Thursday, June 28, 2007

She did what?

I am about halfway through reading the Bible in one year. Daily, the story of God's chosen people is woven into the tapestry of the whole picture—whether it is in the Old Testament, New Testament, or the Psalms. I am sure He knows how forgetful I am because I often think, "He just said the very same thing some verses back. What is wrong with these people, don't they get it?" Oh, He gets it—that is why the repetition. He wants us to pay attention, understand the importance of His words, and then DO something about it. The latest characters in the story are all the kings of Judah and Israel. Each one is introduced with the statement that they are either a good king or an evil king depending on their worship of the one true God. We get a snapshot of their life and times, whether in a period of peace or warfare, and finally, a declaration that all their deeds are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kinds of Israel (or Judah.) How would you like your entire life recorded for all of posterity to read? Would the reader wonder about you? Would someone think, "Wow, she sure was stubborn, forgetful, or even cruel! She didn't even try to follow God." Or would they find stories of kindness, love, and excellence before God? Taking it one step at a time following His Light? The kings of Judah and Israel made choices every day about whom to serve. They even had priests that censured them for their disobedience and tried to give good counsel but many would not listen. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15 (NLT) Take a few moments to reflect on your life. Are you listening to good counsel, reading the Word, and choosing to serve our Heavenly Father? May your biography be filled with stories of hope and obedience. I pray that my granddaughters will know that I choose God!

Monday, June 25, 2007

The Stopwatch

Advance planning does not work at our house, so I made a spur of the moment decision to attend the SheSpeaks Conference sponsored by Proverbs 31 Ministries this past weekend in Charlotte, NC. And, I am so glad that I did. 405 women from all over the United States converged for training, inspiration, and fellowship. This conference included tracks for both writers and speakers and I chose to be placed in a speakers evaluation group with eleven other women. Part of the evaluation included two different talks with assigned topics and time limits. As we began, our leader reminded us that as speakers we must respect the given time limits and to do otherwise would be rude and unprofessional. However, I figured a couple of extra minutes would not matter. Wrong! I had just warmed up and was barely halfway through the first speech when the stopwatch beeped and my time was up. I was so embarrassed. I spent most of the second night doing a rewrite because I wanted to avoid that buzzer. I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat down at the end of my second talk–satisfied that I had given it my best. And, no buzzer and a thumbs up from my speaking buddies gave me some hope. But the best part was a good evaluation from our leader. Our Heavenly Father gives us the same advice in Hebrews 12:11, No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Disciplined living requires commitment to the rules, even when it is hard. Just ask an athlete, dancer, musician, or student. Sometimes, we rationalize that just a little fudging won't matter. But it is often just that small detour from the set path that takes us down the wrong road so that we miss out on the rewards of all our hard work. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding. Proverbs 15:32 (NLT) I gained a tremendous amount of information this weekend and I proved to myself that I could do the hard thing. But I also learned that I could not do it by myself…God was there to guide me and give me the ability to succeed. It was just the kind of challenge that I needed to help me grow.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Bits and Bytes

The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7 (NLT)

The Internet is an amazing piece of technology. I have tools that let me track the location in the world of people who read my blog recording hits from every continent in the world. Email enables me to communicate with the click of a button to one person or a whole list. I now connect with loved ones on a more regular basis or make contact with people that I have never met. Just last week, God brought a gift of Himself through a woman that does not know me but contacted me regarding a conference we will both be attending later this week. I asked her to pray that my husband's health would stabilize so that I could leave without worry. She replied with a word from Scripture that she had read that morning: Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear. Psalm 112:6-8. Another good friend also sent me her support and prayers during this difficult week and included verses from Psalm 41. I have found that when we are in distress, God is faithful to be there for us and often with a touch from another person. I call it, "God with skin on." I am so thankful that He gave me hope with the emails from these dear women. But the best thing is that not only is He there when we are stressed but also when we rejoice. He is our biggest cheerleader. When we obey, He blesses us. And when we sin, He forgives us when we ask Him. I know that whatever circumstance I find myself in, the Creator of the universe will be there and provide just what I need…and sometimes it is with bits and bytes.

Friday, June 15, 2007

A Possibility

Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God. 1 Peter 1:18-21 (The Message)


A friend invited me to lunch this week to celebrate my birthday. We tried a great new restaurant situated in a lovely outdoor shopping mall. After lunch, we wandered through the shops looking at clothes, shoes, and stuff for the grandkids. As we approached one particular gift store, I raved to her about all the pretty things in it. She was unfamiliar with it so we spent several minutes oohing and ahhing over the various styles and designs of the different collections in the store. As I reached to the back to pick up some decorative napkins, I accidentally knocked a small ceramic cactus off the shelf. Of course, it broke…not into smithereens but shards of the pottery from the top of the cactus crumbled in a pile on the floor. I immediately took it back to the sales desk and showed them the remains of the piece. She responded with the price and asked for payment. Before, I could say a word, get out my wallet, or do anything, my friend said, "I will pay for it." And she did. Nothing I said would persuade her otherwise and I felt terrible. Now that it was hers, we looked it over and realized that the intended purpose of this little cactus was to be placed over a votive candle since it was covered with small holes. Also, with the broken pieces at the top and back, it could be nestled high enough among other things hiding the imperfections. But this gracious lady said to me, "I will use it in one of my talks to the ladies. It will be a perfect example of God's love." She saw possibility in the brokenness. What a perfect example of how God sees us, always looking beyond our futile attempts to glue ourselves back together. Or, we even try to stand just right so the misaligned parts don't show. But, we will never be flawless until God puts us back together. His love for us was shown in the cross when all that sin and brokenness was stamped Paid in Full – just like my friend did for me at the store. Now, our intended purpose can be fulfilled and the light of Jesus will shine through us to those around when we tell our story of healing and wholeness. Don't let brokenness stop you from taking that next step along your intended path but rejoice in God's love. May the lyrics from a favorite children's song, "I am a Promise," encourage you today:
I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.





Sunday, June 10, 2007

Thirsty?

Desert gardening is proving to be a challenge. I never claimed to have a green thumb but growing plants in California was a snap for two reasons: I was familiar with the kinds of plants that grow well and the weather was more temperate. We are close to celebrating one year in the southern Arizona desert and in that time we have had temps as high as 118° and as low as the mid 20's with two inches of snow on the ground. Now, that is hard on plants! It does not help that I have chosen to use a Mediterranean type of greenery rather than the typical desert drought-tolerant choices. But I like color, flowers, and I loved Italy. Extremes in weather challenge even the hardiest plant. Yet, the heat is absolutely intolerant of any failure of my drip system. Without water, all the time, care, and attention are useless. I can talk to my plants all day but they are not going to revive because of my few words. Maybe, that is why Jesus used water as a means to talk with people when walking along those ancient dusty paths of Israel. Remember the story of the woman at the well who met Jesus and volunteered to draw water for him to drink? He provided more that just words by offering her living water but she did not get his point. She was listening with her earthly ears but He was speaking heavenly truth. Jesus replied, Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. John 4:13-14 (NLT) Yet, by the time they had finished their conversation, the woman ran off to tell her friends of this Man she had met and the wonderful of gift of life that she had received. It is easy to take for granted the benefits of water in our lives -- both for our natural bodies and our spiritual ones. But when the withering heat of trials, temptations, or hardships threatens to destroy us, drink the Living Water that refreshes and sustains. God is not stingy with his water like I am with my drip system. If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Rivers of living water will brim and spill out of the depths of anyone who believes in me this way, just as the Scripture says. John 7:38 (The Message) Thirsty?

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

March-2-3-4

I slowed down to watch a family of quail scurry across the street in front of my car. Mom was leading the troop of seven babies with Dad bringing up the rear. I watched her scout out the safest route and imagined her telling each one to hurry up while Dad protected their backs from danger. It occurred to me that if either quail parent had been missing, those babies might not have made it. There is a lot of discussion on the relative value of fathers in the home now that single women are choosing to have children. Obviously, children need a loving mother, but the best situation for boys and girls is to have both a mother and father – just like those baby quail. I have watched single mothers as they struggle with the various roles that fall on them. They encounter exhausting and frustrating challenges — often with no relief in sight. We no longer live in the same little town with grandmothers, aunts, sisters, or cousins to call on for help. The demands of both a job and home require more hours than are in a day, especially if you want some sleep. But the physical is just one aspect of raising children. It is also important to remember that children learn very different skills, roles, and emotions from each parent. This presents a huge challenge for a single parent to fill in the missing gaps. I know many women do not choose single parenting but divorce and death have left many as the sole caregiver for their children. It is tough—in fact, it is more than tough! When discouragement hits, remember that God has promised to be the Father to the fatherless. Psalm 68:5 He knows the dangers that your little one or even your teens will encounter and promises to protect them. Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions. Deuteronomy 32:11 (NLT) Parenting is the biggest challenge we face because the results last for generations. So, Moms and Dads, be the front and rear guard for the family God has given you. Don't forget that you are not alone—Your Heavenly Father is just a prayer away. He will protect YOUR back.