Life Along THE WAY

Fasting: What's it all about

2012-01-26T15:02:00.002-06:00

Well folks, I survived. Hubby did too. I'm talking about our 10-day Daniel fast. We, along with our church family, went on a fast to seek a deeper walk with God and to be prepared for whatever He has in store for us in 2012. The fast came to an end yesterday, culminating in one of the most amazing prayer services I've ever been part of. Here is a picture of the service last night, with Pastor Joe Champion of Celebration Church leading us in an outline of ten prayer promises from Leviticus 26:1-3: Provision, Purpose, Peace, Protection, Productivity, Permanence, Possibilities, Presence, Partnership and Power. It was a great night of intense worship, with arms and faces lifted toward heaven, followed by communion. Really, really beautiful. I am ready to see God move in our lives!!

Fasting is an age-old practice. In Leviticus 16:29-31 God institutes the Day of Atonement fast, which he calls a "lasting ordinance." It was a time of denial so God could cleanse Israel from sin. It became known as "the Fast" (Acts 27:9) and Jews today call it "Yom Kippur." They observe it by fasting for a 25-hour period, with intense prayer and often spending the day in the synagogue. The Bible records people like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, David and Paul fasting. The most famous fast is that of Jesus when he spent 40 days in the desert without food, being tempted by the devil. The fact that Jesus himself fasted tells me how important the act of denying oneself is in God's eyes. Clearly, fasting is something believers are supposed to do.

Although the Day of Atonement is the only fast actually called for by God, people have always fasted for a lot of different reasons. It was done in groups (Judges 20:26, 1 Samuel 7:6, Acts 13:1-3, Acts 14:21-23) or by individuals. It was done in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus, however, made it perfectly clear in Matthew 6:16-18 that fasting was not to be a religious ritual. When a person felt led to fast, they weren't supposed to make it about themselves by telling everyone they're fasting or making it obvious, but rather it was to be done "in secret." He says the same thing about prayer in Matthew 6:5-8. I told you about my fast because it was a church-wide fast. Actually, it was a world-wide fast in association with www.awake21.org. People all over the world are seeking God through fasting and I wanted to share that with you. Not to brag on myself or even on my church, but because something really great is going on in the lives of the Body of Christ. But let me be clear: If I felt God ask me to do a fast privately, I would absolutely keep it private. Just between me and God. I wouldn't even tell my husband unless he specifically asked about it. Even when fasting with a group it's the private one-on-one time spent with God that really makes the difference.

The bottom line is this: Fasting is God-ordained. Fasting is God-blessed. If done by a person or a group of people with pure hearts seeking God, He absolutely will look down upon them with pleasure, favor and blessings.

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Sweden, Russia, Poland

Faith: What's it all about

2012-01-24T09:52:00.001-06:00

Merriam-Webster defines faith as a "firm belief in something for which there is no proof."

Obviously the faith I'm going to talk about today is the faith we have in God. Yet faith, in my opinion, is not just a religious word. I think we all practice faith, in one way or another, on a daily basis whether we believe in God or not. We put our faith in a lot of things, including people, money, jobs. A lot of non-religious people put their faith in science. When discussing evolution vs. Creationism with a non-believer I learned that they have just as much faith in their beliefs as I have in mine. They can't "prove" it anymore than I can, but they sure believe it.

Faith in God, however, is different. To have faith in God, you have to come to a place in your life where you accept certain things about yourself and about the world around you. Things that you will never, ever be able to fully understand but you believe them anyway. Take our human bodies, for instance. There is absolutely no way I can look at the complexity of my body---from my brown eyes that see in beautiful color to my ever-beating heart keeping me alive---and not fully and completely understand that there is no possible explanation for it other than a thoughtful, brilliant Creator. I can't go to the grocery store and see the mind-boggling variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, meats, fish, etc. and not wonder at the imagination of the One who created so many different kinds of yummy things to eat. I can't go to the zoo and look at all the crazy, beautiful, interesting animals and creatures and not know Someone had to have designed every single one of them. I look at the earth with so many kinds of trees and plants and rocks and minerals, fresh water lakes and salty oceans, breathtaking mountains and beautiful deserts.

Could all of that be here just by chance?!

The answer to that question lies in one word: Faith.

From the beginning of time there was a plan in place. Read Genesis 1 and you get a true vision of that plan. God created the earth and set it up with everything we could ever possibly need or want. In the same way an expectant mother prepares for her precious baby, God prepared the earth for us. When sin entered the world (Genesis 3), God once again had a plan.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Faith gives us the assurance that all of that is true. Hebrews 11:1 tells us exactly what faith is:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Hope and certainty. I can't see God, but I can see his handiwork all around me. Does my lack of visual contact mean he doesn't exist? Absolutely not! It simply means my eyes have not been allowed to see him yet, but Revelation 21:3 tells me I will one day. That's hope. The evidence he gave us on earth of himself is certainty.

If you keep reading in Hebrews 1, you see example after example of men and women who lived out their faith. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham. Can you imagine the amount of faith Noah had to spend years and years building a huge ark when the only water he'd seen in his lifetime probably came from springs, rivers or wells? Noah had hope and certainty. Hope for his future and certainty that God had asked him to do a specific job.

Faith comes down to one simple question: Do you believe what God says or not?

Noah believed God. I do to. My faith is firmly planted in the Word of God. The Bible is God's communication with us. It tells us his story. It tells our story. Some people will call me foolish and ignorant because of my belief in what many refer to as an "ancient book of fairytales." Let them. Only one opinion matters:

God's.

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Russia, Germany, France, Indonesia, Italy, Romania, India, Japan, Honduras

This is not where I belong!

2012-01-19T18:56:00.002-06:00

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times (just ask my kids!):

"This world is NOT my home!"

I am not at home in this world. I'm really not. The things of the world don't interest me. Peter knew what I'm talking about. He calls us "aliens and strangers in the world" in 1 Peter 2:11.

Well, now there's a song that expresses my thoughts exactly!! It's "Where I Belong" by Building 429.

Enjoy!

The Daniel Fast

2012-01-15T19:19:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow our church is beginning a ten-day period of prayer and fasting. I'm excited about it! I have only fasted a couple times in my life. The first time was several years ago and it was only for one day. Last year when our church did a 21-day fast I participated but didn't make it the full 21 days. In each of those instances I opted to go without food for a period of time during the day.

There are different methods of fasting. One is to go on a total liquid diet, which is what our pastor is doing. You can also opt to skip a meal or two. Another choice is the Daniel Fast which is eating only vegetables and fruits and drinking only water. That's what I'm doing.

In a nutshell, Daniel 1:1-21 tells the story of how Daniel, a young Israelite, was taken captive by the Babylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted him and the others to eat the best foods and drink the best wines from his own table so they would become strong and go into service for him.

"But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way." Daniel 1:8

Daniel wasn't being difficult. First, the food had not been prepared according to Hebrew laws. Second, tradition tells that the food served to the king had first been offered to the Babylonian gods as an offering. Daniel wanted no part of it. He knew the One True God and wasn't going to do anything that would displease Him, even to the point of eating tainted food.

"Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azaria. 'Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.' So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days. At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food." Daniel 1:11-16

Daniel's story shows us what it means to be obedient. In verse 17 it says, "To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of literature and learning." God blessed them for the sacrifice and obedience.

That is the purpose of this 10-day fast. Jesus himself fasted for 40 days in the desert and was obedient to God. (Luke 4:1-2) He also talked about fasting like this:

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting." Matthew 6:16

Notice Jesus didn't say if you fast but when. Clearly it is something believers are supposed to do on a regular basis. When a person fasts, they aren't supposed to make it obvious. I'm sharing this with you because: 1) it's a church-wide fast so it's not a secret, and 2) to encourage you to join us. There is also a world-wide fast going on through awake21.org, which is a 21-day fast. People all around the world are joining together through prayer and fasting in the coming days. I believe we will see God move in amazing ways!!

More than anything, I want to go deeper in my relationship with the Lord. I'm believing God is going to do some amazing things in my heart and my life in the next ten days!! You can bet I'll be sharing the experience with you very soon!!

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This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Japan, Latvia, Romania, Ukraine, Germany, Ireland, Italy, China, Russia, Canada

TUESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2012 UPDATE:

We've been on the Daniel fast two days now and things are going well! Dinner was a bit challenging last night, but we (meaning hubby) survived. Tonight will be better: meatless tacos! Whole wheat tortillas (which, by the way, are delicious with peanut butter!) filled with beans, grilled onions, squash and zucchini, topped with pico de gallo and avocado! Even as I write this the delicious smell of a crock pot full of pinto beans with lots of onions, jalapeno, garlic and such is making my tummy growl! YUM-O!

More importantly, though, I've started the past two mornings in prayer. I mean literally started the morning by getting out of bed and getting on my knees. Such a sweet time with the Lord! I will definitely try to keep that up even after the fast is over.

JESUS > religion

2012-01-13T15:49:00.001-06:00

Exactly!!

Musings of a Denver Broncos Fan

2012-01-10T15:10:00.000-06:00

I've been a Denver Broncos fan a long time. Since they are the only Rocky Mountain NFL team, it left me little choice. For a brief time in college I liked the Oakland Raiders, but it was really more about their black uniforms than anything else. (Hey, I was a college girl. What'd'ya expect?!) But once I discovered the Orange Crush, I never looked back.

Every Super Bowl Sunday, no matter who is playing, I faithfully put on my John Elway jersey and my Broncos baseball cap. I also have a couple old, ratty T-shirts declaring the Broncos Super Bowl champs in 1997 and 1998. Thanks to my wonderful hubby I keep warm all winter in my Broncos Snuggie. Thanks to my sweet friend and fellow Broncos fan, Terri, I drive around town with my Texas license plate framed by a Denver Broncos plate holder and hang Broncos 'candy canes' on my Christmas tree each year. We have a Broncos beanie baby bear and a small Elway jersey my youngest son wore when he was five years old. (Gotta recruit 'em young!)

Yep. I'm a Denver Broncos fan, even when they're losing. The past few seasons I've lost a few bets with our friend Eddie who is, like my hubby, a Dallas Cowboy's fan. (It's the price you pay for marrying a Texan.) One year I had to buy Eddie and his lovely wife a steak dinner because my beloved Broncos did not perform to my expectations. I've done the Mile High salute when we're winning and I've moaned and groaned as I mourned our losses.

But in all the years I've been a Broncos fan, I have never been prouder to say that than I am this year. No, they haven't had a great year. In fact it seemed like they were out of it pretty early in the season. I didn't even make a bet with Eddie this year 'cuz I knew they didn't have a chance.

But then...something happened!

Or I suppose I should say someone happened.

Tim Tebow came on the scene. The Broncos powers-that-be finally decided to give the kid a chance. Did he wow them? Nope. Did he wow the fans? Nope. Even I have to admit his passes are rather, um, imperfect. But one thing about Tim Tebow is that he will not give up! He doesn't let the negativity of the fans or the critics keep him from going out on the field and giving 100%! One of his greatest attributes is that he truly believes he can lead his team to victory, no matter the odds.

And you know what happened? They started winning! This past Sunday night they beat the Steelers in a playoff game with one of the most exciting finishes ever! You can bet I'll be rooting them all the way to the Super Bowl this year!

But as you might guess, my pride isn't all focused on the football field. It's on the quarterback himself. Tim Tebow is a young man who lives his faith in Jesus Christ out loud. Since I'm old enough to be Timmy's mother, I feel an almost motherly pride in that kid. As he himself said, he's been given this amazing platform to proclaim the Gospel message and he won't be silent. He is not an in-your-face evangelical zealot. He shares his faith quietly yet so loudly the entire world is taking notice. As a college quarterback for Florida he wore scripture verses on his eye black. As an NFL quarterback, he is faithful to give God all the glory for any successes that come his way. "Tebowing" is now a common word for anyone taking a knee to offer a prayer of thanks and John 3:16 was one of the most Googled phrases this past weekend after Tim's stats in the game against Pittsburg revealed he'd passed for an awe-inspiring 316 yards.

Yep. I'm a Denver Broncos fan, but I'm also a Tim Tebow fan. I don't know if he'll go down in history as one of the great quarterbacks---he could, given time and practice!--- but I am firmly on his team. I pray he'll continue to handle the fame and fortune with as much grace and integrity as he's shown over the past five or six years of being in the limelight. I pray he'll be an example for young men who want to wait for marriage before they have sex. I pray he'll continue to use his position to do great things in the world, like he's already doing through his foundation. Tim, I believe, fully understands that he is a servant of the Most High God. And like the servant in the story Jesus told in Matthew 25, I am confident when I say Tim Tebow will one day hear the words we all long to hear:

"Well done, good and faithful servant!" (v. 21, 23)

I think I'll order a new Broncos jersey. Tebow's #15!!

(P.S. Here is a link to a great blog by author Randy Alcorn who is friends with Tim Tebow and his parents. It's about how Timmy spoiled Randy's upcoming weekend by winning against the Steelers.)

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This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, Russia, Kenya, United Arab Emirates, China, Indonesia

New Year + Old Habits = Failure to Grow

2012-01-07T11:18:00.001-06:00

I always approach a new year with a sense of expectancy. What does the new year hold for me and my family? What will all our tomorrows bring? As Anne of Green Gables put it: "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet." And that's kinda how I look at the new year. It's full of promise, of hope. There are no mistakes in it...yet.

But one thing I've learned as I've grown older is that if I bring into the new year all the not-so-great habits of the old year, I've fallen behind before I even got started. Habits like eating too much junk and not enough veggies and fruit. Not getting enough exercise. Not spending enough quality time with my husband. Wasting too much time on the Internet and TV. Making "resolutions" is fine--I've sorta made one for this year that I've sorta kept so far--but making real change is the key.

The greatest and most important change for every single one of us in 2012 is to gain a deeper walk with God. Every year, no matter how long we've been a Christian or if we are a Christian at all, we have new opportunities for spiritual growth. Every year God wants to take us deeper, draw us closer to Himself, but all too often our old habits get in the way. We're too busy to spend time in the Word or serve in the church. We're too distracted to pray more than a quick "Hi, how ya doin', God?" type prayer before we hurry out the door. Maybe going to church isn't a priority even though you know it's a place to regenerate and help you get ready to face a world where sin is the norm. Sometimes our own opinions about God are the very thing keeping us from knowing Him more.

Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

Made new!

Put on the new self!

Those are awesome words for a new year, don't you think? I'm going to do my best to put away old habits that may have kept me from going deeper in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I've been a Christian all my life, but it wasn't until the age of 28 that I truly surrendered everything to Jesus. Since then I've learned so much, grown so much, but I'm not "there" yet. I haven't learned everything there is to learn. I haven't reached a place in my spiritual maturity where I can sit back and say, "Ahhh, made it!" And honestly, I don't think we ever do, no matter how long we live or how long we serve God.

Here is my list of how I plan to go deeper in 2012. Most of these I already do now or try to do on some level, but it's a good reminder to stay faithful. I encourage you to make your own list today!

Start every day in the Word! Every. Single. Day!
Spend more time in prayer talking to my Lord. Can't have a relationship without conversation!
Listen more! We often can't hear God because we're talking so much and not listening.
To be like God in true righteousness and holiness. That's big!
Stay faithful in my tithe, no matter the stacks of bills.
Go to His house at least once a week. (If you don't have a church home, I encourage you to find a Bible-believing, growing church in 2012!)
Look for more ways to serve in the church.
Look for more ways to serve outside of the church in our community.
Turn off the TV and read more books on the Christian life, whether fiction or non-fiction.
Share what God has done for me with others.
Smile! Be a happy Christian!

Let's make 2012 the best year ever!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Canada, Germany, Russia, China, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia, Pakistan, Israel, France

Belonging to God

2011-12-31T08:32:00.000-06:00

"Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name..."

You will recognize that line if you've ever watched the television sitcom "Cheers." If not, then it's just a true statement about human nature. It's nice to belong. It's nice to fit in. It's nice not to have to work at conversation and know that the people around you love you, warts and all. We're having some friends over to ring in the New Year tonight. A fire in our fire pit, S'mores, snacks and fun are on the menu. To me, that's a perfect evening, mainly because everyone there is considered "family" even if they're not related to us.

But I got a clear picture of God's family on Christmas Day. About what it means to really, truly belong. And it's funny that it was the ten people gathered around my own table that showed it to me. All ten of us share the last name Shocklee. But as I looked around the table, I noticed something interesting:

Only five of us were born Shocklee's.

Three of us are Shocklee's through marriage.

And two of us are Shocklee's through adoption.

But make no mistake. We are ONE family.

Isn't that exactly how the family of God works too? Not all of us are born Jewish, whom the Bible makes clear are God's chosen people. Jesus was a Jew. That ought to tell us how important the Jew's are to God.

But if we aren't born Jewish, does that leave us out of God's family?

No way! And I'll tell you why.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 NIV

There are no racial limits on who God loves. There aren't even any bloodline limits. He will accept everyone into His family!

"Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ." Ephesians 1:5 The Message

God wants us to be part of his family! In fact, Jesus died so you could be! He wants us to be with him forever! And just like the folks on Cheers, God definitely knows your name and will welcome you into heaven.

But though God loved the entire world enough to send Jesus as the final sacrifice for our sins, only those who believe in Jesus Christ and accept him as their Savior are in God's family. Both the above verses---plus a lot more!---make that crystal clear. Some people have a real problem with this truth. They call it "exclusionary." But God is not being exclusionary. He simply wants people in his family who really want to be there and are happy and excited to be part of it.

If you haven't done so already, make it a priority to become part of God's family in 2012! If you aren't sure how, shoot me an email through my website "Contact Me" page. I'd be honored to share the experience with you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, Y'ALL!!

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This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, France, Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Lithuania, China, India, Latvia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines

Immanuel, God with Us

2011-12-23T20:49:00.001-06:00

Christmastime is a wonderful season for our family. We enjoy being with one another celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But for many people, Christmas is not a happy time. In fact, it's extremely painful and difficult to get through, and many would almost rather forget the whole thing completely.

Just this morning I heard about a tragic car accident involving a Texas A&M football player on his way home for the holidays. He swerved to avoid a buzzard in the road and ended up hitting an 18-wheeler head-on. My heart aches for his family, especially because of my own two college boys who drove home last week. Instead of planning Christmas celebrations, this family is now planning a funeral.

Last month a young friend of mine suffered a terrible loss. Her twin sister died suddenly from complications from a disease they shared. This will be my friend's first Christmas in 20-something years without her twin by her side.

Years ago when I was home from college our telephone rang very early on Christmas morning. A friend was calling to say her husband, John, had died after a long battle with cancer. I'll never forget the feeling of sorrow filled with inexplicable wonder that John was spending Christmas with Jesus! I'm sure that even all these years later his widow and son remember losing him on Christmas day.

It is that kind of world---a world where bad things happen even at a wonderful, joyous time of year---that needed Immanuel.

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel--which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

God with us.

I find that truly, truly amazing.

God loved us so much that He willingly came to dwell among us. He left the perfection of heaven, was born as a human infant, and lived a very normal, unremarkable life until the time came for him to be revealed as the Messiah. I imagine in those first 30 years of life Jesus the man experienced situations very much like those I've listed above. I imagine he lost people he cared about, including his father Joseph. He no doubt had people in his circle of friends and family who suffered from illness and died. Tragedy and sadness are part of life in a fallen world, even for Christ.

Yet Jesus was Immanuel. He knew that although bad things happen, there is hope. There is a promise of something better. He looked into the future and saw Revelation 21:3-4 come to pass:

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

You and I did not get to experience Immanuel when he lived on earth two thousand years ago, but we will someday soon!

Merry Christmas! May the joy and hope of Immanuel be yours!

An Angel's Story: Part 3, The Conclusion

2011-12-13T18:24:00.001-06:00

What was it like to be an angel on that first Christmas? Our story's conclusion...

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I was going to see the Lamb! I practically shouted with joy!

Gabriel and I made our way back to earth. We passed over the same land, water and grassy field where we'd been moments before. Only the sheep stood there now. Soon a small village came into view. The streets were crowded with people, even at this late hour. I guessed they had all come to worship the Lamb.

Gabriel took me to the edge of town. I looked about for the palace. All I saw were simple houses and a place where animals were kept.

"Why are we here?" I asked, confused. "I thought we were going to see the Lamb."

"We are," Gabriel replied. We stopped at the entrance where animals lived. The sound of lowing cattle met us.

I turned to Gabriel, thinking he must be mistaken. "Here?"

He nodded again. "See His star?"

I looked to where he pointed. A brilliant light shone down from the black night directly onto this place. I didn't understand. Why would the King of kings be in a smelly, dirty stable? Why would he leave the riches of heaven and come here?

Gabriel motioned me inside. I took hesitant steps into the dimly lit space. I was surprised to find the shepherds from the field there. They knelt in front of a small wooden structure. I noticed a young woman sitting on a blanket on a bed of straw. She looked tired but happy. Her eyes shone bright as she spoke softly with the shepherds. A man stood nearby and I got the distinct feeling he was alert to every noise and every movement, as though watching, guarding.

I followed Gabriel as we moved closer to the humans. They couldn't see us, for which I was glad. I was confused about what was happening and didn't want them to know it. We stepped into a circle of lantern light and I gasped at what I saw before me.

A tiny, brand new baby lay in a manger, wrapped in cloths. His eyes were closed and he slept peacefully.

I looked at Gabriel. "The Lamb?" I whispered in shock.

"Yes. Our Prince." He looked at the baby. "The Savior of the world."

I gazed at the small, helpless lump of humanity. I didn't recognize him at all. Gone was the Prince of heaven, to be replaced with a creature who could do nothing for himself let alone the entire world. I glanced at the lowly shepherds, ragged and dirty, worshipping him. At his mother and earthly father who clearly did not live in a palace but were forced to take refuge with animals.

It didn't make any sense. None at all.

"How can this be?" I asked. "Where is his throne? Where is his palace? Why should God leave the riches of heaven to come to earth in this manner?"

Gabriel shrugged. "In what manner should he have come? As a Warrior God, forcing the people of earth to worship him?"

I frowned. "No." God doesn't want anyone--angel or human--forced to worship him. "Tell me then. Why is the Lamb here, like this?"

"For them," Gabriel said simply, indicating the shepherds. "And for others like them. Had the Lamb come to earth with an army of angels and set up his kingdom in a palace, many humans would have come and bowed before him. But they would not have come with a pure heart seeking a Savior. And that is why the Lamb came: to seek and to save the lost. To do that he must dwell among them and know life as they do. He must face the same temptations, the same trials and, ultimately, the same death. But when he is raised to life again, then they will know that he is their King. Then those whose hearts are open and receptive will bow down in true worship."

I understood then.

God had asked the Lamb to sacrifice himself for all mankind. He left the perfection of heaven, knowing he would be born in a barn to a humble couple with lowly shepherds as the only worshippers. He knew he wouldn't live in a palace or be honored as Lord. He knew the people of earth would eventually reject him and kill him.

Yet he came anyway! He came because of his great love for mankind. He came because he wanted the people he loves to be free from the bondage of sin. He wanted them to live a life of joy and peace with God. And he wanted them to spend eternity in heaven with himself and the Father.

I looked at the baby again. He was awake now, silently studying the faces around him. Then he looked at me and I fell to my knees.

"My Lord and my God," I whispered.

His tiny lips lifted in a smile. I smiled back.

While Mary, Joseph and the shepherds laughed and cooed over the smiling baby, I stood, ready to return to heaven.

I knew God had things firmly under control here on earth.

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This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, Bangladesh, Germany, Russia, Australia, Ukraine, Hong Kong, Sweden, South Africa, France, United Kingdom, India, Austria, Mexico

An Angel's Story: Part 2

2011-12-08T18:58:00.001-06:00

What was it like to be an angel on that first Christmas? Our story continues....
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Heaven seemed different without the Lamb.

As though the very light of heaven had dimmed somehow. It hadn't, of course. God is our Light and His presence is always near.

But still, an emptiness that could not be filled persisted.

We angles went about our work as usual. We sang praises to God. We took care of heaven's business. With God's permission, Gabriel shared with us about his mission to earth to prepare the way for the Lamb. Angles didn't often appear to humans, even though many of us are serving and working throughout the earth at all times. He told how he spoke with the young woman--Mary--whom God chose to carry the Baby in her womb. I was pleased to hear that Mary understood what an honor was being given to her. I was also pleased to hear that the man who would be her husband was righteous and humble. It would take a man like that to be father to the Lamb!

One day God summoned us all before the throne again. It troubled me to see the Lamb's empty throne. I hoped God would tell us the Lamb was coming home.

When all were present, God smiled. "Today is a blessed day for the people of earth," He said. "Today Salvation will come to the world. The Lamb will be born unto a virgin."

Angles around me cheered. I knew I should be happy for the people of earth, but my shoulders slumped. It seemed as though half of eternity had passed since the Lamb departed heaven, but He hadn't even been born as a human baby yet. He wouldn't be coming home anytime soon.

"I am sending Gabriel to announce the birth to my people. Some of you will join him in the celebration."

An angel stood beside God with a scroll. He began to read off names. I held my breath, waiting. Name after name. Angel after angle came forward until a very large group circled Gabriel. Finally, just when I began to give up hope, my name was called!

We left heaven and traveled through the stars and planets. God's handiwork truly was beautiful. Gabriel led us to earth, across water and land, until we finally came to a wide-open grassy area. It was dark, but I could see several men relaxing around a fire. A herd of sheep stood nearby.

I looked around, waiting to see the crowds of humans who would receive Gabriel's message about the Lamb's birth. Surely all the kings of the land and the important leaders should be here, ready to pay homage to the King.

But Gabriel didn't wait for anyone else to arrive. He showed himself to the men in the field, who seemed terrified when they beheld Gabriel.

"Do not be afraid," Gabriel said to them. "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all 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 the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Gabriel turned to us and suddenly the men in the field saw us too.

"Glory to God in the highest heaven!" we said, lifting our voices as one. "And on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

The men stood wide-eyed for several moments. When they couldn't see us anymore, they talked among themselves excitedly.

"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." And they set of, leaving their sheep unattended.

We left then.

I felt...disappointed. Why had we delivered the most wondrous news to a tiny group of lowly shepherds? Why hadn't the kings of earth been there to hear the message? Why hadn't we been allowed to announce the Lamb's birth to the entire world?

Before I could stop myself, I came up alongside Gabriel.

"I don't understand," I said. "Why are we leaving? All the men of earth should be told about the Lamb. They should all be summoned to his earthly palace to worship him."

Gabriel studied me for a long moment before he spoke. "Come," he said, taking me by the shoulder. We separated ourselves from the group of angels returning to heaven and went in the opposite direction, back to earth.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"To see the Lamb. Then you will understand."

I couldn't help but smile. I was going to the palace to see the Lamb.

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Stayed tuned for An Angel's Story: Part 3, the conclusion.

This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Colombia, Sweden, Singapore, Israel, Canada, China, Russia, India, Ecuador

An Angel's Story, Part 1

2011-12-02T18:12:00.001-06:00

As a writer of fiction, I often (and I mean often!) find myself daydreaming. Just about anything can spark my imagination and away I go! Today it was a song. Mercy Me's Gloria. If you haven't heard it, I'll include a video link with the lyrics at the end of this post. It's a new version of the old Christmas carol "Angels We Have Heard on High." But one new line captured my entire imagination---and my heart!---today:

"How could heaven's heart not break
On the day, on the day that You came?
Salvation's reason to celebrate
On the day, the day that You came."

Beautiful, yes?

It made me think. About what it must have been like to be an angel on the day God made an amazing announcement...

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Excitement filled the air. I and all the angels of heaven, as well as those serving on earth, were summoned to present ourselves before the LORD. Something big was happening but no one knew what. When we'd all assembled--ten thousand times ten thousand and more of us---Gabriel stepped forward and stood near God's throne on the left. The Lamb sat on a throne on God's right. He looked peaceful, serene.

God rose from his seat and everyone grew quiet.

"Today the prophecy I gave my servant Isaiah will be fulfilled." His voice thundered through the heavens.

A hushed murmur rose from the crowd of angels. We knew God spoke of the covenant he'd made with a human named Isaiah, one of God's chosen race, the Hebrews. Isaiah was obedient and faithful, and God had placed upon him the responsibility to be His voice throughout the ages to the disobedient Jews. Through Isaiah, God promised to send a Messiah, One who would save the entire world from sin. God's patience with mankind continued to amaze me. They deserved the same fate as the people in Noah's day, but God promised never to destroy them again. Instead, He set in place a plan of salvation that even I didn't fully understand.

Seeing Gabriel standing beside God, I wondered if perhaps he was being sent to save the human race. Gabriel would be a good choice. He was strong and mighty and God had sent him to earth on other occasions.

But just when I expected God to call Gabriel forward, the Lamb stood.

A collective gasp went through the crowd. Surely not the Lamb!

"I am sending the Lamb to be a sacrifice for all mankind," God said. "Whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life with us."

"No!" angels shouted all around me. "Not our Prince!"

God raised his hand for silence. "It must be so. There is no other way."

I looked and saw Michael and his army draw their swords. Relief swept through me. The Lamb would be protected. No harm would come to him.

But God instructed them to put their weapons away. "The Lamb will go alone. He will become human. He will be born of a virgin and he will grow in wisdom and stature. After a time, however, the men of earth will reject him and kill him."

A terrible hurt rose inside me. I'd heard humans talk about something called sorrow and I knew this must be what they meant. The pain grew deeper than anything I'd ever known as I watched my beloved Prince--heaven's treasure--depart God's presence. I didn't understand how God could allow this to happen, but I trusted Him to know what was best. He had never failed us before and I knew He would not fail us now.

I felt a strange wetness on my face and was surprised to find tears dripping from my eyes. I looked and saw others around me wiping wetness from their faces too.

I hadn't known before.

Angels can cry.

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Stay tuned for Part 2: The angels come to earth to announce the arrival of the Messiah!

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This week's Prayer Shout Out countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, China, Singapore, India, Germany, Australia, South Africa, Netherlands, Georgia, India, Bermuda, Thailand, Indonesia, Israel, Russia, Canada

Angels: Who Are They?

2011-11-27T18:30:00.000-06:00

Angels.

They are some of the most fascinating of all God's creations in my opinion. We read about angels throughout the Bible, but we especially hear about them during the Christmas season. We find them on top of Christmas trees or as ornaments hanging from branches. We see children dressed in white robes with tinsel halos atop their heads in Christmas pageants and plays. We send cards with beautiful pictures of angels playing harps or hovering in the sky over the manger scene.

But here's something you may or may not agree with:

I think most people have a very wrong idea about who angels are and what they look like.

Drawings, paintings and figurines of angels these days usually depict them as sweet, winged women or even babies. They look very...angelic. But is that an accurate description and is it even biblical?

The only way to answer that is to look to the Bible. And since we are once again in the Christmas season, I'm going to focus on the angels that took part in that wondrous story.

The first mention of a Christmas angel is in Luke 1:11-20. Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, is visited by "an angel of the Lord" to give him the good news about John's birth. Zechariah is "startled and gripped with fear" at the sight of this heavenly being. In verse 19 the angel says to Zechariah:

"I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God..."

I don't know about you, but I am awed by that statement! Truly, truly awed!! To stand in the presence of God! Wow!! That statement also tells us something else: God gave his angels names, which I find really cool!

Moving on to Luke 1:26-38, we find Gabriel again. This time he is visiting Mary to share with her the wonderful, amazing news that she is going to be the mother of Immanuel! In verse 29 we read that Mary is "greatly troubled at his words" but he tells her not to be afraid. The same thing he said to Zechariah back in verse 13.

The shepherds are the next folks to see Gabriel, although the Bible doesn't call him by name this time. Luke 2:9-14 tells about an angel of the Lord appearing to a group of shepherds to announce the arrival of the Messiah. We assume, probably because of the two other instances I've referenced, that it was Gabriel. The shepherds were terrified when they saw him, but again, he told them not to be afraid. Then, lots and lots of angels--a great company of heavenly beings!--appeared, praising God.

Joseph's encounter with an angel was a little bit different. Matthew 1:20 and 2:13-20 tells us that an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream three different times. I'm curious why Joseph wasn't allowed to see the angel in real life but rather in a dream, but it certainly doesn't diminish the fact that God once again used an angel to bring news and instructions to his people.

Daniel is the only other person mentioned in the Bible who saw Gabriel. Daniel tells us about these encounters in 8:16 and 9:21. What I find interesting is the way Daniel described the angel in 9:21: "Gabriel, the man I had seen..."

One of my all-time favorite verses about angels isn't part of the Christmas story, but I want to share it anyway. It's found in Revelation 5:11. John is describing heaven and he says, "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne...In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain..."

Can you imagine seeing and hearing this?! Can you imagine being part of it?! Wow!

Here's what I learn from these verses:

1. These angels are male. The only other named angel in the Bible is Michael. There aren't any female or baby angels anywhere to be seen. I'm not saying there aren't female angels. I'm saying there is no mention of them in the Bible.
2. Angels can't be sweet cherub-faced beings if they instill fear in every single person to whom they appear! Zechariah, Mary, the shepherds and Daniel were all fearful when the angels appeared. Kinda tells me they must be fearfully awesome to see!
3. Daniel called Gabriel a "man" which tells me it's very unlikely Gabriel had wings. There is no mention of angels having wings in the Bible, anywhere. Cherubim do have wings, but they are different from angels.
4. Angels are eternal beings. Daniel saw Gabriel way back in the Old Testament, yet there he is again talking to Mary and Zechariah several hundred years later.
5. Finally, to address one last misconception, when people die they do not become angels. Angels are created beings just like us. Jesus said in Matthew 22:30: "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." He didn't say we would be angels.

When you see an angel this Christmas season, maybe sitting atop your tree or a figure in your creche, remember...There's a lot more to them than simply being pretty ornaments or characters in a story!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Russia, United Kingdom, Peru, Brazil, Zambia, France, Thailand, Norway, Philippines, Germany, Moldova

Reposted from December 10, 2010

A Thanksgiving List

2011-11-23T16:11:00.001-06:00

I can't do life without a list. Grocery. Chores. Reminders. Dates. Travel. If anything is going to get done, it must be on the list! But today I want to share the most important list of all: My List of Blessings. I encourage you to make a list too if you haven't already done so. You never know how truly blessed you are until you see it in black and white.

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

I am thankful for:

My Savior, Jesus Christ, who gives me everything else on my list.
My dear parents who loved me unconditionally.
My Christian heritage, passed down through generations.
My wonderful, hardworking, funny husband who has put up with me for nearly 25 years! (Longer if you count dating & engagement!)
My precious sons who make me laugh and taught me more about love than anyone ever could.
My sister, Kim, and brothers Mark and Gregg, who fill my childhood memories.
My brother, Steve, and sister-in-law, Chrys, for their selfless sacrifices over the past eight years while taking care of my Dad and Mom.
My wonderful in-laws. Even a few outlaws.
My sweet nieces and nephews.
My friends. You know who you are.
My Bible! How I cherish that book!
My church, our pastor and all who make Celebration Church an amazing place to worship.
Our home sweet home. Dorothy was absolutely right.
My air conditioner! Living in Texas one must always be thankful for a/c!
Our jobs.
Our vehicles, old and tired but still running.
An abundance of food.
Clean, clear water from every faucet in my house.
Living in America with all the privileges and blessings that come with it, despite my sincere aggravation with our government officials.
Yes, I'm even thankful for Texas. (Don't tell hubby I said that. I still wanna move to the mountains!)
Mountains. Snow. Autumn leaves, especially the golden aspens I miss so very much.
Good books, most especially those written by friends!
Our sweet 13-year-old Dachshund, Copper. Bad breath and all.
Lastly, I'm thankful for the life God has given me and the desire to share His amazing love with you!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out Countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, France, Canada, Israel

What Makes a REAL Hero

2011-11-20T10:58:00.001-06:00

Heroes are hard to come by these days. I can'tname a celebrity, sports figure or politician that I would consider a"hero." A hero is defined as: Aperson who is admired for courage or noble qualities. I think there are more everyday heroes that gounnoticed than there are heroes who make the cover of People or Time magazine. Our military, police officers and firemen are everyday heroes. So are people like the group ofcitizens who risked their lives to save an injured motorcyclistby pulling him out from under a burning car. They didn't know a camera wascatching the whole thing on tape. They just knew a life was in danger and theysprang into action. They did what was right and good. That's heroism!

In Daniel 1-3 we meet four men who had everything.Looks, wealth, brains, royal pedigree. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael andAzariah were young men--boys, really--when they were kidnapped by theBabylonians. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted these young men to serve him, but firsthe needed to turn them into Babylonians. He tried to erase theirHebrew-ness---the thing that made them who they are at the very core of theirbeing. He ordered them to study Babylonian literature and learn the language.They were to be trained for three years, eat from the king's own table, andafter that they would enter the king's service. King Neb even had their nameschanged to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

What makes these young men heroic in my eyes is theirsteadfast resolve to remain faithful to God no matter what. To remain themen God wanted them to be, not the impostors the king wanted them to become. Itwould have been easy to just blend in and not rock the boat. It would have beensmart to simply appease the king, assuring themselves a comfortable life intheir new home.

"But Daniel resolved not to defilehimself..." (1:8)

When they were offered choice foods from theking's table, it took courage not to eat it. Think of how rude and offensivethat would be to the king! But it was Babylonian custom to give the firstportion of food and drink as an offering to idols, as well as using animalsthat were considered unclean by Hebrews. Daniel asked the chief official overhim and his three friends if they could just eat vegetables and drink waterinstead. And you know what happened? After ten days these four men werehealthier than the others who'd eaten the tainted food. God honored theircourage. (1:8-17)

When Daniel needed divine help in interpretingthe king's weird dreams, he went to his friends and asked them to pray. (2:17)Their faith saved a lot of lives, because the king was planning to execute allhis seers and wise men because they couldn't figure out the meaning of thedream. But God gave the answer to Daniel.

When King Nebuchadnezzar made a giant goldenimage, our four heroes refused to worship it as ordered. It wasn't because theywanted to be difficult or disobedient to the king, but because they knew thereis only One who is worthy of being worshipped. The punishment for disobeyingthe order was death by fire. Read Daniel 3 for the whole amazing story, but ina nutshell God once again honored their courage to stand up for what is rightand good in God's sight. Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego were tossed into thefiery furnace yet came out without one hair singed. Even King Nebwas impressed! (3:28)

After Darius the Mede took over the kingdom and institutes an ego-building decree---that no one could pray to anyone but him for thirty days (6:7)---Daniel finds himself thrown into the lions' den because he refused tostop praying to God. Three times a day he was spotted at the window of hishouse, kneeling in broad daylight, praying and giving thanks to the Lord. Hedidn't attempt to hide or pray in secret despite the inevitable punishment. Godsent an angel to shut the mouths of the hungry lions (6:21) and protected hisservant Daniel. Why? Because of courage.

The courage to do what is right.

It isn't always easy being a Christian thesedays. More and more we are ridiculed for our faith in Jesus Christ. More andmore we are mocked, called names, belittled. But like Daniel, Hannaniah,Mishael and Azariah (I won't use their Babylonian names here), we have toremain steadfast in our resolve to be the people God has called us to be. Tosay, without apology, that we are followers of Jesus Christ. We aren't tryingto be difficult or intolerant or any of the other things we are accused ofbeing, but we hold firmly to the truth that is the Word of God. Jesus said inMark 8:38: "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterousand sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes inhis Father's glory with the holy angels."

I'm sure our heroes from the Book of Daniel didn't set out to be heroic in their faith and actions. They simply refused to disobey God. That's a powerful lesson for me. I don't know that I'll ever be a hero to anyone, but I know I'll do my best to be faithful to my God every day of my life.

Because He is the ultimate Hero!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:

USA, Latvia, France, Romania, Israel, Canada,Germany, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Russia, Philippines, Singapore,Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago

Jonah's Second Chance

2011-11-14T17:18:00.001-06:00

Our pastor, Joe Champion of Celebration Church, has been preaching/teaching on Jonah the past few weeks. Awesome stuff!! He calls the series "Is Your Grateful Dead?" (Click the link, then "Media/Online Sermons" to watch them!) Jonah, like a lot of us, had issues with being grateful. And, like a lot of us, Jonah had to learn some life-lessons the hard way. Today I want to take a good look at Jonah's great adventure---from hearing from God to time spent inside a fish---and see if I (and you!) are more Jonah-ish than we care to admit.

The Book of Jonah isn't very long--just four short chapters--but we can learn a lot from Jonah. We can look at what he did--and what he didn't do!--and take away some pretty important life-lessons.

#1: Jonah knew God in a personal way. God spoke to Jonah in the very first verse of the book. He asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and "preach against it, because its wickedness" had come up before God. Obviously Jonah knew God's word well enough that the Almighty himself had confidence in Jonah's abilities to turn an entire city to righteousness. But what was Jonah's response? He ran away! From God! Can you imagine? And because we read that Jonah ran away (v.3) we know he knew exactly Who spoke to him. He knew it was God. And yet he went in the opposite direction of where God wanted him to go. I think a lot of us can relate to Jonah's poor decision making.
#2: Jonah had to go through a storm. Have you ever had a "storm" come into your life? I have. It's not fun. It can be pretty scary too. Storms are unpredictable. They tear things apart. They destroy. God uses storms to get our attention sometimes. Pastor Joe said, "Storms serve God's purposes for our good." (Romans 8:28) As a storm survivor, I completely agree. If God hadn't sent the storm that caused the men on the boat to throw Jonah overboard, he would have gone on to Tarshish and totally missed the amazing thing God was planning for him in Nineveh. And not only did God use the storm to change Jonah's life, but the lives of the men on the boat too. (1:16)
#3: Jonah prayed from inside the fish. Not only did God bring a storm into Jonah's life, but he also brought provision--in the form of a giant fish. (1:17) Like Pastor Joe said this past Sunday: "Our provision just might stink." Man, is that true sometimes!! But it is provision nonetheless. God needed Jonah to spend time in the belly of a stinky fish to think things over. To get the right perspective. To listen. You might feel like you're in the belly of a whale right now. Nothing is going right. Your marriage is in trouble. Your finances are in trouble. Your kids are in trouble. Whatever it might be, you find yourself just wishing God would command the fish to vomit you out and be done with it! (Nice image, huh?) My advice as one who once felt like I was inside the stinky fish (and sometimes still do): Keep praying!! Don't give up! God IS listening! He DOES have a plan!
#4: Jonah got a second chance. Jonah 3:1 says: "Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time." How many chances does God give us? I think the number is infinite, to be perfectly honest. Paul says in 1 Timothy 1:16 that Jesus' patience is "unlimited." God loves us. He's our Father. But like a good Father, he has to discipline his children sometimes. Without discipline, children run wild and usually end up in trouble. Jonah was no different. He was running away to Tarshish instead of going where God told him to go. So God had to discipline him. And what was the result?
"Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh." (3:1) As someone who has "run away" from God at different times in my life, I know how good it feels to finally be obedient. To surrender to the will of God. But wouldn't it have been so much better if Jonah had just obeyed God in the first place? I think that is the lesson we all need to learn from Jonah! And look what happened because Jonah was obedient! A city of 120,000 people was saved! (4:11)

Are you a Jonah today? Have you heard a word from the LORD but ignored it or even ran away from it? Are you going through a storm? Are you ready to be obedient? God is there, every step of the way, waiting, watching, guiding if we'll let him. Pray! Listen! Obey!

One interesting thing to note about Jonah's story. It ends very abruptly. Chapter 4 tells us that Jonah got a little full of himself. God wasn't going to put up with it and puts an end to the story. Don't let that happen to your story!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Brazil, Russia, Australia, Israel, Bulgaria, Germany, United Kingdom, Poland, France, Malaysia, Sweden, Italy, Georgia, Ukraine, Ghana

Author Pamela S. Meyers Debut Novel

2011-11-13T00:30:00.000-06:00

I am thrilled to share with you the debut novel of my dear friend Pamela S. Meyers. Pam and I met in September 2003 at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Houston, Texas. We were hotel roommates that year and have roomed together at three more ACFW conferences over the years. I was privileged to read the manuscript for Thyme for Love a few months ago and absolutely loved it! If you enjoy a wonderfully written romance with a touch of mystery, you will want to read this book! It is available for purchase beginning tomorrow!

Q: Pam, give us a little preview of Thymefor Love.

A: April Lovehas always dreamed of being a chef. When her Aunt Kitty hears of a in-housechef position for a non-profit organization housed in a lakeshore mansion nextdoor, April returns to Canoga Lake, Wisconsin, where she’d spent many summersgrowing up, to apply for the job. When she discovers her former fiancé MarcThorne working there, she wonders if this position was really God’s intentionfor her. After all, Marc all but left her standing at the altar to chase hisown dreams in California. It doesn’t take long to realize Marc is hidingsecrets and despite returning feelings for the man, April determines she willnot make the same mistake as she did eight years earlier. But when their bossis found dead and Marc is framed for his murder, April has no choice but toturn sleuth to keep Marc from being accused of a murder he didn’t commit.

Q: What made you want to write this book?

A: I’ve alwaysloved romance and mysteries, and decided to write a story that married the twoelements together. I grew up in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and have always beenfascinated by the many 20^th Century mansions that dot the lake’sshoreline. I toyed with the idea of setting the story in one of those homes,but decided to create a smaller lake and village just to the east of LakeGeneva to gain more freedom with some of the details of the story and itscharacters. I loved having the area located close enough to Lake Geneva thatApril and Marc could go there for a meal at one of the actual restaurantsthere. I also gave them backgrounds that involve working on Geneva Lake as manycollege students do during the summer months.

Q: Have you always wantedto be a writer?

A: In one wayor another I’ve always written almost since I could hold a pencil. When I waseight years old I asked for a diary for Christmas and I wrote in it atdifferent times of my childhood. I still have that little book and it containsbits and pieces of my life from age eight until sometime in high school. Eveninto my adult years I’d journal from time to time, but never thought of turningthat “need” to put words to paper into a career until years later. Whilecompleting my bachelor’s through an accelerated adult program, one of myprofessors suggested I could make a living writing. I published severalmagazine articles, but as the hankering to write stories grew stronger, I begantaking fiction writing classes. At a local writer’s conference a multipublishedauthor suggested I could turn one of my short stories into a novel. That wasall I needed to hear. I soon joined American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) while the organization was in its infancyand through their writing courses and conferences I continued to grow in thecraft.

Q: Have you written other novels besides Thyme for Love?

Oh yes. My first novel which I would classify as a women’sfiction languishes in my computer at the moment. Authors very seldom publishtheir first written work as that often turns out to be a practice project. Thestoryline still resonates with me and I’d love to one day pull it out andrework it. There are a couple other stories that will probably never see thelight of day. I’m very excited to have a novel set in my hometown of LakeGeneva, Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, coming out in June 2012 fromSummerside Press. It’s a 1933 historical romance, and I had a blast researchingfor the story.

Q. Do you have any plans for a sequel to Thyme for Love?

A. I’m so glad you asked. Thyme for Love is part of athree-book series called “On the Road to Love.” Books 2 and 3 involved Apriland Marc, and both are set in Canoga Lake. In Book 2, Love Will Find a Way, April moves into an old Victorian home withplans to turn it into a restaurant and catering business. It isn’t long beforea discovery made while they are renovating the home threatens to hijack plansfor the grand opening. In Book three, Love’sReward, April and Marc’s wedding plans are in full swing, until it becomesapparent there is someone who doesn’t want them to marry.

Enjoy the book trailer for Thyme for Love!

To purchase Thyme for Love, go to: Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

ABOUT PAMELA S. MEYERS

A native of Lake Geneva, Wisc., Pamela S. Meyers currentlylives in Arlington Heights, Ill. She served on the Operating Board for ACFW2005-2009, and is president of her local ACFW chapter. Her debut novel Thyme for Love releases November 14,2011, and her historical that is set in her hometown, Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, will release in June2012. She has published articles in Today’sChristian Woman, Christian Computing,Victory in Grace, and Ancestry. She is also a contributor inthe compilation book, His Forever. For more information about Pamela, please visit her website.

My Name's Michelle and I'm a Christian

2011-11-07T08:34:00.000-06:00

In my last post I shared the basic beliefs of the Mormon religion and how they differ from Christianity. Today I'll share the same type of information in the same format about the Christian faith and tell you why I am a Christian.

First, a brief history. The Christian faith was founded by Jesus Christ around AD 30. Jesus, who fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 that foretold of "Immanuel" which means "God with us," is also called the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus is talking to his disciple Peter and says, "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." At the age of 33, Jesus was crucified on a cross, was buried, and rose from the dead on the third day. Eyewitness accounts of these events are recorded in the Bible's New Testament. If one believes these events to be true, accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, then that person is a Christian. Although there are various Christian denominations, belief in several key elements is essential. They are:

GOD has always existed. He is not a created being. He does not have parents. He is the Creator of everything. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) God exists in three forms: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." (Genesis 1:26)

JESUS is God, Immanuel. His mother was Mary, a virgin, who "was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 1:18) Because Jesus is God, he created Lucifer (Satan) and all the other angels. Jesus did have earthly brothers and sisters through Mary and Joseph, but he is the only son of God. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Jesus' death on the cross is the complete atonement for our sins. "God presented him a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood." (Romans 3:25) We are saved by his blood, not by our works. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

The BIBLE is the Word of God. Many books have been written on Christianity, but only the Bible is accepted as the Word of God.

The CHURCH are people who believe in Jesus Christ (see above). It is not a building, although we do call buildings where we meet "churches." There is no one denomination or group of people who can claim to be "the one true Church." (See John 3:16 again)

HEAVEN and DEATH. Through various scripture we understand that God the Father exists in heaven with Jesus sitting at his right hand. There are numerous descriptions of heaven throughout the Bible. All who believe in Jesus (as described above) as their Lord and Savior will go to heaven after our earthly bodies die. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43) Those who do not believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will not enter heaven (John 14:6) but will spend eternity in the lake of fire. "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15) We will be like the angels according to Jesus in Matthew 22:30: "At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven."

I am a Christian because I believe all the above. I believe in a Creator God because there is simply no other explanation for why we exist. Humans are far, far too complex to have "evolved" from some glob of goo. Animals, insects, creepy crawlies. There are so many, many different species that there is no possible way they just happened. Go to the grocery store produce department and take a look at all the different kinds of fruits and vegetables and nuts and berries. Can you honestly, intelligently say they simply appeared on earth with no help from the hand of a living, thinking God?

I am a Christian because I believe that God loved me so much he willingly came to earth to take the burden of my sin onto his shoulders and be the Sacrifice needed to make my heart pure again. I am a Christian because I believe God has power over death and that Jesus was indeed raised from the dead. I believe the tomb was and is empty.

I am a Christian because I believe God promises life after death. Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for us and that we would be with him. (John 14: 1-4)

My name's Michelle and I am a Christian.

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Russia, United Kingdom, South Korea, China, Australia, Ukraine, Germany, Uganda, Canada

I am NOT a Mormon

2011-11-03T15:41:00.001-05:00

There is a lot of attention on the Mormon religion right now. Currently a Broadway play called The Book of Mormon is receiving wonderful reviews and enjoying sold-out crowds. But more importantly two Presidential candidates are members of the Mormon church: Mitt Romney, a front-runner, and Jon Huntsman. It would be a first in our country if a Mormon were elected to the White House. They liken it to when President Kennedy, a Catholic, was elected. (I beg to differ but no time to get into politics today.) To try to make this possible-historic-event happen, the LDS advertising machine has launched a major television campaign themselves. You'd have to be living under a rock (or possibly in a state that hasn't aired it yet) to miss the flood of commercials with the slogan "I'm a Mormon" which features everyday people of all races and ages. What they are trying to do, in my opinion, is combat the very negative view most people have of the Mormon religion and help us understand that Mormons are folks just like you and me.

But in talking with people lately and reading bits and pieces on the Internet, it is clear most people have no clue what the Mormons believe. One person said, "They're just another Christian denomination, right?" Wrong, wrong, wrong!

So I thought I'd tackle the subject here and tell you why I am NOT a Mormon.

First, a brief history. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830. According to Smith, an angel named Moroni (who is actually the dead son of a great prophet and military leader named Mormon who supposedly lived in America in AD 385) led Smith to a secret location where a set of "gold plates" were hidden. Moroni supposedly hid those plates 1500 years before Smith found them. On the plates were ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics that could only be translated by using these special stone-glasses. The Book of Mormon, which Mormons claim as the most important holy book of their religion, is supposed to be a translation of those plates, which the angel Moroni conveniently took back to heaven with him so no one can see them now.

Far-fetched, you say? Read on.

Here are some basic beliefs of the Mormon religion that completely differ from Christianity:

GOD was once a human on another earth. He progressed to being God over our earth. He is married and has a father and mother who are gods over another world. Humans are literally the children of God and can become gods too.

JESUS is the spirit-brother of Lucifer (Satan). Although he was conceived by the virgin Mary, it was God the man-father who actually came to Mary, not the Holy Spirit as the Bible says. Jesus is one of many gods and is our "elder brother." His death on the cross is only the beginning of our atonement for sin. It wasn't the complete, final payment spoken of in Ephesians 2. It's now up to us to follow-up with good works.

The BIBLE is accepted by Mormons, but they believe it is inferior to the Book of Mormon and two other books written by Joseph Smith. They claim the Bible has been corrupted over the years and cannot be relied on to tell us what God really says.

The CHURCH cannot be any church other than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the "one true church". All other denominations are false.

HEAVEN and DEATH take on new meaning in the LDS church. After death but before judgement, the wicked get a second chance to make it to heaven, which has three levels: 1) LDS members are highest; 2) good people who aren't LDS members; 3) the unrighteous. The fourth group consists of Lucifer, his angels, and the unrepentant "sons of perdition." They all go to hell.

Everything Mormons believe--at least the major points--contradict the Bible. Sandra Tanner, great-great granddaughter of Brigham Young, directs a ministry called Utah Lighthouse Ministry to help Mormons find salvation through Jesus Christ. If you have questions about the Mormon faith--what they believe and how it differs from Christianity--check out their web site. There are just too many differences to go into here on the blog.

The bottom line is this: Mormons are not Christians. It doesn't matter if the name of their religion has the words "Jesus Christ" in it. Their religion and beliefs are based on the ideas and imagination of Joseph Smith, an adulterous man called a "deliberate charlatan" who was attacked and killed by a mob in 1844.

I'll leave you with this:

"But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them--bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up." 2 Peter 2:1-3

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Poland, United Kingdom, India, Zambia, Italy, Russia, Ukraine

"OMG" = Profanity in God's Ears

2011-10-29T11:19:00.000-05:00

Gonna step on some toes today. But sometimes we need a little toe-crunching to help us see things we've ignored or let slip or simply didn't know. Today I'm taking on the vastly popular phrase: "Oh my God!" You hear it on TV, on the radio, in movies. You hear it from friends and co-workers or even in your own home. You see it written in texts, Tweets and Facebook messages, usually shortened to "OMG." It's catchy, to be sure. It's easy to utter when you're surprised or scared or happy or whatever.

But I'm here to tell you: OMG = Profanity in God's ears.

From the very beginning, God was to be revered by man. And not just God himself, but his very name! In Genesis 4:26 we see that "men began to call on the name of the Lord." God himself told us not to misuse his name in Exodus 3:15 and Deuteronomy 5:11 when he gave us the Ten Commandments:

"You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD your God will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." (NIV)

I like the way the Message Bible puts it:

"No using the name of GOD, your God, in curses or silly banter; GOD won't put up with the irreverent use of his name."

King David declared "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth." Psalm 8:1

The Prophet Joel wrote, "And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved." (2:32)

Jesus himself told us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..." (Matthew 6:9) Merriam Webster defines "hallowed" as "holy, reverent, sacred." Jesus is telling us that God's name is holy.

This week I've been reading in the book of Ezekiel. In chapter 20 God is speaking to Ezekiel the Prophet about Jerusalem's disobedience. Three different times God says this about his name:

"But for the sake of my name I did what would keep it from being profaned in the eyes of the nations..." (v's 9, 14, 22)

God's name is important to him! (Also see Ezekiel 36:21-23)

He doesn't want it misused. He doesn't want it to be the word-of-choice when we feel the need to utter an exclamation of some sort. He sure doesn't want it used as a curse word.

While I'm on my soapbox I'll go ahead and add that the name of Jesus Christ is the same as God's name. Saying "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ" in a way that is irreverent is breaking the third commandment just as surely as if you had used the name of God. God is Jesus. Jesus is God. Keep his name holy!

It makes me sad when I hear God's name used in vain. And if it makes me sad, I can only imagine how God feels. =(

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Germany, Israel, United Kingdom, Romania, Netherlands, Italy, France, India

Thomas and His Moment of Truth

2011-10-26T16:35:00.002-05:00

I can't remember a day in my life when I didn't believe in Jesus Christ. I was raised in a Christian home with Christian parents, attending church anytime the doors were open. But like a lot of people, I had questions about the Bible. About church. About God. Unlike a lot of people, however, I never strayed from my childlike faith as I went seeking answers. I've shared on this blog before how I surrendered my all to the Lord at the age of 28 and I've been walking with Him ever since. I would say that May 23, 1992 was my "Moment of Truth".

Do you have a "moment of truth"? A time when you knew that you knew that you knew Jesus was exactly who He said He was?

Thomas did.

Thomas, also called Didymus, was one of Jesus' disciples. (Matthew 10:3) We don't know a lot about Thomas. The Bible doesn't say what his occupation was when he encountered the Messiah. My guess is Thomas may have been present when John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus "the Lamb of God" (John 1:29) or heard about it from an eyewitness. He was probably there when Jesus gave the 'sermon on the mount.' Mark 3:13 tells us that Jesus went up on a mountainside and "called to him those he wanted, and they came to him." Thomas was one of those chosen.

Can you imagine being hand-picked by Jesus?! Wow! What an honor!

But like the rest of us, Thomas had faults. He was clearly a very passionate person. When news reaches Jesus and the disciples that Lazarus is dead, Thomas says, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:16) That's some serious devotion to a friend.

While Thomas is remembered more for his doubts than anything else, he is the one who asked the question that brought some of the most beautiful and memorable words from Jesus' lips. Jesus had just shared that he'll be going away soon but promises the disciples they'll be with him one day. Thomas, voicing what was on everyone's mind, says:

"Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:5-6)

Thomas was there when Jesus was arrested. And he was there when Jesus was crucified. He saw his Lord--the one whom he had put all his faith in!--die on a cross. He watched them carry the body away and seal it in a tomb. Oh, the grief the disciples must have experienced that day. Everything they had believed in...was it all a lie? Look how Thomas reacted to the death of Lazarus. He was devastated by Jesus' death.

When the resurrected Jesus appears to the disciples in John 20:19, Thomas is not with them. Where was he? My thought is he simply needed to be alone. Locked in a room with a bunch of other grieving people probably got to him and he had to get away for a while. It sure was lousy timing, because that's when Jesus appeared!

I wonder. Did Jesus pick that particular moment to appear because Thomas wasn't there? To give Thomas--and us!--a lesson in faith?

When he returns to the room, the others are excited and rush to tell him they've seen the risen Lord! But Thomas isn't buying it.

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." (v. 25)

One week later his world changed!

Though the doors are locked, Jesus came and stood in the room with them. Imagine the hushed excitement. Imagine Thomas' reaction. Stunned, I'm sure. When Jesus approaches him, he invites Thomas to "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

"Thomas said to [Jesus], "My Lord and my God!"

Thomas' moment of truth arrived that day. His Lord and His God stood right in front of him. Our moment of truth will come a little differently. Jesus knew Thomas believed because he'd seen, but...

..."Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Thank you, Lord! I definitely believe!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:

USA, Ukraine, Netherlands, Russia, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Philippines

Note: Thanks to Pastor Joe Champion of Celebration Church for the awesome sermon series "Moment of Truth" March 2008.

Mary and Martha: Friends of Jesus

2011-10-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

I am blessed to have a sister. Kim is a few years older than me, and although she probably thought I was a pest while we were growing up, we had a lot of good times together. But even though we're sisters, we are very different from each other.

The Bible tells us about two sisters: Mary and Martha. Their brother was Lazarus, the very same Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 11). But before that amazing event took place, Mary and Martha were simply friends of Jesus. He came to their home. He ate their food. He talked with them. He laughed with them. What a wonderful thing, being friends with Jesus!!

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way [to Jerusalem], he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary..." Luke 10:38-39

Like my sister and me, Mary and Martha were very different from each other. They had different ideas of what needed to be done, of what was important.

"She had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." (v. 39-40)

A few years ago as I was reading this passage, God opened my eyes to something. Something that would change my entire outlook on 'serving.' Martha was a doer. Food needed to be prepared. Dishes cleaned. Floors swept. She wanted to do these things for her Lord Jesus. And yes, they needed to be done. But notice what Luke, the author, says about Martha:

"...she was distracted..."

That's not a good thing. Because when we are distracted, it means we're missing something important that's taking place elsewhere. What was Jesus saying in the other room while Martha was in the kitchen? She'll never know!

But Mary "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said."

Mary was doing exactly what was right. How do I know? Jesus said so.

"[Martha] came to [Jesus] and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." (v. 40-41)

How many of us are so distracted by "doing" for the Lord that we neglect "listening" to what he is saying? (Picture me inching my hand up, embarrassed.)

How many of us get so caught up in all the many ministries we're involved in that we forget the "one thing" that is needed, which is time spent with the Lord?

In the margin of my Bible I have written: "Jesus wants ME, not my works for Him!" It is dated August 16, 2000.

Serving the Lord is important. Work has to be done. Meals have to be prepared. Churches have to be cleaned. Volunteers are needed in every church, every week. The famous "80/20" ratio is not proof that people are spending more time listening than working. It's actually proof of the exact opposite in my opinion. (In case you don't know what I'm talking about, studies show that 20% of church members do all the work while 80% don't do anything at all.)

I think Martha took Jesus' words to heart. The scriptures don't tell us what happened next, but I imagine Martha looked into Jesus' beautiful face, saw his love for her, and fell at his feet, ashamed. And I imagine Jesus reached down to lift her up, wiped her tears away and said, "Come, daughter. Come and sit with me." And I imagine they ate cold meat and bread for dinner, which was just fine with Jesus.

Jesus was their Lord--"Yes, Lord," [Martha told him], "I believe that you are the Son of God, who was to come into the world" (John 11:27)--but He was also their friend--"Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus." (John 11:5) He wept when he saw Mary's tears over her brother's death (John 11:35). Martha opened her home to Jesus. Mary sat at his feet and listened. They loved him. They served him. They trusted him.

It's a beautiful thing to call Jesus friend!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:

USA, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Russia, Netherlands, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Ukraine, France, Sweden, Guyana

Five Loaves, Two Fish and One Boy

2011-10-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

Growing up in church, one story was pretty much a 'staple' in Sunday school teachings:

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand.

I have probably read and heard this story a hundred times. I've colored pictures of it. I've cut out paper shaped like fish and loaves. I've taught about it. I've heard sermons preached on it. And yet, there is still mystery about this amazing event. In fact, I think the older I get, the more mystery there is. When you really study the scriptures and try to imagine the reality of the story, it's kinda hard to wrap your mind around the details.

Let's get into it, shall we?

The story of Jesus feeding the five thousand is found in all four gospels (Matthew 14, Mark 6 and Luke 9) but for this blog I'm going to use the one from John 6:1-15. Why? Because this is the only book that actually tells us where the fish and loaves came from.

"...Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee and a great crowd of people followed him..."

That crowd wasn't just a couple hundred people. It is estimated that there were 5,000 men, plus women and children, bringing the total to somewhere around 20,000+ people. They'd all heard about Jesus and were following him. Some probably believed he was the Messiah. Some were probably just curious, and some were out-and-out doubters. But there they all were, way out in the country.

Now, in the crowd was a boy. I'm going to imagine he was about 9 or 10 years old. I can picture my own boys at that age. Rambunctious. Happy. Adventurous. I bet the boy in our story was having a blast running around with his friends that day. His parents were probably in the crowd of onlookers, but he was too busy to really pay attention to what this guy Jesus was saying. In fact, he was so busy having a good time he forgot to eat his breakfast when everyone else ate theirs.

By afternoon, our boy starts to get curious about Jesus. He's heard his parents talking about the miracles that Jesus has done and he'd like to see one. So he inches closer to where Jesus is sitting with his disciples. And he overhears this conversation:

"Send the crowd away so they can go find food and lodging..." [the disciples said to Jesus.]

"Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" [Jesus asked Phillip.] He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

"Eight months wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" [Phillip replied.]

"You give them something to eat," [Jesus tells the disciples.]

At this point the disciples turn to each other with, "What in the world are we gonna do now!?" looks on their faces. They probably had a couple bucks between them. How could they possibly find enough food to feed everyone?

The boy tugs on Andrew's cloak, sneaking a peak at Jesus. "I have some fish and bread you can have."

I can almost imagine Jesus winking at the boy and the boy smiling broadly.

"Have the people sit down," [Jesus said.]

Taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. (Luke 9:16-17)

Amazing! Twenty-thousand-plus people ate their fill with leftovers!

Don't you know that boy's life changed that day! He had a front-row seat to one of the most awesome, miraculous events to ever take place. But what is really cool is that out of a crowd of 20,000+ people, God saw that kid and said, "I'm going to use him for My glory, for My purpose." John 6:6 tells us that Jesus already knew how he was going to feed the crowd. He already knew there was a boy there with five loaves and two fish.

God sees you in the crowd. Me too. And He has wonderful plans already in place for our lives. Plans that will bring Him glory. Plans with purpose. But unless we are willing to give everything we have to Jesus--like the boy in the story--God can't use us. What if the boy had walked away instead of giving his lunch to Jesus? What if he'd decided to eat it himself and not share it? Are you holding on to things that you need to give to Him? Money? Dreams? Relationships? Your self??

Five loaves, two fish and one boy. And two thousand years later we're still talking about him. Pretty cool!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, France, Russia, China, Singapore, Germany, Israel, Malaysia

The Rich Man and Lazarus

2011-10-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

A rich man died this week. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computers, lost his battle with cancer. He was only 56 years old. Far too young to die in many peoples' eyes, including mine. I'm not that far behind him age wise. What an amazing mind he had! Such creativity and brilliance. His legacy will live on for ages.

But one question lingers in my mind as I think about Mr. Jobs.

Where is he spending eternity?

I've read that he embraced Buddhism several years ago but also that he wasn't necessarily a 'practicing Buddhist'. Obviously I don't know for certain what, if any, faith or spiritual beliefs he had. I haven't read any articles in the past few days that give a definitive answer about it. Which is telling to me.

There is a story in the Bible that speaks to us about life and death. It's found in Luke 16:19-31. It's about a rich man and a poor man. It's about heaven and hell. It's told by Jesus, who would certainly understand these things better than anyone else.

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus...longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table...The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side." (v. 19-22)

Already we can make some assumptions about how these two men lived their lives. The poor man didn't have much material wealth to show for his time on earth. But clearly he lived his life in obedience according to God's word because he is now receiving his reward: A life in heaven. The rich man, however, is in hell. He had everything the world can offer, but no amount of money will ever buy a ticket out of hell.

The rich man goes on to ask Abraham to send Lazarus down with a drink of water because "I am in agony in this fire' (v. 24). But Abraham makes it clear there is no going back and forth between heaven and hell. "...between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." (v.26)

What you do on earth matters! How you live the life God has given you matters! Your choices matter. Your heart-beliefs matter. Your words matter. Your actions matter. We are only given one chance to get things right. One life to live and be the person God intended us to be. We are created by God and for God's purposes, not to fulfill our own ideas about what our lives should be.

There is no question Steve Jobs was a brilliant man. His ideas and inventions have benefited millions of people, myself included. But if he didn't acknowledge God and accept Jesus as his Savior, none of those things matter. He'll be remembered on earth as a great man, but his eternal life will be lost.

Now don't misunderstand this post. I am not saying Steve Jobs is in hell. I have no idea what his last months, weeks, days of life were like. I'm sure he contemplated life-after-death in the quiet moments when he knew his body was dying. I hope he sought spiritual guidance and found the Truth that is Jesus Christ.

It's too late now for Steve Jobs to change his mind if he didn't. It was too late for the rich man in the story too and he wants to warn his loved ones.

"...I beg you, father [Abraham], send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment." (v. 27-28)

I wonder, does Steve Jobs wish he could send a warning to anyone? His family. His friends. The world. You.

He can't, but like Abraham told the rich man, we already have the warning! It's called the Bible!

"They have Moses and the Prophets, let them listen to them." (v. 29)

Are you listening??? Please do before it's too late. I don't want to look over the great chasm from heaven and see someone I love in hell. ='(

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Russia, Paraguay, Latvia, Germany, Ukraine, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, India, France

The God Who Sees Me

2011-10-01T10:31:00.001-05:00

Do you ever wonder if God can see you? I mean really see you?

I do. There are days when I feel like I'm invisible to God. Like I need to jump up and down and wave my arms and say, "Hey, God, here I am! Remember me? Hello???" Usually those are days when things aren't going well in my life. When life's problems are just too heavy to carry alone. Days when I definitely need to know there is a God who loves me, who's watching over me, working things out for my good even when it doesn't feel like it.

I need to know there is a God who sees me.

There's a woman in the Bible who knew what it felt like to be invisible. We don't know her name, but we find her story in Luke 8:42-48. The fact that her story is in the Bible tells me God definitely saw her. God knew her name. And she was so important to Him that He wanted her remembered through the ages.

"As Jesus was on his way [to attend to a sick little girl], the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her." (v.42-43)

Imagine the shame this woman suffered for twelve long years. In those days disease and illness was seen as punishment. 'Surely she must have been a terrible sinner and done something really bad' was the mindset. She was no doubt shunned because of this. She'd spent every penny she had trying to find a cure for her sickness but no one could help her.

I think a lot of us are in the same boat as that woman. We may not have a physical illness like she did--though many of us do--but a lot of us have other issues we're seeking cures for. Emotional issues. Relational issues. Financial issues. Sometimes we spend a lot of money searching out cures. Sometimes we spend a lot of time looking for a cure. Too often we spend a lot of ourselves searching for a way to fix things.

Those are the days when we ask, "God, can you see me?!"

Hagar, the mother of Ishmael, asked that question. In Genesis 16:7-13 we find her scared, hiding, alone. She's run away from life and is feeling invisible. But God saw her. Just like He sees you and me when we are scared, hiding, alone.

"You are the God who sees me," Hagar says in verse 13.

Jesus wanted us to know He sees us too. In Matthew 6 he's teaching the crowds. This passage is part of what's called The Sermon on the Mount. Notice what he says in verse 30:

"If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers--most of which are never even seen--don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?" (The Message Bible)

Think about all the millions and millions of acres of National Forest in the US. Or the jungles of South America. Or the African and Australian plains. Miles and miles of land where no one lives and not many people venture. Yet beautiful wildflowers grow there. No human eye will ever see them and take pleasure in them, yet God sees them. They were created for His enjoyment, not ours.

You were created for His enjoyment too! Even if you feel invisible to the world, you are not invisible to God! God sees you. He loves you. He has great plans for you.

The woman with the bleeding issue was tired of being invisible. She was tired of being sick. And she came to the understanding that there was only One who could heal her.

"She came up behind [Jesus] and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped." (Luke 8:44)

Imagine how her life changed in that moment! Imagine her joy of not being invisible anymore!

There is only One who can heal you. From your physical issues. From your emotional issues. Your relational issues. Whatever is in your life that is too hard to handle on your own. Whatever is in your life that is making you feel invisible to God.

Make no mistake. God does see you!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Denmark, Croatia, Malaysia, Turkey

Mary

2011-09-26T08:46:00.001-05:00

I'm starting a new series today. It's on different people--different characters, if you will--in the Bible. If you're like me, you often have unanswered questions about the people we read about. Questions that actually can never be answered fully, but with a little imagination and common sense we can come up with some interesting ideas about them and their lives, before and after they encountered Jesus Christ.

I'll begin with Mary. The Mother of God.

Tradition tells us that Mary was probably a teenage girl of about 15 or 16 when she became pregnant with Jesus. We don't know much about her family, but she probably lived a very typical Jewish life. One thing we do know about Mary, however, is that she was not a typical Jewish girl.

"The angel went to [Mary] and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." Luke 1:28

That verse tells us Mary was different from all the other young maidens in the land. She'd found favor with God. How? My guess is it all began in her heart. Her heart was obviously turned toward God from a very early age. Even her response to the angel, spoken with a little fear at what was happening and what was being said, tells us about Mary's character:

"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." v. 38

But Mary was also a mother. And we mom's tend to worry. And we tend to meddle. Mary was no different, which I absolutely love. I can so relate to these two stories:

Luke 2:41-52 tells about twelve-year-old Jesus becoming separated from his parents during a trip to Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph searched for him for three days before they discovered him in the temple. Mary's response is typical of a worried mother:

"Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." v. 48

Oh, the panic in a parents' heart when their child is missing! Even for a few minutes, let alone three days! I imagine Mary kept a keen eye on Jesus for quite some time. I think it's interesting that they found Jesus on the third day. Was this God's way of preparing Mary for another terrible three-day period she would experience with her son, Jesus?

The other story that makes me smile is found in John 2:1-11. Jesus, Mary and the disciples are at a wedding. Obviously it's someone they all know and care about. They're there helping to celebrate. But before the celebration is over, the wine runs out. Mary knows this could be very humiliating for the bride and groom. She also knows by now that her son has the power to do something about it.

"When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." v. 3-5

Mary, Mary. You are a woman after my own heart! Being a mother of grown young men myself, I can absolutely picture this scene. Even though Jesus was thirty years old by now, Mary was still his mom. Even though she obviously understood who he was--that he had the power to do something amazing!--she was still his mom. "Fix this problem" she basically says. And like the obedient son Jesus is, he obeys his mom. I love it!

Mary's greatest heartache, however, had to come when she watched her son crucified. Tears come to my eyes when I read John 19:25-27:

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother...When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, the disciple took her into his home."

Can you picture it? There is Jesus, brutalized, bleeding, nailed to a cross, and yet his thought is for his mother's well-being. How her heart must have broken seeing her little boy on that cross. And yes, I believe Mary saw her little boy, her son, and not the Son of God hanging there. She carried that child in her womb. She nursed him. She watched him grow. She bathed him, taught him, laughed with him, disciplined him. Jesus was her son in every way that my boys' are my sons. I can't even begin to imagine the pain of watching my beloved son die on a cross!

But after Jesus' death and resurrection, Mary knew her son was now her Savior. In Acts 1:14 we read that Mary is gathered with the disciples and close followers of Jesus in an upper room in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit descends upon them. I believe she was with them when Jesus appeared after his death (John 20) and when he ascended into heaven (Acts 1). How glad it makes my heart to know that Mary's sorrow at watching Jesus die only lasted a little while.

Luke 2:19 sums up Mary's life as Jesus' mother in my mind:

"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

What an amazing thing to be Jesus' mother. I can't wait to meet Mary in heaven!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, United Kingdom, Sweden, Malaysia, Latvia, Singapore, Ukraine

The Secret of Being Content

2011-09-22T16:58:00.000-05:00

I had a revelation today.

"I am content."

This occurred to me while I was working hard. In someone else's house. A house much bigger than mine, filled with much nicer things. On a day when many of my writer friends are in St. Louis, Missouri having a blast at the national American Christian Fiction Writers' conference, a conference I dearly love to attend when I can. But these days there is barely enough money in the bank for necessities and certainly none for extravagances like a trip, even to a writing conference.

It would be easy to mope around and gripe and complain about the unfairness of life. "Why are some people rich while others aren't? Why do some people seem to have things so easy but others don't?" On and on. I admit there are days when I do ask those questions. I can whine right along with the best of 'em about my needs. My wants. My desires. Wah, wah, wah!

But lately I've come to truly understand---truly appreciate!---how blessed I am. How rich I am despite not having any money in the bank. Despite having old vehicles, too many bills, and mounting debt with two kids in college. Despite a dead yard and cracked foundation because of the severe drought. Despite disappointments in my writing career.

I've come to understand that I am content in spite of all that.

Now, don't mistake the word "content" as meaning I'm somehow complacent or apathetic. That I've given up and have just accepted my lot in life. That's not at all what I mean by contentment. I'm talking about an inner peace so tangible, so real that there is no other explanation other than God working in me, helping me get to this point. Helping me fully appreciate my husband, my sons, my home, my health, my job, my church, my friends, my family, my country, my world.

The Apostle Paul was content too. While he was in prison he wrote:

"...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13)

Without God's strength, I doubt any of us could be content, especially sitting in prison. Paul wasn't always content. If you look at what he wrote he said he'd "learned" the secret of being content. Sometimes it takes years to learn something. I think most of our lives are spent learning things. Like how to be content. How to live at peace. How to be the person God created us to be. Often there are daily lessons, daily trials or pop quizzes, if you will. Sometimes I pass. Sometimes I fail. Lately, though, I'm passing more than I'm failing. Why?

Because I am content.

I am not rich. I am not brilliant. I am not beautiful. I am not hugely talented. I am not hugely successful by the world's standards. But I am content.

And to me, that is far, far better than all those other things combined.

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, India, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Indonesia

Do You Ever Ask the Question: "Why, God?"

2011-09-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

This video has a powerful...powerful!...message on trusting God! If you are constantly asking God "Why?"---Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does He allow terrible things like earthquakes, tornadoes, wildfires? Why do people get cancer?---and on and on, then this video of Joyce Meyer speaking on "Trusting God When You Don't Understand" is a must-watch! It's a little long--19 minutes--but it's truly a message of hope and faith. Some of the highlights I found encouraging are:

"Let God BE God!"
"Don't make God 'little'" by trying to understand everything.
"The Israelites took 40 years to make an 11-day journey. They were asking the wrong question--"Why, God?"
"Trade your questions for trust!"

Like most of you, there have been times when I've asked God "WHY?" But the older I get, and the more spiritually mature I grow, I've come to understand that I don't have to have all the answers. I don't have to know why. It's rather arrogant of us to expect God to explain himself to us, to be perfectly honest.

He is GOD!

Trust Him!!

Watch the video. Be encouraged!

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, France, Canada, Latvia, Philippines, South Africa, Russia, Kuwait, Switzerland, Brazil, Slovakia

Confessions of a Bible Literalist

2011-09-13T13:53:00.001-05:00

I don't like labels. Especially when that label is put on me by someone else. Usually the person/people labeling me have never met me or truly don't know me very well. Sometimes someone who thinks they know me slaps a label on me that doesn't really fit. I try not to label people anymore because if I don't like it done to me, then they probably don't either.

So when I began to hear the phrase "Bible literalist" being thrown around a few years ago, I thought, "Uh-oh, I bet some people will call me a Bible literalist." Why? Because I firmly....FIRMLY!...believe the Bible must be taken as God's word and instruction to us in how to live holy lives that are pleasing to Him. And that means recognizing that the historical accounts, parables, poetry and Apocalyptic scripture revealed in the Bible are not just interesting stories that you can take or leave, but are words that God himself needed us to read and understand.

Why is it important to read the Bible literally?

Let me explain.

Let's start in Genesis. Genesis was written by Moses. He tells us that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) How could Moses possibly know this since he wasn't born yet? How could he know that God created the sun and moon and water and plants and animals and people in six days? How could he know God rested on the seventh day? (And yes, I'm talking literal days!) Moses knew these things because God told him! God obviously instructed Moses to make a written record of Creation so that all mankind would know it didn't just happen because of some goofy cosmic explosion a ba-zillion years ago. (Picture me rolling my eyes here.)

From the very get-go, God wanted us to understand His authority over everything. He created it all. It all belongs to Him. To believe anything less than God's power to do the amazing and impossible is to put Him into our little human box of little human understanding. And if God can fit in that box, then He is not God.

Moving on.

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:26

The Bible makes it perfectly clear that Adam and Eve were the first people God created. Humankind came from them. Sin also came from them. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:22 that death came through Adam because he sinned. How did Moses know all of this? God told him. Yet there are those who believe that God created other people outside of the Garden, apart from the line of Adam. Sorry folks, but there is nothing biblical to support that theory. Not even Cain's story of living in the land of Nod. No where does it say he found his wife in Nod--that she was a Nodite (ha!). It simply says he had a wife, who, as we understand biology, had to have also been his sister or possibly a niece. The Hebrew word used in Genesis 4:17 is "ishshah" which means "woman/wife/female." Josephus, the Jewish historian, wrote that according to tradition Adam and Eve had 33 sons and 23 daughters. .Incest, as we would call it, for procreation had to take place then and after the flood. Apparently it wasn't sinful in God's eyes because it fulfilled the "be fruitful and increase in number" command. It obviously became sinful--depraved--later and God made it clear in Leviticus that it had to stop. (Note: Even Abraham and Sarah were related to each other; she was his half-sister. Genesis 20:12)

However, the most important reason I take the Bible as it is written is this:

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John tell us about Jesus. About his life, about his arrest, about his crucifixion, and about his resurrection. If I can't take the Bible literally from the very beginning--from the creation story in Genesis 1:1 and moving forward!--then why on earth would I take it literally when it comes to the account of Jesus' life and death on the cross????? Why would I believe that God came to earth as a man, died a horrific death on the cross as the sacrificial Lamb, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven if I can't accept the rest of the Bible just as literally? That God really did send a flood that covered the earth? That the Israelites really did walk through the Red Sea on dry ground? That Lazarus really was dead in the grave three days?

Jesus often taught in parables, but Jesus also quoted the Old Testament as the Word of God. In Luke 4:16-21 he read the prophecy about the Messiah from Isaiah and announced that "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (v. 21)

Jesus took scripture literally! Because he fulfilled scripture literally! How can I go out into the world and proclaim Jesus' life, death and resurrection in one breath and then turn around and say the rest of the Bible is just a bunch of stories that you may or may not believe? Why would I hang my deepest, heartfelt hope on the promise that one day I'll be with Jesus in paradise just like he told the criminal on the cross next to him (Luke 23:43) if I can't accept that God allowed innocent children to die when the angel of death killed every firstborn in Exodus 11?

I will never fully understand God or everything that is written in His word. All I can do is read, read, read and pray, pray, pray for as much understanding as God is willing for me to have. And that's what I'm trying to do.
So, if you want to call me a Bible literalist, go ahead. I can think of a whole lot worse things to be.
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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, Germany, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, France

The Father of Lies

2011-09-08T09:38:00.001-05:00

There are some things that simply cannot be ignored. One being the fact--the FACT!--that we have an enemy in this world. His name is Satan. The Devil. What you believe about him will put you in one of two categories:

1. Winning Warriors.
2. Vulnerable Victims.

I refuse to be a victim!

Jesus has known Satan from the very beginning of time. If you understand that Jesus is God and God is Jesus, then you also understand that Jesus created Satan. But God didn't create Satan for evil. Satan chose it. He was given the same freewill that you and I have. Satan willingly gave up his place in heaven because he was jealous and wanted all the glory that is given to God for himself. He took a bunch of misguided angels with him and now he's trying to take as many of us down as he possibly can.

Why?

To spite God. To outdo God. To say, "Haha, God, you lost that one!"

(See Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:11-19 for further reference)

How do we know Satan is for real?

Well, first and foremost, Jesus himself spoke of Satan.

"I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." Luke 10:18

When speaking to the Pharisees in John 8:42-47, Jesus said:

"Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

Satan has been telling us lies since Adam and Eve lived in the Garden. What makes us think he isn't still telling us lies today?! It's arrogance on our part to believe we are somehow smarter and more enlightened these days to the point that we can't be deceived by Satan. That is utter foolishness! (Titus 3:3)

Job 1 and 2 gives us a chilling account of what Satan is up to every single day:

"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it." (1:6-7; also 2:1-2)

Paul says in Ephesians 6:12 to "Put on the armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Peter warned us in 1 Peter 5:8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith..."

When we go up against Satan, he gets mad. Recently I've experienced some of his attempts to derail me from what I firmly believe God has called me to do. Next week I'll begin leading a ministry at church that I know Satan isn't happy about. I know he'll try to mess with me and my family because of it. But I cannot and will not let that stop me. Like the little saying I have posted on my blog's sidebar says, I want to "Be the kind of woman that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, 'Oh crap! She's up!'"

So, what's it gonna be? Winning Warriors with Jesus and Truth on our side or Vulnerable Victims with Satan and his many, many lies.

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:
USA, UK, France, India, Netherlands, Australia

Male and Female: God's Plan

2011-09-04T13:01:00.000-05:00

I remember having this thought years ago: There are only two kinds of people in the world! Male and female!

I know, I know. That's not an earth-shattering revelation. It's not something news worthy or even new. It's actually a very silly thought but I had it nonetheless. Because I was truly, truly astounded by the simplicity of that statement. With all the millions and billions of people living on earth, from different countries, speaking different languages, with different colors of skin and physical features, there are actually only two true differences.

Male and Female.

I find that rather fascinating, actually. It begs the questions:

Why did God only create two genders? Why did God create genders at all?

To find the answers, you have to go to the beginning. Genesis 1:26-27 says:

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

The story continues in Genesis 2, with verse 18 saying, "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

None of the creatures God had created thus far were suitable to be Adam's helper. Not a monkey. Not a horse. Not even "man's best friend."

"The Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man and he brought her to the man." (v. 22)

I positively love that God brought the woman to Adam! God didn't just drop her in the Garden and let "fate" decide if they were meant to be together. God had a specific plan in mind. A specific purpose for creating them male and female and bringing them together. We already know that God cared about Adam's loneliness--"It is not good for man to be alone"--but obviously pro-creation wasn't going to happen if Adam and Eve didn't become "one flesh" as Genesis 2:24 says. Do you know what that verse means? It means Adam and Eve had sex in the Garden, folks, and it was okay with God! Why? Because that was part of the plan! God's perfect, free-from-sin-and-shame plan for sex between a man and a woman.

But one chapter later we see everything change. Sin entered the perfect, shame-free world. Man forgot Who was in charge and did things their own way. They didn't acknowledge God the Creator. They didn't believe that there is a greater plan and purpose for our existence than merely satisfying our selfish wants and desires. Every day people twist and distort God's plan. Or ignore it all together.

The recent controversy over Chaz Bono's appearance on Dancing with the Stars is in the news. I don't have anything against Chaz. In fact, my heart aches for her. And I do say "her" because she is, was, and always will be a her. No amount of surgery to remove, add or inject will ever change that. God created Chastity Sun Bono as a woman and she will die a woman. And that's the simple truth Chaz is fighting so hard against. That God created her a woman and not a man. I can't answer the question of why Chaz wants to be a man. I have no clue what her life has been like, the influences that played a role in forming who she is. I haven't walked a mile in her shoes and I have no business casting stones in her direction.

But what I do know is this: "male and female He created them" for a reason.

And you know what God thinks about His creation?

"God saw all that he had made"--including a little girl named Chastity Bono--"and it was very good." (Gen. 1:31)

God created you, whether male or female, for a reason. But if God is not Lord and King in your life, you will have totally missed the whole purpose of your existence.

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This week's Prayer Shout-Out countries are:

USA, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Ukraine, France, Canada, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Trinidad and Tobago, Romania

That It May Go Well With You

2011-08-29T16:01:00.000-05:00

I like it when things are going well, don't you? When everyone is doing okay. When there's enough money in the checking account to buy groceries and gas and pay the never-ending bills. When no one is sick, the cars are running just fine, and there's something to smile about each day.

Like you, however, I've had plenty of times when things weren't going well. I can rattle off a list as long as the next person of times when things were just plain bad. Money problems. Kid problems. Marriage problems. Health problems. Car problems. Problem problems.

This morning I read the following verse in Jeremiah 7:23. It brings a sense of peace when I think about the truth of it:

"Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you."

God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the Jews. It's not the first time He said those words though. In Deuteronomy 5:16 He said the same thing to the same stubborn people (race, not individuals) when giving Moses the Ten Commandments:

"Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you."

Paul reminded us of this commandment and promise in Ephesians 6:1-3. Obedience was just as important to God in the New Testament as it was in the Old Testament.

The theme of these verses, however, is not making sure your life runs smoothly and everything is hunky dory. That is a by-product of the real lesson here. Obedience, I believe, is at the heart of God's words. Obedience to Him. God definitely wants things to go well with our lives! It's His desire. But we are not puppets on a string. God won't make us do anything. We have free will. We have the choice to obey Him or not. Sometimes God allows unpleasant things to come into our lives to teach us and to test us. If we are obedient and trust Him, we'll get through them. I know this for a fact because I've lived it over and over.

I remember when I finally understood that God wanted nothing more than obedience from me. It came as a bit of a shock. I mean, a good Christian is taught that we need to tithe and help the poor and use our talents to further the kingdom of God. We're encouraged to serve here and help there, say this and pray that. And I was trying to do it all. I certainly wanted God's blessings on myself and my family. But one day as I was reading God's word, He made it perfectly clear to me that He doesn't want my time, my talents, my money. He doesn't want my good works or even my sacrifices.

He wants--nay, demands!--my obedience to Him.

To His call on my life. To His way of doing things. To His timetable. As Pastor Rick Warren says in his book The Purpose Driven Life, it's not about me! Life is not about me and my wants and wishes. It's not even about me using the gifts and resources God has blessed me with to His glory. Living the Christian life is not about how much time I spend reading my Bible or how many times I attend church each week.

It's about God and my obedience to Him!

God created me for a specific reason at this specific time in history. He put me in America in a Christian family with all the blessings and privileges that come with being an American. I can live out my life doing what I think I'm supposed to do and have a perfectly good life. But I will have completely missed the whole point of my very existence if I am not obedient to God!

Do I want life to go well with me? Absolutely!

How do I make sure it will? God himself gave me the answer!

"Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in ALL the ways I command you, that it may go well with you."

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This week's Prayer "Shout Out" countries are:
USA, Malaysia, Netherlands, Romania, United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Ukraine and South Africa.

Why We Need Living Water

2011-08-23T14:54:00.000-05:00

Here in Texas we are experiencing the worst drought in recorded state history. At this writing we haven't had significant rain since 2010. Today's high of 105 degrees will mark 69 days of tripple digit temperatures and tie the record set in 1925. Things are dying. Our yard looks awful. Dead, crunchy lawn instead of lush green grass. Droopy trees dropping their dried up leaves. No flowers to speak of. Wild animals are having an especially hard time finding water. Rivers and lakes are drying up. Lake Travis is less than 50% full. Even wells are drying up. Several small towns have completely run out of water. It's sad and scary. A severe drought really makes you realize how much we need water!! That wonderful, wet commodity we all take for granted most of the time.

Texas' drought reminds me of a person who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Why?

Because we humans need Water. Living Water. Let me share some scripture to explain.

In John 4:1-26, we find Jesus traveling. He's tired and thirsty so he stops at Jacob's well in Samaria. Now, good Jews like Jesus weren't supposed to associate with Samaritans, but when a woman arrives at the well, Jesus asks her for a drink of water. She is suprised he speaks to her at all. His words to her are important:

"If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (v. 10)

The woman thinks he's speaking of regular ol' water. She hasn't got a clue who Jesus is and doesn't understand what He means when he says, "Everyone who drinks this water [from the well] will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (v. 13-14)

That kind of water can't come out of your faucet and you can't buy it in a bottle. It doesn't even come down from heaven in a cloud. Notice that Jesus said "I give" when speaking of this water.

So where can you find Living Water?

Jeremiah 2:13 answers this question.

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

God is the spring of living water!

"Then the angel showed me [John] the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life..." (Revelation 22:1-2)

"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (Jesus in John 7:37-38)

The parched Texas landscape is crying out for water, but I sincerely believe the need for Living Water is far, far greater. There are too many dried up souls in need of it. The Samaritan woman at the well drank of the Living Water that day. She went back to her town and told everyone she knew--and probably some she didn't know--everything Jesus had said to her. (John 4:39-42) I imagine her entire life changed that day!

Are you thirsty? Is your soul dried up and parched? Does you spirit feel like a desert?

I know where you can get some Water! Some Living Water so you'll never thirst again!

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This week's Prayer "Shout Out" countries are:
USA, Germany, Ukraine, Australia, Spain, Ghana, Hungary, Israel, South Korea and Lithuania

Change: The Good, the Bad and the Amazing!

2011-08-15T19:08:00.003-05:00

"Change" is one of those words we've heard a lot in the past few years. A certain politician promised change was a'comin' if we elected him president. Hmm. Me thinks the change he brought ain't so grand. I sure hope change does come in 2012...but that's a whole 'nother blog post.

Change is in the air at our house this week. Both our sons are leaving home and are headed for college. Oldest son moved into his dorm today and youngest son will move in Saturday. Our nest will be empty! I have mixed feelings about it all. I'll miss the boys more than they'll ever know, yet I'm also massively proud and thrilled about the young men they have become. I can't wait to see what God does in their lives in these next years!

But the honest truth is I'm not one who embraces change easily. I like my comfort zone, thank you very much. When hubby lost his job in 2008 from a company where he'd worked for 23 years, our world was absolutely rocked by change. We didn't know which way was up or down. We were completely lost. God's goodness and faithfulness got us through and beyond that change. It hasn't always been easy, but I firmly believe it's been positive in the long run.

The most important change a person can go through, however, doesn't come by way of politicians, bosses or parents letting go. It comes when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. The Apostle Paul wrote about this change in 2 Corinthians 5:17:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

God is in the business of change. Unlike a politician who promises change, God will absolutely deliver! The Bible is full of stories about lives being changed and made new. You simply canNOT have a real, true, bona-fide encounter with Jesus Christ without being changed!

The Magi changed their allegiance after they saw and worshipped the Christ Child. (Matthew 2:12)

Peter, Andrew, James and John changed careers when Jesus called them. (Matthew 4:18-22)

Matthew and Zacheaus, both despised tax collectors, were changed by Jesus' friendship. (Matthew 9:9-12 and Luke 19:1-10)

The woman who had a bleeding disease was changed just by touching Jesus' cloak. (Matthew 9:20)

A woman who was most likely a prostitute--Mary Magdalene--was changed and freed from a life of sin by Jesus. (Luke 7:36-50)

Nicodemus, an educated and religious man, was changed and born again after speaking with Jesus. (John 3:1-21)

Lazarus went from being dead and buried for three days to being alive! (John 11:1-44. I love Jesus' words in v. 44: "Take off his grave clothes and let him go!")

And Paul, who was originally known as Saul--a man who murdered Christians!--was completely made new by an encounter with Jesus Christ. He went from killing Believers to spreading the Gospel message himself. (Acts 9:1-19)

On and on. Story after story. One life after another, all revealing the life-giving change found only in Jesus Christ.

Everyone can experience that change! It wasn't only for people who lived thousands of years ago. It's available for you and for me! There is no sin too great that can't be changed and forgiven! There is no life so messed up that change can't come and make things new again. There is no faith so small--as small as a mustard seed--that God can't work with.

Ask! Believe! Live a changed life today!

This is one change I highly recommend!

Prayer, Fasting and Rick Perry

2011-08-06T16:14:00.003-05:00

Today is the day Texas Governor Rick Perry called on Americans to pray and fast for our country. "The Response" (http://www.theresponseusa.com/) is going on as I type this and I have the Live Web Stream open on another page. The band and crowd are singing "Nothing But The Blood of Jesus." People from all over the country are there, raising their hands and their hearts to heaven, asking God to have mercy on our country. As Governor Perry stated when asked about the reason for the The Response: "America is in the midst of a historic crisis. We have been besieged by financial debt, terrorism, and a multitude of natural disasters. The youth of America are in grave peril economically, socially, and, most of all, morally. There are threats emerging within our nation and beyond our borders beyond our power to solve."

You may not believe in God. You may not believe in prayer. You may think such an event goes against the separation of Church and State. But you cannot dispute the truth of his words about America. About the world, really. So why, I ask, would anyone mind if Governor Perry and thousands of others pray for our country? If God isn't real, it's a waste of their time not yours. If God is real and hears their cries for mercy, you benefit from their belief and sacrifice.

Critics believe Governor Perry is only after the Republican nomination. At this point, only Governor Perry and maybe his wife know if that is true. He hasn't said if he'll run or not. But if he does and this was all a political move, does that matter?

Not to me and I'll tell you why.

This morning I read Isaiah 58. It's all about fasting and the motives of our hearts when we do "religious" things. In this chapter, God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to His chosen people, the Israelites. Apparently the people have been fasting without pure motives. Verse 4 reads: "Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high."

Fasting is not about going without food just so you can give the appearance of being holy. God is not fooled by our acts! 1 Samuel 16:7 says God "looks at the heart" of a man, not what's on the outside. He will see if our hearts are sincere in our prayers and our fasting and our Bible reading and our whatever else we do in His name.

It's God's place to judge whether or not Gov. Perry is sincere in his prayers. Just as He will judge if I am or if you are. But whether or not Perry's motive was political, the 30,000+ people that showed up there to pray and fast are definitely not running for President. They are there to pray for a country that desperately needs it.

Isaiah 58:8-14 goes on to tell us what will happen when our prayers and fasting are sincere.

"THEN your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will appear. THEN your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. THEN you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." (v. 8-9)

I will join Gov. Perry and the others in prayer for our country, for our President, for our leaders, for our people. I hope you will too.

By His Wounds We Are Healed

2011-07-30T09:16:00.002-05:00

Okay readers. I have some homework for you. I'd like you to read Isaiah 53. The whole thing. It's only twelve verses long. Will ya? Pretty please, with cherries on top?

In my humble opinion, Isaish 53 is one of THE MOST important passages in the entire Bible. It's a passage that all believers should know and understand.

Why?

Because it foretells us about Jesus! Yes, Jesus is in the Old Testament! No, He is not called by name, but it's Him, make no mistake about it. It tells us that He will live, that He will die, and that He will live again.

I encourage you to read the whole passage, but some of the verses that really speak to my heart are:

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." (v. 2)

I find that extremely interesting, especially in today's society. These days people are OBESESSED with outward beauty! Billions of dollars are spent every year on plastic surgery procedures, cosmetics, skin treatments, hair styles, finger nails and even toe nails, jewelry, clothing, shoes. On and on the list goes. Hollywood is especially obesessed with outward beauty. It doesn't matter how disgusting and bad a person is on the inside as long as they are beautiful or handsome on the outside.

But the verse I quoted from Isaiah 53:2 tells us that Jesus was not handsome. He wasn't kingly. He didn't have movie star good looks, fancy clothes or anything that would attract us to his outward self. He was just an average Jewish carpenter from Nazareth who ultimately would save the world. I love that!

"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows." (v. 4)

That verse goes along with my last post about being weary. Jesus has always been willing to carry our burdens. Isaiah wrote these words hundreds of years before the man Jesus was even born yet it foretells us that He will carry our sorrows and infirmities. That was the plan all along. I find that extremely comforting to my soul.

The verse that truly speaks to my heart is verse 5:

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."

Peace. Healing. That is what we get out of Jesus' death on the cross. This verse describes what Jesus will go through because of our sin. He'll be pierced. Crushed. Suffer punishment. All because of our transgressions. He took OUR punishment upon himself so we could have peace. So we could be healed. Hundreds of years before he actually hung on the cross, Jesus was already prepared to take the fall for us. He was already willing to say to you: "I love you enough to die for your sins." Wow! That is THE MOST amazing love you will ever encounter!!

Finally, verse 11 gives us eternal hope!

"After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied."

Jesus didn't stay dead. His body was not in the grave the day the stone rolled away. The tomb was empty because, like this verse tells us, Jesus once again saw the light of life. The same light Jesus himself talked about in John 8:12:

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Do you have the light of life? You can! All you have to do is BELIEVE! Believe that Jesus is God! Believe that Jesus' life was foretold in Isaiah 53. Believe that He came to earth as a man to take our iniquities upon him so that we can have peace.

It's yours for the asking.

Now...go do your homework! =)

All You Who Are Weary

2011-07-26T08:32:00.003-05:00

I admit it. I'm weary. Truly, no-doubt-about-it, down-to-the-bone weary. The dictionary defines "weary" as being physcially or mentally fatigued. I am the latter of the two. Mentally fatiqued about sums me up these days. Too much life going on for me to handle well. The economy. Job stress. Gas prices. Car insurance. The Texas drought. The Texas heat. Getting both boys ready for college. Financial aid paperwork. Worry over the ENORMOUS debt they are incurring. On and on.

I'm weary. How about you?

Jesus knew we'd come to this point in life. Not only is He God and knows everything there is to know about us, but He also lived on earth as a man. I'm sure He experienced weariness. I would imagine that not only did He experience physical weariness from long days working in his family's business and home, but I think He probably experienced mental weariness too. The sin all around Him must have brought him low at times. Jesus is God and God is Jesus. Many Old Testament passages reveal God's weariness and disappointment with the sin of mankind.

But Jesus didn't want to leave us stuck in our weariness. In Matthew 11:28-30 He tells us what to do when we are so low we can't get up:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

{{{Huge sigh of relief}}}

I need that rest! My soul needs that rest. Life is simply too hard to tackle alone. People--even the people you love the most--will let you down. Spouses. Bosses. Friends. Family. They all have burdens of their own to carry, so turning to others to help you carry yours isn't the solution. Yes, they can offer advice and sympathy, but they can't carry your burden for you. What we need is supernatural rest. Supernatural peace. The kind that ONLY comes from God!

Paul wrote about that peace in Philippians 4:6-7:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Jesus is the answer to our weariness. He holds the rest and the peace our souls long for. It's not always easy to let go and trust God, especially when so many of lifes problems weigh us down. I know. I'm right there with you. But I am determined to follow Jesus' instructions:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened."

Blind Bartimaeus' Legacy

2011-07-16T13:28:00.007-05:00

Have you ever wondered if you'll be remembered generations from now? Are you doing anything worth being remembered for? I'll bet Bartimaeus never dreamed his legacy would be alive and well in 2011!

Who am I talking about? Glad you asked! Let me tell you a story.

Once upon a time there was a man named Bartimaeus. He was blind. We don't know if he was born blind or if he became blind later in life, but one thing is very clear. His blindness defined who he was, for he was known as Blind Bartimaeus. He spent his days begging for coins and food. Because he's a beggar, it leads us to think he has no family or has been outcast from them because of his blindness, especially if it was caused by a disease. He's an outcast in society too.

Blind Bartimaeus leads a hard, lonely life.

One day he is sitting beside the road outside of Jericho hoping someone will share a few coins when he hears a commotion. A large crowd is coming. His ears perk up and he quickly figures out that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by. He's heard about this Jesus. He's heard about the healing power that follows Jesus wherever he goes. He's heard that some even believe Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah.

"Surely the Messiah can heal my blindness!" he thinks.

"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" he cries out.

Those closest to him shush him. "Be quiet, beggar. Who are you to call out to the Teacher?"

But Bartimaeus knows this is his one chance. He calls out even louder. "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Something wonderful happens then.

Jesus stopped. He'd heard Bartimaeus' cry above the din around him.

"Call him," Jesus says.

Those same people who were hushing Bartimaeus only moments before now tell him, "Cheer up! He's calling you."

What happens next is something we all need to do when we hear the Lord calling to us!

Bartimaeus leaped to his feet. He threw off his cloak and hurried to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see!"

"Go," said Jesus. "Your faith has healed you!" Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus. (Mark 10:46-52)

We can all learn from Blind Bartimaeus! Here's what I take away from this story:

1. No matter how tough life is, we're never so low that Jesus can't lift us up!
2. No matter how ill and broken our bodies, we're never so ill and broken that Jesus can't heal us!
3. Don't let ANYONE keep you from crying out to the Lord! He will hear you!
4. When Jesus calls to us, we have to GET UP and MOVE! We can't stay in the same place, doing the same things, leading the same old life. That doesn't always mean a physcial moving, but sometimes it does.
5. Leave your old cloak behind. Meaning leave your old habits, your old friends, your old guilt, your old whatever that will pull you back down. Drop it! Walk away from it! Don't look back!
6. Jesus knew Bartimaeus was blind. He knew he wanted his sight. But He asked Bartimaues anyway: "What do you want me to do for you?" Sometimes we have to say it out loud! "I want to see!" "I want to be healed." "I want my marriage restored!" "I want peace."
7. Finally, we have to follow Jesus for the rest of our lives.

We have all been Blind Bartimaeus at some point in our lives. We all have issues we're dealing with. The wonderful thing is we don't have to stay there! Bartimaeus' faith healed him through the power of Jesus. His life completely changed that day! He was no longer Blind Bartimaeus!

What do you want Jesus to do for you?

Ask. Move. Believe!

Part 2: Put on Your Armor!

2011-07-10T20:53:00.008-05:00

I love museums. I like looking at really old stuff. One of the items I find interesting is armor. You know the type. The big ol' heavy suit men wore back in the days of jousting. I can't imagine trying to walk around in that thing let alone riding a horse! Over the centuries there have been many different types of armor worn for many different reasons. But the one thing they all have in common is that they were made to protect the wearer. To protect the head, the heart, the body, the arms, the legs, the feet. Every inch of a person could be covered to prevent an injury or worse.

The Apostle Paul used armor to illustrate to us and the believers in Ephesus what we need to do in order to protect ourselves from attacks.

Attacks by whom?

See my last post for a better explanation, but the short answer is: Satan and his demons.

In Ephesians 6:10-18 we find the best advice ever given to Christians. It's a little long but well worth reading the whole thing!

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

First of all, notice who you are fighting against. It's not your spouse, your kids, your in-laws, your parents, your neighbors, your boss or anyone made of flesh and blood. Verse 12 clearly tells us who we are fighting against: the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. None of us is equipped to fight that on our own! That's why we need the armor God provides. Secondly, notice it says "when the day of evil comes" not "if" it will come. Satan will attack you! He is the enemy. And like any soldier in battle, you have to be ready to fight at all times. That's where the Armor of God comes in.

Belt of Truth. Jesus is truth. (John 14:6) Satan is a deceiver. (John 8:44) Gird yourself with Truth!
Breastplate of Righteousness. The breastplate protects the heart, lungs and other vital organs that keep us going. (Romans 3:22) We are made righteous by Jesus. Wear Him!
Feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Only Jesus brings true peace. (John 14:27) Where your feet go...the rest of your body has to follow. Protect your feet!
Shield of Faith. Our faith in Jesus gives us access to the supernatural power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:5) Flaming arrows are extinguished when we are "soaked" in Faith!
Helmet of Salvation. A helmet protects our brain, eyes, mouth. (Romans 10:9) Our mind is the greatest plunder Satan is after!
Sword of the Spirit. Jesus himself used the Word of God to defeat Satan's temptations. (Luke 4:1-13) READ YOUR BIBLE DAILY!

It's vital that you have all your pieces of armor in place. A crafty enemy knows how to find weaknesses. Paul writes in verse 18: "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

My prayer for every person who reads this blog post is that you will:

1) Know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior!

2) That you will put on your Armor of God every single day so that you can stand firm!

We're in this thing together!

Part 1: Is Spiritual Warfare for Real?

2011-07-06T16:28:00.009-05:00

I will never, ever forget the one and only time I watched the movie "The Exorcist." I was about 15-years-old and it scared the bee-hee-bee-gee-bee's out of me! All these years later I can still clearly recall Linda Blair's head spinning around her body and the green vomit that exploded from her mouth. Hollywood continues its fascination with all things demonic. In the past few years a number of movies have come out that involve evil spirits and demon possessions. I can't tell you what they're about because I have not and will not see them. In my old age I've come to this sensible conclusion: demons and Satan are not something to mess around with. They are certainly not fodder for entertainment or to be made light of in any way.

Why?

Because spiritual warfare is real. Very real. Satan is a real spiritual being and so are demons. Let's take a look at what the Bible says about them. Genesis 3: 1 says:

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made."

The Bible never calls the serpent "Satan" in Genesis but we know it's him. Revelation 12:9 identifies him:

"The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray."

From the beginning of time Satan has been deceiving humankind. "Did God really say?" he asks Eve in Genesis 3:1. That is the exact same question he is asking people today! "Did God really say not to have sex unless you're married? Did God really say two men shouldn't lie together? Did God really say we could only worship Him?"

Satan is the great deceiver. Jesus called him "the father of lies" in John 8:44. But a serpent telling lies doesn't seem so bad, does it? I mean, we can just ignore him and go on about our business, right?

If that were all he did, yes, he would be easy to ignore. But Satan is not just a liar. He is actively looking for ways to thwart God's perfect will for mankind. Job 1:6-7 is a passage that gives me chills when I read it:

"One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth, and going back and forth in it."

I don't know about you but that absolutely creeps me out! Satan is roaming our earth, actively seeking ways to mess with us. Peter wrote this about Satan in 1 Peter 5:8:

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Picture a hungry lion on the hunt for prey. Stalking. Teeth and claws bared. Ready to pounce. You, my dear, are Satan's prey! We all are. And he's not alone in his hunt. He has helpers. We call them demons. The New Testament is full of eyewitness accounts of demon possession. It was apparently a fairly common problem and even the teachers of the Law recognized the need to drive out demons. Jesus had a notable encounter with a demon possessed man in Luke 4:31-37 where the demon recognized Jesus and his authority. Which makes sense because James 2:19 says,

"You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder."

People, Satan is real! Demons are real. Demon possession is real. Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was taken over by Satan himself. Luke 22:3 says, "Then Satan entered Judas..." We all know how that turned out. Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and then went off to hang himself.

But it's not just physical possession we need to worry about. It's the lying, the deceiving, the tempting, the drawing us away from God that is Satan's ultimate goal. Satan knows the end that is coming for him described in Revelation 20. He knows his time gets shorter every day. And guess what? He doesn't want to go down alone. He wants to take as many of us with him as he possibly can.

So now what? What do we do once we realize Satan and demons are real spiritual beings that are out to destroy us?

Stay tuned for:
Part 2: Put on Your Armor

Freedom Isn't Free

2011-07-03T12:50:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is July 4th. Here in America we understand that July 4, 1776 is the day our Founding Father's told the world that freedom in our country was here to stay! No longer would we be bound by a country and a king who didn't believe in freedom. I'm thankful for those men who believed that freedom was worth fighting for and proudly signed their names to the Declaration of Independence. I'm thankful for the men and women who over the past two-hundred-plus years agreed with the 1776 men and have continued to fight for freedom. But freedom comes at a price. Thousands upon thousands of men and women have lost their lives, before and after July 4, 1776, in the fight for freedom. Native Americans lost many of their freedoms in the 1700s and 1800s as America grew. Black slaves would have to wait almost 100 years for freedom and another 100 years for the Civil Rights movement. Today, people of all ages and races are being held in bondage, and wars continue to be fought in the pursuit of freedom.

Freedom is not free!

The ultimate freedom, however, was bought for the price of one man.

Jesus Christ.

On the day Jesus was crucified, He bought your freedom! You didn't have to pay a thing. No money. No blood. All you have to do is believe in Him and you have freedom forever!

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36

Paul spoke of this same freedom in Romans 6:18: "You have been set free from sin..."

Would you turn down the freedom our Founding Father's and others have fought so hard to achieve? I don't think so. I don't think there is a American alive that would give up their freedom to live under tyranny. But that is exactly what you're doing if you say you have no need for Jesus Christ. You are telling God you'd rather live under the bondage of sin than to be set free through the blood of Jesus.

Freedom isn't free.

Thankfully the price has already been paid. Don't waste it!

"My Heart Will Sing No Other Name...JESUS!"

2011-06-27T16:58:00.003-05:00

This video of Hillsong Live performing "Forever Reign" goes perfectly with my blog post from yesterday. There is no other name--no other One--worthy of our praise! Only Jesus!

Why??

Because there is power in the name of Jesus!

"Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matthew 18:20

"And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:13-14

"And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Acts 2:21

"Therefore God exhalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11

Listen, enjoy, BELIEVE!

My heart will sing no other name...

Jesus!!!!

God isn't God without Jesus

2011-06-26T13:55:00.002-05:00

Maybe it's because I was raised in the Christian faith, but I often wonder why people bother to believe in God yet have no belief in Jesus. Now, I'm mainly talking about people who believe in the same God I do. (Or at least I think it's the same God.) Muslims believe in Allah, another word for God, but in my opinion their God and my God are not one and the same. Mormons also believe in God, but again, their belief is so radically different from Christianity that their God and my God are not even close to being the same. Scientology, Jehovah's Witness, Unification, etc. They all have God mixed into their religion in some form or fashion. Some people like to say that "all paths lead to God." Well, that is a true statement. Every single person, no matter what path they take in life, will one day stand before the one and only God. The outcome of that meeting, however, is where we will be separated like the sheep and goats that we are. (Matthew 25: 31-33) Don't be fooled into believing that every god is God, because that simply is not true.

My confusion, therefore, is with people who say yes, God exists, and even pray to Him on occasion, but then turn around and say they have no use for Jesus Christ.

Where, I wonder, does their belief come from? Isn't it from the Bible? If the answer to that question is yes, then the next logical question is: If you believe in the God of the Bible, then why don't you believe what the Bible says about Jesus being God's Son? About him being Immanuel, God with us? (Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23) About our need for him in order to be saved? (Romans 10:9)

There is a danger in believing in God but leaving Jesus out of the picture.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16. Without belief in the Son, the Father cannot give you eternal life.

"No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6. God is not accessible without Jesus.

God himself had this to say about Jesus: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:5

Are you listening? I am!

In John 10:30 Jesus made it clear who he is: "I and the Father are one."

Folks, here's the bottom line: There is no point to believing in God without believing in Jesus too.

Don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying drop your belief in God! But I am saying if God is all you have, then you need to keep looking! It is through Jesus' death on the cross that we are saved. It is through His resurrection from the dead that we are given life. It is through belief in Him that we will enter heaven!

God is Jesus!

Jesus is God!

Believe and be saved! (Acts 16:31)

The Body is God's Temple

2011-06-23T12:46:00.003-05:00

I am not the world's best housekeeper. I'm not the worst either. I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. I like things neat and orderly. I can't stand clutter. But most days you can write your name in the dust on the furniture or find water spots on the bathroom mirrors.

But when I'm expecting company it's a whole 'nother story!

I am a cleaning fanatic when I know guests are coming! That's when I begin to see things I've ignored. Spider webs in the corners. Dust bunnies under the cedar chest in the hallway. You too?

The Bible tells us that our bodies are God's temple. In Paul's letter to the believers in Corinth, he made that point more than once.

"Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16

"Do you not know that your body is a temple 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 body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and invite Him into our lives, our bodies become His dwelling place. His Spirit moves in.

So what kind of 'house' are you inviting God to live in? Are there things in your life--habits, people, stuff--you've ignored?

Obviously we've all sinned. We've all made mistakes. We all have dirt. But are you keeping that dirt around, letting it hang out in your heart and clutter things up?

Maybe you need to clean house!

When I know guests are coming, I start getting rid of stuff! Old magazines. Ratty furniture. Dead plants. When we invite God into our lives, we have to get rid of old habits. People that will tempt us to fail. Books, movies, magazines that lead us to sin.

Is your "house" clean and ready for God to move in? If not, what are you waiting for?? Grab a mop and broom (and your Bible!) and get to work!

Your Guest will reward your efforts!

Sex Trafficking Article

2011-06-18T18:36:00.007-05:00

Christine Caine has been to our church several times to share about a ministry she and her husband launched a few years ago called the A21 Campaign. A21 helps women in Greece and other European countries break free from sex slavery. Sex trafficking is an epidemic most people are not aware of. I applaud CNN for posting this article to help make more people aware of the evil happening every single day.

Read the article here.

More Body Parts

2011-06-16T17:41:00.006-05:00

Seems I'm not alone in my war on cleavage. And lest anyone think I'm singling out and/or scolding women who simply can't help the fact that they have large breasts, I'm not. My war is against those who purposefully leave their 'girls' exposed for all the world to see.

In my previous post My War on Cleavage, I quoted a verse from Matthew 5:28. It's a quote from Jesus on adultery and lust. It's a truly important detail in my war. Women need to be aware there are serious consequences when a man looks at them lustfully.

But Jesus didn't just warn us. His next words are pretty doggone strong!

"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown in hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." Matthew 5:27-30

Gouge out your eye?!

Cut off your hand?!

YIKES!

Is Jesus serious here?

In many ways, YES! I believe He is! Jesus absolutely knows that our bodies will not last forever, but our souls will. What is losing an eye or a hand compared to losing your eternal soul?

Does Jesus truly want us to gouge out our eyes though??

I don't think so. He would much rather we kept both our eyes on Him.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." Hebrews 12:2

2 Corinthians 4:18 says, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

He knows we will need our eyes to see Him when He comes back, as Revelation 1:7 says: "Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him."

I don't think Jesus was being flippant when he spoke of gouging out our eyes, because He is the Creator of our eyes. He knows how important they are to us. But He also understands our sinful ways. He knows people are going to abuse the special gift of sight by allowing their eyes to feast on all kinds of stuff they shouldn't.

You've probably heard the phrase "the eye is the window to the soul." Though that exact phrase isn't biblical, Jesus did say in Matthew 6:22, "The eye is the lamp of the body." Whatever your eyes take in will determine whether your heart is filled with light or darkness.

Personally, I don't want to gouge out an eye or cut off a hand. I think it'd be a whole heck of a lot easier to keep 'em in check, doin' what they're supposed to do and not what'll get me in trouble!

I like my eyes and hands, thank you very much!

My War on Cleavage!

2011-06-12T12:09:00.000-05:00

Okay ladies. This post is for you (but guys are welcome to read it too). I am not being a prude or a stick in the mud, but there's something I've wanted to say for a while now. And after reading a Facebook post on a similar thought yesterday, I decided I'm just gonna lay it out there and be completely honest. Here goes:

I AM SICK OF SEEING YOUR CLEAVAGE!!!!!

I really am.

As a wife.
As a mother of sons.
As a Christian who believes in modesty.

Let me explain those three points.

As a wife, my body is the only one I want my husband to admire. I'm not selfish. I'm not even jealous. It's just that God created my body for my husband's pleasure--viewing and otherwise--and vice versa. 1 Corinthians 7:4 says:

"The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife."

Verse five goes on to say: "Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

Now, I'll be the first to admit that my body is not the body of a super model. I am not the 22-year-old my husband fell in love with. Everyone ages. Everyone puts on pounds here and there. A woman's body changes with pregnancy and childbirth. But you know what? None of that matters. A husband vows to stay only unto his wife. Period.

But when you ladies with...ahem....attributes leave 'em out there for all the world to see, even good husbands have a hard time keeping their eyes on your face. Your husband, not mine, should be the only one looking at your chest. Heck, even I have a hard time not gawking when a woman with a big chest and a low-cut top bends over. "Good grief!" I want to shout. "Cover 'em up!"

As the mother of two young men ages 20 and 18, I have absolutely had it with women--young and old--flaunting their boobs, thong straps, short shorts and nothing-there-bathing-suits at my boys!!! >:[ How is a young man these days supposed to keep his thoughts about women pure and respectful when you're showing him just about everything you've got for free?!

We all know that, generally, men are more visually stimulated than women. That's why we go to the trouble to look nice, wear make-up, yada, yada. But ladies!! Do you not understand what happens to a man when he sees boobs, thong straps, short shorts and nothing-there-bathing-suits???? Are you truly that naive??? And if your goal is to cause those thoughts in a man, please keep reading!

It's especially annoying to me when Christian girls and women dress inappropriately. Worldly. I am all for staying in style, looking nice and attractive, but if I had a daughter there is NO WAY I'd let her purchase, let alone wear, some of the stuff I see at church and elsewhere.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:9: "I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety..."

Girls...Ladies...here is the bottom line. When you dress in a manner that causes a man to think thoughts he shouldn't be thinking, you are causing him to sin. Jesus said in Matthew 5:28: "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Yes, the man (or woman, if she's the one looking) is responsible for their own eyes and what they look at. But these days you can't go to the mall or the beach or turn on the TV without boobs and skimpily-clad women assaulting your vision!

So, please, please, please...be aware of the 3 B's: Boobs, butts, and bellies. Think before you put on that low-cut top or pair of shorts that show your cheeks. If you're married, save it for your husband! If you're not, save it for your future husband!!

This is one time we are asking you NOT to share!!

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Another site you may want to visit is Modeling Christ. Professional model Rachel Lee Carter is an advocate for modesty.

Throwing Stones in the Dark

2011-06-08T16:51:00.009-05:00

Man, the past three weeks have been B.U.S.Y!! Our youngest son graduated from high school and we've been swamped with all the "stuff" that comes with that! Fun stuff, to be sure, but I'm glad it's winding down. We had FOUR major praises come out of these weeks:

1. #2 son graduated!
2. #1 son and #2 son made it safely to Oklahoma City, driving until 4 AM!
3. #2 son found out he will play basketball for the university he's attending in the fall!!
4. #1 son finally made his decision and will attend a university within driving distance instead of Hawaii Pacific, which he reeeeally had me scared he was going to choose!

Whoop!!

GOD IS GOOD!!

Which brings me to today's post.

In John 8, Jesus is teaching/talking to the crowd in the temple courts. Out of the blue, the Pharisees drag out a woman who has been caught in adultery. (I've always wondered how exactly she was caught!) They want to know whether or not Jesus says it's okay to stone her, which would be the appropriate punishment according to the Law of Moses. Their real motive, however, is to trap Jesus. If he says kill her, then he isn't the warm-and-fuzzy teacher everyone says he is. If he says let her go, then he is a breaker of the Law.

But Jesus is on to them. He knows exactly what's going on in their minds...and their hearts. I absolutely love what happens next! Jesus outwits 'em big time.

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (v. 7)

They all walk away. Unhappily, I'm sure. They didn't catch Jesus in their trap and they didn't get to stone the woman. Bummer. That whole passage is not about the Law or even about adultery. It's about the heart. The ugliness inside the Pharisees hearts.

Which one are you? The stone thrower or the woman?

I've been both. Not something I'm proud of.

All of us have been the woman at one time or another. I don't mean by committing adultery, although many people have. I mean we are all sinners. We all deserve to be punished for our sins. So why doesn't God squash us with a heavenly boulder the moment we sin? Because of this:

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (v. 12)

Jesus gave the adulterous woman a choice: Light or darkness. He told her to "go now and leave your life of sin." In the next verse he told us all, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

That is my prayer for myself and my family. That we will never walk in darkness. That we will keep our eyes on the Light. We don't have to be afraid of being stoned for our sins. We don't have to live in spiritual darkness.

Being in the Light is a beautiful thing!

The Rapture: What's it all about??

2011-05-22T16:00:00.005-05:00

Well, here we are on May 22, 2011. I feel sorry for Harold Camping and his followers. They woke up today, many of them broke, and all of them disillusioned. Judgement Day 2011 was a bust. What do they do now? Set yet another date? Solicit more money to promote a new Judgement Day?

My advice to them: Read the Bible! A few simple words from Jesus makes it perfectly clear NO MAN will know the day or the hour. We're told to be ready, not to predict the day.

So, what's all this Rapture stuff all about anyway?

First of all, I am not a theologian. I'm not an expert in eschatology or anything else for that matter. But I know how to read and study and think and investigate. Therefore, what follows is MY understanding of the Rapture.

The word "rapture" is not actually used in the Bible. It comes from the Latin word "rapio" which means "caught up". It can also mean "snatch" "grab" or "carry off." In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the Greek expression used by Paul--"harpazo"-- is translated in Latin as "rapio."

"After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."

Paul is obviously talking about something that will happen in the future. It will happen to Christians because Paul is writing to the "Brothers" (v. 13) in the church in Thessolonica. He uses the term "we" throughout this passage, which means he's speaking to fellow believers in Jesus Christ. "Caught up." "Clouds." "Meet the Lord." It doesn't take a rocket scientist to envision what he's describing.

Jesus told us in John 14:3 that He would come back and get us. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

How will He take us all back Home?

Rapio!

It also lines up with what John wrote in Revelation 3:10. Revelation 2 and 3 are letters to the churches, with Jesus telling John what to write. Revelation 3:10 says, "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth."

In the original Greek, the word used for "from" means "out of." Since the actual physical church in the city of Philadelphia mentioned in this passage was destroyed in a Turkish invasion in 1382, we understand that Jesus was writing this letter, as well as all the other letters, to ALL believers. Each letter ends with, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." I have an ear and I'm listening! So are a lot of other people. The logical conclusion is: Jesus is telling ALL believers they will be kept from the hour of trial.

How?

Rapio! Caught up in the clouds, baby!

It wouldn't be the first time a human disappeared from the earth. In Genesis 5:24, Enoch, who "walked with God" was "no more, because God took him away." That's what the rapture will be like for Believers. They will be no more, because God--Jesus--took them away just as He promised.

Rapture theology hasn't always been around. It first appeared in the 1800s. Why not before that? Your guess is as good as mine. Illiteracy. Lack of Bibles. Denominational teachings that only certain people should read the Bible and then teach it to others. Who knows. But no one can dispute the fact that the verses I've mentioned here were always there, ready for anyone to read and understand.

If you are a fellow Believer, I'll wave at you as we're being "caught up" to heaven, OK? If you're not, I'm sorry to tell you you're gonna miss all the fun! But it's not too late. Make your flight reservations today!

May 21st--Rapture day or not?

2011-05-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

Okay. I'm going to post this on May 20th...and come back and comment on May 22nd.

If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, Google "Judgement Day 2011" or something like it. In a nutshell---and that is a good choice of words---an 89-year-old man named Harold Camping has decided, through much study and calculation, that May 21, 2011 is the day Jesus will rapture all Believers. Never mind that Mr. Camping previously predicted a date in 1994, which apparently didn't turn out the way he thought it would.

I've decided to blog about the Rapture and what I believe it's all about at another time. (Mainly because I simply don't have time right now.) Instead, I'll leave you with Jesus' words from Matthew 24:36 and 44:

"No one knows about the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but ONLY the Father."

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him."

"...and God was hovering..."

2011-05-16T15:59:00.005-05:00

Is God hovering over you?

You may have never thought of His presence like that. I hadn't until recently. Our wonderfully gifted pastor, Joe Champion of Celebration Church, is teaching/preaching a series called Genesis. Genesis 1 describes the beginning of everything. If you wanna know where you came from, read it!

In the New International Version Bible, verse 2 reads: "Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."

The King James reads: "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters."

The Message reads: "God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss."

As a writer, I pay very close attention to words. And I'll tell ya...the words "hovering" "moving" and "brooding" have really captured my attention lately!

More than anything, I want God to hover over me! I want Him to move upon my life! And I definitely want Him to brood above me. Because when one broods---ponders or thinks deeply---change usually follows.

We have a lot going on in our lives right now. Both our sons are making important life-decisions. Hubby and I are pondering what's next for us now that our boys will both be in college.

But I'll tell you something.

I don't want to make one decision...make one move!...without God hovering over us! I want Him right there in the middle of things, directing, guiding, shining his Light on our path.

If God is not hovering over you, you are like the earth way back when. Formless, empty, dark. But it doesn't have to stay that way. Ask God in. Ask Him to hover over you. Ask him to move and to brood.

You'll have a new beginning. You'll have a Genesis moment!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

2011-05-06T16:12:00.002-05:00

That's a picture of my sweet Mom & Dad years ago at my niece's wedding. Back before Daddy became so sick from kidney failure (he passed away in 2007) and Alzheimer's Disease stole Mom away from us. In honor of Mother's Day, I decided to share a little about my Mom and about what I learned about motherhood when I became a mother.

Mom was born in Oklahoma back in the Depression, the youngest of four girls. Her birth day was actually a sad day for the family because Mom's twin sister was stillborn and my grandmother nearly died from a loss of blood. But Mom survived and so did Grandma, and each would become very special women to their families.

My parents met in college after Daddy served in World War II. They married in 1950. Over the next thirteen years they would have five children, me being the youngest. Growing up, a child has no real understanding of the huge responsibility it is to raise children. From the moment a child is born, a parent--a mother--worries about them. Daily worries. Hourly worries sometimes. In infancy, you worry about their growth, are they eating enough, why are they crying, and on and on. As toddlers, you worry about them hurting themselves as they learn to navigate the world on their own. As school children, you worry about them being picked on and whether or not they will succeed in school. When they reach adolescence, you worry about everything!! Not even when they grow up and start a life of their own are parents suddenly worry-free. No. Children are children, no matter how old they are.

When I became a mother, I finally understood some things about my Mom. I understood the sacrifices she made for us kids. The long hours working as a teacher. The longer hours working as a Mom. Cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, shopping. A Mother's work is truly NEVER done. I understood why she was so tired and why she'd get angry at us kids when we argued and acted up. I understood her heartaches. I understood her pride in all five of us.

Mom wasn't perfect. No mother is. She made mistakes. If she could go back and change things that were said or done, I believe she would. She loved her children unconditionally. She would have given her own life to save us.

Mom wanted God's best for all of her children. She taught us about Jesus Christ. She made certain we grew up in church and heard the Truth. That, to me, is the MOST important gift Mom could have given me! It is a gift I pray I've passed on to her grandsons.

I'm thankful for the Mom God gave me. She doesn't know it's Mother's Day and she doesn't remember that she's a Mom, but I do.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MOM!!

I Love You,
~Shelly (the name Mom always called me!)

Every Knee Will Bow

2011-05-02T08:23:00.001-05:00

It's hard to know how to feel about the death of Osama bin Laden. On one hand, I'm thankful he's dead. He was an evil, hate-filled person and his existence offered nothing positive to the world. On the other hand, I don't celebrate the death of a human who will now spend eternity in hell because of his rejection of Jesus Christ.

And that is what all life comes down to: When you die, where will you spend eternity?

Philippians 2:5-11 tells us who Jesus is and what is to come for us all. Verses 9-11 read:

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the very name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Osama bin Laden made his choice. He chose hate and evil. He chose to believe a lie instead of the truth. He rejected his Savior and embraced the Deceiver.

BUT...

Osama bin Laden---like every single one of us!---will come face-to-face with Jesus one day! He will stand in judgement for every single atrocity he played a role in. He will have to give an answer to the choices he made. He will have to confess his rejection and denial of God's Son. And when his judgement is final, he will experience the second death described in Revelation 21:11-15 and 22:8.

Every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess.

It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter if you have people who worship you and follow your every command. It doesn't matter how much money you have in your account or how powerful your word is. What matters is the answer to one simple question:

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If the answer is no, you will suffer the same fate as Osama bin Laden. It's too late for him.

Don't come to the end of your life only to realize how wrong you've been.

How Great Thou Art!

2011-04-28T08:55:00.002-05:00

This brings me to tears every single time I watch it! Carrie Underwood did an amazing job! To God be the Glory!! Enjoy!

The Last Supper...

2011-04-20T12:38:00.001-05:00

Today is the day the Last Supper would have taken place. The Thursday before Jesus was crucified on the cross for your sins and mine. The Passover meal, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread, was shared in an upper room that was surprisingly ready for Jesus and his disciples, even though they hadn't made reservations or hired a caterer or anything. All was planned ahead of time by God.

One person I keep thinking about is Judas. My gut tells me Judas simply did not get who Jesus was, otherwise there is no way he could have betrayed him. At least not in my mind, anyway. I do realize that Satan entered Judas at some point that night (one of only two times we read of Satan himself actually entering a person; the other is the Anti-Christ in Revelation). I realize Judas' heart did not fully belong to the Lord. I realize God, and therefore Jesus, knew what Judas would do long before the deed was done. I understand it all had to take place as prophesied.

But Judas......Why?! Why did you do it? Why did you sell your soul for thirty pieces of silver? A fortune in those days, perhaps, but certainly not worth betraying the Lord of lords and King of kings, thereby losing all hope of spending eternity in paradise. Instead you died in shame. Jesus himself said it would be better if you'd never been born.

I believe Judas had a choice, just like you and I have a choice. I believe God gave Judas the same opportunity to do the right thing that He gives us today, but Judas chose not to.

How many people today are making the same choice Judas made? How many people are choosing to live in sin, when they know it's wrong? How many people deny who Jesus is, when the longing deep in their heart tells them the truth?

May the Hope and the Truth of Easter be yours.

A Good Christian?

2011-04-18T08:14:00.002-05:00

I received a sweet email from a young lady this week. She shared that even though she thought she was "a good Christian" most of the time, she still worried that maybe she wasn't good enough.

I think the vast majority of us can relate to that!

I mean, can any of us be good enough to wear Christ's name?!?! Because if we call ourselves a Christian, that is exactly what we're doing. We are telling the world that we belong to Christ.

The simple truth is no one is good enough. Not your pastor. Not your parents. Not even Billy Graham. No one is good enough on their own to wear the name "Christian."

But thankfully Jesus knew that a long time ago. He knew no matter how many laws we tried to keep or how good we tried to be, we would fail. So there had to be a better way to be reconciled to God that was foolproof.

And there is.

His name is Jesus Christ!

Because Jesus took our sin upon Him when He went to the cross, we don't have to wonder anymore if we are good enough. He took care of our human failings when He said "It is finished" in John 19:30. He wasn't talking about His life on earth when He spoke those words. He was talking about the bondage--the grip!--that sin had on the world. His death brought an end to that!

But like I told my young friend, that doesn't mean we can continue in sin believing we're "safe" simply because we claim Christ. When we do that, we're basically saying Jesus' death on the cross was not enough. That his death was not good enough to free us from a life of sin. And Jesus' death on the cross not only frees us from sin, but it frees us from the guilt of our sin. Once we ask Jesus to forgive us for our sin and remove it from our lives, we no longer have to worry about being good enough!

Romans 8:1 says: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."

So why then do we still feel condemned sometimes?

I believe those thoughts come straight from our Enemy. Satan hates a happy Christian! So what better way to make us unhappy than to put doubts in our minds. Doubts about our faith. Doubts about God. Feelings of not being a good Christian. Feelings of not being good enough.

When those thoughts start to weigh us down, that's when it's time to go back to the basics. Go back to the cross. Remember what Jesus did and why He did it!

Are you good enough?

No. But Jesus is!!

God is at the Window!

2011-04-11T08:21:00.002-05:00

I received this email today. It's a great illustration of God's love and forgiveness. Enjoy!
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There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods but he could never hit the target.

Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back, he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him, "Remember the duck?"

So Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, "I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper."

Sally just smiled and said, 'Well, that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help."

She whispered again, "Remember the duck?" So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's, he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, "Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

Thought for the day and every day thereafter:

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done...and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face...whatever it is....you need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing.

He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that He will forgive you. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

It is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved. When Jesus died on the cross, He was thinking of YOU! Always remember:

God is at the window!

Heaven and Hell: The Debate Continues

2011-03-24T08:55:00.007-05:00

You may have heard about a new book called "Love Wins" by Rob Bell. Bell is the pastor of mega-church Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He's written a number of books--none of which I've read, including his latest. I'd never heard of Bell until the controversy arose over his new book. Apparently--and I'm only going off of what I've read in the news--Bell doesn't believe in the traditional Christian view of hell and who goes there. Which is his choice. No one is forced to believe anything if they don't want to. And truthfully, I understand Bell's position. I've had questions on the subject myself. Does everyone--literally billions of people--really, truly go to hell if they do not accept Jesus Christ as their God and Savior?

As with everything else in life, we have to go to the Bible for the answer.

In John 14:6 Jesus said: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

If we believe what the Bible says, then we understand that the Father is in heaven. So, if no one comes to the Father except those who go through Jesus--meaning those who believe He is who He says He is and accept his sacrifice on the cross to atone for our sins--then everyone who does not believe in Jesus will not be permitted into heaven. That is what Jesus himself is saying. They are not my words. They are not some pastor's words. They are the words of Jesus.

Back in January I wrote a blog called When the Cross is Not Enough. Basically I was talking about people who claim to be Christians yet continue in their sin. Jesus suffered and died upon the cross, spilling his blood as the ultimate sacrifice, so that we can be freed from the bondage and eternal death sin offers. When we question God's word and the validity of Jesus' claims, then basically we're saying the cross is not enough.

Chad Holtz, a pastor in North Carolina, was recently fired from his church because he agreed with Rob Bell. A married Navy veteran with five children, Holtz spent years trying to reconcile his belief that Jesus Christ's death on the cross redeemed the entire world with the idea that millions of people — including millions who had never even heard of Jesus — were suffering forever in hell.

"We do these somersaults to justify the monster god we believe in," he said. "But confronting my own sinfulness, that's when things started to topple for me. Am I really going to be saved just because I believe something, when all these good people in the world aren't?"

Yikes!! That last statement is a doozie! Me thinks Pastor Holtz has more issues that merely questioning who's going to hell!

To me, what Pastor Bell and Pastor Holtz are saying is that Jesus' death on the cross was not enough. If anyone can still go to heaven without believing in Jesus, without accepting his sacrifice on the cross, then what was the point of the cross in the first place? Why would God come to earth in the form of the Son and die a horrific death on a cross if it was pointless? If we didn't need that blood to wash away our sins?

Heaven is a real place. Hell is a real place. Jesus spoke about both of them. It is through Him that we will go to one and avoid the other.

It's your choice.

Wisdom and Treasure

2011-03-22T09:00:00.008-05:00

I'm reading through the Bible for the second time. In years past I mainly stayed in the New Testament, picking and choosing books to study. But a few years ago I decided to read through the Bible beginning in Genesis. It took me about two years because I wasn't trying to do it in any particular length of time, but rather wanted to really absorb it, not just read it. After finishing it back in June 2009, I knew I could never read the Bible any other way. It makes so much sense when you read it from beginning to end! It truly is "God's story!" If you've never read the Bible from cover to cover, I highly encourage you to do so!

This week finds me in Proverbs. And today, this verse struck me:

"...if you look for [wisdom] as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding." Prov. 2:4-5

I believe we all want wisdom. But I've come to understand that wisdom from God is different than wisdom one might gain from education or studying things that are important to man. This verse says the Lord gives wisdom. The author of this passage is King Solomon, and King Solomon knew about wisdom. In 1 Chronicles 1:7-12 God tells Solomon to ask for anything and it's his. Solomon doesn't ask for riches but for wisdom. God not only gives Solomon "wisdom and knowledge" but also "wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." God rewarded Solomon's true, heart desire for wisdom with earthly treasures. And though Solomon no doubt enjoyed the benefits of the wealth he was given, I am convinced he would have been completely satisfied and content had he received only the wisdom he asked for.

Today I was especially struck by the first part of Proverbs 2:4:

"...if you look for it as silver and search for it as for hidden treasure..."

Kinda reminds me of Jesus' words in Luke 12:34: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

God wants to give us wisdom. His word tells us to look for it. To search for it. Why? Because it's valuable! It's priceless! An important question, however, is where are you looking for it?

When we have wisdom from God we "understand what is right and just" (v. 9) and "knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you." (v. 10-11) It will "save you from the ways of wicked men" and "from the adulteress." (v. 12 and 16)

Do you want wisdom from God?

I sure do!

Search for it! Look for it! Treat it like the treasure it is. As Proverbs 4:7 says:

"Wisdom is supreme, therefore get wisdom!"

Signs of the End of the Age

2011-03-11T15:42:00.014-06:00

My heart breaks for the folks in Japan suffering the effects of a massive, devastating earthquake and tsunami. The pictures and video footage coming out of Japan are unbelievable. Truly. I'm rendered completely speechless by the devastation. How do you recover from something like that? How do you face tomorrow and the next day and the next?

Some folks wonder, "Is this a sign of the end times?"

The truth is no one knows for certain. There have always been earthquakes. A year or so ago I was poking around a web site that keeps track of earthquakes around the world and was amazed by how many the earth experiences each year. Thousands! Most are deep enough beneath the earth's surface that they are not felt. But plenty are felt and plenty cause significant damage, like the ones we've seen recently in New Zealand, Haiti and Chile. Japan is now the latest victim.

But do earthquakes like the one today mean we're in the end times?

You've got to go to the scriptures for the answer.

In Luke 21:5-11 Jesus talked about the signs we need to look for. And YES, we ARE supposed to LOOK for them! God would not have put them in His word, nor Jesus have talked about them if we were not supposed to be on alert.

Verse 10 reads, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven."

I think the fact that Jesus said "great" earthquakes is significant. All of the biblical translations seen here use the word "great." That tells me that Jesus was not referring to the normal shifting of the earth's layers, but was talking about serious, massive earthquakes.

Like the one in Japan (today). Like the one in New Zealand (2/22/11). Like the one in Chile (2/27/10). Like the one in Haiti (1/12/10). All of which have happened in the past 15 months. All in different parts of the world. All in various places.

But an earthquake was not the only sign Jesus said to look for. In fact, if you study biblical end-times prophecy you know there are quite a few signs and checklists, if you will, that have to be fulfilled. Some of them are:

An increase in earthquakes.
An increase in unpredictable weather patterns.
Wars and rumors of wars.
Territorial boundary disputes in the Middle East.
Famines.
The formation of the nation of Israel (which happened in 1948).
The gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached around the world (and thanks to TV and the Internet that has happened).
An increase of knowledge.
Move toward a one-world government and economy.
People claiming to be the Messiah.
An increase of the wickedness of the human race.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure ALL of those signs are happening right now! You just have to turn on your TV to CNN to hear, in one way or another, all of the above.

One of the biggest signs to look for is the Jews rebuilding of the temple. Now, if you know anything about Jerusalem, you know the Dome of the Rock--the Muslim holy place--sits on Temple Mount. Temple Mount, or Mount Moriah, is where King David called out to the Lord in repentance for disobeying God and God spared him. David then offered sacrifices on the mount and declared in 1 Chronicles 22:1: "The house of the Lord God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel." Until AD 70, Mount Moriah was the place where Jews brought their sacrifices to the Lord (to Solomon's temple, then to the rebuilt temple). And that's where they will bring their sacrifices again one day. To a brand new temple.

What will happen to the Dome of the Rock?

Your guess is as good as mine--earthquake, bomb, terrorism--but what I do know is that it cannot and will not remain there. Several prophetic scripture in Daniel, Matthew and 2 Thessalonians tell us Jewish sacrifices will be made during the end times and that can only take place in the temple.

So, are we seeing signs of the end of the age?

I truly hope so! I'm ready to shake off the dust from this ol' world and go Home!!

"Lord, Save Us From Your Followers"

2011-03-05T16:51:00.003-06:00

I've just spent the past hour and forty-two minutes watching the most thought-provoking film I've seen in a long time. "Lord, Save Us From Your Followers" is about all of us, Christian and non-Christian. It's about how we treat one another. It's about the human race and where we're going. I highly encourage you to watch it.

Watch it here.

Cattle and Hills

2011-03-03T17:58:00.012-06:00

I've gone to church my entire life. I'm sure I was just a few weeks old when I made my debut at the little Nazarene church in Santa Fe, New Mexico where my family attended for 50+ years. I've heard a multitude of sermons on tithing and giving to God what belongs to Him. I'm quite familiar with the verse in Psalm 50 that speaks about cattle and hills. Basically God is saying He owns everything, including "the cattle on a thousands hills."

Being that I've heard that verse many times in my life you would think it wouldn't have had such an impact on me this week. But it did. In fact, the whole passage of Psalm 50:7-15 brought me to my knees in a puddle of grateful and repentant tears.

Let me explain.

My husband and I were married in 1987. For all our married life we have tithed. We've given 10% of our income to our church. Admittedly, though, there are years when we fell short of ten percent but didn't realize it until the giving record arrived in the mail in January for tax purposes. I would ask God to forgive us, promise to do better the next year and then make sure the tithe check was written along with all the other bills.

And therein lies the problem.

Tithe should not be treated like the gas bill or the mortgage. God doesn't send out monthly bills for services and charge interest if it isn't paid. Angels aren't going to get laid off because Christians aren't paying their tithe. But that's sort of the mentality a lot of us have about tithing. That it's something we have to pay right along side with the credit card bill or the cable bill. Tithe should always, always come off the TOP of ones income, not from somewhere in the middle or the tail end.

Why?

Because of this word: Firstfruits.

Even before the Law people were tithing. In Genesis 4:3-4 we see Cain and Abel bringing an offering, or a tithe, to God. Cain brought "some" of the produce he'd grown. Abel, however, brought the fat from the "firstborn" of his flocks. God looked on Abel with favor.

Exodus 23:19 says, "Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God."

In Leviticus 27:30 we read, "A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

But the one that got me is found in 1 Corinthians 15:23: "Christ, the firstfruits."

Jesus is the firstfruits. "The firstborn" as Paul says in Colossians 1:15. God gave His very best when He gave us Jesus! Jesus was essentially God's tithe.

That's where Psalm 50:7-16 comes in. Here it is from The Living Bible:

"O my people, listen! For I am your God. Listen! Here are my charges against you: I have no complaint about the sacrifices you bring to my altar, for you bring them regularly. But it isn't sacrificial bullocks and goats that I really want from you. For all the animals of field and forest are mine! The cattle on a thousand hills! And all the birds upon the mountains! If I were hungry, I would not mention it to you--for all the world is mine, and everything in it. No, I don't need your sacrifices of flesh and blood. What I want from you is your true thanks; I want your promises fulfilled. I want you to trust me in your times of trouble, so I can rescue you, and you can give me glory."

Even though I've been in church my entire life and have tithed my entire marriage, I didn't fully understand--didn't grasp it in the depths of my soul!--that tithing is more about ME than it is about GOD. That it isn't about my money. It isn't even about following a biblical law.

It's about my heart.

It's about firstfruits.

It's about giving God the best of what is in my heart. The firstfruits of my heart.

I may not have cattle on even one hill, but what I do have is God's. All of it!

Do Not Be Deceived!

2011-02-24T08:23:00.011-06:00

Our dog does not like to go outside when the weather is sketchy. Cold, wind, rain and especially thunder make him cower under a blanket. But because the world is his potty, he has to go out at times no matter what the weather may be doing. Like this morning. It was windy. Leaves were blowing and he did not want to go out the backdoor. So my husband tricked him. "Let's go get the mail, Copper!" Immediately Copper jumped off the couch and ran to the front door. He was excited to go outside now. Yes, we had to deceive our dog to get him outside, but it was for his own good.

Yet deception in real life is never a good thing. Merriam Webster defines 'deceive' as:

Ensnare; to be false to; cheat; to cause to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid

I hate it when someone tells me a lie! I canNOT stand it when I know someone is lying to me or trying to trick me into doing something. It makes me distrustful of them from that point on. And like I tell my kids, once trust is lost it is not easily gained back. But the truth is we get duped all too often in this world. Sometimes by people, businesses and governments. Sometimes, however, we get duped by someone far more sinister.

The very first reference in the Bible to deception comes in Genesis 3:13. God has created everything beautiful and perfect, including mankind. Adam and Eve are living in paradise in the Garden of Eden. They want for nothing. But, like most of us at one time or another, that isn't good enough. God's best was not enough for Adam and Eve. It didn't take long for The Enemy to figure that out. He slithered into the Garden, approached Eve and told her the first of many, many lies he would tell from that point on. And Eve, like most of us at one time or another, bought into his lie. When God confronts her about it, she says,

"The serpent deceived me."

Folks, the serpent is still deceiving people today.

"There is no God."

"The Bible is just an ancient book of fairy tales."

"Cheating isn't wrong as long as no one gets hurt."

"God made me gay."

"I fell in love with someone else so divorce is okay."

On and on. There isn't a human around that hasn't fallen for his lies. Paul knew this was true. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 he writes:

"Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? DO NOT BE DECEIVED! Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (Emphasis is mine.)

(For those like me who need to know what the original Greek text said, here is a link.)

Do not be deceived! Do not buy into the lies the Enemy is telling. In John 8:44 Jesus himself calls Satan "a liar and the father of lies." That tells me that 1) Satan is real! and 2) we need to beware of his lies. The Enemy tells us what is not true or valid. And when we accept it as truth we jeopardize our place in the Kingdom of God.

How do you know when you've been deceived? How do you know what is truth and what is a lie? Ask youself one simple question: Does what you're doing and/or believing align with the Bible? Are you on the same page as biblical teachings? If not, then you've been deceived, plain and simple. God will never, ever trick you. He is truth. Sometimes we don't want to hear the truth He offers and that's when the Enemy steps in.

DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

Your very life may depend on it!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus...

2011-02-17T07:49:00.003-06:00

This song has been on my heart lately. It's true, ya know. When you really, really see Jesus, the things of earth aren't as important as they once were. Not money. Not jobs. Not even relationships. I'm not saying you should neglect your marriage or your kids, or that you shouldn't worry about paying the bills. But when Jesus fills every nook and cranny of your heart and soul, wordly "stuff" seems so small in comparison.

Here are the lyrics and a video link. Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

I Support Chick-fil-A

2011-02-06T11:34:00.013-06:00

Eat mor chikin!

For those of you not familiar with that phrase and the black and white cows that present it in commercials...Sorry! You are missing out! For those of you familiar with it, you know it's the catch-phrase for the fast-food chicken restaurant Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A was founded by a man named S. Truett Cathy in 1946. You can Google Mr. Cathy and read all about him, so I won't get into all of that here. But one thing I do want to point out is that Mr. Cathy has never, ever hidden the fact that he is a Christian businessman. He has never, ever hidden the fact that Chick-fil-A was founded and built upon Christian principals. All of his restaurants are closed on Sundays to allow employees a time to worship and be with their families. Hobby Lobby, the art supply chain, also closes on Sundays for the same reasons. Chick-fil-A and Mr. Cathy have donated millions upon millions of dollars to needy children, to furthering education through scholarships, and the Cathy family has opened their home and their hearts to over 150 foster children. Our country--our world!--needs more businessmen like Truett Cathy!

Recently, however, Chick-fil-A has come under fire by an organization called The Human Rights Campaign. This group claims that because a Pennsylvania Chick-fil-A franchise owner agreed to donate food to a local marriage conference, that the entire Chick-fil-A empire is anti-gay and must be taken to task.

HUH?!?!

First of all, it was one franchise.

Second of all, why is it such a bad thing to support a conference that is geared to help married couples stay married? Heaven knows the divorce rate is out of control!

Thirdly, Chick-fil-A is a privately owned company founded on Christian principals. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon (ha!) to figure out that they will probably support organizations and gatherings that fall into the category of traditional family, which is, of course, their right.

The Human Rights Campaign and any other pro-gay groups are free to host a conference and have a restaurant donate the food. Should I and other Christians boycott that restaurant and call the Human Rights people anti-heterosexual?

{picture me rolling my eyes}

Ridiculous, no?

The Human Rights Campaign is fighting for equal rights for the LGBT community. And I get it. I really do. But what about Chick-fil-A's "equal rights" to donate food to whomever they want?

Apparently only if you agree with THRC are you allowed equal rights.

My family loves Chick-fil-A! You can bet we'll be eating mor chikin at our house!

Sin: You CAN walk away!

2011-01-29T08:51:00.000-06:00

Here is the addendum to yesterday's post. Yesterday I put out there that when we who call ourselves 'Christians' continue to live in sin, we are basically saying that Jesus' death on the cross was not enough. As the author in Hebrews put it in chapter 6 verse 6, we are "crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace" when we claim Christ yet continue in our sin.

But we don't have to! We can walk away from sin.

There is a story in John 8:1-11 that everyone should read. It's about a woman who has been caught in adultery. Adultery in those days--and today in some countries--is punishable by death. The Pharisees and teachers of the law were prepared to stone her right there in front of everyone, probably to make an example of her. "Do what this woman did and you will die a horrible death."

The Pharisees also had an ulterior motive by bringing this woman to Jesus. They wanted to put him in a difficult position. If he said stone her, then her blood was on his hands. If he said let her go, then he wouldn't be following the letter of the law.

I love, love, love what Jesus told them in verse 7:

"If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her."

Sometimes we all need to be reminded of that! I honestly don't mean to cast stones on this blog or in my conversations with people about sin. Truly! Like the Pharisees and others standing around the woman, I am not without sin. I have no grounds to be throwing stones at anyone. Yet I do feel like God is teaching me things and showing me truths as I study His Word and that is what I hope to share here.

This is the truth I learned from reading this scripture: Jesus didn't save that woman from certain death and then tell her it was okay to go back to her life of sin!

He told her to leave it. "Go and sin no more." We cannot have an encounter with Jesus Christ and then go back to our sinful life! We have to walk away from it. We have to leave behind certain people, certain relationships, certain beliefs, certain habits. We have to accept the life-giving sacrifice Jesus offered on the cross and say, "Not my will, Lord, but thine."

I imagine that woman may have believed herself in love with the man she was having an affair with. Did Jesus say, "I see you're in love with this man. It's okay to continue sleeping with him." No, he didn't. That woman had to give up her adulterous relationship if she was going to "go and sin no more." The Bible doesn't tell us what happened to her. I hope she made the right choice.

Jesus died on the cross to save you and me from our sin. He didn't do that so we could continue to live in sin.

Again, I think the question each of us needs to ask ourselves is:

Was the cross enough?

Sin: When the Cross Isn't Enough

2011-01-28T16:59:00.005-06:00

This post has been on my heart for a while. I don't ever want to be a finger-pointer or pretend that I know so much that I'm able to judge people. That's not my job and that's not what I'm doing here. But sometimes the truth is just so amazingly clear that it has to be spoken aloud. This is my way of doing that.

Yesterday I watched an interview on CNN.com by Piers Morgan with Pastor Joel Osteen and his wife. Most everyone knows who Joel is and has probably seen him on TV preaching at his megachurch in Houston. The topic of sin came up in the interview. Specifically the sin of homosexuality. (For my views on the subject see "Homosexuality" under the labels.) I thought Pastor Osteen did a good job answering, although Piers accused him of judging others.

That's what started me thinking.

About sin.

About all sin.

What is sin?

In 1 John 3:4, the Bible defines sin as "lawlessness" or "the transgression of the law." Who's law? God's law! 1 John 5:17 says that "All wrongdoing (or "all unrighteousness" in the KJV) is sin." Who decides something is wrong or unrighteous? God! If God says something is wrong and you do it, that's sin!

But is "lawlessness" or "unrighteousness" really clear enough for everyone to understand? Apparently not. I give Piers Morgan's interview with Joel Osteen as evidence.

Knowing us and knowing how we humans think, God practically has to draw a picture in the end. In Revelation 21 He gives us a glimpse of eternal life in the new Jerusalem, which He describes as 'the bride being beautifully prepared for her husband'. Take special notice of verses 7-8:

"He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. BUT the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur."

Folks, it don't get any clearer than that! A sinner is one who is doing the things that will keep him out of heaven, a/k/a... "lawlessness" and "unrighteousness."

But thank God we don't have to die in our sin!

Jesus paid the price for our sin! He is the One who will help us "overcome" as verse 7 describes! Yet here is the point of the title I chose for this post:

When we continue to live in sin--doing all those things listed in Revelation 6:7 and more--yet call ourselves Christians, we are basically telling Jesus the cross was not enough! His blood was not enough. We're saying that our sin is too important to let go. Oswald Chambers put it this way:

"Obstinacy and self-will will always stab Jesus Christ. It may hurt no one else, but it wounds His Spirit. Whenever we are obstinate and self-willed and set upon our own ambitions, we are hurting Jesus. Every time we stand on our rights and insist that this is what we intend to do, we are persecuting Jesus."

Your sin may not hurt anyone else. It may be perfectly acceptable by the world's standards. Yet you are only fooling yourself. Your sin will separate you from God, perhaps for all eternity. It doesn't matter if you call yourself a Christian. It doesn't matter if you pretend you aren't sinning. It doesn't matter if the world tells you that what you're doing is just fine.

You only need to ask yourself one question:

Was Jesus' death on the cross enough?

The Stand

2011-01-25T19:17:00.003-06:00

This song has been on my mind and heart this week. I love it!! The lyrics are below. Enjoy!!

I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand my soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is Yours

I'll stand with arms high and heart abandoned
In awe of the one who gave it all
I'll stand my soul Lord to you surrendered
All I am is Yours

(repeat)

The Holy Spirit and...Gatorade?

2011-01-17T15:15:00.007-06:00

I really enjoy having a new light put on something comfortably familiar. You know, having something already known made fresh and new again. That happened to me at church yesterday.

Having gone to church my entire life, I've always known about the Holy Spirit. In fact, up until just a few years ago I'd always attended Nazarene churches. In case you're not familiar with the Nazarene denomination, it is a Protestant church with an emphasis on sanctification. That is, the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives after we've accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. The Nazarene denomination is often referred to as a "holiness denomination" along with Free Methodists, the Wesleyan Church and a few others.

"Sanctification" is a word I didn't truly understand as a kid and young adult. I loved the Lord, but as I've shared here many times, I wasn't always living my life with Jesus in control. I had all of Jesus, but He didn't have all of me. That happened on May 27, 1992. On that day, while my baby took a nap in his crib down the hall and my husband was at work, I surrendered everything to Jesus. It is the day I finally understood what sanctification meant!

Yesterday our awesome pastor, Joe Champion of Celebration Church, shared a message in his "Upgrade" series I wish everyone could hear. He talked about the Holy Spirit and Gatorade. Gatorade?! Yep. Let me explain:

Jesus told us in Acts 1:5 that while John's baptism with water was good, we need a Spiritual baptism. Water is good, but sometimes we need something more. Sometimes we need something like...Gatorade. Gatorade replaces and replenishes in ways water can't. When you've been working or playing hard, water is good...but Gatorade is better.

The Holy Spirit is like Gatorade to our souls. Water baptism is essential to a believer, but Spiritual baptism takes you to the next level. Of passion. Of power. Of understanding. Read Acts 2 to get a feel for what Spiritual baptism can do in the lives of ordinary people. Amazing!

In all my 47 years, I've never heard the "holiness" message put so...so...simply! So perfectly understandable. So wonderfully understandable! The Holy Spirit is like Gatorade! That is such an easy, simple, fantastic way to explain it to folks who don't understand the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. To make sure we "took the message home" with us, Pastor Joe gave everyone a packet of Gatorade mix! Ha!

"Sanctification" and "spiritual baptism" may be words some of us can't wrap our minds around, but I think all of us understand Gatorade! Next time you're grappling with understanding the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, grab a bottle and re-read Acts 2. I feel pretty confident it'll all make sense! =)

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

2011-01-15T21:39:00.004-06:00

I love going to the beach! I love the sound of waves crashing, the smell of salty air, the sand between my toes. Well, maybe not so much the sand part, but everything else about the beach I really enjoy. Most of our beach trips are to the Gulf of Mexico--either to Galveston or Port Aransas--but we've also been to California where we played in a very chilly June surf, to Hawaii ages ago on our honeymoon, and Cozumel for our 20th anniversary.

One of my favorite beach activities is looking for seashells and....drum roll, please....sand dollars! What a thrill it is to find a whole dollar, intact! A few years ago I bought a coffee mug at one of those wonderfully cheap-and-oh-so-tacky souvenir shops that line the streets in a beach town. On this mug is a poem called "The Legend of the Sand Dollar." Since I don't drink coffee, I keep my pens and highlighters in it, so I see it everyday when I sit down to do my morning Bible study or work on the computer.

I thought I'd share that poem today, just in case you've never heard it. I know I'll never look at a sand dollar now without thinking of Jesus! Enjoy!

THE LEGEND OF THE SAND DOLLAR

Upon this odd-shaped seashell
A legend grand is told
About the life of Jesus,
The most wondrous tale of old.

Its center markings plainly show
The storied guiding star,
Which led to tiny Bethlehem,
Three wise men from afar.

Five wounds suffered by our Lord
From nails and a Roman spear,
When He died upon the cross
Are wounds shown plainly here.

Within the shell, when opened,
Five doves of peace are found.
Why celebrate this legend?
So may Peace and Love abound.

Sarah Palin, the tragedy and my humble opinion

2011-01-12T16:40:00.005-06:00

My thoughts have been with the family of 9-year-old Christina Taylor Green today as they said good-bye to the pretty brown-eyed girl. The families of the other victims in the Arizona shooting are also mourning and burying their loved ones. Such a senseless, horrible tragedy.

I was surprised, as a lot of people were, when I learned that many people in the media and in politics were quick to place the blame for the shooting on the Republicans, the Tea Party, and anyone else who doesn't agree with their 'side'. So far, nothing I've heard about the shooter, whose name I will not type here, has led me to believe his crime was politically motivated. If Congresswoman Gifford had been the only victim, I could be convinced. But not when he kept shooting people, including little Christina. It is very obvious to anyone with a brain that the shooter was mentally disturbed and unbalanced. I will even go so far as to say he is spiritually disturbed and unbalanced. The crime was heinous and evil.

Sarah Palin has also been blamed by some, mainly due to her 'target' map of Arizona during the election. I like Sarah Palin. I think she's a good person who really does love this country. Should she be president? No, not in my humble opinion, but I do think she has the potential to do a lot of good in other areas.

Today, Sarah is being criticized for using the term 'blood libel' in her 7 minute, 43 second speech about the tragedy. The term is historically used as an antisemitic reference to the accusation that Jews use the blood of Christian children in their sacrifices. Obviously that is not what Sarah meant. Others have used the term in contemporary writings that also were not about Jews or sacrifices. When I read the criticism of Sarah's use of it, I had to roll my eyes. Did they not listen to the other 7 minutes and 42 seconds of her speech where she shared her heart, her hopes, her love of country? Can't people stop looking for something to criticize and start listening? Just because you don't like someone doesn't mean they don't have something worthy to say.

Because I'm irked about the criticism of Sarah Palin, I'm posting the video clip in its entirety. Sarah doesn't need me to defend her and I'm not. I'm just really tired of people too full of themselves and too blinded by their own so-called brilliance that they can't just be quiet and listen for a change. Really listen.

So there's my one political post for the year. ;)

Sarah Palin: "America's Enduring Strength" from Sarah Palin on Vimeo.

Not Our Home

2011-01-11T07:58:00.009-06:00

I will attend a funeral this afternoon. The 43-year-old daughter of a family we've known for 30 years was killed in a tragic car accident last week. Rachel was a teenager the first time I met her. She was in high school and was visiting the college I attended, staying in our dorm with friends. As an adult, Rachel made life-choices that went against her Christian upbringing and brought a lot of pain and grief to her family. She's been on my prayer list for years and it broke my heart to cross out her name. I don't know where Rachel will spend eternity. I didn't know what was inside her heart, but God did. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:7: "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." My deepest prayer is that Rachel loved the Lord and His mercy will cover her for all eternity.

The little 9-year-old girl who was killed in the horrific shooting in Arizona Saturday will be buried tomorrow. Christina was a beautiful child and its heartbreaking to think of her family losing her at such a young age. I have no doubts that she is resting in the arms of our Savior. "Let the little children come unto me," Jesus said in Mark 10:14. He goes on to say that "the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

As tragic as these deaths are to the loved ones left behind, death will come to us all in one form or fashion. Every single one of us will die. This world was never intended as our permanent home. Paul tells us in Philippians 3:20 that "our citizenship is in heaven." But lest you believe everyone will go to heaven, remember what Jesus said in John 14:6: "No one comes to the Father but through Me." You must acknowledge Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior if you want to spend eternity with God. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then you are included in Jesus' words to the thief on the cross in Luke 23:43: "TODAY you will be with me in paradise." The thief's body was dying but his spirit was headed to heaven.

When the day comes that your heart will stop beating, your lungs will not draw breath, your blood will run cold...on that day, don't you want to be assured that your spirit will live on in paradise?

You can! There is no reason to fear death when you know Jesus as your Lord and King! If you aren't sure where you will spend eternity, please contact me. It would be my honor to pray for you. Salvation and eternal certainty are a breath away.

(For more information on what happens after we die, scroll down to Post #15 in my "Revelation" category titled "The Dead are Judged.")

My New Year's Resolution: To Be Still

2011-01-03T14:11:00.002-06:00

I am not big on New Year's resolutions. Probably because I don't keep them. If I'd stayed on any of the January 1st diets I've started I'd be a size 3. If I'd walked every day of every year I said I was going to, I'd have walked around the world by now. You get the picture. I'm sure I'm not alone.

So this year my "resolution" if you wanna call it that is very simple:

To be still.

Simple, huh?

I'm not a "go get 'em" type of person. I'm not always on the move, so I don't mean that I want to just park some where and sit still. It's more of a state of being still inside myself. A spiritual stillness, if you will.

Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God."

I think sometimes our busyness of mind, body and spirit get in the way of our knowing God. If my body isn't going somewhere, my mind is whirling. There's a lot to figure out in this life, especially if you're married, have a job, have kids, etc. Even all the "conveniences" of life---computers, cell phones, TV's---all those things that are supposed to make life easier create more busyness.

So this year I just want to be still. I don't want to miss God in the busyness of life. I don't want to neglect God in the busyness of life. I want to hear His voice and feel His presence in the stillness. I want to know that I'm on the same page as God. Things I'm certain I can't do if I'm too busy with life.

"Be still," God said.

I'm gonna try!

A New Year: With or Without God?

2011-01-01T16:28:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year, y'all!

We welcomed the new year from the comfort and safety of our living room. Eldest son, hubby and I watched "Back to the Future III" with a brief glimpse of the ball falling at midnight on Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve. How's that for an exciting night? ;) But this morning I was thankful to wake up in my own cozy bed in my own cozy house instead of a hotel or a strangers bed, as some people no doubt did. I was also glad my head wasn't throbbing from too much alcohol and partying the night before. There's much to be said for a quiet new year's eve.

Yes, I'm gettin' old, but I'm also gettin' wise.

Which brings me to the question I think each of us needs to ask ourselves on this first day of 2011:

Will the new year include God in our lives?

Will you spend the next 365 days walking with God or walking without Him?

Will you seek God's advice and guidance on the plans you have for 2011 or will you go it alone?

The older I get the more I realize how very much I need God in my life. I need His love. I need His grace. I need His peace. I need His promise of hope. I need to believe in more than what this world offers. Read the news and you'll see what I mean. If I didn't have hope of eternity with God, away from all the ugliness and terrible things the world offers, I wouldn't want to enter a new year.

If you know the Lord, I encourage you to make Him a priority this year.

If you don't know the Lord, I encourage you to seek Him. Genesis 1 is a good place to start.

Christmas Blog Post #25: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

2010-12-25T08:16:00.004-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU! I hope you have a wonderful day filled with the love that Jesus brought to the world!

I'll share a story with you today. It's a little sad, but it's part of my Christmas memories.

Many, many years ago our family had a friend named John. John was an amazing Christian man. His love for the Lord was very evident. He and his wife tried for years to have a baby. After several miscarriages, they were blessed with a tiny premature girl they named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was too tiny and too early. The day she died we were all at the church praying for her. John came in, surprising us. We assumed he'd stay at the hospital every moment he could. But John felt a need to be in God's house and pray for his tiny daughter. I was a teenager at the time and didn't truly grasp the magnitude of all the was happening. I remember, though, watching John walk down the aisle of our small church and almost fall to his knees at the altar. My parents and others gathered around him, laying their hands on his heaving shoulders. I heard voices lifted in prayer, asking God for a miracle. Asking God to save tiny Elizabeth.

Then I heard John's voice above all the others.

"Not my will, Lord, but thine."

The same words Jesus prayed in the garden the night before he died on a cross.

In what I still believe is the most selfless prayer I've ever heard with my own ears, John let go of his own desires and only wanted what God thought best. And God's plan was to take little Elizabeth home that night.

Years later John became ill with cancer. On Christmas morning we received a phone call that John had passed away early that morning. I remember my Mom weeping as she held the phone. I cried too.

And then this amazing realization struck me!

John was celebrating Christmas in Heaven with JESUS!

While we have our Christmas dinners and our Christmas trees and our stockings and presents, John is in the presence of God! He can see and hear the Christmas angels singing praises to the Lord! He's there with Mary and Joseph and the shepherds and the wisemen! He's there with Immanuel!

Someday all of us who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior will join John and the others. My Christmas prayer is that YOU will be among us!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Blog Post #24: The Eve Before Christmas

2010-12-25T08:13:00.000-06:00

Christmas Eve is a busy day and night for our family. For many years now we've had a family get-together with good food, good fellowship and fun! The past two years we've done a 'white elephant' type exchange. We set a limit of $10-20 for each person. The gift should be for anyone. We take turns, starting from the youngest to the oldest, and open a gift. If the next person want to "steal" that gift, he/she can or they can open a new one. It's fun!

I must go to be now. Santa Claus will be here soon! Have fun tonight!

JOY comes in the morning!

Christmas Blog Post #23: I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

2010-12-23T21:42:00.002-06:00

...because we sure ain't gonna have one here in Texas. Waaaaah!

I grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a view of the Rocky Mountains from our back porch. Snow was a normal occurrence from October through April. I loved it! I loved playing in it with my sister and our friends. I loved watching it fall from the sky, floating gently to the earth. Ahhh. I loved snow!!

'Course, I didn't have to shovel it. Or worry about driving in it. Snow was simply beautiful and fun to me.

Living in Texas the past 25 years, I really miss snow. Every winter I wait with anticipation, hoping...praying!...it will snow! Usually, though, I'm disappointed. I can count the number of measurable snowfalls we've had on one hand. Oh sure, we have a few flurries every now and again, and we've had some nasty ice storms from time to time, but snow that actually sticks to the ground for a few hours let alone a few days are few and far between.

So, I'll have to keep dreaming 'cuz the weather man says "no snow." I'll leave you with the words to the song ol' Bing sang so wonderfully:

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten,
and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white!"

Christmas Blog Post #21 & 22: Happy Birthday!

2010-12-22T08:10:00.003-06:00

Whew! A family "crisis" sidelined me yesterday afternoon. I'd planned to get all my grocery shopping done, but a phone call at 4:00 PM to alert me to a situation became my top priority. By 6:30 PM, all was well for the most part. Thank you, God!!

So, no blog yesterday either. Ooops!

Let's talk about birthdays! Today is my nephew's birthday! Woot, woot!! He's 8 years old! My son has a friend whose birthday is December 25. While I imagine it was pretty exciting the year he was born, I don't think I'd want my birthday to come on Christmas Day. Obviously, the reasons are self-centered: no one would really celebrate ME. And after all, that's what birthday's are for!

Jesus' birthday probably wasn't December 25th. No one knows the actual date he was born. There were no hospital records, no birth and newspaper announcements, no little knick-knacks with the date inscribed on it ordered on the Internet. The day probably came and went each year with little acknowledgement.

So why should we celebrate it now?

Christmas is not just the day we celebrate a man being born, but the day we celebrate GOD coming to dwell on earth!!! I celebrate it because it is the most wonderful day--the most wonderful event!--the world has ever known! It wouldn't matter to me if Christmas came in July or April or November. It doesn't matter to me that I'll never know the "real" day Jesus was born. What matters to me is JESUS! He is worthy of our praise! He is worthy of a celebration! He is worthy of an entire day being devoted to Him!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!

Christmas Blog Post #20: The Bah-Hum-Bug Blues

2010-12-20T18:48:00.002-06:00

Funny that the day after I post about Christmas JOY I feel all bah-hum-bug-ish! But it happens. To a lot of folks.

Some of the woes I'm dealing with are:

Financial. Ain't we all?!

Health stuff. My sweet mother-in-law is in the hospital with what we thought was a serious stomach virus but the doctors aren't sure what it is that's making her so sick. We normally have Christmas dinner at their house, but may have to change plans, which is perfectly okay. Definitley want to make things easier on her!

Warm weather! I simply canNOT get into the Christmas spirit when it's 78 stinkin' degrees outside!! >:[

Worries about the kids and their futures, immediate and down the road.

Disappointment. Something I thought might happen in 2010 didn't. {{{sigh}}}

But in all honesty, none of that is significant enough to put a damper on Christmas for me! Sure, some of it's heavy, especially the situation with my mother-in-law. Yet Christ was born two-thousand-plus years ago! He left the glory of heaven and willingly came to earth to live...to die...and to live again. Christmas comes whether I "feel" like it or not!

Life isn't perfect or without worries. Jesus never said it would be. Not even at Christmas! "In this world you will have trouble," Jesus said in John 16:33. "But take heart!" he continued. "I have overcome the world!"

If that isn't reason to celebrate, then I don't know what is!

I won't let the Bah-hum-bug blues ruin Christmas for me!

I hope you won't either!

Christmas Blog Post #18 & 19: JOY!

2010-12-19T11:38:00.003-06:00

Oops! I was so busy yesterday that I completely forgot to post Christmas Blog #18! Since today's subject is JOY, we'll let it count for two days. 'Cuz JOY is such a BIG part of Christmas, it deserves two days. =)

JOY is defined as "Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness."

Yes, intense. Definitely, ecstatic. Absolutely, exultant happiness!! To be filled with joy is very different than simple happiness, IMHO. Joy is in your heart even when things around you aren't going so well. Unlike happiness, which pretty much depends on outward situations, joy goes deeper.

The Bible is filled with the word "joy." If you have a Bible concordance I encourage you to look up many of the verses listed there. It's very inspiring and hopeful to me that JOY has been such a big part of the lives of God-fearing, God-loving people through the centuries.

Today our Pastor spoke on JOY in his "RE-Gifting" series. He reminded us that the unborn John the Baptist leaped for joy in his mother's womb when he heard Mary's voice. (Luke 1:44) The angels declared they brought "good news of great joy" to the shepherds. (Luke 2:10)

But the verse that struck me the most isn't part of the Christmas story. It's found in John 15:9-11:

"As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

WOW!!!

Jesus loves us soooooo much that he will even share his JOY with us! "My joy" can be our joy! And not just a little bit of joy, but complete joy! God's joy doesn't come from worldly things. It will not come into your life through another person. It will not come from material things. It won't even come into your life through your bank account or your job.

JOY COMES FROM LOVING AND OBEYING JESUS!!!!!!

A few days ago I wished PEACE over you. Today, I wish you JOY!

Christmas Blog Post #17: What does God want for Christmas?

2010-12-17T16:46:00.003-06:00

What does one get God for Christmas??

I mean, we're talking about the One who created everything! Everything is already His. Including us! Your body, your house, your car, your kids belong to God! But one thing God didn't want to own was our "free will." When we're created, each of us retains control over our hearts. It is our choice if we will fully belong to God or not.

So does God want a gift for Christmas?

Psalm 76:11 says: "Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared."

What gift can you bring Him?

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart." Psalm 51:17

I like how The Message Bible puts it:

"I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice."

It's hard to believe God wants me, but He does. A sinner saved by grace. A person full of faults. A person who struggles with pride, with forgiving others, with lots of things. Why would the One who owns everything desire my pathetic, sinful heart?

"For God SO LOVED the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

Christmas Blog Post #16: PEACE! Where is it??

2010-12-16T20:40:00.000-06:00

Peace.

What a rare commodity these days. Everywhere you look there's turmoil, strife, violence, meanness. In homes. In schools. In businesses. Everywhere.

Peace.

That word has been on my mind today. I know some people who need peace. I'm praying they'll get it. Big things will need to happen. Miracles, even.

But I firmly believe peace is possible.

When the angels announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds in Luke 2:14, they said:

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Later, Jesus himself said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you." John 14:27

Ohhhhhh...I get it!

Peace comes with Jesus. Jesus is peace. We don't need to look any further for it. We can't buy it. Presidents don't bring it. Not even generals.

Only Jesus.

This Christmas I hope you find peace. It won't be wrapped in pretty paper, tucked under your tree. But it is a free gift!

Christmas Blog Post #15: The Three Kings: Were they there or not?

2010-12-15T16:30:00.000-06:00

The Three Kings of the Christmas story are fascinating to me. I have all kinds of questions about 'em! Who were they? Where did they come from? How did they know what the star meant??? Inquiring minds want to know!!

I don't remember the exact year I discovered the three wisemen probably didn't visit Jesus on the night he was born, but I do remember being pretty surprised about it. I mean, doesn't every Nativity scene have three king figurines bearing gifts to the Baby Jesus? I know all of mine do!

But the reality is Jesus was most likely a toddler of about two years before the magi, as they're called in Luke 2:1-12, ever arrived.

Why do we think that? Luke 2:7 says King Herod found out from the magi the exact time the star appeared. Later, after Herod realizes the magi outwitted him by sneaking home without telling him about the baby, he gives an order that all the baby boy's in Bethlehem two years of age or younger are to be killed. If the magi had arrived right after Jesus was born, King Herod probably wouldn't have started with two year olds and worked down.

Luke 2:11 says the magi followed the star that led them to a house where the child was with his mother. Not a stable or even an inn, but a house. The Bible doesn't tell us this, but some scholars speculate that Joseph may have rented a house in Bethlehem for reasons unknown and stayed for an extended period. That is where the kings found the Savior of the world.

Some people don't display the three figurines of the wisemen at Christmas in their creches. I do. Those three dudes may not have been there on Christmas Night to meet the newborn King of Kings, but they did eventually arrive. They did worship him and they did offer gifts to him. (Matthew 2:9-12)

They need their place in the story.

Christmas Blog Post #14: Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays

2010-12-14T20:24:00.004-06:00

I used to like the phrase "Happy Holidays." It was cheery. It was happy. It was just a nice thing to say.

But that was before.

Before what, you ask?

Before the war on the word "Christmas" began.

OK. "War" might be a bit strong, but that is what those in the media have deemed it. In order for businesses and other organizations not associated with Christians to be 'politically correct' and not offend folks, "MERRY CHRISTMAS" is no longer an acceptable greeting. One must say "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" instead.

I'm sorry, but that is just plain silly in my opinion. No, I'm not being intolerant or even disrespectful to those who don't celebrate the birth of Jesus. I fully understand there are people who practice other beliefs and some who don't practice any beliefs at all. There are also LOTS of people who don't celebrate the birth of Jesus but still celebrate Christmas with Santa.

But what I find silly is the desperate attempt to appease the minority. Polls show year after year that most Americans DO celebrate Christmas! They buy Christmas trees. They buy Christmas presents. They buy Christmas decorations.

I personally have never purchased a "holiday" tree. For years we went to a Christmas tree farm to cut our own tree. I've never given a "holiday" present but I've given lots of Christmas presents. I don't sing "holiday" songs or eat a "holiday" feast on December 25th.

If you don't celebrate Christmas, okay. But why spoil the season for the rest of us who do?

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL!!

Christmas Blog Post #13: RE-Gifting!

2010-12-13T16:51:00.002-06:00

Okay. I have a confession. I have re-gifted gifts! No, no, of course not the one YOU gave me! ;)

Re-gifting is not a sin to me. It's economical. It's sensible. If I am not going to use a particular gift I've received, what benefit is there to hanging on to it?

The past few Sunday's our pastor has been talking about about Re-Gifting. He's been using 1 Peter 4:10 as a point of reference:

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

What Pastor Joe Champion of Celebration Church is saying is RE-gift your gift! We've all been given gifts by God to be used for HIS purposes. Some people teach. Some people can build things. Some people are ministers of music. Some have the gift of hospitality. Lots and lots of different gifts for lots and lots of different people.

Use 'em!

Share 'em!

RE-GIFT 'em!

You know I will! =D

Christmas Blog Post #12: The Best Gift Ever!

2010-12-12T13:16:00.002-06:00

I've been lucky enough--no, BLESSED enough--to receive some pretty awesome gifts over the years. I remember the year I found a stuffed Teddy Bear and a baby doll named Butterball under the tree when I was a little girl. I still have both of those toys tucked away in my grandma's cedar chest, awaiting the very distant arrival of a grandchild. I also remember the year I received my first curling iron. I was about twelve and on the verge of young womanhood. It was purple and white and I loved it! No more pink sponge rollers for me!

My sweet husband has given me some wonderful gifts throughout our marriage. One year I received diamond earrings. Another year I received a beautiful white coat. Last year he absolutely surprised me with a way cool antique school desk!! I've wanted one for ages!

This year will be rather sparse as far as gift-giving goes. The bad economy has hit us fairly hard this year and there just isn't money to spend on a lot of non-necessities. But you know what? I don't really care. Christmas is NOT about the "stuff" to me. Like the Who's in Who-ville, I've come to understand that Christmas will still come without all the decorations, the feast (with Who roast beast!) and even without the presents, because the best and greatest gift one could ever receive is already mine!

What is it?

JESUS CHRIST!

On that very first Christmas two-thousand-ish years ago, there was just a man, a woman and a Baby sleeping in a manger. On that night, when angels announced the birth to a group of lowly shepherds, the world received the most amazing gift ever given! It didn't cost a bazillion dollars. It wasn't sold on the Internet. Santa didn't deliver it and it came wrapped in swaddling cloths.

That gift is called Immanuel. (Matthew 1:23)

May this wonderful gift always be yours!

Christmas Blog Post #11: Cards. To send or not to send...

2010-12-11T12:02:00.004-06:00

...that is the question!

For years I've sent Christmas cards with a newsy letter sharing our highs and lows from the year. This year...only a handful of folks will get a card from me minus the letter. I just didn't have the umph to write it, buy cute stationary paper and print 'em out.

And to be perfectly honest, I didn't even buy any cards this year. This past summer while we were visiting my mom, I found a brand new box of Christmas cards she'd never used. Mom was always buying things and stashing them away for later use. There is no telling when she purchased this box. It looks several years old but the cards themselves are lovely. Two childlike angels are surrounded by gold edges with the word "PEACE". Since Mom no longer sends out her own cards--THANK YOU to my brother and sis-in-law for sending out Mom's cards!!--I brought the angel cards home with me.

A few days ago I got them out to begin addressing the envelopes and found a little green card at the bottom of the box. It is apparently from the printing company. I want to share what it said with you:

OUR CHRISTMAS PRAYER

God grant you peace at Christmas
And fill your heart with cheer;
God grant you health and happiness
Throughout the coming year.

God guide you with His wisdom
And keep you in His care;
This is our special wish for you--
This is our Christmas prayer.

Christmas Blog Post #10: Santa!

2010-12-10T19:04:00.002-06:00

Santa Claus!

The Big Guy!

Good ol' St. Nick!

I like Santa!

I like the idea of Santa. I like the look of Santa. I like that Santa wants kids to be nice instead of naughty. I really like that Santa lives at the North Pole and drives a sleigh!

Growing up, I don't recall a lot of talk about Santa. My parents never set out cookies and milk or went up on the roof to make noise like I've heard some parents do. I remember reading a few years ago about a mom who left ashy footprints on the floor leading from the fireplace to the Christmas tree. A bit much, IMO, but I give her credit for wanting to make the whole thing real for her kiddos.

My siblings and I did receive goodies in our stockings and there was also a gift or two that said "From Santa." One year my sister, who is a two and half years older than me, determined that we needed to stay awake and catch our parents in the act of being Santa. In those days we spent Christmas at my grandparents' house and slept in sleeping bags on the floor in front of the Christmas tree. Talk about making it hard on the folks! I'm sure they wanted to crawl into bed but instead had to stay up until all of us kids were asleep...or so they thought. My sister was successful in her quest to stay awake. Me--not so much. Our secret sign we were to display if we were indeed awake when Mr. & Mrs. Claus appeared was a raised thumb. Kim says I put my thumb up, but I never saw my mom & dad sneak around us to put out the fat stockings and presents.

As a mom, I've done quite a bit of sneaking myself. I remember one year our boys stayed up to catch us in the act of Santa's business. They were getting bicycles that year. After my husband and I set everything out and climbed into bed, it wasn't long before I caught a glimpse of two pajama clad bodies dash past our door, armed with flashlights. We chuckled quietly and let them giggle and snoop before they hurried back to bed, thinking they'd outsmarted us.

As long as Santa doesn't overshadow Jesus as the "reason for the season" I really think it's a fun tradition for families to enjoy.

Ho! Ho! Ho, y'all!

Christmas Blog Post #9: A Dog's Christmas

2010-12-09T19:02:00.003-06:00

This is an e-mail I received. I.LOVE.IT! Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A Nativity Scene was erected in a church yard. During the night the folks came across this scene. An abandoned dog was looking for a comfortable, protected place to sleep. He chose Baby Jesus as his comfort. No one had the heart to send him away so he was there all night.

We should all have the good sense of this dog and curl up in Jesus' lap from time to time.

No one mentioned that the dog breed is a "shepherd!"

Christmas Blog Post #8: Why Should You Believe?

2010-12-08T19:54:00.004-06:00

The American Atheists have a billboard up this year with a beautiful picture of the nativity. Why? Because they're trying to get the attention of non-believers with their message: "You KNOW it's a myth!"

You may find this an odd thing for a Christian to say, but I understand where they're coming from. I mean, it's a pretty unbelievable story. A virgin becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit and then gives birth to God himself.

Why would any logical, intelligent person believe that?

To find the answer to that question, one must go back to the very beginning. Before people. Before animals and plants. Before the earth. Before the sun and moon and stars. Back to the very starting point of our beliefs.

"In the beginning GOD..."

Those are the first words in Genesis. You don't need to read any further than that to decide if the Christmas Story is truth or myth. By the 4th word in the Bible you have to make a choice:

Do you believe in God or not?

If the answer is 'yes', then nothing in the Bible is impossible or illogical. Nothing. That includes a virgin becoming pregnant. That includes God coming to earth as a human baby. And that most definitely includes that Baby growing up to die on a cross to save us from our sins.

However, if the answer is 'no', then nothing in the Bible makes any sense. In fact, every word and every story is downright ridiculous.

To believe in the Christmas Story is to believe in God. To believe in God is to believe in the Christmas Story. They are linked in a way that cannot be separated.

"In the beginning GOD...!!!!

"...and they will call him Immanuel, which means 'God with us.'" (Matt. 1:23)

Christmas Blog Post #7: Shepherds

2010-12-07T16:04:00.002-06:00

"And there were shepherds out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night."

Okay. I don't know about you, but every time I read those words I can hear Linus reciting them in one of my favorite cartoons, "Charlie Brown's Christmas." Ha! I love his voice as he stands there on stage, the spotlight shining on him, and tells the Christmas Story to the Peanuts gang, reminding them Christmas is not about the glitter and lights but about the birth of the Savior of the World!

Luke 2:8-20 is a fascinating passage. Here we find a group of shepherds out on the hills, watching their sheep. We don't know their names or ages or anything about them other than their profession, which just so happens to be one of the lowest on the career ladder. Being a shepherd was not glamorous and I seriously doubt it paid well. Sheep need someone to make sure they don't wander off and get lost, to keep them safe from predators, and to lead them around to the best grazing fields.

"What do you do for a living?"

"I babysit sheep."

That about sums it up.

But I bet the shepherds in Luke 2 were pretty darn happy they were out on the hill that night!

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them...Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God."

I can't even begin to imagine what this looked liked! I can't even begin to imagine what this sounded like! If I could go back in time, I would choose that moment on that hill. Seriously! Noah's flood is a close second--as long as I'm on the ark!--but I absolutely would have loved to see and hear the heavenly hosts announcing the birth of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of all!

That God chose these lowly shepherds to see this and be part of the great announcement of His Son's birth is truly amazing! It kinda gives me some assurance that as lowly as I am, God is willing to share His Son with me. He wants me to know Him and be with Him for all eternity. I don't have to be rich or smart or pretty. I can be a stinky shepherd hanging out with sheep and God would still want me.

He wants you too.

The shepherds didn't wait around on that hill after the angels left. Verse 16 says they "hurried" off to find the Baby. Oh, that we all would be like those shepherds and hurry to find the Lord!

I'll have to wait until I get to heaven to see the angels and hear them singing praises to God. I'll bet'cha those same shepherds will be right there with me.

I wonder if any of them sound like Linus.

Christmas Blog Post #6: O Holy Night

2010-12-06T16:45:00.006-06:00

One of my absolute favorite Christmas songs is "O Holy Night." I get positively weepy at some of the lyrics.

...the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

...Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

...He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

...With all our hearts we praise His holy name.

...Christ IS the Lord!

I can't think of a more beautiful voice to sing this song than that of Celine Dion. Turn up the volume, CLICK HERE and enjoy!

Christmas Blog Post #4: I Believe!

2010-12-04T09:55:00.007-06:00

I watched one of my favorite Christmas movies last night! Polar Express! I love that movie! Wouldn't that be something to be picked up by a magical train on Christmas Eve and ride all the way to the North Pole? =)

But the thing I really love about Polar Express is the allegory element of the story. Obviously I don't know the writers nor do I declare they meant to write it as an allegory, but the parallels in Polar Express to the Christian faith are impossible to ignore.

First, there's the little boy. The main character in the story. He is losing his faith in Santa Claus. Everywhere he looks, there is "proof" that Santa doesn't exist. Doesn't that sound exactly like the world today? People have lost faith in God and in Jesus. They demand "proof" that He exists. Faith is simply not enough for them. Believing in God is like believing in Santa Claus. It's silly. It's ridiculous. The whole thing is a myth.

Next we have the conductor. His main job is to make sure the train load of children get safely to the North Pole where they will meet Santa. He's helpful. He's fatherly. He makes sure they're warm and fed. He teaches them lessons. Without him and his wisdom, the kids would've been lost. Who does that remind you of?

Then, of course, there's Santa himself. The big guy! The one all the elves can't wait to see and cheer for. It truly makes me smile when I envision heaven just like that scene in the movie where the doors open and Santa comes out! The elves and the reindeer go crazy!! If you don't know what I'm talking about, read Revelation 5:11-12 and you'll see what I mean.

The mysterious man-ghost who rides the roof of the train could represent the Holy Spirit. He guides the boy. He saves his life when he's in danger. How thankful I am each and every day for a guiding Spirit in my life!

The boy's journey to the North Pole is very much like our lives. There are obstacles. Bad things happen. Good things happen. We get lost. We meet people along the way that either help us or hinder us. We're aboard this train of life, not really sure where it's taking us but going along for the ride anyway. In the end, however, it comes down to one simple choice:

Do you believe or don't you?

The little boy heard the reindeer's jingle bell the moment he believed. You probably won't hear bells when you accept Jesus as your Savior, but I guaranty you will hear the sound of trumpets on the day He returns from heaven! That is a sound you DO NOT want to miss!!

Christmas Blog Post #3: Joseph

2010-12-03T16:08:00.002-06:00

Joseph.

Dear, dear Joseph.

This man grows in my esteem every year.

I've always pictured Joseph as the strong, silent type. Maybe because we don't know a lot about him other than his occupation and not much else. One thing we do know, however, is that Joseph was "a righteous man" (Matthew 1:19). When he learned Mary was pregnant, he could have had her stoned since he knew the child wasn't his, but he didn't. He was going to divorce her quietly instead of making a public spectacle of her. To me, that shows what a compassionate person he was. God had a different plan, of course. Joseph, with the help of an angel, accepted the fact that Mary was carrying a very special baby who needed protection from King Herod.

How many men do you know who would have done what Joseph did?

We never hear about Joseph directly again after Jesus' birth. Luke 2:41-52 speaks of Jesus' "parents" going to Jerusalem and searching for him, so we know Joseph was still alive at that point. But somewhere between Jesus being a boy of twelve and a man of thirty, Joseph passes away.

The Bible doesn't say this, but I believe Joseph was a good dad. How do I know? Because God chose him for the job, for one thing. But we also have proof that he raised Jesus as his own son. In Matthew 13:55 some people refer to Jesus as "the carpenter's son." Jesus is also known for his trade as a carpenter, which was taught to him by his dad. When Jesus is on the cross, he's concerned for Mary and makes sure one of the disciples is in charge of caring for her needs. I think he learned that from watching his dad, Joseph, take care of his family. Whether or not Joseph fully understood who Jesus was remains a mystery, but I feel quite certain he knows it now as he dwells in heaven while the boy he raised sits on a throne nearby.

I find it truly wonderful that God chose such a simple, decent man to raise His Son.

Christmas Blog Post #2: Mary

2010-12-02T08:45:00.003-06:00

I first felt a kinship with Mary back in December 1990. I was six months pregnant with my first son, Taylor. Every time I looked at a Nativity scene, I'd think, "Wow! She was pregnant with her first son, just like me!" Mary became a very real person to me that year. She wasn't just a statue in a Catholic church or in someones front yard. She wasn't just the name of a character in a story that some people find highly improbable. She was a real, live, living, breathing, flesh and blood person! A real woman. A real young woman. A young woman chosen by God himself to carry the Messiah! Can you imagine? Out of all the women on earth at the time, a simple girl named Mary, betrothed to a simple carpenter named Joseph, was chosen to give birth to the Savior of the world!

AMAZING!!!

As my sons have grown over the years, I've continued to feel that kinship with Mary. I know the fear she felt when Jesus was twelve years old and they lost track of him in Jerusalem. I'm certain all sorts of terrible imaginings flashed through her mind those three days they searched for him. I can almost feel her tangible relief--and anger--when they found him in the temple, safe and sound. I know the pride she must have felt as he continued in his "dad's" carpentry business and the disappointment when he left for his own ministry. And though I've never experienced the loss of one of my sons--and I pray I never do!!--my heart aches for Mary when I think of her having to witness Jesus' horrific death on the cross. I believe she knew at that point that He was the Messiah, but I also believe she looked at his bruised and broken body and saw only her little boy. Oh, the pain she felt watching her son die, but oh, the joy when He rose from the dead as her Savior!

Mary was a woman, a wife, a mother. A daughter, a sister, a friend. She was NOT just a name in the Bible or a statue on someones lawn.

Christmas Blog Post #1: Thanks Mom & Dad

2010-12-01T16:06:00.004-06:00

On this first day of December I've decided to blog every day until Christmas. First post topic:

THANK YOU, MOM & DAD!

As I get older, my appreciation for my parents grows. Daddy passed away in 2007 and Mom suffers from Alzheimer's Disease and doesn't know us anymore. The days when I could pick up the phone and call them or make the 700 mile drive for a visit are gone. Which means I treasure the memories we made together of Christmases long ago.

Today I want to say "thank you" to my Dad and Mom for instilling in me the true reason we celebrate Christmas. From the moment I was born my parents taught me about Jesus Christ. They read the Christmas story to me. They took me to church where the birth of Jesus was celebrated through song, plays, and pictures. Santa Claus was never too great in our holiday traditions and I never succumbed to the idea that Christmas was all about the presents.

I don't know how old I was when I understood that December 25th was not actually the day Jesus was born. I had also come to realize that it probably hadn't snowed in Bethlehem or that the wise men didn't arrive until well after Jesus' birth day. The stable was most likely a cave and the manger probably didn't look like the cute little wooden one my husband made for our front yard display.

Does any of that matter?

Not to me and I'll touch on some of those topics in the days to come. Christmas is so much more than the materialistic, controversial holiday it's become. I've shared on this blog many times how I truly came into my faith as a 28-year-old adult. The faith of my parents and the faith I'd enjoyed as a child was not enough. I had to find Jesus on my own. I did and I've never looked back.

As we go into this new Christmas season, I'll share about some of our traditions and my memories. But none of it would be possible if not for my parents faith which they shared with me and my siblings.

THANK YOU, MOM & DAD!! Merry Christmas!

He was amazed...

2010-11-29T20:58:00.003-06:00

"He marveled..." (King James)

"He couldn't get over their stubbornness..." (The Message)

"He was surprised..." (Contemporary English Version)

"He wondered..."(Wycliffe New Testament)

Who am I talking about?

Jesus.

What was he amazed at, marveled at and surprised about?

The lack of faith of the people.

The verse I'm quoting is found in Mark 6:6. Jesus is preaching in his hometown of Nazareth. The folks there are amazed at his wisdom, but not in a good way. "Isn't this Mary's son?" "Don't we know his brother's and sister's?" Basically they're saying "We know this guy. He's just an ordinary fellow. Who does he think he is coming in here, preaching like he knows more than we do?"

They couldn't see Jesus. They couldn't see beyond what they'd always seen, which was an ordinary carpenter who grew up down the street. So many, many people today still can't see Jesus! They can't see him for who he is! They can't accept that he isn't just a carpenter who lived two thousand years ago but that he is GOD come to earth. He is the Savior who lived, died, and lives again.

"And he was amazed at their lack of faith."

How incredibly sad. Jesus was right there!! Standing in their midst. And they couldn't see him. They missed him completely.

What about you? Have you missed Jesus? All it takes is faith, even the size of a mustard seed.