Tuesday, October 16, 2012

One Lonely Star

As I walked out the door this morning for my walk, I looked up at the night sky hoping to see it filled with beautiful stars shining down on me, but that was not to be. I did however see one star, one lonely star in a sky filled with clouds.

That star reminded me of something. How often have I felt all alone, without a friend in the world who would care to walk beside me?  Because so many of my friends live on the other side of the River, in another country, sometimes it still feels like I am walking alone.

This morning as I looked up and saw the one lonely star, I was reminded of one simple fact: things are not always as they appear.  Although I could only see one star, one lonely star, that did not mean that the others did not exist, they were just hidden from my view.  About a half hour into my walk I looked up and saw something beautiful, the clouds had parted and I could see a sky filled with stars. A great big smile took over my face. I knew it! I knew that there were more stars behind those clouds. I knew that just because it seemed like that star was alone the fact remained that was a lie.

Far too often we believe  the lie. Because of fear, we guard our hearts to the point where we don't allow others into our lives; we don't allow others to make an investment in us.  We shut out the people who God wants us to walk with on this journey called life. We live in fear of living.

I love how Deuteronomy 31:6 says it, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."" So even if I feel alone, the truth is God is with me, he will never leave me, he told me in his Book.  He has surrounded me with friends who love me and want the best for me, friends who invest in me and I in them.

Am I alone? No, absolutely not! Does it feel like it sometimes? Yes it does.

As I arrived home from my walk, I looked up at the sky again. The clouds had rolled back in and there were far fewer stars visible in the sky. I still had to smile, because I knew the truth; that one lonely star wasn't so lonely after all.

Abba Father, today as my friends read and think about the truth in this post I ask you to allow the truth that the are never alone to penetrate deep into their hearts. Help them to know that they are deeply loved. Thank you, Father. In Jesus' Name... amen!




Thursday, September 27, 2012

Gotcha Covered

The other morning as I walked out the door I looked up at the early morning sky and didn't see any stars, the cloud cover was so thick you could feel it; literally I could feel the moisture in the air as I walked.  It was much warmer than the morning before. As I looked up, I was disappointed that I couldn't see the morning stars, but my Abba Father spoke straight to my heart and said, "I gotcha covered."  I just smiled.

So often when we are faced with a cloudy day we get discouraged by the lack of sunshine in our lives, both in reality and figuratively. It is in those days, however, those times of discouragement that God can be there in ever increasing ways, showing us that He is there for us.

Lately, I have been having a number of those days, but what I know is that He has surrounded me with some really amazing friends who are helping me walk the path I am on.  They are difficult but necessary days of retrospection, that are allowing me to figure out where I went off the path so that I can get on the right path instead.  I came across a verse last fall that seems to be popping up everywhere lately. Jeremiah 6:16 says, "This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls."  It has been through the words of this verse, the prayers of my soul over this verse, that God has been doing a healing in my heart like never before.

There are many verses that are great reminders to me of God and his promises for my life.  I love John 10:10 which says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  The enemy of my soul has done his best to steal my peace, he has tried to kill my spirit, he has tried to destroy my life, but that is where Jesus work on the cross comes in, He died to give me a full and complete life, a life of love, joy and peace; a fulfilled life in him.  I am working on it; I am getting there. I am in the process. I just smile.

How about Romans 8:37-39  which says, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Nothing I do, nothing I say can ever separate me from God's love for me. How amazingly comforting is that? I just smile.

Or Jeremiah 29:11-13 which says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."   If I seek God with my whole heart, I will find him. He is not some distant God who is unreachable, I just need to seek him and he will definitely be there. I just smile.

Who am I that He would choose to invest in me the way He has? I am His beloved child. When I feel like I am not enough on my own, I need to remember, with him I can do all things. I need to remember who I am to Him.  A song that has really spoken to my heart lately is Remind Me Who I Am by Jason Gray. No matter who I see myself as, who others see me as, God sees me as His beloved child. That really makes me smile.

A friend of mine recently commented that he is a "real piece of work", and I had to agree; he is God's masterpiece in the making, His "piece of work"!  Ephesians 2:10, in the NLT says, " For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Just as my friend is God's masterpiece in the making, so am I. I just smile.

So when I am faced with a cloudy day, a cloudy, discouraged by life kind of day, I just need to remember that I am not alone. God is speaking straight to my heart and He is lovingly saying, "Hey Cathy, I Gotcha Covered!" How can I do anything but smile?

If you ever want to know more about Him, please don't hesitate to ask. I would love to share Him with you!!!






Friday, August 31, 2012

Once in a Blue Moon

We have all said it, right? We use it as an excuse actually. When we think of changing something in our lives, of taking a leap of faith, we put it off and say, "Once in a blue moon I think about....."

Did you know that they don't occur often? The next blue moon doesn't occur until July 2015, which is 3 years away.  So what is a blue moon you ask? A blue moon occurs when there are two full moons within the same calendar month, the first at the very beginning of the month and the second at the end.  That's why they don't occur very often.

So, what is it that you have thought of changing, what is the new challenge you have wanted to take but just haven't out of fear of failure? What is it you would like to take a leap of faith for, but have allowed fear to keep you from doing? Want to learn a new language? Take up a new hobby? Sign up for that missions trip that you think you could never go on?  What is it?

The enemy of our souls would love for us to live in fear and discouragement, but Jesus Christ died to give us a full and complete life.  That isn't a life that starts once we die and get to heaven, it starts right here, right now!  What's stopping you from grabbing on to that full and complete life that God has laid out in front of you?

If you will only think about it once in a blue moon, you are in luck! Today is your day!  Today is a blue moon; I saw it myself as I was out for a walk this morning.  Today, grab hold of what it is God has for you and jump! Take that leap of faith. It's yours for the taking.  God's got you. He won't let you go!

Have a blessed day my friends and enjoy the blue moon like I do!

Saturday, August 25, 2012

The Rock

A pile of rocks, it is just  a pile of rocks in the middle of someone's yard.  The largest one is about 2 feet high, just to look at, it's nothing special. All winter long it just sits there, but come the spring, when the frost is no longer an issue, that rock does something special, well special to me anyway.  That rock is actually a fountain and water will shoot up a couple of inches over the top and fall again. Oh the sound of the water hitting off the rocks below always puts a smile on my face.

That rock reminds me of the story of Moses and the people of Israel when they were wandering in the desert. The people were complaining because there was no water in sight, but God didn't need for there to be water around for Him to give His people a drink.

"I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel." Exodus 17:6

How many times do we face the seeming impossible and wonder where God is, wonder why He isn't showing up? How many times do we grumble and stay in a position of grumbling?  God understands our humanity, but He also wants us to remember to trust Him with everything.

So what is your seeming impossibility? What is it that you just can't seem to get through today?  Just like the water that poured out of that rock for the Israelites thousands of years ago, God wants to pour out just what you need into your life if only you will trust Him. Run to Him, He is waiting to hear from you; He wants to hear all about it.

" Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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 your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

God may or may not answer our request the way we want him to, because he sees the big picture and knows what will work out for our best. One thing is for sure though, the more we run to Him, the more we lean on Him, the more we trust His heart, the more He will develop us into the men and women He created us to be. He is definitely making something beautiful out of our lives.

So when I pass that rock and hear the sound of the water I remember what God did for the Israelites in the desert all those years ago and I remember that He wants to work in my life in miraculous ways as well.  Nothing is impossible for our God!  What a beautiful reminder to me.  I love it!


Sunday, August 19, 2012

One Lonely Blossom

A couple of months ago I wrote about two magnolia trees that had suffered from the effects of blossoming too early in the season; having their blossoms die once the cold weather returned..  The one tree that grew without any protection from the elements held on to its dead blossoms, with its leaves not breaking through as quickly as the other.

With time, that tree did indeed flourish; its leaves a lush green. It stands beautifully next to the sidewalk as I walk by, but if I look closely, into the middle of the tree, I can still see the dead blossoms that never did fall.  That tree has held on to the devastation of the past winter.

A few days ago as I walked by I looked at that beautiful tree and noticed something, a single lonely blossom, but one blossom reaching up to the sky.  That beautiful blossom spoke to my heart; hope. It is not the season intended for it to blossom, but it has anyway. No matter what we have gone through in the past, no matter what hurts have gotten us down, there is always hope.  Jesus Christ died to give us hope. He wants to turn all the negatives of the past, all the hurt, the pain, the bad choices, all of it, he wants to turn them into beautiful blossoms of His glory.


When I look back at my life, there are painful moments that continue to reveal themselves, coming to mind at the most inopportune time.  Those memories can hurt to the core of my being.  I can deal with the pain, I can forgive whoever needs to be forgiven, but in the end, those blossoms that died continue to mark who I am at my core.  That mark can become a thing of beauty if only I will allow it to be, if only I will allow God to heal me at my core. I can choose to stay stuck in my pain and my sorrow, or I can choose to allow God to heal my heart and use it all to impact the lives of others for his honor and glory.


"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

If I do that, if I allow God to do his thing in my life then he will make my life a life of beauty.  I, like Isaiah, feel like I will be able to say, " The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,   to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,  and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

That is exactly what I want. I want my life to reflect the hope that comes with one lonely blossom.  How about you?

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Looking For The Same Old Thing


Most people don't know that my favorite flower is a sunflower. I just absolutely love to see them standing tall reaching for the sky.  They are simply beautiful, and when I find one, it just warms my heart.

Each morning, as I have been out on my walk I have been disappointed at one house in particular, where for the past 2 years they have had beautiful sunflowers out front.  I have been looking for weeks, to find none.  Tonight as I walked past the house, I looked at the garage, and there lining the driveway were a few sunflowers standing tall, about  40 ft from the end of the sidewalk.  If only I had looked more closely, I may have seen them before tonight.  Then, on the other side of the garage, at the back of the property were at least another 20 sunflowers reaching for the sky.  How beautiful.  Because I had only looked for the flowers at the front of the house, I totally missed the beauty of the gift to my heart that stood tall farther back, farther from my field of view.

How many times do we look for the same old thing, in the same old place disappointed that it isn't there? How many times do we expect God to work in the same old way, disappointed when he doesn't?  We think we know how he is going to work because that is how he has worked in the past.  But our God is a creative God, he loves to do new things.  He loves to surprise us with more of himself.  We need to stop looking for God to do things in the same old way. We need to start expecting him to show up when we least expect it. He desires to bless his kids, so we shouldn't be surprised when he does, grateful, but not surprised.

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."  Isaiah 43:19

After I discovered the sunflowers at that one house, I found 3 more houses along my way and the last house, just around the corner from home had sunflowers both out front, and in the backyard peaking up over the fence. What a blessed day it was indeed!


Tuesday, June 5, 2012

What Might Have Been

Today I watched a video posted on GodVine, of a 15 year old girl sharing her story.  When she was only 9 years old this young girl's mother took her own life, leaving her daughter to experience the pain of a life without her mom.  The girl had a positive message but has had a sad life story.  The pain this young girl had to experience and will forever experience is heartbreaking.

While I watched her video I flashed back almost 26 years ago to a night when I was done with living. I had written a good-bye letter to my former husband, and a good-bye letter to my daughter.  I had a jug of juice sitting on the table, a bottle of pills beside it and a glass.  I went to my daughter's crib and picked her up to say good-bye for the last time.  The pain was too much to bear any longer.  She was only about 7 months old at the time.  While she slept in my arms, I held her for about 45 minutes, sobbing and rocking her, thankful she didn't wake up. Finally I realized I could not do that to her; I put my precious daughter back in her crib and crawled into bed, leaving everything where it was on the table. As you can tell, I never did take those pills, nor did I ever get to that point again.  For that I am forever thankful to my Heavenly Father.

This afternoon as I watched the video, I saw my daughter in that young girl and I saw the pain I could have caused her if I had gone through with ending my life.  I picked up my cell phone and sent my daughter a quick text thanking her for saving my life.  It was then that I realized that she was the same age that night as my dear little granddaughter is now.  Oh, the joy that I could have missed. My daughter knows the story, she knows that she saved my life all those years ago and for that I am forever thankful.

I am not done living life.  I started writing this blog almost 2 years ago as a new season of my life began, when my daughter moved out, but this new season seems to have one new season after another.   There is yet another one on the horizon, one that excites me to no end, but that story is for another day.

Today I end with Jeremiah 29:11-13, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  With all my heart I just want to be the woman God is creating me to be.

No matter what you are going through right now, death is not the answer. God loves you more than you can begin to imagine and he wants to be part of your life.  He has forever changed mine.  Please seek help.

Here is the link to the video I watched.  Unforgettable-Video-Everyone-Should-See

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Patience and the Photocopier

So this morning at work I was printing off a confidential document that was only about 75 pages long, but as I stood by the photocopier I quickly became rather bored.  Bad news for sure! I began to play with the copier, playing with one of the trays on the finisher, not realizing that the tray I was playing with would actually open.  With about 5 pages left in my document I hit the tray a little too hard and the machine just stopped.

One look at the screen told me that playing was a mistake, a big mistake. Window after window of instructions on which paper jam to clear next were the consequences of my poor judgment.  One page even tore in the machine causing even further frustration for me, frustration I ultimately caused. Five minutes later my hands were covered in toner but my job was finishing.  All I could do was laugh.

Timing, sometimes we just hate that God doesn't work on our time line but His own.  God says that there is a time for everything.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace  and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a  time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race.  He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

When we try to mess with God's timing, we end up bearing the consequences of our actions. It isn't just about what God wants to do in and through us, it is all about when he wants to accomplish those things.  If we will just hold on, wait for his perfect timing, we won't end up with toner all over  our hands and a mess in the copying machine.

God has an amazing plan for our lives, if only we will seek him out and seek to do it his way.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."  Jeremiah 29:11-13

Trust his heart. He is trustworthy.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

A Tale of Two Magnolia Trees

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...", oh wait that's another story, but actually it fits for my purposes today.  This past March brought with it some delightfully warm days, days so warm that the trees were fooled into  thinking that spring was here and it was safe to blossom.  Unfortunately along with those beautiful days came the typical March nights, cold and frosty.  It was sad to see the end result of the frost, the death of the blossoms.

It is the end of May now and the cold frosty nights of March are long behind us.  There is a beautiful magnolia tree in my front yard that is covered with lush green leaves.  You would never know the damage the cold had brought just a few short months ago. But this morning, as I was out for my walk I noticed another magnolia tree; one that has been absolutely beautiful the last couple of years. The harsh cold nights of March were not kind to this magnolia tree, and for some reason, although the blossoms died, they failed to fall leaving this tree to continue to bear the evidence of the frost.  The lush green leaves are trying to come, but they are overshadowed by the dark brown flowers still hanging on.

The difference between the two trees is one of protection.  The tree in my front yard is next to the house with a western exposure.  The tree on my walk is away from the house, near the sidewalk on the north side of the house.

The two magnolias remind me of us as human beings.  Sometimes we go it alone through the cold dark times we face, and sometimes we surround ourselves with people who are there to support us, people who we know will have our back. If we surround ourselves with the right kind of friends, friends we know we can count on, friends who will be there, truly be there through it, then the after effects of the harshness of life will be lessened. If we choose to walk this road alone, we face the possibility of bearing the scars of the darkness for a very long time, long after spring has arrived.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."

So who do you surround yourself with? Do you have people in your life who help you walk this road, who point you in the right direction? Or are you walking this road alone?  Sometimes it is difficult to admit that we can't do it alone, but we were never meant to do it alone.  Trusting others can be difficult, especially if we have been hurt in the past, but the result of trusting the right people can bring life back to our lives.

I know that I  have been amazingly blessed by some very special people that God has planted in my  life, key people who have been there at just the right time.  I think you know who you are.  Thank you for loving me for who I am.

Just one more thing, but the most important thing of all.  God always wants to be there for you.  He loves you and just wants a relationship with you.  He is waiting. Are you ready?


Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Little Things


The other night was a full moon.  I absolutely love full moons. Who am I kidding?  I absolutely love the beauty of God's creation.  Everyone was making a big deal about this full moon because it was going to be closer to the earth than it had been in quite a while, making it 14% larger than normal. I couldn't wait to see it.

As I left church that night, the clouds were covering the sky and the moon was hidden.  Not wanting to miss the moon, I quickly asked God for a favor.  "Can you please move the clouds so that I can see the moon? I would absolutely love it!" I waited and within about 10 minutes the clouds began to part a little bit; just enough to reveal the moon for me.  A few wispy clouds danced in front of it, but they were thin enough not to block any of the beautiful orb in the sky.  Over the next hour, on the drive home, there were a few wonderful moments of opportunity when I could bask in the light of the sun as it reflected off the beautiful full moon.  "Thank You, Daddy!"

My request may have seemed frivolous to some, but to me it was just a request that God could answer whichever way he chose.  I am thankful he decided to bless me.

Far too often people do not want to bother God with the little things. They think He is too busy saving children in Africa, or listening to prayers on the other side of the world to bother with their little issue. They can take care of things for themselves, so why even ask Him for help.

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”  Matthew 7:11

Does this mean that God becomes like a vending machine of sorts?  No, because God sees the big picture and he knows what is best for us.  He will not give us something that, in the long run, will lead to our destruction. At other times, he will make us wait for just the right moment to bring that blessing into our lives.    God does know how to give good gifts to his kids, but he wants us to ask him.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8

Why does God want us to keep asking him? When we ask him, we are in his presence, spending time with him. God created us to be in relationship with him. He longs for us to come to him and just spend some time in his presence. He longs to be our Father.  He longs for us to know what a relationship with him can mean to us.  He just wants us.

He loves you, you know, more than anything.  He loves you more than life itself; Jesus died to prove it to you.
 
I am thankful that I prayed the other night.  The view of the moon was spectacular and I most definitely enjoyed it.

Thank You, Daddy. I love You!

Thursday, May 3, 2012

A Hot Shower

This morning I had the amazing privilege of enjoying a hot shower.  Why so amazing? Well, I haven't had the luxury of a hot shower since Saturday and since today is Thursday, that is a long time.  The hot water heater needed a part replaced so for 4 days I endured cold showers each morning.

Those showers brought back memories of showers in  Managua while on a missions trip to Nicaragua this past February. Our room was about 70 degrees F or 21 degrees C in the morning when I hopped into the shower, so the cold water didn't feel very good.  I got in and out as quickly as possible.  There was some kind of gadget that was supposed to heat the water, but I couldn't get it to work and since I had heard stories of people getting shocked while using it, I wasn't too keen on trying it out while standing in water. While we were in Somotillo, the water was stored in a large black drum in the courtyard.  The blazing hot Nicaraguan sun headed it to a lovely tepid temperature, making it much more livable for a shower, but still no where near a hot shower.

This morning's shower was such a luxury compared to the showers I had in Nicaragua.  Most people I know would consider hot showers a necessity, not a luxury, but after experiencing life in Nicaragua for a week this past winter, I got a glimpse of how great we have it in North America.  We, as North Americans, take a lot of things for granted.

It is ironic that the hot water heater broke down now, since I am working on memorizing the book of James. I am only in the first chapter, but the first real thought James wrote down was about trials; situations that test us.

James 1:2-4 in The Message Bible says, "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."  I don't think James was thinking of cold showers when he wrote those words, but I know that the attitude I had while enduring those cold showers determined the type of day I had.

Did I consider the cold showers a gift? Nope, but my attitude could have been worse, so I guess I am growing bit by bit, trial by trial. I am on my way to becoming the woman God created me to be, and that puts a smile on my face.

I hope that the next time a cold shower is my reality, I will take a quick one with a grateful heart knowing many around the world don't even have the luxury of running water, much less hot running water.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Love Letter

She read it over and over again.  She couldn't believe how much he loved her; his words spoke straight to her heart.  She had read it over and over so many times that she could practically say it word for word from memory.  How could anyone love her the way he did?

When someone speaks to our hearts; when someone is important enough to us, we will take the time to get to know that person.  Their words, spoken clearly to our hearts, becomes a gift, something we treasure deep within.  I have a someone like that in my life and his name is Jesus.  The words he has given to me in the Bible are something I treasure, but perhaps not as much as I should.  The words in his book are his love letter to me; I want to know them more and more.

This past December I set a goal to memorize more this year, specifically to memorize the entire book of James. Thankfully it is only 5 chapters long.  A couple of months ago, someone asked me what my spiritual goal was for the year, so I shared this goal.  He decided he would take on the challenge as well.  In the couple of months since that exchange, he hasn't forgotten.  This past Saturday he asked how I was doing with the book of James.  Honestly, I have been working on it.  I started a few weeks ago by beginning to write it out.

I am thankful for this person who has decided to take up this challenge with me because he is someone who can hold me accountable for reaching my goal and can encourage me along the way.  Ecclesiastes 4:9 says, "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed."  Because there is someone who is taking up this challenge with me, I feel a responsibility to succeed.  I don't want to know what it would feel like to have him accomplish the goal and not be able to say  I did it as well.

Far too often when we are alone in a project it is easy to let it slide, to let it fall by the wayside.  I don't think this is going to be one of those goals for me.  This one is going to be accomplished.  I absolutely love the message in the book of James, so for me it is part of the love letter that Jesus has given me, a part that I can't wait to learn.

Tonight as I sat at dinner, I finished writing out the last couple of chapters so that I could begin to work on the actual memorization part. Before I left the table, I had pretty much memorized the first 8 verses of James 1.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings....

Okay, so it wasn't perfect the first time around, I checked, but it's a start.  Oh how I love this Love Letter!

Sunday, April 8, 2012

A Pretty Shade of Brown

This spring has been odd.  It followed a very mild winter, and turned hot , early summer hot, in mid-march.  The flowers were confused so they came out early.  The beautiful magnolia tree outside my front window was blooming beautifully until the frost overnight covered it a week after it began to bloom.  That frost turned the delicate flowers a lovely shade of brown, from the beautiful pale pink they were intended to be.

A lot of the magnolia trees lost all of their beautiful blossoms, but thankfully not the one in my front yard.  Not all the blossoms had broken through their furry winter coat, so they were not effected by the frost.  As I look out the front window I see the leaves starting to break out of their buds and there are still some pale pink flowers.  How beautiful!

The magnolia tree in my front yard got a second chance to be beautiful and I am very thankful for that.  What I also love is that my God is a God of second chances.  He can turn the cold darkness in our lives into great things for His honor and His glory.

Just before Jesus was arrested, and  Simon Peter would deny him, Jesus warned him of what was to come. "“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.”"   I love it. Jesus wanted Simon Peter to use his story, his failings to help others    He wanted Simon Peter to use his story to encourage others in their faith.  Jesus was giving him a second chance.

Jesus wants to use our story to encourage those around us in their faith as well.  We can use the struggles we have gone through to encourage those going through similar situations.  We can bring hope to their lives that it is possible to gain victory over the situation.

Second Corinthians 1:3-4 says, "All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us."

God can use it all, if only we will allow Him.  The enemy would love us to focus on the negative, the dead flowers, but God wants us to focus on the new growth, the plan He has in store for us.

How about you? What will you choose to focus on?  

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Starfish



I love the inspirational story of the starfish. In case you are unfamiliar with it, there is a wise man walking the beach and he sees someone in the distance who appears to be dancing.  As he gets closer he realizes the young man is throwing something in the ocean, starfish, one at a time.  When asked why he is throwing them, the young man says that the tide is going out and if he doesn't throw them in they will die.  With miles upon miles of beach the wise man reminds him that there are far too many starfish, it won't make a difference.  Again the young man reaches down, picks up a starfish, throws it in and says, "I made a difference to that one."

I love the story, it reminds me of the importance of making the time and making the effort to invest in those who God has planted in my day.

I am a person who loves things that mean something.  I love tangible reminders of life lessons.  My brother and his wife were going to the islands this past winter and I asked if they could bring me back a starfish.  I wanted a tangible reminder that I could see each day, to remind me to live a positive life for those around me. When they returned I came home one day to a starfish on the table, a big beautiful starfish.  I was extremely happy.  The next time I saw my brother he told me that when they were out on a boat one day he saw the starfish, went to dive in to get it but his wife had beat him to it and was already in the water.  Suddenly it hit me.  My request for a starfish was a very selfish one.  What I had wanted as a reminder to bring positive influence into other people's lives ended up costing a life.  I have a  shell that was once the home of a life, a life that was taken so that I could remember.  When my daughter saw it she reminded me that the beautiful starfish died so that I could have a decoration.

I love my starfish and will cherish it deeply, not only for the positive story it represents, the story of a life invested in others, but I now also have a negative reminder of what our actions can cost others.  I want my life to be an example that will be a positive influence to those God places in my path, but I also need to be cautious not to be a negative influence.

The starfish that sits in the family room never had a choice as to whether or not to give up his life. However, there is someone dear to me that did have a choice.  Jesus Christ chose to come to this world, he chose to die a painful death on the cross so that I could live.  I am forever thankful for what he did.  I choose to live my life as an example to others so that they too may see him.

As Easter approaches, I am reminded once again of the story of Jesus and his journey to the cross.  Thank you Jesus for dying for me so that I could live. Thank you for your example. Help me to model it each and every day of my life.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Did You Hear That?

This past Sunday, on my way home from my daughter's house, I chose to take a detour and enjoy a spot that brings tranquility to my soul.  I got out of my car and sat on a bench overlooking the lake. It was absolutely beautiful, the day was brisk, but the water was rather calm, with just small waves lapping the shore. I missed this spot!  I haven't been there since last fall and forgot how special this place is to my heart.  The vastness of the lake reminds me of the vastness of God.

Suddenly the tranquility of the moment was lost as I watched a man playing ball with his dog, his beautiful golden retriever. The man would throw the ball down the hill and the dog would run after it.  Unfortunately the dog did not choose to come right back, he chose to investigate what was going on around him each time his owner would throw the ball.  Most dog owners I have heard usually just call their dog, or say no but this man was different.   He had one word for his dog that he yelled over and over again.  WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! He would yell it until his beautiful dog came back.  I thought it was mean of that dog owner to be so harsh with his dog.

Over the last few days I have had a thought cross my mind; wouldn't it be nice to have someone who could tell me when I was wrong; when I was about to make a mistake so that I could avoid it?  God reminded me that I actually do have someone who is with me, who does work in my life to direct my path.

In John 16:13-14, Jesus said, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.  He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you."

God has placed the Holy Spirit in our lives to guide us into all truth.  In my life when I have times that I choose not to listen to that voice of the Holy Spirit, His voice seems to get softer and softer until it seems not to be audible at all.  In reality, since I am getting farther and farther from the truth, it is harder and harder to hear.  It has nothing to do with the Holy Spirit not being loud enough, it has to do with my proximity to Him.  The closer we stay to God, the easier it seems to hear His voice.

As much as I was annoyed at the man yelling WRONG at his dog, it was a great reminder of the presence of Holy Spirit in our lives and the importance of staying close by.  If you can't hear His voice, perhaps you need to get a little closer.  There is no better place to be.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Growth

Spring is just around the corner.  I can hardly believe it!  I must admit we have been very spoiled this winter with very little actual winter like weather.  We have had our fair share of precipitation, but because the temperatures have been on the warmer side, we have had rain instead of snow.  I might dislike winter weather, but for the farmers the weather conditions of winter are important to the seeds in preparation for their growth come spring.  


Just like the seeds need certain conditions to grow, so also we as followers of Christ need certain conditions in order to grow our faith so that we can become more like the men and women God wants us to be.  


"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.  For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:2-4


"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Romans 5:3-5


God will use our circumstances to help us develop into people He can use to make a difference in this world.  Far too often we run away from the pain that we are experiencing, instead of embracing what God is trying to do in us through it.  Running away only delays what God wants to do.  Today I challenge you to embrace all that God has for you.  Embrace the situations He places in your path so that you can grow in His way, in His timing. We need not fear because we are not alone; He is always with us.  


My friend, today, choose to let God work in your life so that you can grow more and more into the person He wants you to be. You will not be disappointed.



Monday, February 27, 2012

First Class

I just got home from my latest missions trip; this time the destination was Nicaragua.  What an amazing experience!  On the way there, 3 of the 12 members of the team were in first class and I was blessed to be one of them.  What a treat it was, or could have been for me.


Due to the weather, we were delayed a couple hours, waiting for our pilots to come from another flight.  I was hungry by the time we got off the ground so the turbulence we hit turned my stomach in very bad ways and I ended up being sick to my stomach, literally.  Thankfully I had the plastic bag from the blanket the flight attendant gave me; it came in handy.  That was it for me.  The lovely breakfast of French Toast, with grilled pineapple, a fruit cup and a croissant turned into trying to eat the French Toast, but not being successful, but the croissant was okay and stayed down.  About 80% of my breakfast stayed on the tray.  I did sleep for most of the flight so the big seats were great.  A ticket in first class not fully experienced, not fully enjoyed.


How often do we as faith followers of Christ not live life up to the full potential we have in Him? In John 10:10b Jesus tells us that "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.", but we chose to follow our own path not His.  When we follow our own path, we miss out on all the fun and exciting adventures He wants to take us on.  We also must experience the heartache that comes from our own poor choices.  


What a waste of a first class ticket, right? Nope, when a lesson is learned, when a truth is discovered, the experience is never a waste.


Can't wait to share my trip with you.  Hope your week is blessed!

Friday, February 17, 2012

All theTime in the World

Procrastination is dreadful.  It allows you to think you have all the time in the world, but when it comes down to it, if you don't get done now what needs to get done you will run out of time. This week hasn't been so much procrastination for me, but being sick and lacking the energy to get anything done results in the same thing, running out of time.  I leave in a few short hours and the packing is not quite done.

We need to value the time that we have in front of us right now and not squander it.  We have no idea what the next hour will bring yet alone tomorrow.

"Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:13-14

Let's do today, right now even, what we are able to do and then when the project is done, we can sit back and enjoy the satisfaction of a job well done. 

Okay now this is a lesson I really need to learn.  Happy Friday!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Unseen Doorway

Have you ever been going along, minding your own business, doing your own thing when all of the sudden a door of opportunity opens that you never expected? You didn't see it coming at all, it was just suddenly there, right in front of you, bidding you to enter in.  


Lately I have had a couple of unseen doors open for me.  Two doors I walked through and been pleasantly surprised at the blessings those opportunities have brought to my life. Unseen doors may also lead to challenges to make us grow more and more into the men and women of God He wants us to become.

"These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." Revelation 3:7 

This is a verse of which I need to continually remind myself while I walk this life of faith. When He opens a door, it won't close until He chooses to close it.  If He closes a door, there is nothing we can do to open it again.   Challenges will come, but times of growth and deep blessing are also on the way.  The unseen doors open to new adventures that our Abba Father wants us to experience with Him.

Do you trust Him to lead the way?  I know I do!



Friday, February 3, 2012

Dreams

Do you ever feel like your dreams are right within your grasp, yet too far away all at the same time? Do you feel like things couldn't be going any better, at the same time as they couldn't be going any worse?  That's me right now.  Everything seems to be happening all at once.  It is a little overwhelming.  Sometimes I need to press on going forward, and sometimes I need to shift into neutral so that I can regroup and prepare for what God has in store for me.  The trick is to know which to do at the exact right time.  

Opportunities have come up that I know are right for me, then stuff happens to block doing them.  It would be wonderful if open doors came without any detours.  It is in the detours that we can strengthen our faith. 

But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.  Romans 8:25 (NLT)  Doesn’t sound like fun, but I know God is in control and He will work all things out for our good and His glory.

After David was anointed to be king, He didn’t get to job right away.  As a matter of fact, he went to work for King Saul, where he would have his life threatened many times.  On numerous occasions, King Saul would attempt to take David’s life.  All of this happened to prepare David for what God had in store for him in the future.  Knowing that, and knowing that David was able to overcome, gives me strength to do my best to overcome as well.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know the One who does.  Thankfully, I trust Him with my life.

Abba Father, please take my heart, and my life in Your hands.  Hold me close to Your chest.  Don’t ever let me go.  Prepare me for what You have in store for my future.  Amen.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Be Still

Tonight in church, while we were singing, I heard that still small voice say, Be Still.  If you know me, you know I don't like to stand still while singing, so it was tough. While trying to be still, I tried to start praying, but again I heard, Be Still. I didn't move, I didn't think, I just listened.

Isaiah 46:10-11 says, "“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress." 

There is something so renewing about being still and allowing God to speak into your life. Tonight I was totally blessed by it.

Friday, January 20, 2012

The Voice Inside

Lately I have noticed a lot of people writing about dreams and the importance of doing everything in our power to reach for them. To be honest, in the past, I was not the type of person who paid much attention to my dreams because they never seemed to come true, so what was the point. I lived my life in fear of failure; not even trying to succeed. I lived life in fear of simply living. I just existed.

Thank God that is the past.  I am thankful that my Abba Father loves me too much to allow me to continue living in defeat and failure.   I am thankful for the new beginning He has given me.  Each and every day we receive another new beginning from His hand.  I love it.  No matter what yesterday brought, today is a new day, a new day to experience Him and to serve Him with my life. 

I recently saw a picture on Facebook that really spoke to my heart.


I love it!  The old me would have looked at my dreams and said, "What's the point, you can't accomplish it." but the new me tells me that the voice in my head is a liar, and I believe it!

Philippians 4:13 has taken on a new meaning the last little while.  " For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."  I have known this verse most of my life, but now it is becoming very real for me. Because I can do everything through Christ who gives me the strength I need, the things I say "I can't" do, I need to say, "I choose not" to do. When I choose not to reach for my dreams, it is a result of the fear again.  That is not a choice I choose to make any longer; I just don't!

I need to start living my life focused on the dreams God planted in my heart a very long time ago, as well as new ones He is blossoming in  my heart now.  I need to focus on using the gifts and talents God gave me to accomplish those dreams, and I know I can do it.

I am thankful for the people God has planted in my life who have my back; people I know are there to encourage me along the way.  I can do this!  I can fly!  Right Big Bro?

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Attitude of the Heart

This morning I had my attitude checked by God.  I was waiting in the drive thru line at Timmy's, about 4-5 cars back from the entry when someone pulled up from the other side.  All the vehicles in front of me went in bumper to bumper not allowing that vehicle in line.  Although there was another vehicle behind me who also was there first, I did the right thing and let that other person get in. 

I must admit I was a little shocked though, that the other driver didn't even acknowledge what I did; didn't even look at me. I got a little ticked off. If you had been in the car you would have heard me say, "REALLY? You couldn't even say thank you???" Suddenly there was that check in my attitude. That wasn't why I did it.  So I told God I was sorry and quickly prayed for that woman's day.  When I got to the window for the coffee, I was handed the coffee and told that the woman ahead of me had already paid for it.... and I had been upset because she hadn't acknowledged me.  Wow!  What a lesson.

It isn't just what we say, it's what we think, it is the attitude of our heart that counts. Ephesians 4:22-24 says, " throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy."  That is the person I want to be, not the old self, but the new self, the one whose attitudes match the desires of my heart.  It starts with our thinking but needs to settle a little lower in our hearts.

I would like to be able to say that I had a great attitude all day long, but that would be a lie.  I had a bad attitude at work a couple of times, one person got to see it and that is one person too many.  I need to keep working on it, one day at a time.

If you know me, you are wondering why I was in the Timmy's drive thru. Since I don't drink coffee, I wasn't there for me, I pick it up for a friend at work.  So I wasn't even the beneficiary of the free coffee.  To the lady who paid for the coffee this morning, my friend says thank you for the coffee and I say thank you for the life lesson.  I have a feeling I gained more from your $1.80 than my friend did, at least I hope so.

Monday, January 2, 2012

A Clean Slate

It's January, a new year is before us and since it is only January 2nd we haven't had much time to screw it up yet!  I have been thinking a lot about 2011 and all that happened in that year.  There were many good things, but some things that made me sad as well.   The best thing about a new year is that you have a clean slate and can start all over again.  That applies equally to the good and the bad of the previous year. 

It is easy to figure out why one would want a clean slate when it comes to the bad things, but the good things?  Why would anyone want a clean slate for those things as well?  In my opinion, it is too easy to sit back, celebrate the successes and stay there. Where is the challenge in that? You can only grow from those good times for so long, then you get stuck. 

How can you challenge yourself to grow this year?  What new goals have you set for yourself, including both short and long term?  What can you do to make this world a better place in 2012?   Is there a person in your life that you can choose to invest in this year?  I do not believe for one minute that we were ever created to just exist on this planet. It isn't just about me, and it isn't just about you (sorry to burst your bubble).  I believe there is a purpose to our lives, a purpose that is meant for the good of others.

When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, he answered. “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)  It is interesting how I am not even in the equation.  Jesus never mentions the importance of looking out for "Number One", being me, because I am not.  


I have heard it said that the word JOY is an acronym for putting Jesus first, Others second and Yourself last;  when we do those things, we will have true JOY.  From experience, I know this to be true.


It is early in the morning on January 2nd, 2012 and we have 365 days left to make a difference in our world.  That's right, it is a leap year this year so we get a bonus day.  What are your plans for making a difference this year?  

Revelation 21:5 says, "He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”"

I love it, I love that my slate is clean and that I can focus forward on becoming more of the woman I was created to be.  I am so very thankful for the lessons of 2011 but more importantly for the opportunities I find before me for 2012.

Here's to a great year!