (Matthew 24:36). Brothers and sisters, we want to be the one taken, not the one left behind. Be ready. And, if I go before the Rapture, I'll rejoice to see you get off the "Trolley" that day.

Take Heart

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me"- Psalm 23:4 (NIV).

Being a Christian does not mean we are exempted from heartbreak, health problems, relational difficulties, job losses, or financial difficulties. It also does not mean that God has left us or forsaken us. A good friend pointed out that Noah was one person, the only God-fearing person, in the middle of an evil and fallen world. Yet, God was still watching over Noah and planned his survival. Meanwhile, though Noah's life was going to be spared, was he living a wonderful life? No, he wasn't. People mocked and insulted him while he built the ark. I'm sure they tried to entice him into giving up his crazy notion of building a huge boat on dry land. Some may have hated him, because he made them feel "dirty" because of their sins. Jesus told His followers, "You will be hated by everyone because of Me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22). Noah kept on being obedient and ended up being saved, he and his family, from the flood. God was with Noah. He is with us, too. God never promised us an earthly kingdom; He promised a Heavenly reward to those who endured. Jesus' words could have been a gut-punch to many; I mean, who wants to be hated? But, He also said, "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Noah "took heart." Lord, strengthen us to "take heart" when life takes us into the darkest valley.

Siri-less Valleys

"Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth"- Luke 3:5 (NIV).

I used to be the map reader in my family. The map was essential to get us to our destination, since I have no sense of direction. Then technology gave us Siri and "maps" became an app on my phone, not one I struggled folding up, usually stuffing in the glove compartment of the car. Metaphorically speaking, maps, nor Siri, will get us through the valleys of our life: the trials and tribulations we all go through. The valleys of life are not enjoyable routes to take and there are no alternate routes. You either go on or stop. To stay, means wandering through more of the same and feeling defeated. To go on, means there is eventual deliverance from the valley ahead. We have something better than a map or Siri for life's valleys, we have a Reference (the Bible), plus a personal Guide (the Holy Spirit). Thank God we are not left to our own resources. Today's Scripture promises our valleys are only temporary; there will be a day when valleys will no longer exist. Until then, God meets us in each valley of struggle, and there will be many, and carries us through. King David was in the midst of one of his valleys when he wrote: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4 ). On your journey through your current valley, or the next to come, if you see stragglers wandering around lost in their valley, offer to tell them about your Reference and Guide. We are promised to be God-led during our Siri-less valleys. 

Created, Cultivated, and Committed

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made"- John 1:1-3 (NIV).

If you had foreknowledge, would you ever make something you knew would one day end your life? Jesus was present and participated in creation. His hands formed the very hill that would one day be called Golgotha; the hill He knew He would be crucified upon. God in the Flesh was and is in full control of everything in this world and creation continues. There's not a flower that blooms in the meadow that He is unaware of or that escapes His attention. He once made a tree grow, He provided the rain and nourishment to make it strong, knowing that one day the tree would be cut down and made into the cross He would be nailed upon. The same is true of the thorny brier bush that would one day be placed upon his head, a crown of mockery; yes, He formed each sharp thorn that would pierce his skin. He had the power to create anything He wanted, but He chose to create that which would save His beloved. The  sacrifice was determined from the beginning, created, cultivated, and committed, by the One who would ultimately be the Lamb. Abraham's answer to his son, was prophetic: "God Himself will provide the Lamb" (Genesis 22:8).  

No Baby, I Like Mine Hot!

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - I am about to spit you out of My mouth"- Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV).

There is a scene in the movie "War Room," where an elderly woman asks a younger woman about her church attendance and her prayer life. The younger woman smiles and says she attends church often, that she doesn't pray all the time, but she assured the older woman she knows the Lord. The elderly woman ended up serving the younger woman room-temperature coffee, because that was the condition of the younger woman's spiritual life. The older, wiser, woman told her a person's spiritual condition was either hot or cold, no one likes lukewarm. Today's Scripture confirms that lukewarm is unacceptable to God; a lukewarm spiritual life ends up being spit out of God's mouth. We don't want lukewarm coffee, lukewarm love, lukewarm service, or lukewarm comfort; we wouldn't tolerate such in our life. Should God be happy, then, with lukewarm spirituality from His children? Occasional church attendance, sporadic Bible reading, skimpy prayer life, and the absence of Jesus in our day-to-day life are examples of being lukewarm. The younger woman, after the first sip of her coffee, raised her eyebrows and asked the elderly woman if she liked her coffee lukewarm. The older woman said, "No Baby, I like mine hot!" Examine your spiritual life. Is it hot? Because, God likes it hot!

Intentional Listening

"Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put My trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life"- Psalm 143:8 (NIV).

Sometimes, my prayers, are completely one-sided. I do all the talking. As a young girl, my Girl Scout leader used to plan team building activities for us girls. Trying to build trust, we would rearrange a room of furniture, add a few obstacles, blindfold a girl, who hadn't been part of the stage setup, and then have a fellow scout lead her through the obstacle course using only her voice. The blindfolded scout had to intently listen, little talking, and move slowly. It wasn't designed to see who could get through the obstacle course the fastest, it was all about relational building and strengthening. We learned to listen and trust the voice, did only what the voice said, and we made it across the room. Our lives sometimes feel like that rearranged room. We have to cross unknown terrain and we're just not equipped for the journey. We can't be one-sided in our prayers, or impatient; because, hurrying is not wise, nor the most pain free course of action. We need guidance, which only comes through praying and listening intently for God's voice, then applying His directions. We overcome obstacles when we trust His unfailing love and entrust Him with our lives. It is at our most challenging moments that we need to make a choice: intentional listening or turning a deaf ear. 

Careless In His Care

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you"- 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV).

Do you know how you should live in God's care? Careless; you should live careless in His care. I don't mean dangerously, I mean care-less. I watched an episode of Friends where Phoebe went to run with Rachel. Their running styles were very much different. Rachel ran with visible control of her direction, body, breathing, and appearance. She did not look like she was having fun. She looked like she was laboring. Phoebe, well, Phoebe ran like a child runs. Arms were flailing around, strides were not mechanical, and she was smiling and laughing. She made it look fun, because she was having fun. She didn't fit in with the other runners, which embarrassed Rachel, but Rachel eventually tried Phoebe's approach to running and was excited to find out how much more fun running was when she ran carelessly... all anxiety abandoned. Paul compared our lives to finishing a race: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). We should run our race, as Phoebe ran, careless. Run your race careless in His care. Others will perceive your running, try it, and find out careless is the answer.   

Bugs Anyone?

"And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus"- Philippians 4:19 (NIV).

Motion, yesterday, caught my attention. It turned out that the Mockingbird fledglings had left their nest in the shrub outside my office window; all three of them were relentlessly chasing down a parent bird begging to be fed. He didn't feed any of them, no matter how loud they cried or how hard they wiggled. Instead, he kept leading them to bugs and then fly off. At first, I felt sorry for the youngsters, but I eventually caught on: The parent bird was feeding them. How many times have I prayed, thinking God was not answering my prayers; regardless of my crying and wiggling. Here's an example: Our house was robbed in 1986. I can't begin to tell you the emotional prayers that crossed my lips. Then, our adoption came through unexpectedly and a baby daughter was placed in my arms. Amazingly, we had the money for the legal fees: the insurance money from the robbery. Faith boils down to trust: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5-6). Keep praying; even when it's crying and wiggling. Our Heavenly Father, loves us and provides all our needs...even if it's bugs. 

Pressing On

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze"- Isaiah 43:2 (NIV).

The clouds were the blackest clouds my husband and I had ever seen. We were driving home from North Carolina, having celebrated my birthday, when we ran into torrential rainfall. Cars, transfer trucks, and other vehicles were either pulling off to the side or driving 5-10 miles per hour, emergency flashers going, when it all came to a complete stop. Our phone alarms went off saying I-26 was shut down due to 3' of flooding over the highway. Worry, no fear, began to creep in, but we prayed for God's help. Headlights started coming toward us, as a few cars struggled to get turned around and began driving back up using the emergency lane. They had to move to the side when emergency vehicles came from the other direction, one with a huge rubber raft. Lanes were shifting to accommodate the extra cars, because of the risk of getting stuck in the mud off the shoulder of the road. We couldn't remain there, so we joined in with those trying to backtrack from the flooding and made it to another route, though longer, toward home. The next off-ramp was blocked off due to mudslides. We pressed on, but another ten miles down the road found us at another complete stop; this time for a traffic accident. An hour later we passed the upside down car resting in the right-hand lane. We made it home safely around 1:00 am. The one-hour trip took four hours, but we were safely home. Praise the Lord! Today's verse came to mind. There may be storms, turmoils of all kinds, threatening you right now, but God will be with you. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). Press on courageously, trusting in God's strength.

Tripped Motion Sensor

"I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil--this is the gift of God"- Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 (NIV).

"Don't worry, be happy!" The singing carp, a mounted fish, would sing that stanza when you walked by tripping the motion sensor. What did he have to be happy about? He couldn't go anywhere, he was, after all, dead, and was powerless to change his circumstances. Christians, if they aren't careful, will find themselves in that same situation periodically in their life: a relationship or job that's grown stale, not having a job and job prospects seem few and far between, stuck in the same routine for months on end, days mirror images of each other, day after day after day. God did not mean for life to be stale. A stale life is one the devil has had his hands in. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). Take a lesson from the singing carp: you aren't powerless. His is profound wisdom: Don't worry, be happy; of course, Paul put it more eloquently: "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances...I have learned the secret of being content...I can do all this through Him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:11-14). A stale period in your life is a wonderful time to share your faith. What do you say when your motion sensor is tripped?   

Into The Light

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy"- Proverbs 28:13 (NIV).

You've made a mistake, you've sinned, maybe on purpose, maybe by accident. If you hide the mistake, maybe no one will every know, and you can move on with your life...like nothing every happened. Darkness cannot stand against light. Even the smallest light reveals the things hidden in darkness, especially sin. When I think of darkness, a dungeon comes to mind; one filled with shackles and bars, cold, clammy, and wet. Any soul found in such a place would have to be malnourished and depressed; a sick soul. I've heard people express true gratitude once their sin was finally out in the open, into the light. The truth had set them free from the enslavement that sin holds over its victims. Confessing our sins, getting them out on the altar before God, allows His mercy and forgiveness to restore, and heal, our soul. How many people continue to hide their sins and still drag around those condemning chains. You know Who has the key to freedom? Jesus. A sin, is a sin, is a sin. Confess it, shake off those chains, and come up out of the darkness into the light. Jesus said He came to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and to set the captive free (Luke 4:18).  

Under His Wings

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing"- Matthew 23:37 (NIV).

Killdeer, a bird about the size of a Robin, are known for their "crippled" act when a predator is too close to their nest of young. They will act like their wing is broken luring the predator away; then miraculous healing takes place and the parent bird flies away. It works, but some have not flown away quickly enough and became the sacrifice for their offspring's' survival. This makes me think of Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus lured the devil away from us, His was only a "crippled" act as well. He could have called armies of angels to fight for Him, but by His death, Jesus defeated death so death has no threat to His children. Where do little chicks run when sudden threat looms overhead? They run for cover, under their mother's wings. In this life we will have trouble, but we have a Protecting Parent; One that has longed to gather us under His wings, if we are willing: "He will cover [us] with His feathers, and under His wings [we] will find refuge; His faithfulness will be [our] shield and rampart" (Psalm 91:4). What a Savior! 

Bumper Sticker Shock

"And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other"- Matthew 24:31 (NIV). 

Have you ever had a valuable coupon that you saved, only to finally pull it out to redeem it, and discover the coupon had expired? You had saved it until you needed it, knowing that it would make a difference, but sadly you had missed the savings you had waited for. Those expiration dates can slip up on you. I saw a bumper sticker, once, that I really liked, even though I don't like bumper stickers as a whole. It said "In case of Rapture, this vehicle will be unmanned." The only person who would read that sticker, in the case the Rapture had taken place, would be someone who had been left behind. That bumper sticker should be a sobering message to those who have not believed and accepted Jesus as Lord; who have not accepted the saving grace only He can give. The Rapture's expiration date will have passed by if a person is reading that bumper sticker. For believers and watchers of that glorious expiration date, we sing along with Louis Armstrong: "Oh when the trumpet sounds the call, Oh when the trumpet sounds the call, Oh Lord I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in." Forgiveness is the valuable saving we all need; saving, only if we turn the coupon into the Redeemer who issued it. Coupons retain their value until they are redeemed or until their expiration date. Believers, those who have redeemed their Rapture coupon, can confidently say our Redeemer is coming. Are you ready for the trumpet call or will you be suffering "bumper sticker" shock?

Nestled in His Hand

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand"- Isaiah 41:10 (NIV).

There are some scary things we do that are of our own making like parachuting out of an airplane or our first time public speaking; however, life sometimes deals us a hand we have no control over that creates holes in the dam that holds back our fear and anxiety; especially if the consequences are weighty. Most of us cannot identify with these extremes. I'm happy for you, but those who have endured such levels of fear and anxiety emerge from the fire stronger and with a greater sense of God's presence and delivery. The Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, of Daniel 3, could not have been the same three men who emerged from the blazing furnace King Nebuchadnezzar had stoked seven times hotter than usual. Were they alone in that furnace? They were not. "[King Nebuchadnezzar] said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods" (Daniel 3:25). God upheld them with His righteous right hand. Lord, we want to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, but fear the fire. Please give us courage when it is needed and faith that, when we emerge, we will find ourselves nestled in Your hand. 

To Give or Not to Give

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves"- Romans 15:1 (NIV).

People who always have their hands out target Christians and Christians may feel they're walking around with a target on their back, being milked of their resources and time. The Bible tells us three things: We are called to be generous and to help others, but, we are not required to give in all situations, and, lastly, we should rebuke those who sinfully take advantage of people, or mismanage their resources. Christians are taught to be generous and that more will be given back to us, the measure overflowing (Proverbs 11:24), but, we should weigh whether the request is a need or a want. God intends for people to provide for themselves and their family's needs first, not mismanaging resources and then begging for what was truly needed (1 Timothy 5:8). And as importantly, we are to rebuke those who do not work: "For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat"" (1 Thessalonians 3:10). We aren't to be accomplices to laziness or slothfulness. We've seen brothers and sisters-in-Christ who have a real need and we've jumped right in to help, never doubting if it was the right decision. We need to listen to the Holy Spirit. He'll help us determine need from want.

Solid Foundation

"[T]hen make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind"- Philippians 2:2 (NIV).

I was gifted with a vining rose bush that has become the behemoth of rose bushes. It's a beast. My husband just sent a picture of two early blossoms appearing this morning. That's just a promise of the beauty yet to come. Those two blossoms get some special notice, but the main show is when they all bloom at the same time. The unity is breathtaking. We left up a section of fencing so the vine has a solid foundation to train down. It takes a little coxing to make it stay on the fence at times, a stray vine wandering here and there, but it's a labor of love. You just have to be forgiving of those beastly thorns. Like the mass bloom of rose blossoms, the unity of believers is beautiful: 'being one in spirit and of one mind'. There's love in unity, joy in unity, peace in unity, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in unity. All nine fruits of the spirit bloom from unity. There will always be a stray vine here and there, but we weave that stray back in and forgive any pain the thorns may have caused, plus unity attracts others to take root, or be grafted in, making our joy even more complete. Like the unity of my blooming rose, unity of believers, in spirit and mind, is built upon a solid foundation. A fence for the behemoth; a Solid Rock for believers. 

Unexpected Strength

"I can do all this through Him who gives me strength"- Philippians 4:13 (NIV).

The car in front of me this morning had a sticker on the back window with Philippians 4:13. It was the perfect Scripture for my morning, having just completed a week of work requiring physical strength (which I have little of). The work included pushing, pulling, and moving heavy boxes of testing materials. Taking Scripture to heart, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters" (Colossians 3:23), I rolled up my sleeves and put my shoulder into the work. It was tempting to complain: this does not fall under my job description, I'm too old for this, my education is in educational leadership, not box handling...bottom line I would have been complaining against God, Who placed me there, dishonoring Him, and self-placing myself above such a menial job. I'm so glad I had the chance to work with the other "box handlers" and that I didn't miss out on our conversations about God's grace, love, and provision, while Christian music played in the background. It was a week of sweet communion. Another verse from Philippians serves our purpose here: [Jesus] emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant...He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death" (vs. 7-8). This has been a humbling week, filled with unexpected blessings, and unexpected strength, that I'm very thankful for Father.

Invitation Couriers

"The couriers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun, but people scorned and ridiculed them"- 2 Chronicles 30:10 (NIV).

When is the last time you invited someone to church? Hezekiah was trying to reestablish the celebration of Passover and sent out couriers inviting all of Judah, plus any of the remnant left in Israel after the Assyrians carried most of them off. This would bring the two kingdoms back together, since their split following Solomon's rule. Nevertheless, a large crowd assembled for the Festival of Unleavened Bread (vs. 11,13). The couriers suffered some scorn and ridicule at the invitation to come and worship God, yet they were obedient to their king. It's amazing how relevant the Bible is today. Our King wants us to invite people to worship, too; yes, we could possibly suffer the same scorn and ridicule. Fear turns some hearts timid to offering the invitation; however, we are to be obedient to our King. Just as Hezekiah had his celebration, we will too, but the harvest comes from God: "In Judah the Hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the Word of the Lord" (v. 12). We are God's couriers of an invitation to come worship Him. Invite someone to church this Sunday.

Finding Your Way

"Desire without knowledge is not good--how much more will hasty feet miss the way!"- Proverbs 19:2 (NIV).

Quick: Whose slogan is "Have it your way?" They did away with their 40-year old slogan, May 19, 2014, and launched a new slogan: "Be Your Way." Their revenue is projected to be $250 billion by 2020. Last year, Burger King was the most valuable fast food brand worldwide. Today's Scripture might be overlooked as simple, but it is profound when fleshed out. It espouses the benefits of seeking wisdom and patiently trusting Jesus. We are a generation of wanting the "easy" and the "immediate," like a fast food drive through, but we forfeit desires and lose our way. We will never "Be Our Way." Our desires can only be found in taking delight in the Lord (Psalm 37:4). Our way is assured only when we commit it to the Lord, trusting Him (Psalm 37:5). All of life is centered around Jesus. That's worth repeating: All of life is centered around Jesus. He told us, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).  Jesus is not a fast food drive through. Delight yourself in the Lord and commit your way to Him, then you will have the desires of your heart and will not lose your way. Your way is found only in Jesus.

Mutual Acceptance

"Jesus answered him, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise"- Luke 23:43 (NIV).

What is the best thing anyone has ever said to you? Was it a declaration of love, proposal of marriage, the coming of a new baby? Maybe it was hearing you got the job of your dreams, the house you always wanted, or that your illness or disease was gone. The thief on the cross, crucified beside Jesus, can easily answer that question: "Truly I tell you, today you will be with Me in paradise." Actually, the answer for the thief is the same answer every believer can share. When we take our final breath we will be with Jesus in paradise. The two most powerful words are "with Jesus." The promise of eternal life, with Jesus, is overwhelmingly the best thing anyone could ever hope for, and it's ours, freely given. We only need to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. I'm sure if Jesus were asked what the best thing anyone could ever say to Him would be, "I accept You as my Lord and Savior." Speak it out loud right now and feel the peace and joy radiate through you. That's powerful. That's mutual acceptance. 

Micromanager Confession

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails"- Proverbs 19:21 (NIV).

I have a confession to make: I am a micromanager. Not just of myself, but everyone and everything I have any influence over. This sin is a thorn in my side and I pray God will remove it, because I sure haven't had any success in doing so on my own. Micromanaging is how I internalize making the people and things I love safe and secure. which, in turn, keeps me from pain and hardship. I called the thorn a sin, because micromanaging is lack of faith. I'm one of the disciples, in the boat tossed by the violent storm, while Jesus slept on a pillow in the stern, one of the disciples who doubted Jesus could feed 4,000, when we had just seen Him feed 5,000, one of the disciples who thought all hope was lost after Jesus was crucified and buried, though He had told us He would rise from the dead. The sea was calmed, the 4,000 were fed, and Jesus rose from the grave. "What a wretched [person] I am! Who will rescue me from this body" (Romans 7:24)? The good news is that Jesus saves, He rescues us, He is the answer. We are in good company if the apostles bore the same thorn we all bear. Listen to God: "Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please'" (Isaiah 46:9-10). Take heart, the Lord's purpose will prevail.