Slightly Off

I drilled the hole off by maybe an eighth of an inch, but it was enough. I was trying to install a towel bar that required me to use my left hand to drill because of the location. As I am a righty, somehow I misjudged and the hole was slightly off. When you've drilled into drywall, that can pose a problem as that eighth of an inch may make the stability of the bar less secure. I was growing increasingly frustrated with my ineptitude in completing what I thought would be a simple project. My husband saw me struggling and heard me say, "I don't know what to do," to which he sweetly replied, "Pray." I responded back, "I don't think God cares about my towel bar."

I can't believe that came out of my mouth, and my husband was quite taken aback. He replied: "That's not what my wife told me. She told me her God cares about everything."

With that statement, he was reminding me of a story early in our relationship. I was getting dressed for the day, couldn't decide what to wear and prayed out loud, "God, which shirt should I wear?" Brad then said, "You honestly think God cares which shirt you wear?" To which I responded, "My God cares about everything." I'd always believed that. A God who created the minuscule details of this beautiful world, cares about everything. My mother taught me that.

For me to respond about the towel bar as I did went against what I believed deep in my heart. So I clarified my statement to my husband immediately after that: "With all the more important things going on in people's lives, I hate to bother Him with a towel bar." But I went ahead anyways and quietly prayed, "Please help me, Lord." I had no idea how I would fix this, nor how to even pray for a solution. But then I immediately found a way to finagle some toothpicks into the hole to move the screw over just enough for make it work. I quietly said to my husband, "You were right. He did care about my towel bar."

Now I don't know that God was up in Heaven checking up on me wondering when I was going to ask for His help with this task, but I do know He cares when trials and unforeseen circumstances can irritate me to the point of anger and frustration. He says via Peter to cast those burdens (1 Peter 5:7). A God that knows the number of hairs on my head (Matt. 10:30) and names each and every one of the billions of stars in the heavens (Psalm 147:4), also cares about a crazy girl in Alabama installing a towel bar.

I hate that I let myself get to the point where I thought my frustrations were unworthy of a heavenly consultation. But I'm grateful for a husband who reminded me to Whom I belong and got me back in the mindset of giving God control. Glory to the Most High God for loving me enough to gently guide my tiny innovation and miraculously stabilize that which I could not. What an awesome, precious, loving Father we have.

Wandering

I love to people watch, and a recent visit to Disney World gave me ample time for it. One morning after walking to Disney Springs from our hotel, as I waited for the World of Disney store to open, I sat on a brick wall and watched the many people go by. I giggled as I watched a young couple with their toddler son. He had been let out of the stroller and was exploring the world around him, his daddy just a few paces behind. I noticed this little fellow repeatedly going in completely the opposite direction that his daddy was encouraging him to go. He would look over his shoulder to see if his dad was watching and purposely ignore his pleas taking off on yet another adventure, his dad frantically chasing him yet again. I was giggling and giggling. At one point the little guy ran full on down to a fence between him and Lake Buena Vista. He again looked behind to see if dad was following. I think dad was as his wits end at this point, so he bent down, grabbed the little fellow by the back of his overalls and swung him into his arms, carrying him back to mom who waited patiently by the stroller. Dad just continued to carry him at that point.

I couldn't help think of our Heavenly Father through all of that. We, ridiculous and adventurous, running completely opposite of our Father's guidance on the correct path, and Him graciously and patiently shepherding us back on the right track. And I can think of a few times when I'm pretty sure He grabbed me by the back of my overalls, picked me up and carried me a bit so I would be protected and refocused on where I was supposed to be.

I'm sure every once and awhile God throws up His hands as we venture far of the path to leave us to our own devices and learn from the wrong choices. I wondered, if that ever present daddy at Disney would have just let his son go off and not watched, protected, redirected and carried his boy, what would have happened to him? Lost? Most definitely. Injured? Quite possibly. Taken by another? In this crazy world, uh huh. Likewise, the same could happen to those who wander away from God's Word, law and direction. Lost? Most definitely. Injured? Quite possibly. Taken by another? In this crazy world, uh huh.

I'm impressed by the Disney dad's persistence in caring for his son. Those days are far from over and I pray he is as resilient as the years go on. And I more so pray for the son, that he listens to his father, obeys and stays on the right track.

We have those same opportunities and choices. God in His great love, has given His creation free will. Praying that we have the integrity, fortitude, awe, courage, strength and perseverance to stick with Him. The journey will be far less risky, far more abundant and certainly more beneficial to our growth. I mean, seriously, we aren't toddlers anymore. Or children or teens for that matter. We know better. Praying we behave as such.

Ready for the Steeplechase

Couple days ago I was reading Jeremiah 12 when I was struck in my heart by verse 5. It says, "If you have raced with men on foot, and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?" The gist of the verse is that if you can't handle the challenges in your life right now, how will you handle what's coming in the future which could be far difficult?

I think people assume life will get better. It has to get better, I hear often. It can't get any worse. But the honest truth is, it can. God never promised us a life free of challenges, hardship and suffering. He did promise us an abundantly full life. But our life isn't about achieving happiness. It's about glorifying the One True God. In everything we do and say, in every circumstance, we're to glorify Him. Job was a perfect archetype of this. After losing his children, livelihood and servants in one day, he said (Job 1:21b): "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

We are starting a new year. And when a new year starts, the tradition is to make bold resolutions to be better, make better choices, do better things, etc. But the reality is, it may not go that way. Not to be a Debbie-downer, but I believe God has us go through certain experiences in our lives so we are stronger and more able to handle what's next, no matter what it is. And it may be just to give us empathy, grace and a servant's heart for others going through similar circumstances.

I've played the video game Candy Crush for about five years. I'm on level 2384. And every single level is harder than the one before. I cannot tell you how many times I've said, "This is impossible," and then later defeat it. And I often wonder how easy those first hundreds of levels would be if I went back to play them. But the reality is with each difficult level, I get better. And it doesn't hurt that I have a few friends who play the game who are far ahead of me, thus I'm encouraged that I can beat each new level I tackle. Likewise I am encouraged by the cloud of witnesses who have gone before me in this journey called life.

A steeplechase is a horse race over obstacles like fences and bushes. Do you know why it's called a steeplechase? It's because the races, which originated in England, were between towns, over streams, stone walls, etc, running from church steeple to church steeple. The steeples were easy markers to see in each town through the countryside as the finish came closer. What a beautiful metaphor in this race track of life! Lots of obstacles in the way, but achievable when keeping our eyes focused on God!

I have no idea what 2019 holds. I pray it will be a blessed one filled with new adventures and joys. And I also pray, no matter what potential trials, changes and heart-breaking events come, that I will glorify the Father in them, and end up stronger, more determined, more forgiving and more compassionate than I was in 2018. I'm ready for the race.

Mysteriously Moved

In addition to this day being Thanksgiving and the 55th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it is also the 55th anniversary of the death of one of my favorite writers, C.S. Lewis. Lewis died without much memorial fanfair in the shadow of a horrific American tragedy. Yet he is beloved and venerated by so many. He is the author of some of my most favorite books: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters and The Chronicle of Narnia, to name a few.

Recently, I have been listening to an audio biography about Lewis. About two days ago I came to the part where Lewis talks about his conversion to Christianity. He was a vocal atheist calling Christianity a "myth." He was introduced to Christianity slowly through the planting of many seeds by people around him, but it was a late night walk with J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson on Sept. 20, 1931, that pretty much sealed the deal. They talked of all manor of subjects way past midnight, spending a good bit of time on Christianity. Lewis wrote to a friend after that stroll on Addison's Walk at Oxford University that he was "mysteriously moved" by the idea of God "sacrificing himself to himself."

There was something about that statement that made me stop, rewind and listen again. This is not new information for me by any means, but the phrasing was sweetly simplistic and accurate. The idea of God in heaven being worshiped by countless sacrifices over thousands of years - which never fully atoned for His creation's disobedience - then coming to the conclusion that He must sacrifice Himself on our behalves is overwhelming. An all encompassing sacrifice so that we would never again need to atone: Christ has done it all. Of course, such a revelation would be profound for Lewis. As a result of this realization (and his acceptance of Christ into his life nine days later), we are the grateful recipients of some of the best books of the last century and some profound theology. Praise God for the persistence of Lewis' friends and God's unwavering patience for his lost children.

This is why I never give up praying for and sharing the Good  News of Jesus Christ through words and love to the people in my life who have not accepted Him as Savior. While it can seem a daunting task when it seems God's mercy is falling on deaf ears, hearing about stories like Lewis' is inspirational and encouraging. We can strive on in hope that those we love will one day be "mysteriously moved" by something which brings them to a point of reverence, repentance and acceptance. The end result is so worth it and changes the world time and time again.

I excitedly await the time those on my prayer list come to the realization that our Awesome God, who sacrificed Himself to Himself, loves them that much. What a day of rejoicing that will be. Just as the very day C.S. Lewis walked through the gates of Heaven to meet face-to-face the God who persistently pursued him. Glory to Him!

You Already Know Good

Last night I watched a favorite television show that solves crime cases. It's mostly a lighthearted show, but this particular episode featured a creepy character taking delight in the power of killing. I don't do well watching horror of any kind, so the show had me hearing every bump in the night between nightmares. It was a rough night.

I remember when my parents would watch scary movies when I was little - really bloody stuff - that would give me nightmares as a child. My father would say, "Honey, it's just pretend." But then one day our family was watching Helter Skelter. I remember repeating to myself over and over again while we watched it, "It's just pretend. It's just pretend," at which point my dad said, "This one is real."

Say what!? This show was worse than all the crazy fictional ones we watched and it was real?! That did it for me. I was done with horror films. I like a thriller as much as the next guy, but bloody, torture stuff, I just don't get it. How is it entertainment? It's evil.

When I teach Sunday School kids about that first sin in Genesis 3, I focus on something the serpent says to Eve. He says about the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil found in the middle of the garden, "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

I always ask the kids, "What were Eve and Adam really learning when they ate the fruit?" To which the kids always brilliantly respond, "Evil. They already knew good." Think about it: God had created this beautiful perfect place where all their needs were met and "it was good." His words. So they already had the knowledge of good. What they learned in their disobedience was evil. And it led to death, as God forewarned.

There is a song by Tal and Acacia called Garbage In. The lyrics say: 

I fill my mind with bad things
So horrible, I feel ashamed they'd show
I've taken sin so lightly
That lately, oh, the darkness is all I know.

Then the chorus says: 

Garbage in, Garbage out.
What goes in is found out.
All can see what goes in me.
I pay the price. 

I have seen some television shows and movies and read books and magazines filled with such evil. And I wonder why I wasted my time. Why do I need to fill my head with this garbage?

A book came out a few years ago that is a sadomasichistic thriller with bondage and domination. It became very popular and a movie is coming out based on the book next Spring. I haven't read the book, because I see absolutely no reason to invite something so evil into my mind about something so beautiful that God created for married couples. I already know good, why would I want to know evil?

I think we, as ridiculously vulnerable humans, have to truly examine what it is we watch, download, read and research. Especially if we are Christians. I do not see the benefit of opening up our minds to something that will in no way make us better. And opening up that door just a crack to evil, allows the devil to get a foothold. Sorry, just don't want to give him that chance. There are so many beautiful, wonderful things we can be thinking about and filling our heads with. It's time to leave the garbage where it belongs: in the trash can.

Colorful Metaphors

I remember the very first time I cussed. I remember because I was in high school next to a friend of mine in the hallway. I don't remember the circumstances, but I do remember deliberately using the word to watch for her reaction. She reacted as I expected - startled that a word like that could come from my mouth. As my childhood neighbor, I wonder if she was thinking, "What would your mother think of you using that word?" But she never said anything. Just wide-open eyes that said it all. But I don't remember feeling ashamed. Instead, I felt empowered. I remember that evil feeling very, very well.

I mention it because once that door is opened, those cuss words just flowed out. And I could cuss like a sailor. I don't say that with bravado, but with shame. See I hear young people cussing all the time now. I imagine, like me back in high school, they feel empowered by the words. To cuss, one pretty much has to make a conscious choice. It's not natural for it to come out (and if it is, it's time you reexamine your heart).

Recently I visited with someone who cussed up a blue streak. F-bombs mostly. This was a young lady and I can honestly say I cringed every time she spoke it. Did she feel empowered to say it? Was it cool? Cause from my end it reeked of trashiness. But here's the thing about cussing: it's addicting. After being around this person for a few days, the cringe-worthiness wore off, and I found myself easily dotting my speech with what Spock in Star Trek IV called "colorful metaphors." I could feel my insides scrunching, like an evil waking up, desiring to grow. Since it's a conscious choice, I remember each time I thought - yes, thought - about what I could/would say. It made me sick to my stomach to hear me say anything.

Cussing is ridiculous. It really is. You sound crude, disrespectful, unintelligent and shallow. And the Lord has plenty to say about it. Jesus says in Matt. 15:10-11 "And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” Jesus' brother James writes: "From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." Prov. 4:24 says: "Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you." In Prov. 8:13, Solomon writes that God hates "perverted speech." Paul writes to the Colossians in 8:3, "But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander and filthy language from your lips." And of course, God is very much against using His name as a cuss word, making that one of the Ten Commandments, adding in Lev. 22:32: "Do not profane my holy name, for I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the Lord, who made you holy."

So it is pretty clear how we are to talk. We are to edify one another, open our mouths with wisdom and kindness, speak commendably, be self-controlled, be a person of dignity, integrity and sound speech, be righteous, transformed, good and acceptable. And honestly, this isn't difficult.

The Lord tells youth through Paul in his first letter to Timothy, 4:12: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

These are not just words for the youth, especially if adults are setting the example to start with. Recently I heard a pastor cuss (no, not my husband). He was referring to a parishioner, calling the person a cuss word (normally used to describe a donkey) because of some ridiculous comment they made about his sermon. I was taken aback. He giggled when he said it, even surprised by my comment that I'd better leave his company before he made a poor influence on me. They say the last word pilots say on the black box recordings if their plane is crashing is a cuss word. And in a moment of surprise, it may also be the first word out of your mouth. But it sure isn't what God wants.

In Prov. 10:18 the Lord calls a person who cusses "a fool." He is listening and tells us we will be accountable for every careless word we speak ... even as it is in my case to dysfunctional inanimate objects.

I would ask that you would truly listen to yourself speak and refrain from foul language. If I hear it, I am going to call you on it, and I would like you to do the same for me. There is no excuse for it. None. And as vast as the English language is, surely we can find something beautiful or creative to say in its place. It would be a corn-swabbly shame if we didn't. See what I did there? Fun.

Beastly Green Eyed Monster

Brad and I were watching a recent episode of Project Runway and saw a classic Bible story being reenacted, though I doubt the two participants knew it. It's a classic case of jealously. One contestant - Amanda - in this fashion design show has repeatedly been successful with her creations and has been rewarded as such. And another - Korina - has repeatedly be unsuccessful and thus oftentimes found at the bottom of the scoring. So one morning the unsuccessful contestant decided to tell the successful one that she found her to be phony. The criticism did the trick. The successful contestant could think of nothing else except the cruel comment made by her competitor. I paused the show and turned to talk to Brad.

"This is a classic case of Cain vs. Able, " I told him. "Able's offering is good. Cain's was not, so Cain decided to take out the competition."

When Cain's face was downcast after his offering was not acceptable to the Lord, God said to him in Gen. 4:7, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” 

In other words, "Keep at it! Focus on what you can do well and do it! Don't be worried about what others do. Just do your best for Me."

Instead Cain opened the door to that sin and killed his younger brother.

I have seen this story unfold in many different ways of late. Friends and relatives have shared stories recently where they were verbally attacked by someone for no apparent reason, by people they loved and trusted. I, myself, have had the same experience a couple times. And it's the same story over and over again. The root of the cause is jealously. 

Jealousy is a beast. Shakespeare called it a "green-ey'd monster" in Othello. It causes people to do a lot of weird things. When those people are Christians, the behavior is puzzling and frustrating. When they are not Christians, while it is easier to understand, it is not easy to dismiss.

So what is our recourse to such behavior? Stand up for and do what is right. Love as Christ commanded. Forgive 70x7. Press on in the fullness God has given us. And know that the Lord will fight for us.

To those feeling the jealousy, before you say or do something hurtful, ask why you are feeling as you do. Did this person truly hurt you? Did they do something wrong? Or are they doing something well that you feel you can't compete with? Here's the point ... you aren't competing. God created all in His image with amazing gifts and talents. Some are better at some things than others. But those same folks are not good at things others are better at. It makes us a really great symbiotic world of folks working together for good. Instead of focusing on what someone is doing better or more efficiently than you, ask what you're doing wholeheartedly for the Lord to the tune of "well done good and faithful servant."

In this episode of Project Runway, these two contestants were thrown together for a team challenge. Working together they did as expected - dead center of the scoring. The successful contestant made her competitor a better challenger. She even helped her finish her project. It was class-act behavior at its best. It is my hope a lesson has been learned.

It is also my hope that instead of cutting our brother or sister in Christ down, that we will instead rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15), edify each other, correct each other in love and continue to serve to the fullest and best of our abilities. My goodness, we could accomplish so much more for His glory. And isn't that what it's all about?

Noah: Fiction is Stranger Than Truth

The truth is stranger than fiction, it's said. However, I just watched the movie Noah last night, and after that, I'm going with "fiction is stranger than the truth." I had heard mixed reviews about the movie, so I waited until it came out on DVD before watching it. I also heard it was off the Biblical target in a huge way and to just enjoy it as a special effects-filled movie adventure. So I went into it with that attitude. It didn't help. At one point I found the plot so ridiculous, that I walked away to fold laundry.

The story of Noah is fascinating. Moses tells in Genesis about the story of the flood, a tale found in many cultures throughout the millennia. Noah is described in Scripture as "finding favor with God," "righteous" and "blameless" in his generation. Everyone else is described this way: "Every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually." Yikes, that's a lot of evil. So God decides to wipe out every living thing on the earth, except for Noah's family - Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives - and two of every animal on earth, except for clean animals of which there were seven pair (one of my favorite trivia questions). It takes Noah 100 years to build an ark (think long floating, waterproof box) to house everyone for the more than a year they were on there. It had three decks, and its dimensions were similar in proportion to dimensions of our great ocean liners today. You can read about Noah's story in Genesis 6-9, from the material he used (gopher wood - unknown today) to the rainbow found at the end of the story that came with God's promise to never destroy all flesh again by flood (which by the way still leaves a bunch of other options).

It's a wild story, but Darren Aronofsky's was wilder. [Spoiler alert - if you haven't seen the movie and want to, plot revelations ahead] Rock giants that were fallen angels; a nasty stowaway on the ark; Noah abandoning an innocent girl to be trampled to death; no wives for two of Noah's son's who were already over 100 years old at the time of the flood; Noah wanting to kill his granddaughters; putting all the animals to sleep during floating time; both Shem and Ham wanting to kill their dad; an adopted daughter; Noah's dad Lamech getting murdered (he actually died in the year of the flood if not in it, along with Noah's granddad, Methuselah, the oldest man who ever lived); and on and on it goes. So when I say fiction is stranger than truth, in this case, it truly is.

I am not sure why Hollywood insists on altering stories in Scripture for what they may deem is drama or advancing the plot, but the stories in the Bible are so amazing, it seems like needless change and enhancement to me. 

A friend commented to me yesterday when I told her I was going to watch the movie that she hoped it inspired people to go to their Bibles to read the actual story of Noah. I agree with her, that is my hope, too.Otherwise the movie is a huge waste of anyone's time.

Noah is not a story of a vengeful God wanting to wipe out the children He created, but rather a merciful God, patient enough to give us all a second chance. I have to say, there is one thing that movie reinforced for me, and that is the notion that our all loving God is also almighty, holy and just. It embarrassed me to think about how pathetic we are as humans to contend with the Creator, dismiss Him and disobey Him. Who do we think we are?

So as for the movie Noah: the special effects are cool. That's about the only redeeming factor. I feel like I wasted my time. I've read the story in Scripture many times and never felt that way. It's another case of "Read the book. It's better." Fabulously so.

Makes me wonder what Hollywood will do with Exodus: Gods and Kings coming out Dec. 12. If "Gods" is any indication, I may skip it altogether.

Dear 20-year-old Self

My husband always says he would never go back in time to change things because he is who he is today because of the joys and trials he's faced. I, too, am a product of not just genetics and environment, but of the circumstances that have come my way. I still wish I could change things in my past and honestly could provide my 20-year-old self with some wisdom. Since I can't, I am hoping my sweet 20-something friends and my children will heed what's here, and save themselves a whole lot of hassle...

Dear 20-year-old Self,

First of all, I just want to tell you that when you look in the mirror, you are gorgeous. I know what you're thinking, but you are NOT fat, you are NOT ugly and you are filled with potential. You are unique! Song of Solomon has it right: "You are beautiful, my love, there is no flaw in you." (4:7).

While you should enjoy the sun, understand that exposure to it causes one of the nastiest cancers there is - malignant melanoma. Please use caution. Do not get sunburned. You have a genetic disposition to it. And, it causes age spots and wrinkles that you're going to be surprised with around age 40.

Speaking of age 40, that's also about the time you'll need reading glasses to see anything up close. It's truly frustrating when you can't read the tiny print in your Bible and have to get a new one with ginormous letters. You might want to just start off with that one, because you'll even have trouble reading all those notes you wrote in the margins of things you didn't want to forget. Write big.

Make it a habit to eat right now. Yes, that means portion control and good food groups - not just chocolate and fried foods. If you get in that habit now, you're good to go in the future.

Don't be so afraid. Take some risks. Yes, you'll fail repeatedly, but you'll have plenty of successes, too. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. (Phil 4:13) Don't be so worried about people's approval. Just make sure you're pleasing the Lord.

When you have kids (and you will - two amazing ones) don't be in a such a hurry for them to grow up. Enjoy every single moment of their little growing years. They will move out around age 18 and rarely make it back home. You are borrowing them from God for that short period of time, so really soak it in. By the way, do NOT get that Playstation for them. More time in front of a screen is not what they need, trust me. And pray and read the Bible to them more.

Have fun with your grandparents. Their lives intersect with yours briefly. And they are so much fun. Really learn from and listen to them. Save all the letters from your grandma about gardening. You could really use them later.

I know you don't like to cook, but try anyways. You're husband will thank you later.

And speaking of him - yes, it's Brad, relax - pray for him without ceasing. Wait till you see what he does for Jesus! It will blow your mind. And he ages really well. :) By the way, that thing I just typed is called an emoticon and it's a smiley.

Seek countless opportunities to serve. The opportunities to learn and pray are endless and right in front of you, but if you don't look for the places to serve, you could miss them. The world does not revolve around you.

Save your money. You're going to want to spend it and you're going to wonder at many times on this journey how you could ever possibly save, but do it. Even if it's just a little. And for crying out loud, TITHE! Do not wait until you think you can do it. Do it immediately. You will be blessed beyond measure and it will help in that whole saving process.

Don't compromise your beliefs. You know what is truth, because you've read it in Scripture. The world is going to try to convince you otherwise, but stick to the Word. So much peace and abundant life there. You think Madonna's bad? Just wait to you see Lady Gaga. Yes, that's her name. Seriously. Stop laughing.

You think your memory is bad now,  you just wait. You'll take lots of pictures, so that will help. Your husband will insist that you've been to the Milwaukee Zoo in 1994. Be sure to take pictures of that, because you have no proof and it disappears into the abyss.

Emphasize cursive to your kids. Make them practice. It starts to disappear in the 2000s to the point that your children's generation will not be able to read it. Make sure your kids can.

Don't waste your time watching "Lost" (a TV show in the future). Trust me, you can use that time so much more efficiently elsewhere.

Take time every morning for devotions. I know you are not a morning person, but every day will go better if you start it with Scripture and prayer.

When you find something you really like, get two of them if you can. It never fails that when it wears out, you'll wish you had an extra.

Never let the devil get a foothold. He will try your whole life.To get you to be upset with the little things to destroy friendships. As soon as you feel that negativity, give it to God and remember what is important - love, love, love.

Remember to have fun. God has given, and will continue to give, you so very much. Enjoy it all and be sure to thank Him for every bit of it.

That's all for now. I don't have time to tell you about cellphones, Facebook and flat screen TVs. You will love all three, but keep it in perspective and use them wisely.

By the way, God loves you so very much. Loves you, loves you, loves you. You are never alone. Make good choices.

In Christ who died for you ~ 48-year-old You

Praise The Lord, O My Soul

Last Spring, I walked around Jasmine Gardens in Wetumpka admiring all the blooming flowers, especially the azaleas which were in peak season. I was so moved by the beauty and color around me, I began to sing the "Gloria Patri" out loud in honor of my awesome Creator Father who made them.

Today I had a similar experience. I was walking around the McWane Science Center in Birmingham. I started on the ground floor in their World of Water. I stared in awe at the pike fish bobbing up and down, the seahorses with their tails curled around coral, the 2-foot hammerhead shark that let me stroke the top of his slimy body as he swam by and the moon jellyfish glowing bioluminescently as they gently and gracefully floated in the water. Then checking out the 13-foot turtle dinosaur skeleton, I stepped back in "Are-you-kidding-me?!" astonishment. Pictures of the Milky Way Galaxy brought reverent awe of Him.

I didn't burst into song this time. Instead my praise came in the form of tears. I was overwhelmed thinking how amazing my God is! Walking around the center I learned my God is brilliant, creative, powerful, precious and oh so loving ... especially when you consider He did this all for us.

About this same time, a friend of mine was eating lunch in the Space Needle in Seattle. She shot a picture from the location commenting on God's majesty in the creation of the snow-topped Cascade Mountains in the distance, above the clouds. Oh, how wonderful He is!

Two of my favorite passages in Scripture describe our Creator God in ways that always cause me to inhale deeply in an effort to draw in His fullness. One is all of Psalm 104 when the author describes what our Lord has created: "How many are your works. O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures" verse 24 says. The other is Job chapters 38-41 when God has his longest monologue in the Bible telling of all the things He has made. Like an epic movie at its climax, you can feel your heart beat faster and faster with each verse. Like Job, we cover our mouth and bow to the ground humbly.

Last Sunday morning, my Sunday School kids and I finally finished our "go through the entire Bible" study. It took us more than two years, but we did it. We ended the study with a look at Heaven as John describes it in Chapters 21 and 22 of Revelation with its walls and streets of gold, clear as glass, gemstone foundations and pearl gates. Wow, it's sparkly. I can hardly wait to see! No wonder the multitude sings "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almightly reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!" (Rev. 19:6-7)

The more I thought about the Science Center, the more I realized it was misnamed. Everything about that place proclaimed the glory of God. It should be called the Creator Center, cause truly each room is almost as if God is saying, "Wait till you see what I've made!" I bet it makes God smile when we take a minute to stop, look at what He's done and say, if even under our breath, "That is so cool!"

"Yeah, it is!" I'm sure He's thinking, "Just wait till you get here! You ain't seen nothin' yet." Our God is an awesome God.

I sing with those in Heaven in Rev. 4:11: "You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being." Thank you, Father.

Now That He Has Your Attention

Recently, presidential candidate Michele Bachman made a comment that got a few folks riled up. She indicated that God was using natural disasters to get the attention of the politicians and the American public. She said, "I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?'"

She was later asked on CBS's Face The Nation if she believed God used the weather to get people's attention. She made a comment about not being ashamed to say she believed in God and then said she made the above comment as a "metaphor." Since a metaphor is a comparison, I'm not quite sure what exactly she was comparing. It seems her metaphor comment was a cop out.

I quite like the comment Bachman made about God trying to get our attention, because I have no doubt God sometimes uses natural disaster to send messages to us. He did it several times in the Bible. In Exodus, He sent plagues that included a hail storm. In Jonah, He sent a storm on the seas to get the prophet's attention, In 1 Kings, Elijah tells of a drought sent by God. In Matthew, an earthquake occurs when God in the flesh of His Son, Jesus Christ, is crucified on the cross. Of course we also have Scripture talking of Satan using nature at his disposal, too, as in the book of Job. So, who then, is responsible for an earthquake in Virginia, a hurricane up the East coast, a drought in Texas, flooding from a tropical storm in Pennsylvania, tornadoes in Alabama or Minnesota and devasting spring flooding in Minot, N.D?

Could just be that's the way the earth spins, as I hear many folks say. But it could also be our Father. Let's face it, America is not making all the best choices in the world. Culture is taking us in directions away from Scripture: fornication, adultery, murder in abortion and homosexuality to name a few, the last two supported by our own president. The Bible isn't vague on these subjects. It's quite clear. But some folks don't seem to care what the Bible says. Paul warned this would happen in 2 Timothy 4:3 where it says, "For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." We got a few folks with itchy ears these days.

Whether God used the weather to send a message or not, it's certainly driving people to their knees. I'm hopeful while praying, many are doing a self-examination, asking themselves if the life they are living is in accordance with what God demands of us. And if changes need to be made based on that examination, are we making them?

We need to direct our attention back to the Word to find out if we are in obedience to Him and turn our lives around to be in accordance with it, even if it's not politically correct.

My husband and I are currently facilitating a class called "The Truth Project" which focuses on Biblical truths in all areas of culture. When participating in this class you realize how many lies people today are believing. How Satan is twisting God's beautiful Word and tempting so many to fall for these lies. The American people are being duped and falling for it. If people realized they were being bamboozled by Satan, would they turn from these sins? In 2 Timothy 4:4 Paul says during this "itching ear" period, people will turn away from the truth and turn to myths. What is the truth? Well, according to Jesus Christ, He is. (John 14:6) And Christ, John 1:14 says, is the Word made flesh. Therefore, the Word is truth.

Isn't it about time we started obeying it?

If God is using natural disasters to get our attention, well, folks, I've had enough. And I certainly hope you have, too. He's certainly got my attention. Turn back to the Truth. Do we really what to chance it and see what else might be thrown our way?

Deal or No Deal

I've discovered I love the book of Deuteronomy. It's Moses' swan song. Like a parent writing a letter to their graduating senior, Moses is writing his last bits of advice to the nation of Israel before they enter the promised land and his earthly life comes to an end. He reminds the Hebrews of their adventures, travels and the laws God has given them. And he reminds them that they are God's treasured possession. Then he gives them the best deal they could ask for.

He says: "If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on the earth." Deut. 28:1 He tells them they will be so blessed that they will have tons of children, plentiful crops and vineyards, herds of livestock, tons of food, be disease-free and lead pretty charmed lives of success in whatever they do. No one will defeat them as a nation and they will be indebted to no one: a pretty sweet deal.

But, he says, if they don't obey, look out, the curses will flow. And everything listed above will be in reverse. So, it's a no-brainer really. Obey, good. Disobey, bad.

After all this, God then speaks to Moses - and you can almost hear Him sigh when He says: "They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them." Deut. 31:16. God knows, despite the fact that He has given them the best deal ever, they are going to turn away from Him after they are settled in the land. They do, and things get pretty ugly.

You know, God has given us a pretty good deal too. He says anyone who believes Jesus is the Christ will live forever with Him. He doesn't say you have to obey - though we should - or that there will be consequences for our choices - which, of course, there will. He just says believe in Christ. When I think of the many who will not take that deal, I sigh along with our Father. Because the results of taking the wrong end of that deal are pretty awful and, well, damning.

Yeah, I love Deuteronomy. It's a nice reminder of how much God has loved, nurtured, disciplined and forgiven His children inspite of their failures ... to the eventual point of sending Jesus (Deut. 18:15). When God asks, "Deal or no deal?" how will you respond?