Breaking the Stereotype

Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."-Matthew 22:37-40


Unfortunately, many stereotype us as a bunch of judgemental people that shake their fingers in the faces of sinners telling them to repent or they'll be condemned.  They see us as tediously ramming the gospel down their throats, arguing about fine points of doctrine.  They imagine us as sour people who don't have any fun.  Some think that Christianity means following a bunch of archaic rules.  Some think we see them as bad people and that we turn up our noses at them.

But...we are all sinners, saved by grace!  How can we shake our fingers at people who are the same as ourselves?  The only difference is that we have received  the wonderful gift of grace.  As we grow in the Lord, our lives begin to change because we want to please him.  From faith comes good works.
As for sour?  We should be full of peace and joy through the Spirit.   We should light up every room we walk into.  What good does it do to argue?  Our greatest testimony is not our words.  It's our life and the way we live it. We should shine the light that is within us wherever we go.  We should be the people that others want to be around.
And as Christians, we shouldn't judge the world:
Do not judge, of you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.-Matthew 7:1-2

As Christians, our first and foremost calling is to love.  How much more people will want to come unto a loving Father than a misperception of God as an angry, judgemental tyrant.  Jesus, who is God in the flesh, said:
"A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."-John 13:34

Our lives are the greatest testimony of what we believe.  When we interact with people, our guiding principle should always be to treat them as Jesus did.  When people see us living this way, it will attract them like moths to a flame.  This world is full of lost, hurting, lonely people, so let's love them into the kingdom and break the stereotype that the world has!

Father, I pray that the lost and hurting world we live in will see the love that you've put in our hearts and come to you.

Wishing all of you blessings.

Make me a Fisherman

Father:

If my body were strong I would dance for you      

If I had a sweet voice I would lift it up to sing        
But all I have are simple words on a page                

I wish I had more to bring                                  

So would you make me a fisher of men?            
A harvester in your field?
I just want my life to please you
So all my heart, to you, I yield

Please pour out your Spirit fresh and new         

Give us your strength each and every day            
And as we kneel before you, would you
Reveal yourself when we seek and pray


Give me words that encourage                                          
That show your compassion and grace      
Until the day finally comes
When I've finished this long, long race

Please bless those that come here
And answer the questions they ask
Please bless the workers everywhere
As they tackle their every task


Father, bless and keep us
Safe in every way
Draw us closer to you
Every single day

May the Father bless you in everything :)

Soaring like an eagle

How wonderful it is to be home!  I've been caring for my ill family member in her home since her discharge from the hospital in September.  She's regained the ability now to walk, so here I am. It's a great joy to sit again in front of my computer and speak with all of you.  I'm sure many of you have been in this situation; as we enter our middle years, our parents and others are entering into their final ones, and we must care for them as they cared for us.  I thank my Father for the strength of spirit that it takes to hang in day after day and often sleepless night.

Here's some of what I've learned:
When I come to the end of what I think I can do, One who is stronger lifts me up.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.- Isaiah 40:29:31

How do we have strength in him? How does he make us soar?
I find it in prayer.  When we seek him with all our hearts, he fills us.  When we pour out our sorrow, I know he hears.  His peace floods my heart, and I know it is Him.  This is the same for all of us.
We find it in his written word.  It tells us how much he loves us:

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!- 1John 3:1
We know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.- 1John:4:16
And one of my all time favorites:
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."(Psalm 44:22)  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.-Romans 8:35-39

His love and grace is more than enough.  Even in the most difficult of circumstances, he is there, in the midst of the storm to keep my head above the water.  And because of this, I have no fear of the days to come.  As he carries me now, he will carry me then.

And he loves you, too, no matter what you may be going through; whether you have strayed or walk with him daily, he is always as close as a prayer.

Wishing you great blessings! 

A Lost Sheep Around His Shoulders

Ever stumble and fall flat on your face?  Does it sometimes seem like everything that can go wrong does?  It happens to us all sometimes.  The danger comes when the enemy whispers in your ear, "Now you've blown it...God surely won't forgive you this time....you may as well give up."  Or, "When you became a Christian, life was supposed to be a breeze.  But everything seems to be going wrong instead.  Better to try something else to make life better..."
But we know from God's word that those are lies.  Throughout the Old Testament, Israel walked away from God many, many times, but every time they repented they were forgiven.  God's nature is unchangable.  He's the same today as yesterday and will be tomorrow.  And hard times? We're going to have them.  But God doesn't cause the trouble.  He's the one who helps us through it.  Jesus said it well: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."- John 17:33 (emphasis mine)
So if trouble in this life is to be expected, how do we get through it?  Today in church my Pastor gave us four ideas:
1. Don't walk away from God when things get tough. Persevere.  Lean into him instead of away.
2. Don't put your securities into this life.  Build up instead your treasure in heaven for where your treasure is, there is where your heart will be.
3. Respond to suffering in this life with praise and thanksgiving.  WHAT?!
 No matter what trial you're going through you can praise God for something.  I praise him for forgiving me no matter how many times I fall.  I praise him because no matter how much pain I have now, in heaven I'll be given a perfect body that will never experience pain again.  I praise God for loving me though I don't deserve it.  I praise God that he's promised that I'll have an eternal life that will be beyond imagination.
Kinda like that!
4. Recognize where your life is off kilter with God and repent of it, if that's the problem.
Peace comes from our relationship with God despite our circumstances.  I've learned a lot about that lately; check out some of my past posts.  Several times over the past year I've come very close to losing a friend that I love dearly, but I can say that out of these trials I know that I'm closer to God because of it.  It's been an agonizing time for me, but God truly carried me through it.  Perseverance has made me stronger.

If the trouble comes as a consequence of wrongdoing, just get up, dust yourself off, and tell him you're sorry.  He created us; he knows we're not perfect and loves us anyway.  Remember the story of the lost sheep? Jesus told it this way:
"Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.  Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.  Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'  I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."- Luke 15:4-7

In our Christian walk it's important to examine our hearts and keep them right with God.  It's so easy to go astray and wander off like a lost sheep.  But how wonderful to know that he will put us around his shoulders, carry us home and rejoice!  It's an honor to serve a faithful and loving Father.
May our lives be pleasing to him, may we keep the faith through the storms of this life, and rest in the arms of  the one who holds the universe in his hands.

Wishing you blessings as always, and-
many thanks to my Pastor who was the inspiration for this post.
I hope you like the little fishes!

Turning on the Light

Have you ever had a terrible nightmare and wakened sweaty, terrified and shaken? I don't know about you, but the first thing I do is reach for the light.
It floods the room, banishing the shadows and the horrific images fade as I come fully awake and see what's really there in the room with me.
When I think of my life without my Lord it was something like that. It was a nightmare world that I just couldn't wake up from.  But when I surrendered my life to him everything changed; as I studied his word and learned to walk by faith, the difference is like dark and light. As it says in Psalms, Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.-Psalm 119:105  So that's how I know how to walk. His word lights up the path that my feet should take.  It shows me the obstacles that might make me stumble and shows me where the path is that I'm to be following.

To others who are still trapped in their various nightmare worlds, or just wandering blindly along, how can we not share this light?  It isn't just for us to see our own way, we're meant to share it with the world around us.  As it says in Luke, when Zechariah was prophesying about his son John who would prepare the way for Jesus:
"because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."-Luke 2:78-79

Jesus told us, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."-Matthew 5:14-16

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."-John 8:12

When we follow Jesus, read scripture, incorporate it's teachings into our lives, and have an active prayer life, we can't help but shine our light.  When we become involved in ministry, we shine a light.  When we share with others how our lives have changed, we shine a light. :) 

Keep shining your lights for those in darkness to see and be drawn to a life of love and peace that only he can give.

Wishing all of you many blessings!

Follow Me

To the humble, toiling fisherman
He said, "Come, follow me"
They dropped their nets and lives
Never dreaming of the miracles to be
He healed the sick, all who came
He loved and ate with sinners
Treating all people the same
He opened the eyes of the blind
I know that's what he did for me
He opened up my eyes
And at last I truly see
Now like those long ago fisherman
I follow as he leads me along
Be it through the mountains and the valleys
When I am weary, he is strong
And as I follow him
I pray every single day
To become more like my Savior
Loving others the same way
Let me mirror his compassion
The love freely given to me
So others may follow him too
We are captives now set free
Through the dank dark shadows
And in days most brilliant light
I always know that I am safe
As long as my Savior is in sight
His spirit fills me with abundant peace
Though the world is full of strife
I will follow til he takes me home
Into the wonder of eternal life


Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep. O Lord, you preserve both man and beast. How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.- Psalm 36:5-9

My friend Sue, who was so critically ill these past few weeks is finally recovering. Many times we thought we'd lose her- though only for a little while; we will surely be reunited with our loved ones in our eternal life.
But it's looking like she'll be with us awhile yet here.

Wishing you all blessings as always!

Finding Peace

I think all of us come across a few people in our lives that truly inspire us.  I'm lucky that my mother and stepdad are two of them.  They are amazing people, full of faith and love that I'm so grateful for.  I'm very blessed to have two more; my former in laws that have continued to be a huge part of my life.  As in my last post, this treasure of a woman remains critically ill, which is why I haven't written much lately...
But through all the heartache, in the dark hours of night when I can't sleep, I know I'm not alone.  My heavenly Father raises me up to continue, and in him there is still peace that passes understanding.

My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2

On my bed I remember you; 

I think of you through the watches of the night.

Because you are my help,

I sing in the shadow of your wings.

My soul clings to you; 

your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:6-8

Wishing blessings and peace to all of you!

Like a mist

Oh, it's been rough. It's amazing how life can go from normal to tragic in the blink of an eye.  I've come so close to losing a close family member....she remains in the Intensive Care Unit on life support.  She's had a large, invasive surgery and won't be out of the woods for a while.  She looks so tiny and helpless lying there with tubes and wires running everywhere; monitors alarming that all is not as it should be.  She's so swollen from all the fluids that she's been given that at first glance her son didn't recognize her for a moment.
She's a wonderful, strong Christian woman who is at peace either way; it's us who she may leave behind that are heartbroken.
It's times like these that faith is what carries me, comforts me, and keeps me putting one foot in front of the other and doing the things that need to be done at a time like this.  Truth is, our lives are like a mist that is here today and gone tomorrow...but what a hope we have in our faith, that we will go on to the arms of our Father.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "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."- Revelation 21:3-4


Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in your tent
forever
and take refuge in the
shelter of your wings.
            Selah
-Psalm 61:1-4

And though the days are long and uncertain, I will continue to take refuge in shelter of my Fathers wings.

Wishing you all blessings.

The Crazy Lady On The Freeway? It was me!

It was a 110 degrees and I was driving across town in my car that unfortunately has no air conditioning.  Hot and sweaty with both windows down, my shirt sticking to my back...and this song came on the radio. It started slowly but by the time the refrain hit I had it playing full blast, singing for all I was worth and keeping time with my hand on the roof. Tears of pure joy flowed down my face as I forgot all about the heat and my momentary discomfort as I sang and worshiped. How amazing that the God of all should bestow grace and forgiveness on us, that we can be reconciled to him and call him Father!
I'm so grateful for his freely given grace... as refreshing as a sudden rain in the blistering heat of the desert that is this present world.
When the song was over and a slower one started, I suddenly realized that I'd been worshiping as I do at home or in church driving down the freeway with people all around. I laughed to myself, remembering how David danced in front of the ark of the covenant and was criticized by his own wife.  But when the Lord fills us up, it can't help but bubble up and spill out. In a "let it all hang out" world, I'm not ashamed to sing to him on the freeway! You can't come up from behind my car without seeing the sticker on the back that makes my allegiance clear.
Here's what Paul tells us:
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace that transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.-Philippians 4:4-7

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; the sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!- Psalm 66: 1-5

So let your joy shine so that you reflect the light of the world...a world that is starving for a Savior.
Wishing you blessings.

Well Done

Have you been watching the Olympics?
Most of the world has been watching with fascination.  Watching them perform it's immediately apparent that although each one has an immense talent, they have given countless hours perfecting and honing it. Year after year they were up before dawn, practicing endlessly, sweating it out, pounding their bodies and spirits into perfection. Throughout their careers they have doubtless made mistakes but gotten back up and gathered their dignity and tried again, working toward perfection.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26 Paul says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air."
We are soldiers for our Lord. We are subject to spiritual storms and an enemy that is crafty, sneaky, and bites us with his sharp fangs in our soft spots.  But we have an advantage in that we have the Almighty God on our side.
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 the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.-Ephesians 6:10-12
So how do we run and train spiritually for the battles we face?
It takes daily training. If you wanted Olympic gold, you surely wouldn't practice only on Sundays! :)  So, we train every day. We train in heartfelt, sincere prayer; confessing, praising, submitting our all. By holding nothing back. We train by reading Gods written word: memorizing it, meditating upon it, making changes in our lives as we discover what he asks of us. We are called to live a life victorious through the Holy Spirit who lives within us and gives us the strength to do the impossible.
And when we run and train hard, letting the Spirit pour through us, the world around us will notice.  They will feel the love of the Father that flows through us, and we will have no fear or shame in sharing what it is that makes us different.
God gave you a talent. Whether it's teaching, encouraging, singing, praying for others, use your talent and train as though for the gold. And above all else, whatever talent we possess, remember the lesson of 1 Corinthians 13:13.
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Do all in love. Run so that at the end of your race, your Father will tell you, "well done."

Father, please fill us with your Spirit. Light our hearts on fire, and strengthen us to do your will in all things.
Help us to run like the wind for your kingdom. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Wishing you blessings.