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Count on It

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , on June 28, 2016| Leave a Comment »

In a devotional get in my email box, was this from Rick Warren:

Remember this:

•    God’s goodness will provide and protect.
•    God’s mercy (unfailing love) will pardon and forgive.
•    God’s goodness will supply.
•    God’s mercy will soothe.
•    God’s goodness will help.
•    God’s mercy and love will heal.

You can count on it!

When I read it, an image of a small child learning to count on their fingers and toes came to mind.??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

When asked how old you  are, the tike holds up the number of fingers. The child starts with it’s dominant hand and counts up to five.

If asked how many eggs are in the carton, then calculating the answer becomes a bit more complex. The wee one starts with the dominate hand, discovers that is not enough, and proceeds to start counting the fingers other hand and continues to ten. If more is required, the small toes begin to wiggle. 

As children of God, perhaps we should do the same in our prayer time.  Let’s start off on our dominant hand and recite the first five on Rick’s list,  then add a thumb on the other hand. Whoa- plenty of digits left!

Psalm 23 tells us that His goodness and merciful love will follow us all our lives. Use the rest of your digits for your specific “remembrances” of God’s attributes that He has lovingly showed to you. Fill in the blanks. God’s goodness will________________. God’s mercy will______________________.

Bet pretty soon you will start wiggling those toes! I imagine your mood will lift and your mouth will curve into a soft smile.  Count on it. Mine did.

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Hit Me

Posted in Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , , on June 17, 2016| Leave a Comment »

HIT- it can be past tense, future tense or present tense verb. Perhaps because when you are hit, physically, emotionally or spiritually, time doesn’t matter. The impact is still vivid.

hand-36759_640Words can smack us in the heart, and once uttered cannot be taken back. Victims of abuse can tell you the exact time and place when that first whack from someone they thought loved them occurred. In most cases, the hurt is very real and can last a lifetime if not dealt with. You might say “hit” is Hurt Intentionally Targeted.

Sometimes, the hit is out of carelessness and is unintentional. A friend lashes out in anger with their tongue, then feels bad about it. Anyone who has been in a wreck cringes at the sound of automobile metal hitting each other. It is a very unmistakable sound. We have all seen the bloopers where a child misses an aim and hits the parent in the head or groin.

But a thought just hit me–“hit” is not always a bad thing.

Sometimes we need something to smack us to jolt us out of our complacency, or to get our attention, or to stop us in our tracks. I believe God can use these surprise hits, these blind-sided whomps, to His glory.  It may be the truthful words of a trusted friend who knows us well enough to speak them.

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers. Psalm 141:5

Yes, to “hit” someone with the intention to hurt them is wrong, no doubt. But to smack them with God’s truth in order to steer them back to His side is a good thing. Never strike out in anger, even if you feel justified. But, if the Holy Spirit prompts you to speak truth, even if you think it may cause hurt, pray on it. If your motivation is their welfare and not your own, then ask God to help you find the strength, the timing and the words to speak. Jesus at times was harsh-tongued, but all His words were said in love.

And if someone whacks you with Truth, no matter how much it hurts, take it to God and learn His purpose for it. Examine the validity. Ask God to shine the mirror  reflecting His Light onto your heart and show you what changes need to be made. Never hold a grudge on the person who brought your personality flaw to the surface.

Above all else, if someone hits you with the intent to cause pain, forgive them. Pray for them. (That doesn’t mean condone their behavior or allow them to abuse you.) Pray for our Lord to shield and shelter you, and also that He may touch the heart of the person who has hurt you. Their actions are most likely because, deep inside, they are hurting, too.

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Eternally Young

Posted in Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , , on June 7, 2016| 4 Comments »

“This statue shows a Christian woman who is old at death’s door. As she passes from this life to the next, she is no longer sick or old and does not carry the burdens of this mortal life. She is welcomed by her Savior into eternal life whole and strong to live forever in heaven.”

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Perhaps you have seen this on Facebook, as I have. Looking at the down-slide of my life ahead, how ever long that will be, this spoke to me. Getting older, I have aches, pains and diminishing energy. I am faced with the reality  that I just can’t do what I did at twenty, or even forty. And it frustrates me. To one day be out of pain and beyond the limitations of my body gives me hope. But does that mean I can’t have hope now?

I see my older friends in two categories:

1.They’re even more frustrated than I am and their conversations are what my mother called “organ recitals”= always about their physical maladies.

2. Or, they have a quiet contentment, which my mother also called “being thankful they still have parts, even though they ache.”

In fact, she had a plaque on her fridge: Age is Mind over Matter. If you don’t mind, what does it matter?

And that is where this wonderful sculpture errs, in my opinion. Physicality is so emphasized in our society. Youthfulness rules. Aging is taboo. Take this pill or have this procedure to halt it, you don’t want it. Stop it in it’s tracks. You have the right to feel young and energetic again.

Where did that come from? Other cultures honor their elderly.

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? Job 12:12

Aging is a natural process. From the moment we are born, we age. Bodies and minds wear out, but souls do not.

I am not sure my spiritual body will be young, skinny and tall as depicted in this sculpture. I have never been skinny or tall here on earth and I always wished I had the metabolism of a cheetah instead of a sloth, so it would be nice. Living with chronic pain for decades, to no longer have that thorn in my flesh would be great as well. But that it temporal thinking.

There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.  I Corinthians 15:40

Scripture says my spiritual body will be new, eternal and not subject to illness. I am not sure I will have legs and arms, long flowing hair, or even eyes and ears. What I do know is whatever shape my spiritual body is, it will exist to reflect God’s glory.

But in the meantime, God has use for me here.

I can do His will and reflect His glory at every stage of my life, even if I end up drooling in diapers. Yes, I have the responsibility not to abuse this body He has given me, but I also must accept it is a temporary shell which is made to wear out. That is not where my primary focus should be. Too many people turn fitness into an idol and food into a demi-god.

Aging doesn’t make me less a person, and it shouldn’t affect my attitude of gratitude. At every stage, I can serve in some capacity, even it is just to be a sweet, kind and patient person whose love for the Lord shines through her dimmed eyes and diminished memory.

Which person do I choose to be from now on – someone focused on her pains or someone focused on the One who suffered the ultimate pain for her so she can have life beyond this one?  Will my main focus be on my feeble body or His glorious one ? The aches dwelling in my joints or  His Spirit dwelling in my soul?

Which do you choose to concentrate on, and which will you reflect?

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Stop, Then Go

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , on May 17, 2016| 5 Comments »

Somehow eight minutes elapsed between the time I last glanced at the clock to when I got in my car. Now, I ran behind. Arrgh. I hate to be late.

traffic_light_05Of course the first traffic light I came to turned red just as I drove up. Really? One of the longest lights in my city and I am stuck at it. My fingers tapped the steering wheel as my gaze kept darting from the stop symbol to the clock on my dashboard.

Finally, green. Then, from there on in, I sailed through the next four lights, all on green! Even the left turn one onto the highway. Hurrah! Lo and behold I made up those few minutes I’d spent in frustration waiting for the first traffic light to change.

Oh – another God-lesson seeped into my brain and I slid down in my seat feeling a bit sheepish. Sometimes waiting is good. Okay, I get that.

God may have us halt for a while, but that is because it is in our best interest. It is not yet time for us to move. But when we do, in His timing, then we zip along and everything is a “go”.
Have you had that happen to you? I have. It is if every possible obstacle suddenly parts like the Red Sea. When we are in His will, paths are made straight. Waiting on God to say “Go” is well worth the wait…every time.

The next time I am getting impatient, Lord may I recall the traffic light lesson. Thank you for letting me find You today as I stared at the red, waiting for the green.

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LIGHT

Posted in Christian, Devotional, tagged , , , , on May 10, 2016| 2 Comments »

Reading Gail Pallota’s eye-opening novel about dealing with a chronic hard-to-diagnose disease, Barely Above Water, one sentence popped out at me. The alternative doctor told her part of the process of getting well was to bring her issues to light – letting in God’s healing touch.

???????????????????????????????????????Jesus said He is the LIGHT of the world. How many dark crevices do each of us have we’d prefer He not shine into? Areas of hidden shame, character flaws, deep hurts we cling to out of habit, justification, denial, or fear of letting go.  I have a few, don’t you?

“Let’s not work on that one now, Lord. Let’s work on an easier one. It would be too painful to tackle that right  now. I really don’t want to go there.”

But without LIGHT, how can we pinpoint the areas in our lives that are stunting our growth, our witness, our potential to do His will?  Doctors use lasers to help eradicate diseased cells. Jesus’ Spirit uses His healing touch to cauterize the places we secretly bleed.

Like peeling off a band-aid, we need to expose the area to the light so it can fully heal.  That means others may notice the  process. That’s alright. They will see LIGHT at work. And isn’t that what is supposed to happen? Perhaps it will encourage them to expose some areas in their lives.

And remember, scar tissue is tougher. So let in God’s healing touch to that wound, whatever it may be.

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Two New

Posted in Christian on April 24, 2016| 4 Comments »

I found God today in the fact I have two NEW books on pre-order on Amazon.com. Why?

God is sooo good to this lowly writer. Plus, weekend I head to Austin to receive the “Best Religious Fiction 2016” award from the Texas Association of Authors.  I am in the finals for the 2016 Grace Awards  for Freed to Forgive and  Semi-finials for the 2015 INSPY Awards for Legitimate Lies..  His blessings are overwhelming me, and I feel so humbled, grateful and unworthy. Still, I catch myself getting all goose-bumpy and smiling.

I hope you check them out on Amazon.com.

DumpsterDicing

Paperback & eBook launches 6/3/16

http://amzn.to/21aW5Pa       

LoveIs_NavyBlues copy (1)

   

 

 

 

 

 

                                                          

 

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                                                   eBook launches 5/27/16

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Plan B

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences on March 29, 2016| 2 Comments »

My niece, Melissa, texted me about the way God spoke to her on the way to worship one rainy Sunday when her church had big outdoor plans for worship. She inwardly sighed and told God she wasn’t going to stress, and she knew it would be okay because He was in control. They’d just go with Plan B. “It was then I realized my Plan B was God’s Plan A all along.”

PLAN A???

PLAN A???

That struck me as profound. How often do we conjure up our Plan A and then expect God to bless it?  We are doing His will, right? So surely He will nod and approve of the way we’ve fashioned it. The hours we’ve spent on things going just so. Oh please, don’t let anything go wrong…

“We’ve got this, God. We can do it. You’ve equipped us. Reach down, bless it and make it all go according to plan…our plan.”

Uh, huh. Human nature strikes again.

Judas had “A Plan”. Yet Jesus didn’t fit into it the way he wanted. No militant Messiah to defeat Rome.

Abram had “A Plan”. Take a servant as a concubine and produce the son God promised him.

Jonah had “A Plan”. Run as far in the other direction of where God wanted him to go.

Even the Apostle Paul had “A Plan” but admitted the Holy Spirit intervened and prevented him and his companions from traveling to that city after all.

Every once in a while God shakes up the plan I have carefully plotted in my head  n order to remind me that I vowed in my prayer time to let Him be in control. Oh, yeah. I did, didn’t I? Right, Lord. Got it.

courtesy of Michael Shake Dreamstime Stock Photo

He flips my apple cart with all the fruit neatly stacked in rows. I gasp as I watch them tumble. With a whimper I clench my teeth. Why did You let this happen, Lord?  I see chaos with apples rolling willy-nilly, and He sees the path He wants me to follow.

As I pick up each one, it slowly becomes clear. I turn to look back at the cart and see the distance I traveled was purposeful. He shows me Plan B. What seems impossible happens. The apples line up in His pattern, not mine. Each apple  gathered in my skirt is a blessing. The ones on the ground were best left alone.

My frustration, over all the ways my feeble Plan A  went wrong, evaporates and I smile. Like my niece, my Plan B was His Plan A…the right one all along.

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Tears – No Words

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , on March 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »

thumbnail[2]It happens every year.  I can’t get through Holy Week without crying. My mourning clutches my chest.

As a church secretary, typing out the Passion Narrative chokes me up.

Maundy Thursday when the congregation goes quiet, the nave darkens, and the priests strip the altar of all adornment, then wash the bare wood, symbolizing the  preparing  for Christ’s death and burial, the teardrops cascade down my cheeks and my throat closes.  When the tabernacle is left wide open and the body and blood of the reserved sacrament is not present…yet, my lips quiver.

I hear my Lord whisper, “Will you not stay awake one hour?”I see His agony in the garden as He accepts the Father’s will. I feel His heart break when Judas kisses him,when Peter denies Him,  and the crowds yell to crucify Him. I hear his lasts gasps of breath on the cross asking God to forgive me. The idea unnerves me and humbles me. He did it all for me. He did it all for you, too.

You can read about the gruesomeness of his torturous death. You can see the films about it. But at one moment during Holy Week, I hope you go beyond viewing to feeling it in your soul. I hope you remember the old spiritual, “Were You There?” and answer as I do.

Through shimmering eyes I gulp my response – “Yes, every year.”

I’ve read the book, and I know how the story ends. But the point is, it never does. Jesus died for those that day watching at Calvary. He also died for me, for you and for the generations to come. His sacrifice is eternal.

Were you there? Are you there? Your Savior loves you enough to be there, hanging in torture. He will continue to love you enough to go into Hell, defeat death and rise again in glory before ascending into Heaven and preparing a place for you.. One day, He will love you enough to return and bring you home.

Have a blessed Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Resurrection Sunday…every year until Our Lord comes again. Maranatha.

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Umbrella

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 10, 2016| 7 Comments »

courtesy of faithshare.com

courtesy of faithshare.com

For the past several days we have had waves of rain in North Texas. Thus, I have been carrying a pop-out umbrella in my purse…just in case.  It caused me to ponder… how’s my spiritual umbrella?

Umbrellas do not stop the rain or even slow it down, they divert it.  They act as a circular barrier. They move with you so, as you go, the rain drenches the umbrella instead of on you.

Now, some  people find it a hassle to carry an umbrella. They dash through the rain trying to stay as dry as possible. Others stroll along as they get soaking wet as if accepting that as their fate.  Not me. I want protection.

Scripture is our umbrella. It will not stop the stormy days in our lives, but it will shield and protect us when they rumble through. God’s Word covers us in a peace that isn’t affected by circumstances. But we have to be prepared. It is up to us to carry it with us. We can choose to dodge the rainstorms of this life on our own, or resolved that we are inevitably doomed to get soaked. Or, we can open up God’s Word and seek shelter underneath it’s Truth.

Look at an umbrella. It is cloth covering spikes that start in the center and branch out. Christ is our center and branching out of Him are peace, trust, assurance, mercy, grace, everlasting life – all the reminders we need when we are faced with a sudden downpour of negativity, hurt, tragedy or despair. His love is our refuge, our shield, our strong cover against trouble (to paraphrase Psalm 46:1).

The next time your life darkens and thunder rumbles, what will you do? Dash to find shelter on your own, trudge through it with a frown, or  pop open the Word of God and be sheltered?

 

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Sing It

Posted in Christian, Life Experiences, tagged , , , , , , on March 1, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Recently, this verse was part of my daily devotional readings.
“Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  Ephesians 5:18-21 (ESV)
sing-praises-to-god-2_coloring_page_png_468x609_q85 (1) 

I love to sing, except I can’t. I never learned to play anything but the radio, even after painful months of guitar,piano and ukulele lessons. I don’t read music. I have no idea how to make a high C or a B flat. I don’t even know if I am a soprano.

I recall going to a sing-along of Handel’s Messiah (my all time favorite)  with my niece. The choir master said if we didn’t know our voice range, perhaps we’d just better not try  to sing-along, but instead sit back and listen. Heartbroken, I did.
But my car is more forgiving. With the windows rolled up, I zip down the road with the Christian radio station on, singing praise songs to God. It lifts my spirit, soars my soul. Nothing alters my mood more than a foot-stompin’ hymn or a hand clapping song about my Lord. Some touch my heart as if they were written just for me. A prayer answered, a heavenly message received in the fifteen or so minutes I happened to tune in. Totally a God-orchestrated moment that would drop me to my knees if my foot wasn’t planted to the accelerator. Music is my worship catalyst.
If you feel the negative grouchies oozing into your day, turn on a Christian radio station. Mine is commercial-free, listener supported,  88.3 The Journey out of Keane, Texas. If you are not blessed to live near Fort Worth, TX to receive it through the airwaves, you can stream it live on your phone or computer.  Forget the songs about heartbreaks and cheating, or the angry lyrics about what is wrong with our world.  Instead, fill your mind with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. It make “giving thanks always and for everything” a lot easier!
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picture from: http://twistynoodle.com/sing-praises-to-god-2-coloring-page/

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