GQ Too

Facts or Feelings?

2012-02-17T08:28:00.001-08:00

Scripture: Ruth 1

Last night I spoke to a group of fourth and fifth grade girls about the book of Ruth. I shared that one of the reasons that I love this book is that it is full of emotions. Maybe I connect with Ruth because I am also full of emotions!

Last night I mentioned that as females, we experience many types of emotions. I was surprised to see most of the girls nodding their heads in agreement. Even girls as young as nine and ten years old are smart enough to realize the power that feelings and emotions play in their lives.

There are many positive aspects of emotions, like allowing us to experience joy and happiness. However, there are also negative aspects of emotions such as unrealistic feelings. These types of feeling are not based on facts! I know because I’ve experienced them first-hand. So did Naomi in the book of Ruth.

In Ruth chapter 1, Naomi experiences many situations in her life that would leave anyone discouraged. Because of a famine in her homeland, she is forced to move to a new land with her husband and two sons. While she is in this new land, her husband and sons die.

After many years have passed, the famine in her homeland is over and she decides to return. The bright spot in her life is her daughter-in-law Ruth has decided to uproot her own life and move with Naomi. However, in the midst of this blessing, Naomi seems focused on her negative feelings. Let’s take a look at how Naomi felt by reading her words in Ruth 1:20-21.

• “Don’t call me Naomi (Naomi means “pleasant”), call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.”
• “I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty.”
• “Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

Sometimes when things don’t go as planned, we have a tendency to exaggerate. Have you ever done this? I have! It seems that this is what’s happening with Naomi. I’m not saying she doesn’t have every right to be frustrated with how her life has played out, but is she looking at the facts of her life or basing her feelings solely on her emotions?

Let’s do our own investigation to uncover the facts about Naomi’s situation.

• Naomi was feeling that her life was bitter. The fact was that she was back in her hometown with friends and family.
• Naomi was feeling that the LORD brought her back empty. The fact was that her loyal daughter-in-law Ruth was with her!
• Naomi was feeling that the LORD had afflicted her. The fact was that The LORD did not cause her husband and sons to die.

Let’s be honest. Naomi isn’t the only one to struggle with negative thoughts and feelings. We all struggle in this area from time to time. The important thing to do when you’re going through a tough time is to think realistically about your situation. Figure out if your struggle is based on facts or feelings.

Prayer: Lord, I don’t want to overreact and let my feelings and emotions get the better of me. You have given us a verse to help us set our mind on facts. Right now I want to pray Philippians 4:8. … “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” I want to live in truth!

How Smart is That?

2012-02-08T19:57:00.000-08:00

Scripture: 1 Kings 10:23-25; 11:1-6

I recently read a magazine article about a young man who swindled people out of a lot of money. He went to jail for running a Ponzi scheme in the late ‘80s at the age of 20. He was convicted of 57 federal felonies, sentenced to 25 years and ordered to pay $26 million in restitution.

He later became a Christian and after he got out of prison, he became a pastor at a church in San Diego. He seemed to turn his life around, even helping the government catch criminals involved in the same activities that once led him to jail.

However, the article revealed that this man has recently gotten himself back into trouble. The title of his life story could read, “From Criminal to Man Reformed to Criminal Again.” How smart is that? As I read the article, it made me sad to think that this man had come so far toward rehabilitating his life just to let poor choices once again become his downfall.

A similar story takes place in the Old Testament. First Kings chapter 10 reveals that King Solomon became richer and wiser than any other king on earth. People from every nation came to consult him and hear the wisdom God had given him. It sure seemed like King Solomon had it all together – wisdom and wealth besides.

Just like the story I read in the magazine, though, King Solomon’s life took a fateful turn. He chose to marry women whom the Lord had forbidden. In his old age, they succeeded in turning his heart away from God. The Bible says that Solomon refused to follow the LORD completely, as his father, David, had done.

How smart is that? Oh, that we would not make the same mistake. May we seek God in all aspects of our lives so that we will be wise in the knowledge of the Truth. May the title of our life stories read, “From Sinner to Saved - by God’s Grace.” Wisdom and eternal wealth besides!

Prayer: Lord, when we are tempted to go against Your will and Your Word, please help us to be strong. We want to depend on You and You alone. We want to look to You to be the source of our strength to get through each day. Thank you for loving us and forgiving us when we sin. We want to follow You completely!

This post is dedicated to Wayne and Joy Wensmann who have been such an encouragement in my writing. They are true examples of what it means to follow God completely!

A True Love Story

2011-11-21T16:10:00.001-08:00

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:1-14

Do you find love stories irresistible? I do! A good romance includes laughter, joy, heart ache, and of course, love. If you enjoy a good romance, then grab a cup of coffee or tea and keep reading. You’re in for a treat!

This story begins in the 1940’s, a time in our history when young men from across America left the comforts of home to serve in World War II. The prospect of leaving for war must have been terrifying, but one young man named Ken Jensen found comfort in receiving letters from his hometown in western Minnesota. When letters arrived from a certain young lady named Lillian, they were especially sweet!

As Ken and Lil’s letters traveled back and forth across the miles, an intimate friendship began. That friendship grew into love and Ken and Lil were married on July 19, 1946. Their love story continued as they raised five children together. Life wasn’t always easy, but their commitment to each other and love for God helped them navigate the joys and trials of life.

During a typical wedding ceremony, most people repeat the vows, “For better or worse, in sickness and in health, ‘till death do us part.” Most of us cannot imagine the “worse” part or the “sickness” part unless it becomes reality. Ken and Lil experienced both health and sickness. However, with God’s strength, even the adversity of illness could not diminish their love.

Lil suffered from memory loss during the later years of her life. Sometimes she would remember her children and Ken when they came to visit, but eventually her memory slipped farther and farther away. Even Lil’s fading memory couldn’t weaken Ken’s love for her. In the three years that Lil was in a memory care center, Ken visited her faithfully every day except three, and that was because he was too sick to leave the house.

He loved her with his whole heart until the day she died at age 86. I had the privilege of witnessing this love story since Ken and Lil are my grandpa and grandma. As I watched my grandpa lovingly care for his wife of 65 years until the day she met Jesus, a thought entered my mind, “Oh, to be loved like that.”

My next though was, “I am loved like that!” In Jeremiah 31:3, the LORD says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” The LORD loves us in a love story for the ages! As much as I witnessed a beautiful example of love between my grandpa and grandma, my Heavenly Father loves me even more than my earthly mind can imagine.

With our limited human minds, we think we know what love is. Our heart melts as we watch a romantic movie or experience the emotions earthly love can bring. But to be loved with an everlasting love? To think that God draws us with loving-kindness? It’s beyond what our minds can fathom. Now that’s a true love story!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for loving us with an everlasting love. Thank you for showing us what true love is by sending Your son Jesus to earth as a sacrifice for our sins. Thank you for giving us our very own love story.

From Pagers to Siri

2011-11-13T11:49:00.000-08:00

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 14:8-17

It’s crazy to think about how our methods of communication have changed over the years. This will probably date me a little, but when I got my first job out of college, I was given a pager. Yes, a pager! I thought I was so cool! Sometimes I’d have to go out of the office for work, and the pager made it possible for work to reach me if necessary.

My job was to help film video programs about environmental resources, so when I was paged, I was usually in the middle of a forest or wetland. As you can guess, finding a telephone to call back to work usually took awhile. However, the pager was my method of communication at that time in my life.

A few years ago I got my own cell phone – talk about moving up in the world! The direct and immediate communication the cell phone provided was amazing. When we got unlimited texting, I was amazed at how I could text people a message and usually get an instantaneous response.

Now there’s something called “Siri” on iPhone 4S. If you ask Siri something, Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean, and even talks back. You can ask Siri, “Where can I find a good cheeseburger,” and Siri will list off the restaurants in your area that serve cheeseburgers.

Sometimes we forget we have our own Siri already in place. It’s called prayer. Any time of the day or night, we can call on God and He will answer us. (No cell phone service required!) Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” While Siri is one of the latest and greatest wonders in modern communication, God has had and always will have the corner on the communication market!

In the Old Testament, David and God often had personal conversations. Think about that for a minute! I’m talking about personal communication with the living God! Here’s one example of their dialogue in 1 Chronicles 14:8-17:

David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”

The LORD replied, “Yes, go ahead, I will hand them over to you.”

David asked God for direction and God answered him. Now that’s better than any pager, text message, or Siri. If man-made Siri can listen and understand you, how much more can the God who created you listen and understand you when you call on Him?

Prayer: God, You created me and You know me better than any person or phone ever could. I want to keep the lines of communication open between us. I promise to go to You for advice and I believe that You will listen to me and answer my prayers. Thank you for caring about me and loving me enough to provide a way for me to talk to You.

Running on Empty

2011-10-20T20:46:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Colossians 1:24-2:7

Here’s a little questions to start your day - how do you view the world? (Maybe you should have a cup of coffee before you answer this one!) Do you see a glass as half full or half empty? I hate to admit it, but I usually see the glass as half empty. It’s an area where I struggle, and I’m learning to depend on God’s Word for the truth regarding my perceptions about life.

I once heard someone compare a glass of water to how we feel about our lives. When our glass is full, we have something to give to others. We can pour a little out and still have something left to satisfy our needs. When our glass is running low, every drop of water we pour out drains sustenance from our bodies.

Some of the things that fill our glass include kind words, time with God, healthy relationships, positive work environments, an unhealthy church and encouraging friendships. Some things that drain our glass are bitterness, unforgiveness, stress, busyness, an unhealthy church environment, illness, lack of time with God, finances, unhealthy relationships, etc.

How full is your glass right now? There have been times in my life when my glass has been full to the point of overflowing. I’ve had plenty of mental, emotional and physical energy to invest in others without draining my glass. Lately, however, my glass is running on empty.

The lyrics to a song by Britt Nicole profoundly describe my deepest desire, “Jesus, I just want to be found by You.” I want and need Jesus to fill my glass. I am going to a women’s conference this weekend and it couldn’t have come at a better time! Heavenly Father, I humbly request you to “Fill ‘er up!”

Prayer: Jesus, oh, Jesus, I just want to be found by You. Please fill my glass with You so that I may overflow to those around me. I want to praise You and love You no matter where life has taken me. I love You and ask You to fill me with Yourself.

Who Do I Think I Am?

2011-10-10T18:05:00.000-07:00

Scripture: Romans 14:1-8

Quite a few years ago I was in a Bible study with some friends. As we were sharing prayer requests, I decided to put myself out there and share a struggle of mine. “Please pray for me because I have a hard time not judging other people,” I said.

I might as well have said, “Please pray for me because I’m a serial axe murderer.”

You could’ve heard a pin drop in the room and I realized then and there that the subject of judging others must be taboo in the Christian world. I’ve felt convicted for a long time to address this topic, so I’m going to address this personal struggle of mine – maybe it’s a struggle you share, too.

If we take a good look at ourselves – a deep look, we would probably all have to admit that we have been guilty of judging others at some point in time. I’ve been on both ends of judgement. I’ve judged others and I’ve been judged. Neither spot is a good place to be.

This morning my son handed me his Teen Study Bible which was open to a devotional called, “Don’t Judge.” It pointed to Romans 14:1-8, so I read this passage. Paul makes it clear that as Christians, we are not to judge other Christians about disputable matters. I believe Paul is talking about matters that are not violating God’s laws in Scripture.

Christians, though we are supposed to be filled with the same grace extended by God through Jesus, are often the first to judge. If we are convicted about something, we can easily fall into the trap of thinking that everyone around us should be convicted about that same thing.

In this Romans passage, Paul cuts to the chase about judging others. He says, “Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”

In Gretchyn’s Paraphrase Bible (GPB – ha!), this verse would read, “Who do you think you are judging other people? Only God can judge. So, zip it and let the Holy Spirit do His work.” Do you think I’m going to get a paraphrase Bible published any time soon? Me either!

When we are tempted to judge someone about a disputable matter, we need to take a big, huge, gigantic step back. By judging others, we are really saying that we know the will of God in someone’s life better than the Holy Spirit. Is that truly a place we want to be?

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for all of the wasted time I've spent judging others. Holy Spirit, please convict me when I am starting to judge someone else and remind me that You are the judge; not me! I don’t want to cause dissention in the church body. I want to encourage others and not judge them. Thank you for the example You set of grace through Your Son Jesus. I want to extend grace to others just as You extended grace to me!

Just Like Joshua

2011-08-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself in the process of starting something new? It may be a new job, a new baby, a new school year, a new volunteer role or some other new undertaking. What feelings are you experiencing? You may be dealing with self doubt, fear, excitement, anticipation and more!

That’s where I’m at right now in my life. There are three pretty big changes coming up for me. First, I’m starting to homeschool my kids in a couple of weeks. Second, I’m taking on a co-coordinator position for our church’s Wednesday night 4th and 5th grade girls group. Third, I’m starting the process of putting together a devotional book and getting it published.

If you’re in the process of starting a new adventure like me, then you can relate to the rollercoaster of emotions I experience. One day I’m bursting with hope and anticipation. The next day when my kids are fighting and I can’t find any homeschool curriculum, I’m filled with fear and doubt.

During these times of apprehension, I need to cling to the promises of God’s Word. He’s led me to these changes in my life, so I need to believe that He will bring me through them for His glory. I was reading Joshua 1:1-9, where God is speaking to Joshua after he takes over Moses’ job. Joshua had big shoes to fill and I’m guessing he felt a little inadequate. God had some powerful words for Joshua and these same words apply to us in new situations we face.

“Be strong and courageous.” (v. 6)

“Be strong and very courageous.” (v. 7)

“This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (v. 9)

If God is calling you to enter a new chapter in your life, remember these verses and claim them. If you are following His will for your life, rest assured that He promises to be with you every step of the way.

Scripture: Joshua 1:1-9

Prayer: Dear Lord, I feel a little like Joshua right now. I am feeling ______________ about _______________ (situation). I know You were with Joshua after Moses died, and I am claiming the same words You spoke to Joshua for my own life. Today I am trusting in Your promise that You will be with me wherever I go. I will choose to be strong and courageous.

Cool Car Conversation Continued

2011-08-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

The last blog entry ended with my son asking me how God spoke to me about home schooling. I had paused to clear my head so that I could explain my answer in the best way possible. I know what you’re thinking and you’re right – I was also buying time!

During my silence, I thought back to the situations that led us to choose homeschooling. I truly believe that God ordained each one.

“Well,” I began slowly, “First God opened our hearts to homeschooling through Shalyn’s interest in it. I really never thought we’d home school you, too.”

“Next God put people in our lives who really made us think about the benefits of home school. Sometimes God uses other people who are following Christ to lead us in the right direction,“ I said. “God also used His Word to show me the importance of passing His laws from generation to generation. Every time I read the phrase ‘generation to generation’ in the Bible, I felt God telling me that He wanted me to be the one to teach you and Shalyn. That phrase kept popping up in my devotions and I couldn’t ignore the fact that God was speaking to me.”

“God also spoke to me through prayer. While dad and I were contemplating whether or not to home school you, we both prayed a lot. I brought up some of my specific doubts to God. After each doubt I expressed to God, I strongly felt Him telling me to have faith in our decision to home school,” I said.

“What is that like?” he asked.

“Well, you know how your conscience tells you not to do something bad or to do something that’s good? It’s kind of like that when the Holy Spirit talks to you. He prompts you sometimes quietly and sometimes loudly! When I brought many different doubts about home schooling you before Him, He quietly said to my heart, ‘I’ve already told you what to do, now do it and trust Me.’” I said.

Again there was silence, but it was okay. This silence was a “thinking” silence. A “processing” silence. I would like to think it was also an “accepting” silence, but I don’t know if Caleb’s ready to let God change his heart about home schooling quite yet. God’s timing is not my timing. For now He provided me with the opportunity for a cool conversation with Caleb.

Scripture: Exodus 31:16; Exodus 35:20-22 (willing hearts); Exodus 40:12-15

Prayer: Lord, in Your Word You say You want willing hearts. May our hearts be open to whatever You have planned for us. We love You and want to serve You. Please show us how to pass Your Word from generation to generation.

Cool Car Conversation

2011-08-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes car trips provide a great opportunity for unexpected in-depth conversations. In the confined space of a car, there's a unique feeling of safety that makes people feel comfortable to talk. This was the case for my son, Caleb, and me yesterday.

As we traveled the two hours home from our cabin, he and I had a rare opportunity to talk without interruption. For half of the drive I listened to him talk about subjects that interest him. After listening and asking him questions about topics ranging from football to pencil toppers, I broached the subject of homeschooling.

Just as I expected, the car suddenly became quiet. You see, Caleb does not want to be home schooled. He says he will miss his friends and that he loves everything about public school – even the bus ride! He was extremely disappointed when my husband and I first broke the news to him.

After a few moments of silence passed, he asked me again why he “has” to home school.

Again, silence flooded the vehicle. Should I give him the patented, “Because your dad and I say so” answer, or should I lay it on the line for him?

Since he was stuck with me for another hour, I decided to lay it on the line.

I told him that his dad and I never really had the intention of home schooling. God has worked in our lives this year to bring us to this decision. When his sister, Shalyn, got sick last winter, she continually asked to be home schooled. I admitted to Caleb that I never thought seriously about home schooling until that point. But as my husband and I started praying about it, God opened both of our hearts to the idea.

At first, we thought we would only home school Shalyn, but soon it became obvious that we were supposed to home school Caleb as well. We knew this decision would not go over well with him, but we decided that since God had definitely led us to home school, we needed to make this unpopular decision as his parents.

I decided to press the issue further, since he was stuck with me and all! I told Caleb that it would be disobedient to God if we didn’t home school him. I told him that God had told both his dad and me that this was the right decision for our family. He then asked me a great question. He asked, “How do you know when God is talking to you, because I’ve never actually heard Him?”

Silence again. Now that is a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one! I wanted to respond to him, not by patronizing him or giving him trite answers. I wanted to truly tell him how God speaks to us. I decided that with God’s help I would lay it on the line again! The final part of our conversation will be posted soon!

Scripture: Exodus 27:20-21; Exodus 30:17-21 (*Note the phrase “generation to generation” used in both passages.)

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for Your perfect timing. You work on our hearts and soften them to be ready to do exactly what You ask of us. We want to be ready and willing and open to the plans You have for our lives. Please help us to trust You and to take a step of faith, even when we can’t see the path ahead.

How Did I Get Here?

2011-07-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

Do you ever take a long, hard look at your life and wonder, “How did I get here?” You probably ask yourself that question because you never expected your life to turn out the way it did. No matter whether you’ve been following God’s plan for your life up to this point or if you’ve made your own choices … here you are!

Since we’ve decided to home school, I’ve been asked a similar question quite often. The question is usually phrased something like this, “What made you decide to home school?” It’s a good question. For someone like me who’s much better at writing than speaking, it’s a difficult one to answer eloquently. Usually I have to pause, take a deep breath and collect my thoughts.

How did I get here?

The first thoughts of home schooling entered my mind when my kids were still toddlers. I dreamed of taking a vacation with them to all of the educational sights in our nation. We could take a long trip and see the Liberty Bell, the Washington Monument, Hershey’s Chocolate World and all of the other important reminders of our nation’s history! In order to take a long trip like this, I realized we’d probably have to home school someday.

Those thoughts slowly dissipated, however, when we enrolled our son in kindergarten at public school. Two years later our daughter started school. All of a sudden six years went by and thoughts of home schooling were few and far between. When my husband and I did talk about home schooling, we agreed it was great for some families, but not for our family.

Then the Lord started to change my heart this winter. I didn’t even realize He was doing it! It was a very covert operation! The Lord really does have a sense of humor and He knows my personality doesn’t acclimate to change easily. So in His loving kindness, He started gently putting thoughts of homeschooling in my mind.

Over the years the Lord has taught me that He gives us what we need in His timing, not our timing. In my next blog entry, I will describe the events that led us to choose home schooling. Let’s just say that God is very creative and leave it at that for now!

Scripture: Psalm 23:1-3

Prayer: God, Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Thank you for guiding us down the paths You have planned for us. We want to honor You by following Your paths and not going our own way. We love You and want to follow where You want to lead us.

An Unexpected Journey

2011-07-28T06:30:00.001-07:00

As I look back over the last seven months, I can see God’s hand working in the lives of my family. I never would have expected the outcome, however.

As I look forward to the future, I am excited and scared to death at the same time. I am excited because I know God has led us to this new journey, but I am scared to death because we will be traveling new paths and any type of change doesn’t sit well with my personality. I am a consistent-type person, not a change-type person!

This year the Lord has decided that He’s going to shake up our family a bit. He’s shown both my husband and I that we need to home school our fourth-grade daughter and our sixth-grade son. In later blog entries I will unravel the details of how God changed our hearts and brought us to this path. It’s been a crazy ride, but sometimes God takes us down windy, bumpy roads to lead us to the path He’s designed for us.

When we see these crazy paths ahead of us, we can choose to follow God in faith or to take our own course. In my own life, I’ve found that option number two never works! This time I chose option number one.

Talk about a windy, bumpy road - Moses was born a Hebrew, but he was raised as the son of an Egyptian Pharaoh’s daughter. When he grew up, the Lord asked him to lead the oppressed and enslaved Hebrews out of Egypt.

Moses could’ve said, “No thanks. I’m done with Egypt and I’m staying away from them for good!”

However, he eventually followed God’s path and did many great things for the Lord.

There is more to my story, which I will explain in the next blog entry. There is much to tell. There are “God sightings,” joys, fears and even some tears. I can’t wait to share this journey with you.

Scripture: Exodus 3:1-22

Prayer: Lord, our human nature tells us to take control of our lives. However, when we do that, we almost always mess up! We acknowledge that fact and yet we struggle between wanting to control our lives and giving them over to You. Today we acknowledge that Your way is always best. You never said Your way would be easy, but it’s the BEST way! Thank you for having plans to prosper us and not to harm us … plans to give us a hope and a future!

Baby, Baby!

2011-06-22T07:12:00.000-07:00

I just love baby dedications. A few times during the year our church sets aside part of the regular Sunday morning service to dedicate babies to God. It’s fun because you never know how those little ones are going to behave. As our pastor takes the babies in his arms one by one, I always watch closely to see how they will react to him. Sometimes they play with his mustache, sometimes they are content and other times they get scared and start to cry.

No matter how they react, the pastor always prays over the baby and its parents. I love watching each family commit to raise their child in a godly home and promise to teach them about Christ’s love.

However, what I love most about baby dedications is when the pastor turns to the congregation and asks us if we are willing to live a life that will point these children to the Lord. He asks if we are willing to be part of the group of people who will ultimately help these children come to know Jesus in a personal way.

Each time there is a baby dedication, it is a time of personal reflection for me. It’s a time for me to recommit my life to the Lord as I realize that I have an important job to do – not only for my own family – but for the kids in our congregation and community. You see, it’s not only each individual family’s job to point their children to Christ, it’s the responsibility of the entire church body.

My devotions right now are taking me through the book of Leviticus. It’s a strange book to read, full of rules and regulations for the Israelites. However, one phrase stood out today – “generation to generation.” The Lord is clear that what He’s telling them is not just for them at that one point in time; it’s to be passed on from generation to generation.

Just as the Israelites were responsible to pass their laws, customs and traditions to future generations, today we are responsible to pass our love for the Lord and knowledge of His Word to the children around us.

There are so many ways to encourage kids in our community. To name a few; you can coach a little league team, volunteer at church in the kids program, help at a VBS, volunteer in a school classroom, buy some lemonade from the kids down the street, write a note of encouragement to a child you know, attend a program, school play or sporting event of a child in your community to support their talents. You can also financially support a child in another country, pray for them and correspond with them. All of the examples I just listed are ones that I’ve seen people in my community do.

Don’t forget, kids are always watching you. Most often they’re watching your actions. If they look up to you and they see you doing something inappropriate, they will think it’s ok for them to do it, too. This week, ask God for a specific way that you can impact future generations.

Scripture: Leviticus 23:9-14

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we know you love children dearly. While your Son lived on earth, he took extra time to talk to the children whom He met. We want to follow Your example and show extra love to children. Please show us how we can do this. Holy Spirit, please lead us to the area of service where we can help children grow to love You more. We want to live our lives so that children have an example of how to love You. Amen

Fast Food gods

2011-06-06T08:05:00.001-07:00

Life in America is definitely lived at a fast pace. We want what we want and we want it now! If you don’t believe me, just listen to some of the names of the local businesses in my area. Quick Clean Car Wash. Quick Mart. Quick Fix Massage Shop. Kwik Trip (gas station). Express Window Cleaning. Express Employment Professionals. Express Care. Fast Signs.

Do I even want to experience a “quick massage” or “express care”? Is an “express employment professional” really someone I want to hire?

If I’m being honest, I perpetuate this constant drive for quick results in my daily life. I get frustrated when my computer can’t run five programs at once. The other day I was actually berating my computer out loud (I bet you would have liked to hear that)! Yesterday when I came upon cars that were only going the speed limit, I looked for an opportunity to pass them. At the grocery store I always pace the isles looking for the shortest line. At McDonald’s this weekend I had to wait 10 minutes for my food and it seemed like an eternity.

I think you get the point! This morning as I read my devotions, I was surprised to see that the children of Israel also acted impatiently. When Moses was receiving the 10 Commandments, they decided they didn’t want to wait for him. Exodus 32:1 says that when the people of Israel saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they complained to Aaron. They said, “Makes us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.”

Allow me to paraphrase, “We are tired of waiting. We want fast-food gods and we want them now. We don’t care if the one true God has led us out of slavery and captivity and is taking us to the Promised Land. If God won’t do what we want right now, we just can’t be bothered to wait. Make us some false gods.”

We have to be careful that we don’t expect God to produce results for us like the quick results we expect at McDonald’s or the instant cash machine. God is not our express teller. God will answer us in His timing and His timing is always best. God wants us to be faithful to Him in prayer and patient in waiting for Him to answer.

Don’t get caught up in the fast food mentality when it comes to your relationship with God. We can’t develop a deep and lasting relationship with the Lord if we don’t spend quality time with Him. In other words, we can’t expect a Timber Lodge steak at Burger King. There’s no such thing as a fast food God.

Scripture: Exodus 32:1-29

Prayer: Oh, God, we know that You want to have a relationship with us. You sent Your Son Jesus to take on our sins so that we can know You personally. Please forgive us for taking You for granted. Forgive us for wanting a deep relationship with You, but not putting in the time to read Your Word and get to know You better. We don’t want to know you in a “fast food” way. We want to wait patiently to listen for You to speak to us.

Where’s the Rest?

2011-06-03T10:24:00.001-07:00

Last week was busy around our house. I’m sure you can relate to that. Activities, meetings, work and the responsibilities of everyday life seemed to take up every spare minute in the week. We were looking forward to a long Memorial Day weekend and hopefully an extra day to relax.

While I would classify the weekend as extremely fun, it was not necessarily relaxing. We enjoyed spending time with family and working on projects at our cabin, but when I got home I found myself exhausted.

We had experienced a strange weekend to say the least. Let me give you a brief recap. On our way up to the cabin (my husband’s first time pulling a trailer or boat) the boat cover flew off and we quickly needed to shift everything from the boat to our already full cars. We had to pull off to the side of a two-lane road with no shoulder and my heart raced as cars whizzed dangerously close. Did I mention it was raining?

The next day our brother-in-law helped us get the boat in the water, helped us figure out how to work the boat lift and helped us fix the boat cover that broke the night before. We were beyond excited to take the boat for a spin, so we loaded into the boat headed out on the water. The engine sputtered, but we kept going. We weren’t going to let a little sputtering ruin our first boat ride! Within minutes, we felt the boat hit something (we found out later it was a sunken island) and shredded our prop. Soon we were loading the boat back on the trailer and heading for the repair shop.

Ahhhh. Finally it was Sunday! We could go to church and fellowship with other believers. However, as we pulled into the church parking lot, we noticed something was wrong. The parking lot was full, but no one was milling around. As we entered the church we were surprised to see the pastor giving already giving the sermon. I looked at my bulletin and realized that this was the week that the time of service changed to half an hour earlier, which meant we were very late.

When I was reading my devotions this week, I realized why I came home so tired out from the weekend. It was not because of these situations I just mentioned – they are actually pretty funny now that I think back. I was tired because I didn’t take time to rest. In Exodus 20, God told the Israelites that they should work for six days and on the seventh they should rest. God followed this example when He created the world. He created the world in six days and on the seventh He rested.

God knew what He was doing when He created us. He didn’t create our bodies to go, go, go and never take a break. He created us to work hard and then take time away from work to regain our strength and focus on Him. I can see now that I wasn’t following God’s plan for my week. Sometimes we may even need to schedule rest into our week. If we don’t take time out of our week to dedicate to the Lord and give our bodies a break, God may ask us, “Where’s the rest?”

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-21

Prayer: Dear God, when You created the world. You set the example of how to work hard and how to rest. You want us to dedicate time out of each week to spend with You. We want to follow Your example and give our bodies time to relax and recuperate from the work week. Please forgive us for the times when we don’t follow this plan and overextend ourselves. Thank you for setting the example of how our weeks should look.

Thursdays with Wayne

2011-05-19T06:24:00.001-07:00

Almost a year and a half ago now I spent my first Thursday with Wayne. Wayne and I were two very different people, yet we had one thing in common – time. My kids were both in school, so I had spare time during the day. Wayne had ALS and had just stopped working, which also freed up his daily schedule. When I found out that Wayne needed help a few hours a week, I decided to volunteer for the job.

At first I thought it might be awkward – a stay-at-home mom fixing lunch for a middle-aged man. I also thought conversation could be strained. Would we talk about his illness or would there be an elephant in the room? I soon found there was no cause for worry because Wayne made me feel right at home the minute I walked in his door. His surprising candor about his illness and imminent death stomped out any elephant I could’ve imagined.

When I first volunteered to spend time at Wayne’s, we had decided to read books together. We did end up reading through a couple of Christian books, but we usually did more talking than reading! It was hard to get much reading in when I asked a lot of questions and Wayne told a lot of stories!

As Wayne’s illness progressed, our time together stretched from a few hours to a full day. We would drink coffee, eat breakfast and lunch, and then Wayne would rest and I would go home. When we weren’t eating a meal or drinking coffee, we would discuss. I loved to listen to Wayne share his unique perspective on life. I admired how he lived life to the fullest and always had a positive attitude, even though he had every right to be negative about the cruel disease that was ravaging his body.

During our time together God allowed both good and bad things into his life. I watched him closely, and saw that he never blamed God or wished that his life was different. I hope if I was ever in a situation like that, I would be as faithful to God as Wayne was.

You’ve probably noticed that I’ve written this entry in the past tense. That’s because Wayne went to “meet Jesus,” as my daughter says, a few days ago. Today is the first Thursday after his death. My calendar for today still reads “Wayne.” It was my day to visit – and thankfully I’ll be spending one last Thursday with Wayne. Today is his “Celebration of Life.” There will be a visitation, a service and a praise team singing songs that Wayne chose himself.

Today we will celebrate a life well-lived. We will celebrate a man who stared a horrible disease in the face and fought back with all of his might. Personally, I will celebrate my friend and brother in Christ. Wayne, today I will remember the precious gift you gave me – the gift of Thursdays - the gift of your time.

Scripture: James 1:2-5

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of time. Please help us to remember that our time can be given as a gift to others. Help us to leave time in our schedules to be there for others. Thank you for the example Wayne set as he was faithful to you during both the good and bad times he experienced. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Don’t Skip a Step!

2011-05-17T10:23:00.001-07:00

This is a little embarrassing to admit, but sometimes I try to run up the stairs and I miss a step. You can imagine what happens next! I trip and fall in the most awkward way. I should have watched where I was going so I didn’t miss a step.

It’s the same with our Christian walk. There are steps to follow. If we miss a step, we may find ourselves sprawled out on the stairs, so to speak! For example would you want someone who completed a CPR class to perform heart surgery on you? Probably not! First you’d want them to go through years of proper medical training and then you might feel more comfortable letting them crack your chest open.

Deuteronomy 11:18-20 spells out the steps we should take as a follower of Christ. First we must study the Bible and get to know God in a personal way. We need to carve out time for Him in our daily lives through Scripture reading and prayer. Verse 18 says, “Fix these words of mine on your hearts and minds; tie them on your hands and bind them on your foreheads!” Isn’t that a great word picture of the importance of personally learning God’s word?

The next step is to teach what we’ve learned to our children – in other words – bring what you’re learning spiritually into your family life. Verse 19 says, “Teach these words (Scripture) to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and get up.” That’s pretty much all of the time! Basically, you should be putting God’s word into practice throughout the day.

When you have started a habit of studying God’s word on your own and you are bringing it to your family, then you are ready to go into the world. Verse 20 says, “Write (Scripture) on the doorframes of your houses and your gates.” This can mean that you serve in your community and throughout the world.

Sometimes in our Christian walk it’s tempting to run too fast and skip a step. Take it from me – it’s no fun to lie on the stairs in pain. It’s so worth it to take the Christian life one step at a time.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18-25

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to die on the cross so that we might have a personal relationship with You. We want to get to know You better through searching Your word daily. Please give us knowledge and insight to share in our homes with our family so that they may also grow in You. When we are ready, please show us how we can reach our community and world for You. We love you! Amen

Sit in the Dirt

2011-05-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

The other day I was talking to my friend who is part of a small group at church. She told me that their last small group meeting was spent at a wake for one of their member’s dad. Usually small group meetings include snacks, games, dinner and Bible studies, so I was a little taken back when she told me they went to a wake!

She told me that the fact that their group attended the wake meant a lot to the person whose dad passed away. Their attendance had shown support and love to their friend who had just experienced a tough loss.

Through this situation, I was reminded that we don’t always have to say exactly the right words to someone who’s struggling. Sometimes it’s enough just for us to be a listening ear. It’s enough just to be there for them.

As I was reading in Job today, I was reminded that Job was a man who had lost everything. He lost everything he owned and everyone who was dear to him. He also suffered physically with terrible boils from head to toe. This man was about as low as anyone could go.

Job’s wife suggested he curse God and die! Now there’s a good example of a time when someone should’ve just kept their mouth shut! Job’s response was to say that it’s not right just to accept only good things from God and nothing bad.

While Job is in the midst of his grieving and suffering, three of his friends decided to come to him to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar (just thought you’d want to know in case you’re looking for baby names). When these three men saw Job from a distance, Scripture says they hardly recognized him.

The next part of the story is very poignant. Job 2:12 says they wailed loudly, tore their robes and threw dust over their heads. Then it says they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights! Can you imagine sitting with someone and grieving with them for seven days? I love what the next verse says, “No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.”

Don’t you just get a kick out of that picture? Imagine four grown men sitting on the dirty ground in torn clothing, probably smelly after not showering for seven days. Now that’s sympathy! I especially love the part where Scripture says that they didn’t say a word. Of course if they were women, they might have only lasted a day or so without talking!

This story is a good example for us. When people around us are hurting, we don’t have to know exactly what to say, but we can listen. It’s actually a freeing concept for me, since I’ve been known to say the wrong thing once or twice! Our presence can be enough. However, try not to go seven days without a shower, or they may ask you to leave!

Scripture: Job 1-2:13

Prayer: Lord, it’s hard to watch people we care about suffer. We want to fix their situation so they don’t have to hurt anymore. However, You have shown us through the example of Job and his friends that sometimes we just need to be available to listen. We just need to listen and let You do the rest. Help us to rest in You for our needs and for the needs of others around us.

A Special Gift

2011-05-09T13:01:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was Mother’s Day. My family took me out for lunch and then shopping. I used the day to my advantage – even making them shop at a home store with me. As I was browsing, my daughter and husband mysteriously disappeared. When we left the store, my daughter presented me with a pink-jeweled-butterfly hanging decoration that she purchased with her own money.

It’s not the gift itself that I love so much as the fact that she spent her own money on me. This little jewel butterfly is hanging above my computer so that I can remember the manner in which it was purchased out of love.

Our final stop for the day was Target. My daughter said she had $16 and some change to spend, so we stood in the toy isle picking out what she could afford. She chose three small toys and we headed to check out. Her total came to $16.34, but as she counted her money, she found she only had $13. I told her she needed to choose a toy to put back. To my surprise, she quickly chose one of the toys and payed for the other two.

On the way home, I figured out why she didn’t have enough money to buy her toys. It was because she had spent some of her money on me. Suddenly the gift meant even more to me because I realized she had to sacrifice a new toy to give me my decoration.

I was reminded of the widow in Luke 21 who gave all she had. She was very poor, yet she gave sacrificially. When we give out of our poverty, we display the truest form of sacrificial giving. This widow gave all of her money and in doing so, she chose to live by faith, expecting that God would meet her daily needs.

This story made me think about my own life. Am I giving out of my excess or am I giving sacrificially? When I set aside myself and my needs and wants to help others, then I am giving sacrificially. God wants all of our lives, not just the surplus. He wants us to give so that we have to trust Him to meet our needs. How is God prompting you to give sacrificially – your time, finances, possessions, reaching out to someone? Pray that He will show you where and how He wants you to give.

Scripture: Luke 21:1-4

Prayer: Even thought the widow in Luke only gave a small amount of money, You say that she gave more than those who were wealthy. We want to surrender to Your will and give out of a heart of sacrifice; not out of our surplus. Thank you for giving us the example of this widow. Please show us where we can give sacrificially to our family, our community and our world.

Like to be Liked

2011-05-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

I like being liked. Do you know what I mean? I wish I didn’t care what other people think of me, but I do. I am a firstborn, people-pleaser person. I don’t especially love this about myself, but it’s true.

The older I get, the more I realize that I can’t and won’t please everyone. But, that doesn’t stop me from trying! Ok, just a little humor there (very little?). Seriously, I am realizing that not everyone is going to like me all of the time, and I’m dealing with that fact.

This morning I was struggling in this area and feeling discouraged. Then I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me, quietly asking me, “Who are you trying to please?” I had to stop and think about that. Whose love and acceptance do I want?

When I try to please other people, my intentions are misguided. When I try to please God, I am heading in the right direction.

If I am following God’s will, then it really doesn’t matter if other people like me all of the time. This is easier said than done – especially if you’re a people pleaser person like me. God’s acceptance is what should be important to me. My security and sense of worth should come from Him, not others.

Sometimes when we follow God’s will for our lives, it is not easy. People may not agree with our choices. Following God’s plan is not always popular. We may disappoint people who do not understand our decisions.

Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” His is the only opinion that matters.

I don’t like that I like to be liked. But, if I like to be liked by the One who first loved me, that is the key.

Scripture: Romans 8:28-39

Prayer: Lord, You know that as humans we struggle with acceptance. We want other people to think highly of us when the only One we should care about is You. We want to seek You daily and spend time with You so that our focus will be on You and not people. We know that when we seek You with all of our hearts, You will find us and meet us. Thank you for that promise.

The Nerve of Some People!

2011-04-12T13:41:00.000-07:00

I can’t believe the nerve of some people – telling God what to do. That takes guts, nerve and stupidity all rolled up into one!

Abraham’s servant told God what to do. Of all the nerve! It all started when Abraham told his oldest servant, the man in charge of his whole household, to find his son Isaac a wife. Now that’s a tall order! The servant hesitantly agreed (like he had a choice!) and traveled to Abraham’s homeland to find his son a wife.

Can you imagine what was going through the servant’s mind as he made his journey? “Why did Abraham choose me for this job? Isn’t this a little above and beyond my job description? Why didn’t I put in for early retirement?” It’s easy to see why this servant may have been a little stressed out when he reached his destination.

So he does what any stressed-out guy would do – he gives God instructions. (Maybe it should have been the other way around – God giving him the instructions – but we’ll give him some grace because of his stress level.) As he sits by the well outside of town, he lays out his plan that God should follow. His plan is almost comical.

He says, “O LORD … See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ – let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.”

That took a lot of nerve, laying out a specific plan for God. Let’s see what happened next.

Before he finished praying, a young woman named Rebekah came out with her water jar and filled it. The servant asked her for some water from her jar. She replied, “Drink, my lord … I’ll draw water for your camels, too.”

Bingo! Ding, ding, ding … we have a winner!

However, the servant wasn’t so sure. The Scripture says the servant watched her in silence, wondering whether or not the LORD had made his journey successful.

Really? Let me get this straight. The servant lays out a specific plan for God, watches as God answers his prayer – to the letter, and then wonders if she is the right one? My first reaction after reading this passage was, “Duh!” Of course she’s the one!

Then I thought about how many times God has answered my prayers and it took me a while to realize it. How many times has He answered me and I forgot to thank Him? How many times have I gone on with my life without giving proper thanks and credit to Him? Of all the nerve!

In the end, the servant does give praise to God, and he bowed down and worshiped Him. Let’s remember to keep our eyes open to where God is working and to give Him the glory for answered prayer.

Scripture: Genesis 24:1-27

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all of the times You’ve answered our prayers. You work in our lives so often and we want to notice all of the great ways You provide for us every day. Thank you for what you’ve done in our lives today and this week. I specifically want to say thanks for …

Celebrate 50!

2011-03-31T04:44:00.000-07:00

The other day as I entered a new blog post, feelings of joy and accomplishment washed over me. The reason for this happines was that I had reached the "50 mark," meaning I had written over 50 blog posts! Never in my life did I ever think I'd write a blog, much less write 50 posts!

However, when I checked the date of when my blog began, my happiness was short lived. January of 2010. I did the math and realized that I had written about one blog post a week. My heart sank. My goal was to write two posts a week. The elation I felt a few minutes ago quickly turned to disappointment and frustration.

Degrading thoughts swam in my head. "I should have met my goal. Why didn't I try harder? What a failure!"

In the midst of my emotional bruising session, the Lord brought a devotion I'd written for a shower to my mind. Ironically, it was about grace! At the shower I had shared that none of us are perfect as wives, moms or friends, and that we need to give ourselves grace. I guess when I wrote that for a baby shower, I wasn't expecting it to also ring true in my life.

Instead of beating myself up, I should have been happy about the 50 posts I was able to write. That's 50 times God has helped me relate Biblical truth to daily life. And, it's a lot of seeking His Word in the process, which has been an awesome step for me.

The fact that I am even writing a blog is through the grace of God. I can honestly say that He has inspired each one. I may not have reached my goal this year, but I'm not giving up. With God's power and His grace I will keep on writing, even if it's only once a week, because God's power is made perfect in my weakness. He can still use one blog a week for His glory!

I don't know what God's timing is for me with my writing. It seems like it's going more slowly than I want, but since God set the example of giving me grace, I'm going to give myself grace, too. I'm going to celebrate 50!

Scripture: 2 Cor. 12:7-10; 2 Peter 3:18

Prayer: Lord, everything good in our lives is by Your grace. May we follow the example You set with grace - giving free and unmerited favor to a sinful humanity - and give grace to others. We want to give grace to ourselves, our family, our neighbors (everyone else!). Lord, we want to remember to give You thanks for everything good in our lives!

Step Away from the Chocolate

2011-03-28T06:39:00.000-07:00

One day when my daughter was around five years old, she came into my office with a face full of chocolate. We both knew she had not asked for permission to eat candy.

Fully knowing the answer, I asked her, “Did you just eat a Milky Way?”

“No,” she answered, very seriously. I could see she was holding the wrapper and the uneaten portion of the candy bar in her little hands.

“Then where did you get that?” I asked as I pointed toward the candy in her hand.

Without missing a beat, she looked down incredulously at her hand and replied in a shocked voice, “How did that get there?”

Even now I am laughing as I remember this story. Her disobedience began by eating the chocolate and continued on with a lie to try and cover it up.

There’s a similar situation in Genesis 4. Cain, a farmer, presented some of his crops as a gift to God when he should have given the best of his crops. In comparison, Cain’s brother Able, a shepherd, brought the best of his firstborn lambs to offer God.

The LORD accepted Able’s gift, but He did not accept Cain’s gift. This made Cain so frustrated that he attacked his brother and killed him. When God asked Cain where Able was, Cain lied by pretending he didn’t know. What had started out with the sin of disobedience had turned into murder and lying.

My daughter was foolish to think I wouldn’t see the chocolate evidence “written” all over her face and Cain was foolish to think the Lord wouldn’t know he offered God a cheap gift, murdered his brother and then lied about it. Genesis 4:7 says, “Sin is crouching at your door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” If we don’t subdue the first sin, other sins will start to control us.

Don’t take that first bite of the Milky Way. God can see the chocolate on your face!

Scripture: Genesis 4:1-12

Prayer: Lord, after reading this passage in Genesis, we can see how one sin breeds other sins. After we fall into sin, it can easily control us and become our master. We want to say “no” to each sin and temptation in our lives. We want to be aware of sin so that we can stop it before it even begins.

Squashing the “What Ifs”

2011-03-23T07:57:00.000-07:00

I guess you could say that my daughter has had issues going to school. In kindergarten, she claimed she couldn’t find her classroom and frequently asked the principal or secretary for an escort. Thankfully they were accommodating!

In first grade she would go outside and stand in line for the bus. I stood in our entryway, eagerly awaiting what would happen next. Some days at the last possible second, she would turn around and run back to the house. When she got to the door and the bus pulled away, she would say, “I have a stomach ache.”

It was so frustrating! I didn’t want to make a sick child go to school, but I didn’t want to get “played” either! Her stomach aches didn’t usually amount to anything serious, so I’d end up driving her in to school.

Now she’s in third grade and she’s been having stomach aches again. For the past month, off and on, she’ll tell me her stomach and throat hurt and that she doesn’t want to go to school. At first I still made her go, but when her complaints were consistent for a few weeks, I started to wonder if something more serious was going on.

I took her to the doctor and she tested positive for strep throat. She took a round of antibiotics, but still there wasn’t much improvement. She was missing 2-3 days of school per week. The doctors did a mono test that came back negative. The situation was baffling me.

My mind started going down roads it should never travel. The “what ifs” started to run rampant through my mind and I started letting fear take control. One evening when anxiety was especially strong, the Lord brought Psalm 56:3 to mind, “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” I repeated that verse over and over in my mind to help calm the “what ifs.”

The next day I saw a friend who shared that he had applied for a job and was waiting to hear the response. The company said they’d get back to him in a week. I asked him how he was doing and he replied, “It’s a chance for me to trust God for another week.”

Boy did I feel convicted! I could be viewing my daughter’s mysterious illness as a chance to trust God for another day, another week or another month. How often does God ask us to depend on Him? Do we view those times as opportunities to trust God for another week, day, year … sometimes another minute? Will we let the “what ifs” take over or will we trust in God?

Scripture: Psalm 56

Prayer: God, You are the one who has the best plan for our lives. Please forgive us for trying to take matters into our own hands. Please take our fear and anxiety and turn it into trust. We believe that You are sovereign, which means supreme in power and authority. We believe that You have plans to prosper us and not to harm us … plans to give us a hope and a future! We want to trust in You, not dwell on the “what ifs”!

My Mentor(s)

2011-03-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

I don’t know everything. I like to think I do, but really I don’t. This fact of life became glaringly obvious after high school. That was when I first realized that I didn’t know it all.

As I grew older, I watched other people in my life become more intelligent. For example, my parents weren’t very smart when I was in high school, but when I went to college they got a lot more intelligent.

I have to wonder … did they really get smarter, or did I finally realize that I didn’t know everything?

No matter how it happened, the need for wise people in my life became evident. I desired a mentor to guide me along life’s path. I longed for someone to take me by the hand and lead me through life. Unfortunately, finding a mentor was easier said than done for me.

I’ve tried not to take it personally, but I have never found a mentor. I prayed about finding one. I even begged God for one. Once I took a big step of faith and asked someone to be my mentor, but it didn’t work out.

Before you feel too badly for me or wonder what on earth could be so wrong with me that no one would mentor me, let me share how God provided for this need in my life.

Instead of giving me that one mentor I prayed about, God gave me multiple mentors. There may not be one specific person devoted to me; yet God has blessed me with many people who guide me and encourage me. Right now I can think of friends in my life who inspire me, teach me, share Godly wisdom with me, listen to me and give me sound advice.

In my ignorance I asked God for a mentor, but He chose to answer my request more abundantly than I could have imagined. I am so thankful that God knows me better than I know myself. He is so much smarter than I am! (Duh!)

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12; Prov. 13:20; Prov. 11:30

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you that You place wise people in our lives to guide us. You know us better than we know ourselves, and we trust You to give us what we need … and who we need! Right now we want to thank You for the people in our lives who mentor us. Please continue to direct us to wise mentors who are seeking You.

Can I Give You a Pedicure?

2011-03-07T10:34:00.001-08:00

Have you ever had a pedicure? If you have, then you know how heavenly they feel. But have you ever thought about the person giving the pedicure? Their job is to wash dirty, sweaty, smelly, calloused, ugly feet. They soak, scrub, buff, sand and clip, transforming these filthy body parts from grimy to clean.

When Jesus lived on earth, washing a guest’s feet was a job for a household servant. Imagine how dirty feet were in Bible times. Servants must have scraped layer upon layer of dirt from the guest's feet. Even the posture of cleaning feet – bending low – displays humility.

Knowing these cultural facts makes it even more surprising to read in John 13 that Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. He lowered Himself to the position of a servant. What were the disciples feeling when their Lord and Teacher humbly washed their filthy feet?

When Jesus finished the Bible-time pedicure, He said, “Now that I have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet … I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master.”

Jesus was telling his disciples in no uncertain terms that they should serve others. We also must accept this call. Does this mean we should go from house to house with a basin of warm water and some foot scrub? While our neighbors would probably love it, I think Jesus meant that we should serve others according to their needs.

Serving others can take on many forms. You can pray, send a note, bring a meal, donate your time, go on a missions trip, give financially, watch someone’s kids, help at a homeless shelter, become a foster parent – the list could go on forever. There are so many ways to wash feet!

Whose feet does God want you to wash? How does God want you to give a pedicure to someone in need? Let’s follow Christ’s example and wash someone’s feet today.

Scripture: John 13:1-17

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for setting the example of serving others by washing Your disciple’s feet. We want to follow Your command of serving others. Please show us a need that we can meet. We want to humbly serve others. We want to wash feet.

Emotional Connection

2011-03-04T09:04:00.000-08:00

This weekend I get to attend a women’s retreat with a friend who is the keynote speaker. To help her prepare for the week, I am praying for her and for the women attending the retreat. There are about 30 women planning to attend. Thirty women! That’s a lot of estrogen in one place!

As I pray for each woman, I can’t help but consider their individual lives. I don’t know anything about them – their backgrounds, their hurts, their current situations, their needs, their joys, their struggles – I don’t know, but God knows.

When 30 women get together, there are bound to be a wide variety of thoughts, feeling and emotions. Today as I read in the book of John, I was encouraged to read that Jesus experienced powerful emotions during His time on earth.

John chapter 11 recounts the story of Lazarus’ death and the grief that his sisters Mary & Martha experienced. When Jesus saw Mary weeping in sadness over the death of her brother, the Bible says that Jesus “was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.” A few verses later it says that Jesus wept.

Isn’t it amazing that we serve a God who understands our emotions? His own Son walked on this earth and experienced the same feelings we do. He saw His friends in pain and wept. He loved them so much that it hurt Him to watch them suffer.

Some of the women coming to the retreat this weekend have undoubtedly experienced pain and heartache. Some of them are probably dealing with tough situations in life even now. Thankfully, Jesus not only knows the intricate emotions each woman will bring to the retreat; He has experienced similar emotions Himself.

Verse 38 says, “Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb.” He then raised Lazarus from the dead. This story is a great testimony of Jesus’ deep love for us. The pain and suffering Mary and Martha endured touched Him in a powerful way and He walked along side of them, feeling their pain as His own. He wants to do the same for us today.

Scripture: John 11:1-44

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your Son Jesus to earth. As we read the story about Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, we see the tenderness Jesus felt for Mary and Martha. Thank you that this same tenderness is available to us as we experience difficult times in our lives. Thank you for being a God who cares about us in such a personal way.

Letters from Mary Fran

2011-02-28T10:49:00.000-08:00

The first time I met Mary Fran Larson was around 10 years ago. She had just moved to town with her husband and three sons. She came to Bible study at my house and I was amazed that such a tiny person could exude such a large amount of positive enthusiasm.

The more I got to know Mary, the more she made me want to follow Christ’s command to love and serve others. She was always bringing food to someone in need, helping younger moms through life or sending out prayer requests through the prayer chain. However, the most personal way she touched my heart was by showing love to my daughter Shalyn.

Mary often sent (and still sends) Shalyn (age 8) a note in the mail. Most of the notes are brief and written on ordinary paper, but Miss Mary always makes them special. She usually decorates each note and mailing envelope with stickers or ribbon. These simple letters mean the world to Shalyn, who even started a “card collection” from Mary Larson.

Every so often we have Mary over for tea. Shalyn sets the table with pretty tea cups and lots of treats. They sit and talk and eat, but most importantly, Mary invests in Shalyn’s life.

Mary has a special place in Shalyn’s heart because she spends time caring about her and making her feel special. The time Mary spends making my little girl feel loved and valuable makes my heart swell with thankfulness.

Mary’s thoughtfulness inspired me to find a little girl I could encourage. Last week I sent a note to a little girl from church telling her that I thought she was special and wonderful. I put stickers on the envelope and inside the card (following Mary’s example). Then I sent a card to Mary Fran Larson. I even decorated the envelope with heart stickers. She said it made her smile!

You see, Mary has the gift of encouragement and she is using her gift to glorify God. I am so thankful for people like Mary who take an active role in showing Christ’s love to others. Is there someone (it could be a child, teenager or adult) you can think of who could use a note of encouragement today? Take the time to send them some snail mail – it may become part of their card collection!

Scripture: Hebrews 3:13

Prayer: Lord, in Your Word You tell us to encourage each other daily. We want to obey You by lifting each other up. We want to encourage each other in our daily lives. May we follow You as we build each other up in our faith. Please show us a specific person today who we can build up with our words or with a letter. We want our love for You to extend to others.

It’s Hard to Share – Even for Adults!

2011-02-22T13:02:00.000-08:00

Did you know that Minnesota is called the “Land of 10,000 lakes?” Some people (Minnesotans, of course) say that 10,000 is actually a conservative estimate. That’s a lot of lakes! This past year my husband and I were able to buy a small cabin on a lake – our own little weekend retreat.

I envisioned our family of four “getting away from it all.” My dreams for the cabin included my husband spending less time on his computer and phone and more time with the kids and me. I thought about all the special times we would spend fishing, playing games and roasting marshmallows for s’mores.

My husband, however, had a different “dream” for the cabin. Soon after the purchase was finalized, he began listing off all the people he planned to invite to the cabin. It seemed that his dream was to spend time at the cabin with pretty much everyone under the sun.

Since I’m somewhat of an introvert, you can imagine what that did to my anxiety level. As I thought about his dream I started to panic. I envisioned myself cooking, cleaning, hosting, more cooking, entertaining and then going to the store to buy groceries so I could cook some more!

His dream of sharing our cabin was invading my dream of privacy and family time (it’s hard to read a book or play a game when you’re so busy cooking)!

In Mark 10, Jesus speaks to a rich young man. He tells the young man to sell everything he has, give it to the poor and then come follow Jesus. The Bible says the man’s face fell and he went away sad because he had great wealth.

How does this relate to our cabin? The Lord is the one who blessed us with a cabin. But instead of wanting to use it to bless others, I wanted to keep it for myself. I Timothy 6:10 says that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It’s not wrong to have a cabin, but loving it so much that I wanted to keep it to myself was wrong.

If we own any material possession that we can’t bear to lose, then we probably shouldn’t own it. If we own a material possession that we aren’t willing to share with others, then we probably shouldn’t own it – whether it’s a car, television, cabin, home, etc. Think of it this way; if God asked us to share it, would we?

Scripture: I Timothy 6:6-10; Mark 10:17-31

Prayer: Jesus, I know You expect me to put You first in my life. Please show me if there are any material possessions in my life that I could not bear to lose. I want to put You ahead of anything I own. I do not want to love money more than You. Please show many anything in my life that is hindering me from serving You.

10 Bad Days

2011-02-18T11:54:00.001-08:00

On a recent trip I met a remarkable bellman. He was one of those people who exuded positive energy, and I could feel that energy the minute he stepped on the elevator with me.

As we rode together, he started to tell me about his job and why it was important for him to do it with excellence. He explained that if people didn’t like the service at the hotel, they wouldn’t come back. I could tell he really cared about doing his job well.

He was one of the most upbeat people I’ve ever met, even though his job must have included dealing with crabby customers on a daily basis. He could have just greeted me with a pleasant “hello,” yet he chose to go a step further. He chose to strike up a friendly conversation with me and made my day a little brighter in the process. Positive enthusiasm for life radiated from the smile on his face.

As we exited the elevator, he stepped aside and told me his secret. He said he only allows himself to have 10 bad days a year! He said when one of his days starts to head down a negative path, he stops to decide whether or not he wants to use up one of his bad days. After he thinks it over, he often ends up changing his attitude.

I felt God prompting me to take the conversation one step further, so I explained that I believed God was in charge of all of our good days and bad days.

His face brightened and he enthusiastically agreed with me. I could tell that there was a deeper, more spiritual reason behind his happiness.

This man’s positive approach could work for anyone. Bad situations might not look so bleak if we would only allow ourselves 10 bad days per year. Taking this approach could change our lives. It would force us to reprioritize. And, we would have 355 good days a year!

Scripture: Isaiah 55

Prayer: Lord, I want to go out in joy each day, just like You suggest in Isaiah 55. I want to live my life in the joy of Your salvation. I want to thank you for all You’ve done for me and to choose to live my life in appreciation of Your love. I want to exude Your love so that others may see that You are the reason for the smile on my face and my positive attitude.

Good Gifts

2011-02-14T06:51:00.000-08:00

Today is Valentine’s Day. Some people think this holiday is a big scheme by Hallmark, Target, Walmart and floral shops to swindle money out of the general public. Other people believe it’s the perfect time to show someone you love that you care for them.

Personally, I enjoy using Valentine’s Day to remind my family that they are special to me. After all, it’s the only day of the year when my son asks for pink, heart-shaped pancakes! My daughter loved the fluffy white bear I set in her room after she fell asleep and my husband enjoyed his red licorice with everyone at the office (at least that’s what he was supposed to do with it!).

It was very ironic that our family’s morning devotions included reading John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I believe the day God sent Jesus into the world is the true Valentine’s Day.

According to Wikipedia, February 14 is a day to celebrate love and affection between intimate (someone associated in close, personal relations) companions. Kids bring candy to pass out at school to show their friends they care about them. As adults, we give flowers, gifts or cards as a way of expressing our love and affection.

However, it doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day for God to express His love toward us. He shows us He loves us every day of the year. “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!” (I John 3:1)

Jesus said to us in Matthew 22:37-39, “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.’”

Take time today to love the Lord your God by spending time in His Word and in prayer. Then take extra time today to show love to someone around you. It can be a family member, a cashier at the gas station, an actual neighbor or anyone else that you encounter today. If you’re one of those people who thinks Valentine’s Day is a sham, just remember that kind words are free! You don’t even have to acknowledge “Heart Day.” You can simply tell someone to, “Have a good day.”

If you do celebrate this red/pink/heart-shaped/Cupid’s arrow shooting/candy conversation heart-eating/chocolate-loaded holiday, then “Happy Valentine’s Day” to you!

Scripture: I Corinthians 13

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for Your unconditional love toward me. While I was still a sinner, You sent your Son Jesus Christ to die for me. I want to follow Your greatest commandment, which is to love You with all of my heart, soul and mind. Please show me through Your Holy Spirit how I can love You completely. I also want to love my neighbors as myself. Please open my eyes to the needs of other hurting people so that I may show Your love to them in tangible ways. I love You!

Why Do We Have Big Buts?

2011-02-08T14:10:00.000-08:00

Moses had a big but. Actually, Moses had three big buts. Before this starts going downhill, let me explain what I mean.

In Exodus 3 God revealed Himself to Moses in the form of a burning bush. That in itself is an amazing feat, and yet Moses seemed unimpressed. When the Lord told him (through the fiery bush, remember) that He wanted Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses basically replied, “But, God …”

His first “but” came when he asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” God patiently responded, “I will be with you.”

Moses had a second “but.” He asked God, “What should I do if the people ask me who sent me?” God definitively answered, “Tell them, I AM has sent me to you.” The Lord followed this statement with specific instructions and a well-laid plan for Moses to follow.

Even after the well-laid plan and God’s appearance through a burning bush, Moses had another “but.” He said to God, “But God, I’m not a good public speaker.”

This morning I nervously anticipated an appointment to speak at a MOPS group. I had a list of “buts” running through my mind before I left home. But I’m not good at speaking in public. But the women might think I’m boring, weird or even nuts (though this may actually be true). But I might not connect with them. Lots of big buts!

This morning the Lord showed me the same answer He gave Moses thousands of years ago – after his third “but.” “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now GO; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say” (Exodus 4:11-12).

Needless to say, I got in my car and left! How can I say no when God directly promises to meet my needs by helping me speak and telling me what to say? God wants to turn our “buts” into “You can do it through Me!”

Scripture: Exodus 3 & 4

Prayer: Lord, thank you for Your promises of support that are just as valid today as they were many years ago. You have proven that You love us and will always carry us through difficult situations. Thank you for being a God who is compassionate and patient with us. You are amazing and wonderful!

Boomerang

2011-02-04T09:10:00.000-08:00

You’re probably familiar with the “flying tool” known as the boomerang. Right now you might be picturing it in your mind, since its “V” shape is very distinct. According to Wikipedia, the most common type is called a returning boomerang. It’s designed to travel on an elliptical path and return directly to its point of origin.

This week I’ve realized that the boomerang can accurately represent periods of time in our relationship with God. Right now some of my friends are in the midst of hard-hitting trials. Maybe you are experiencing an extremely difficult situation right now, or maybe you’re praying someone else through a tough time. You may feel like crying or even screaming out to God.

The writer of Psalm 74 did just that. Asaph (or possibly one of his descendants) was obviously frustrated as he openly shared his bold, honest feelings with God. He said, “(v.1) Why have you rejected us forever, O God?” Wow, can you believe He asked God that question? Don’t hold back, Asaph! Tell us how you really feel!

When I was in my early 20s, I was in a Bible study about prayer. The book taught us that we can lay it all on the line with God – even our most raw emotions – because He can take it. This doesn’t give us the right to be disrespectful or doubt God’s plan for our lives. However, it means we can come openly to God and share our deepest fears, desires, frustrations and heartaches. The God who created us can also handle our emotions.

Like throwing a boomerang, we can cast our burdens on God. Just as the boomerang always returns to its original point, we must also come back to praising God in the midst of our circumstances. We must cast our cares on Him and then return to praise.

In Psalm 75 Asaph says, “(v. 1) We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, for Your Name is near; men tell of Your wonderful deeds. (v. 9) As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.”

Scripture: Psalm 74 & 75

Prayer: I Peter 5:7 says to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” Lord, I want to be honest with you about my feelings, realizing that you have the best plan in mind for my life. I don’t know why bad things happen, but I know that You can work all things together for good. During hard times, I will trust in You.

Is it More Blessed to Give or to Receive?

2011-02-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

One of the first verses I learned as a child was Acts 20:35, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The message of this verse is an important one – serving others should be an integral part of our daily lives. Scripture reiterates this command and Jesus’ life is the greatest example of service in the history of the world.

Then how can I ask the question, “Is it more blessed to give or to receive?”

The reason I ask it is to make us think. It is important to give of ourselves, yet it is also important to receive. There are times in our lives when we need to receive graciously from others. This is not always an easy thing to do. When others help us, our natural tendency is to want to give back an equal portion of what they’ve given us.

This week I needed to accept help from a friend. She lovingly took many hours out of her busy week to help me with an emergency project at my home. I wanted to make her dinner or buy her a gift certificate to help “compensate” for the extra time she spent helping me. When I asked her when I could bring her family dinner, she told me, “Gretchyn, if you bring me dinner I really will be mad at you! Just accept my help and say ‘thank you.’”

Those were powerful words. It was humbling for me to accept her help and not give her anything in return, but in the process I learned a valuable lesson. Sometimes we are supposed to sacrificially give, and other times we are supposed to graciously receive.

Christ offered us the free gift of eternal life and all we need to do to spend eternity with Him is to receive it. God wants us to accept the gift of his Son. When we accept Jesus into our lives, we naturally start wanting to share His love with others – that’s where the giving comes in.

Maybe I can answer my first question with another question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” What I’m trying to say is that while Scripture tells us it is more blessed to give than to receive, God has asked us to do both.

Scripture: Acts 20:35, Matthew 10:8, John 1:12, I Timothy 1:15-16

Prayer: Lord, Your Word says it is more blessed to give than to receive. I know You want me to share my time and talents to help others. I want to see needs around me and serve others out of a heart of love for You. I also realize that I need to receive help when others want to bless me. Please show me how to be a sacrificial giver and also a gracious receiver.

Following a Plow

2011-01-21T12:28:00.000-08:00

The other day I wrote about following God’s light, even when He is moving too slowly or to quickly for our liking.

Personally, I can best relate my life at this moment to following the slow snowplow. I'll back up a little so I can better explain what I mean.

For many years when my kids were little, they needed me constantly. They needed me to change their diapers, wipe their noses, clean up their spills, tie their shoes, buckle their car seats, etc., etc. During this time I also helped found and coordinate a MOPS group, which required much of my time and energy. I have to admit that during those years I felt like I was following the fast-moving semi truck - and I was barely keeping up!

Now my kids are in school and I am not in a leadership position. My job is to stay at home, take care of the household tasks and get the kids to their activities. I am helping in a few areas at church in support roles.

I wouldn’t trade my life for anything, but I have to admit that I am wired as someone who takes charge and leads. This season of support makes me feel like I’m following a snowplow.

The other night when I was driving behind the plow, I was frustrated. I wanted to get past him. I kept looking ahead to see if it was safe to pass. Eventually I did pass him, something my husband did not appreciate when I told him about it later. He said that I should never pass a snowplow because it’s unsafe. I guess my impatience got the better of me!

Right now, it’s hard for me not to look ahead and want to speed up my life. I know that God has placed me in this “slow” season of life and ordained the activities I’m supporting. I need to trust Him and not try to look ahead and pass up the plans He has for my life right now!

Where are you in life right now? Are you behind a snowplow or a semi? Is God taking you down His path too quickly or are you going at what seems to be a snail’s pace? No matter what speed you are traveling at right now, set your mind on seeking God’s will for your life. Spend time with Him so that you can learn to be content with the speed of your life.

Scripture: John 1:35-50; 8:12

Prayer: Lord, sometimes it’s scary to follow You. You choose to take me down roads more rapidly that I would like. Or, sometimes You lead me down a road slowly, and in my impatience I want to jump ahead of Your will. Please help me to be content traveling through life at Your speed. I realize that everything You do is for a reason. You have great plans for me and I don’t want to miss those plans! I acknowledge that following You means traveling at the speed You set for me and I am willing to travel at Your pace!

Bright Red Lights

2011-01-18T18:30:00.000-08:00

Driving on snowy & icy roads is something everyone from Minnesota has to learn, and a few nights ago my own driving skills were put to the test.

It was snowing and windy - a bad combination for safe traveling. Reluctantly, I pulled out onto a two-lane highway behind a semi-truck. I didn’t want to follow the semi because I thought it would be going too slowly for my taste. However, it was the opposite. The semi was speeding along on the icy roads. Since it was difficult to see the road, my only hope was to follow the truck’s bright red taillights.

Ironically, the same truck that had frustrated me a few minutes earlier was now providing light to guide my way home.

As I struggled to keep up, I thought about those lights in relation to me following God. As I follow Him, there are times in my life when I feel like He is going too fast for me to keep up. I was reminded that during those times, I need to just focus on the Light and follow close to Him.

Finally I turned off onto a county road. I was relieved that I could now drive at a comfortable speed. This road was also more secluded and it was lined with trees to block the wind. I started settling in for a more relaxing drive home. Unfortunately, my relaxation was short-lived.

Soon I saw red flashing lights in the distance. As I got closer, I realized that these lights shined off the back of a snowplow. A very slow-moving snowplow! At this point I really just wanted to get home, so the slow-moving vehicle perturbed me.

Then a smile came to my face as I once again realized the irony of my situation.

First I had been forced to follow bright red lights that were going too fast. Now I had to follow bright red flashing lights that were going too slow. God sure does have a sense of humor and He was definitely trying to drive home (no pun intended) a point to me that night!

The point was that I need to follow God’s light. Sometimes He may take me down roads more quickly than I would like. Other times, He will take me on a path that seems painfully slow. Either way, I need to follow His light and seek His will. I need to trust that His lighted path is the right one for me.

Scripture: I John 1

Prayer: Dear God, I want to follow the road you want me to travel. I want to follow You no matter whether it seems I am going too fast or too slow. During these times, I want to trust You and follow Your light so that I know I am where You want me to be. Help me to trust in Your timing for my life and to follow You. I know that Your Word says in I John 1:5 that “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” I believe in You and I believe that You are light.

Christmas, Age 8

2010-12-22T08:17:00.000-08:00

This year my daughter gave me the best Christmas present on earth. You might be surprised to learn the gift was a simple piece of paper. It was simple in its form, yet to me it was a work of art. This paper gave me a glimpse of how an eight-year-old views Christmas.

On lined notebook paper she drew Jesus (picture a man with a beard and pink slippers) and herself (complete with fancy beaded braids in her hair). There was a church and a cross (which is interesting since our church meets in a school). There was also an acronym for JESUS CHRIST.

Just amazing!
loves Everyone!
Special
so not Useless
not Surprisingly awesome!

I love Jesus Christ
Heavinly (heavenly)
Righteousness
lets everyone go In heavin (heaven)
Soooooo thankful I have him!
I love to go To Church!

She said she wanted me to know that she understood Christmas is about more than just presents. (However, I didn't see her turn down any gifts when we celebrated our family Christmas early!)

Thank you, sweet girl, for reminding me how amazing, awesome, righteous and special Jesus is. He truly does love everyone and wants every single person on earth to go to heaven. I, like you, are so thankful I have Him!

A special college-rule sheet of notebook paper will be the gift I remember from this Christmas (although the pink flamingo necklace she bought me at school was a close second)!

Scripture: John 3:16-17
"For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Your only Son to earth. You sacrificed your Son so that we may have the opportunity for eternally life through Jesus. Thank you for the best present we could ever receive: the gift of Your Son. He is awesome, amazing, special and righteous!

Letter from a Friend (Part 1)

2010-12-17T09:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I received a letter from a friend. I met this woman more that 20 years ago when I was on a missions trip in high school. Over the past 20 years, we’ve kept in touch through cards and letters. However, lately we’ve lost touch. I was shocked to read her letter about how difficult this past year has been.

Over a year ago she was diagnosed with breast cancer and received chemotherapy. A few months later she found out she had Acute Leukemia. Again she underwent chemotherapy and has spent most of this year in the hospital.

I couldn’t believe she had gone through so many issues with her health recently. She admitted that she’s asked the question, “Why did this happen to me?” I’m sure I would ask the same question if I were in her situation! Her answer surprised me.

She said this experience has actually brought her closer to God. She said that through this ordeal, God has been her strength and that He’s been with her the whole time. She knows He has a purpose for her life and she wants to be faithful to Him through this time.

Her answer made me realize that when we encounter difficult situations in life we have two choices: we can blame God or we can cling to Him.

In my opinion, there is no stronger testimony on earth than watching someone cling to God during a trial. Anyone can praise God during the good times, but it takes true faith to give God control and trust Him during the storms of life.

Other people in my life are going through storms right now. I have friends with cancer, a friend with ALS, a friend who’s a single mom (not by choice), friends in financial crisis, and the list goes on. As I watch these people live their lives trusting in God, my own faith grows exponentially.

You see, they are living as Christ desires. They are exemplifying the passage in James chapter 1 that says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may become mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”

Perseverance and faith are two difficult words for me. They are easier said than done in my life! Watching how other Christ-followers live out these verses truly encourages me. There is so much more to say about this topic – more to come in part 2!

Scripture: James 1

Prayer: Lord, I want to praise You during the good times and the bad. I know I will encounter trials in my life, and I want to depend on You in the midst of them. Help me to live in such a way that others will see my life and glorify You. When I am experiencing a storm, I know that this testing of faith will ultimately develop perseverance. I want to be mature and complete in You!

Shades of Gray: Part 2 (The Filter)

2010-12-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

Last night I encountered another “shades of gray” moment.

After the kids go to bed in the evening, I enjoy watching a little TV to wind down. The problem is that there are few shows that are appropriate to watch.

My favorite shows are legal dramas. Watching them could be considered permissible. Okay, maybe some of the storylines are questionable. Also, some of the characters are involved in inappropriate relationships. The shades of gray started to appear in my mind like a swatch of paint colors.

First Corinthians 10:23 ran through my head. “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive.”

As I thought about this verse, I realized it could be a valuable filter for so many things in our lives. Just as a furnace filter stops junk from getting in our home or a dryer filter catches the lint before it pollutes our clean clothes, this verse could be a filter for decisions in our lives.

We could think of this verse before we overeat, before we choose a movie, before we speak or before we make a financial decision. We could use this verse as a filter for almost anything in our lives.

You may be wondering if I watched that legal drama I mentioned earlier. I did choose to watch it. However, after a few minutes the storyline turned “off color.” I turned it off. I knew where the show was headed and I didn’t need that negative influence in my mind.

This morning I made coffee. I used a filter to keep the unwanted grounds out of my delightful hot drink. Later today I’ll drink filtered water from my fridge. I guess if I’m taking precautions to filter what goes into my body, I should also filter what’s going into my mind.

I have a challenge for us today. Write out 1 Corinthians 10:23 and tape to your fridge, phone, TV, checkbook or any other area of temptation. Use it as a filter for your mind. It will be interesting to see what seeps through this filter – and what doesn’t!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10

Prayer: Lord, I know I have a choice as to what I put in my mind. Please help me to use 1 Corinthians 10:23 as a filter for decisions I make. I want to make choices that glorify You. Please give me the strength to choose the things that are beneficial and constructive according to Your will.

Shades of Gray (Part 1: The Dilemma)

2010-12-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

Last week I had a dilemma. The funny thing was that I didn’t even realize I had a dilemma until I read my devotions for the day. I was innocently reading in 1 Corinthians 10 when I stumbled upon some verses that I really needed to hear that day.

First I’ll list the verses and then I’ll explain the dilemma. Paul says, “Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible, but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

Later in the chapter, Paul goes on to say, “Do not cause anyone to stumble … for I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.”

As I read those verses, I knew that God wanted me to abstain from doing something later that evening. I realized I was going to be faced with a situation at an office Christmas party where I could do something permissible, but not necessarily beneficial or constructive. I could choose to do something permissible and possibly cause someone else to stumble, or I could abstain with a clear conscience.

As I read the verses, it occurred to me that God placed those verses in front of me on a day when I was going to have to make a choice. I Corinthians 10 just happened to be the chapter I was reading that day, but it was no coincidence to God. He ordained those verses and scheduled them even before I knew I needed them.

I am going to write more about this topic, since I feel it’s an important subject. Shades of gray color our world, but God wants to guide us until we see in black and white. I have a lot to learn when it comes to this area, do you? Let’s study God’s Word together.

Scripture: I Corinthians 10

Prayer: Lord, prepare me for what you want to show me about shades of gray. I want to see things from Your point of view. I want others to draw closer to Christ when they are around me. I don’t want to confuse anyone by the choices I make in gray areas. I know You have a plan for my life and You want me to honor You in every decision I make. Please open my heart and mind as You show me the gray areas I need to change.

Reflections

2010-12-01T08:50:00.000-08:00

I’m one of those people who likes to reflect. I guess you could say I’m a reflector. I’ve realized that there are both good and bad parts of being a reflector. The bad part is that sometimes I tend to dwell on or over-think situations and I can wind up making myself crazy. The good part is that I savor the pleasant memories in my life.

Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect. This year I decided to take reflection to the next level and reflect on Thanksgiving, the season of reflection. Are you lost? What I mean is that I decided to ask the kids to tell me their favorite memories of our most recent Thanksgiving so that we could savor them together.

My daughter surprised me by saying that there were two memories that stuck out from the weekend. The first memory was when her college-age cousin Brett took her out for ice cream at McDonald’s. The second memory was when her dad took her rock climbing at our local community center.

I have to admit it hurt my pride a little that neither one of her favorite Thanksgiving memories included me. As I reflected, though, I realized what a great blessing it is for my daughter to have two Christian males in her life who want to spend time with her. My initial selfish thoughts gave way to gratefulness.

One of the most valuable blessings in a girl’s life is to have positive male influences. This Thanksgiving, my daughter was blessed with two men who cared about her and wanted to spend time getting to know her better. These two men went out of their way to make her feel special.

Jesus told us that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind. The second commandment is a similar one: love your neighbor as yourself. When my husband and my nephew spent time with my daughter, they were loving their neighbor as themselves. They were investing in a little girl’s life. They were putting the words of Scripture into practice.

As a mom, knowing that my daughter has men she can look up to is one of the greatest blessings I could ask for her. As I reflect on Thanksgiving, this is one of my greatest memories, and it doesn’t even include me!

Scripture: Matthew 22:34-46

Prayer: Lord, I want to love You with all my heart, soul and mind. I want to spend time with You every day and lean on You during the good times and bad. Thank you that I can have a relationship with You. Please show me what it means (for me, in my everyday life) to love my neighbor as myself. I want to love others with a love that comes from You. Please open my eyes to the needs of others around me and show me tangible ways to love them.

Bless This Meal (Please!)

2010-11-22T09:24:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings in our lives. As I look forward to hosting Thanksgiving at my house, I am grateful for the little things that make Thanksgiving possible for someone like me. I’m willing to host Thanksgiving and try to cook dinner, but I really don’t have a clue about what I’m doing. So, despite my lack of cooking experience, I will give thanks for:

• Sam’s Club’s pre-made mashed potatoes and stuffing
• Plastic bags to self-baste the turkey
• Those little packets to help make gravy
• My mother-in-law who is making the pumpkin pies
• The gift of a Wii which will keep the kids entertained in the basement
• My dear friend who helped me make my grocery list
• A double oven (that reminds me – I should probably clean out the mess from our frozen pizzas)
• My health so that I can even make this attempt at Thanksgiving dinner
• Family and the grace they will need to eat the dinner set before them

While I am about as far from Martha Stewart or Rachael Ray as they come, somehow on Thanksgiving Day there will be dinner on the table and most if it will be edible. (Most likely it will be the food I buy from Sam’s!)

In all seriousness, I am truly thankful for the many blessings God has given me. I live in a country where I can vote for my government leaders and I can worship God without persecution. I have food to eat and a beautiful home. I have a wonderful family and amazing friends.

My inability to cook seems to pale in comparison to the many blessings in my life. When Thursday rolls around, I will remember the words from Psalm 92:2. I will proclaim God’s love in the morning and His faithfulness at night – no matter how the day (and the meal) turns out!

Scripture: Psalm 92

Prayer: Lord, it is good to praise You and to make music to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night. I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O Lord, how profound Your thoughts! Thank you for the many blessings in my life.

Don’t Look at Me!

2010-11-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

I read an interesting story today in the book of Daniel. In the story, King Nebuchadnezzar (let’s call him King Neb for short) had a strange dream. He saw an enormous tree whose branches touched the sky. This tree was full of fruit, gave shelter to the beasts of the field and the birds of the air flocked to its branches. Sounds like quite the tree!

King Neb saw a “holy one” come down from heaven and order the tree chopped down to the stump. The holy one ordered the stump to be drenched with dew and bound with iron and bronze. He then commanded that the tree’s mind be changed from that of a man to that of an animal for seven years.

What a strange dream! Only Daniel knew what it meant, and he was pretty sure King Neb did not want to know the answer. After some deliberation, Daniel uttered the fateful words, “You, O king are that tree!” It must have taken some courage and maybe a little stuttering to get those words out!

Daniel warned the king that unless he turned from his sins and acknowledged God, this dream would become a reality for him. Do you think he was smart enough to listen to Daniel and change his prideful ways? Unfortunately, the answer is no.

One year later, the king was walking on his roof at the palace and if you can believe it, these are the words that came out of his mouth, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Have you ever heard so many “I’s” and “my’s”?

The words were still on his lips when a voice from heaven announced that King Neb was being stripped of his royal authority. He was driven out to the middle of nowhere and he actually ate grass like a cow. His body was drenched with dew, his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. It sounds like Grizzly Adams had nothing on him!

When the seven years were over, King Neb came to his senses and honored the Lord. He praised and glorified and exalted the King of heaven. He came to the realization that everything he had came from God. He also admitted, “Those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

This story is a good reminder that all good things come from God. We’d be wise to remember this and to give praise where praise is due! If there is anything good is our lives, if we have any talents or skills, if we’ve been blessed in any way, then we need to give the glory to God. In other words, we should say, “Don’t look at me; look at God!”

If only King Neb would have stood on his roof and said, “Look at God, for He has blessed me,” instead of “Look at me and all the great things I’ve done,” he would have saved himself seven years of living like a wet, deranged cow.

Scripture: Daniel 4

Prayer: God, You alone give me what I need. Sometimes You give me more than I need and I want to thank you for Your many blessings. I realize that You have given me everything good in my life and that all blessings are from You. I want to praise, exalt and glorify You, the King of heaven, because everything you do is right and all Your ways are just.

Pick Me!

2010-11-16T12:19:00.000-08:00

My husband and I just got back from a company trip to Miami Beach, Florida. This was not my first choice for a “vacation location,” however, we were thankful for the chance get away.

After we arrived, we learned that our hotel housed one of the premier night clubs in the area. We are not “clubbers,” but one night we decided to hang out in the hotel lobby and watch the action from a distance.

What we saw was a world apart from the night life we’re used to in rural Minnesota! We were surrounded by micro-mini skirts, tight tops and perfectly made-up faces. They were all trying to be beautiful for one reason – to gain access to the club. We watched as they waited in line for a chance to get in. A chance to pay a $200 cover charge and $300 for drinks! I also heard that $800 would pay for the right to sit on a couch.

I think I paid less than $800 for the couch in my living room – and I get to keep it!

What made me even more sad than watching people spend crazy amounts of money on short-lived entertainment was watching how they got in to the club. “Scouts” would walk around the hotel lobby, searching for “beautiful people.” If someone caught their eye, the scout would tap them on the shoulder and they were “in.” He would lead them to the front of the line and into the club.

As I watched this scene unfold, a thought entered my mind. I envisioned God as one of those scouts walking around the room. I pictured Him searching the room, stopping next to me and then tapping me on the shoulder. He picked me! Then I pictured Him tapping everyone in the room, giving them all access to the greatest club in the world – heaven!

I’m so glad that God accepts me for who I am. He accepts you, too. He doesn’t care about what we look like or what we’ve done.

Jesus already paid our cover charge when He died on the cross. He’s tapped every one of us on the shoulder and offered us not just one night with Him, but a lifetime with Him. All we have to do is follow Him to the front of the line. The price has been paid.

Scripture: I Cor. 6:19-20, John 1:12

Prayer: Lord, thank you for accepting us for who we are and not for outward appearance. Thank you for looking at our hearts. Thank you for paying our debt when You sent Your Son to die on the cross. In the words of a beautiful hymn, “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin has left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

Optional prayer to accept the gift of Jesus: Dear God, I believe in You and want to be Your child. I am sorry for my sins and want to ask Your forgiveness. I believe that You sent Your son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Please take control of my life, as I realize that You can do a better job than I can! I promise to get to know You better as I seek You each day.

What Did I Forget?

2010-11-10T14:49:00.000-08:00

Maybe I have a weird sense of humor. Ok, I'll admit it - I do have a weird sense of humor! That will explain why something I read today in the Bible struck me as funny.

In a letter to the church of Corinth, Paul says something that made me laugh. He said, "Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else."

Does that strike anyone else as funny? I think it's great that Paul can't remember who he baptized because it helps me relate to him on a new level. It would seem that forgetfulness can happen to anyone.

Sometimes I walk over to my pantry and can't remember what I'm looking for. I can usually remember someone's name for about 30 seconds, then it's mysteriously erased from my brain. If I don't write something down, I can be certain that it will be forgotten, so I keep lists everywhere. The older I get, the worse my memory becomes! Can you relate?

Paul was talking about the church in Corinth and the fact that they weren't getting along. Some of them said they followed Paul, some Apollos, some Cephas and still others said they followed Christ. Paul wanted to let them know the only One they should be following was Christ.

Paul asked them, "Were you baptized in the name of Paul? Was Paul crucified for you?" Paul goes on to say that he's thankful he did not baptize any of them so no one could say they were baptized in his name.

Paul then told the church to focus on Christ; not any other person. Paul told the church that his priority was to preach the gospel so that the cross was not emptied of its power. Basically, he was telling them not to look to anyone other than Christ for wisdom, power and strength.

When we look to other people instead of Christ, we lessen the gift Christ gave us when He died on the cross. That's one thing we shouldn't forget, no matter how poor our brains may be. Even though Paul couldn't remember all the names of the people he baptized, we'll cut him some slack because he definitely had his priorities straight.

Scripture: I Cor. 1:10-17

Prayer: Jesus, I don't want to ever put anyone in front of You. You died on the cross for me, and I am so grateful. Thank you for the gift of salvation. I never want to forget what You've sacrificed for me.

Wake up to Tomorrow

2010-11-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

The other day my third grade daughter came home from school crying. Her bad day got even worse when she made poor choices at home and I sent to her room without an after school snack. I told her she could come out of her room when she was ready to have a good attitude. When she didn’t come out for quite a while, I decided to check on her.

I opened her bedroom door noticed her room was dark. As my eyes searched for her in the darkness, I finally found her laying under her the covers in her bed. I slowly crawled under the covers with her and asked her what was wrong. She replied, “I just want to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow when it’s a new day.”

Amen sister!

I can relate, can you? I’ve had days when all I wanted to do is lay in bed under the covers, fall asleep and wake up tomorrow.

Maybe Jeremiah felt the same way. In Lamentations, he says that every day can have a new beginning, which makes me think he also had days when he wanted to crawl under the covers and hide out until morning!

He says, “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.”

Amen brother!

Scripture: Lamentations 3:21-26

*For an extra boost, repeat these verses out loud and claim them as your own. Speaking the words out loud helps to brand them on our hearts and gives them power in our lives. Each time you speak these verses, emphasize different words and phrases and they will give you a vision for God’s love, compassion and hope.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that our hope is in You and not in the things of this world. Your compassions are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness!

Divine Assignments

2010-10-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

This morning the kids and I were reading a devotional about divine assignments. (Not the 007 type, but pretty close!) There are many examples of divine assignments in the Bible. Mary’s was to give birth to the Messiah. It’s hard to top that one! Moses had the divine assignment of freeing the Israelites from slavery. These were clearly tasks ordained by God!

We started thinking about how we could be involved with God’s divine assignments. What would a divine assignment look like for a stay-at-home mom and two grade-school age kids? What does it look like for any of us?

The kids had some great ideas. They could help someone at school who is hurting. They could be extra kind and include someone in their class who is not always included. My ideas were to encourage a friend or write a blog entry that could draw someone closer to Christ. We all prayed that God would show us His divine assignment for us today and then the kids left for school.

I didn’t have long to wait for mine to be revealed. Soon after the kids left, a friend called. She has been going through a rough time lately and I knew my divine assignment was to encourage her. The Scripture passages I’ve been reading lately fit in perfectly with the issues she’s dealing with right now, so I shared what the Lord had shown me.

The important part of my divine assignment was that I had the tools to help my friend. There have been times in my life when I have not been in the Word and would not have been able to help her. I was thankful that I’d been reading the Bible and that God could use what He’s been showing me to help someone else.

Another friend of mine is often presented with divine assignments at her workplace. Co-workers and even clients come to her for advice and wisdom because they know her knowledge comes from the Lord. Some of her divine assignments are unexpected and take time out of her busy day, but I know that the Lord has placed her at her job so that He can use her to encourage others around her.

All of us have divine assignments. We just have to look for them and take advantage of them when they arise. If you don’t feel like you have any divine assignments, then pray that God will give you one. Read the Word daily so you have the right tools to complete the assignment. I can’t wait to find out about the divine assignments my kids had today!

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want You to give me divine assignments. I know I need to be in Your Word and in prayer so that I will see the assignments when You present them. I want to be ready and waiting when an assignment arises and I want to be used by You.

Later is Now

2010-10-26T10:03:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful summer day. It was so nice out, in fact, that I decided I would start the day by going for a jog. After all, if I waited until later to exercise, it would never happen. As I tied my running shoes, my thoughts drifted to the Bible on my coffee table. I paused at the door and briefly thought about doing my devotions, but I decided I could do them when I got back.

After my jog I needed to shower, of course. Then I needed to get the kids some breakfast and start a load of laundry. I had wanted to teach the kids tennis this summer, and today was perfect tennis weather. I told the kids to grab their racquets and we headed off to the courts. When we got home it was already time to make lunch. I switched the load of clothes and my thoughts drifted back to the Bible on the table. “Later, after lunch,” I thought.

After lunch some neighbor kids rang our doorbell and asked my kids to play outside. Since the kids seemed entertained, I decided to stain another section of our deck. Before long it was time to think about supper. I came inside and walked right past my Bible, mentally putting off my devotions until bedtime.

Supper came and went, and afterward our family enjoyed a round of golf. We came home exhausted and caught the end of the Twins game. All of a sudden it was 9:30 p.m. Time to get the kids in bed. By then, I was too tired to do my devotions. I rationalized that I would get up early tomorrow.

Even though the day had been great, I felt empty inside. Something was missing. We enjoyed a fun and fairly productive day, yet it did not feel complete. I knew what was missing, so I said a quick prayer before bed, thinking that I would definitely spend the first part of my day with God tomorrow.

Later.

The next morning I walked downstairs and saw my Bible. I realized what time it was.

It was later.

Sitting down on my favorite chair, I started reading my Bible. I felt God speaking to me through His Word, soothing and comforting me. I felt centered and loved. The sad thing is that He wanted me to feel these things the day before, but I had ignored Him. He could have encouraged me and strengthened me, but I kept telling Him, “Later.”

No matter what time of day it is, if you haven’t spent time with God yet, later is now!

Scripture: Psalm 63

Prayer: Lord, I’m sorry for passing You by. I’m sorry for walking past my Bible when I should be stopping to spend time with You. I’m sorry that I’ve made other things in my life more important than my relationship with You. Please forgive me and meet me today through Your Word.

Control Freak

2010-10-18T10:07:00.000-07:00

I’ve been called a lot of things including, “Type A,” a “leader,” “organized,” – you get the picture! One thing I’ve never been called is “flexible.” There’s a good reason for that – it’s because I’m not flexible. I really don’t like anything to change my plans or get in the way of what’s already been scheduled. Right now you’re probably thinking one of two things, either “I can relate,” or “Why doesn’t she just chill out?”

If you’re thinking I should chill out, then you’re right! I agree with you. Always being in control hasn’t brought me the happiness and fulfillment I thought it would. Somehow I thought by controlling all aspects of my life, I could insulate myself from the disappointments and challenges that life could bring. However, I am realizing that by trying to run my life, I am really missing out on living life to the fullest.

Currently I am reading through the book of James. The Lord keeps leading me back to chapter 4, verses 13-15. They say, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this city or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you don’t even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”

If that’s not convicting for a chronic controller, I don’t know what is! Basically, these verses are saying, “Who do you think you are? Are you so presumptuous that you actually think you have any control over your life? In the scheme of things, your time here on earth is the equivalent to one breath in someone’s entire lifetime. Stop trying to be in charge and get over yourself.” (Gretchyn’s Paraphrase Translation)

It’s silly and laughable when you really think about it. To think that any of us has control over our lives or even our family’s lives is crazy. These verses are a wake-up call to a control freak like me. No wonder God wants me to read them over and over again.

Now comes the interesting part. What does it mean to honestly give up the control that I so dearly love? I know God will reveal the answer to me as I seek His will for my life. Hey – maybe I can give up control in small pieces. That would be nice, but it’s probably missing the point! This control freak has a lot to learn!

Scripture: James 4:13-15

Prayer: Lord, I am sorry for thinking that I can control anything in my life. I know I have been missing out on blessings that You would love to give me by not being open to Your plan. I want to let You be in charge of my life and follow Your will.

J-O Y spells Prayer

2010-10-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

After reading that title, you may think I am out of my mind! Yes, I actually do know how to spell the word “prayer,” so please don’t go searching for my grade school teachers to let them know what a bad speller I am. Prayer is spelled
J-O-Y.

Have you ever noticed your prayer life becoming monotonous? At our house, we catch ourselves saying the same prayers over and over. Most of the time we say, “Thank you for this food,” or “Thank you for this day,” or “Thank you for dying on the cross for our sins.” None of these prayers are wrong, but when we pray the same words all the time, the words can start to mean less to us.

You’ve probably heard of the acronym JOY – “Jesus, Others, You spells JOY!” It means that putting Jesus first, others second and yourself last will result in a joyful life. It’s a good concept to adopt in life, and it also works in your prayer life. I decided to try it with my kids.

I explained that we were going to change our prayers to include Jesus first (thanking & praising Him for one of His many attributes), others second (praying for someone else) and then you (they could pray for a request about themselves). Two sets of eyes stared blankly back at me. They were underwhelmed with my new prayer method.

I could see I was going to have to help them with this. When we started praying with the new JOY method, the most challenging part was thinking of the attributes of God. Thank goodness for the book of Psalms! We found many words we could use to praise God – He’s merciful, He’s righteous, He’s our creator, He’s our protector – just to name a few!

Changing the way we pray has really helped to focus our attention on God and to learn more about His attributes at the same time. It has also been good to pray for others before we pray about ourselves. Using the JOY method has been a good change for our family. We are all finding out more about God and His characteristics, which seem to be limitless!

Now without looking it up in the dictionary or thinking about what you learned in school, how do you spell prayer?

Prayer: God, there are so many of your qualities and traits that go unnoticed unless we search for them in Your Word. Please forgive us for the times when we are stagnant in our prayer life. We want to give You the praise and honor You deserve, and we want to do it creatively. Thank you for the many facets of Your being – You are such an amazing God!

Scripture: Choose a Psalm that highlights God’s qualities

Misunderstandings

2010-10-12T07:46:00.000-07:00

It was Thursday and I was excited because that evening I had plans to meet a friend for dinner. Just to be safe, I texted my friend to confirm the time and place we would meet. A few minutes later my phone rang. It was my friend explaining she thought we had planned to meet the following Thursday. One of us had gotten the date wrong, which created our misunderstanding.

Similar to misunderstandings in life, I believe there are times we can misunderstand Scripture. Sometimes, without even realizing it or trying to do so, we can think a verse means one thing when it really means another.

This happened to me recently as I read the book of James. James 1:5-8 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.”

When I was growing up, my class memorized these verses at our Christian school. Unfortunately, I misunderstood their meaning. I used to think James was saying that I should bring my specific requests to God and then believe that He will answer my prayer according to His will. When I read these verses as an adult, I was surprised to realize that I had misunderstood their true message.

In reality, James is telling us that if we need wisdom in our lives, we should ask God for it. These verses don’t say we should ask God to fix our situation, but that we should ask God for wisdom to deal with our circumstance. He promises that God will give us wisdom when we ask, on one condition. We must believe and not doubt.

Lately I’ve realized the second part of those verses is actually the hardest part for me. I can say I believe God will give me wisdom, but do I really trust and believe, or do I keep some of the control for myself? I’m a planner and a controller, so I don’t like to leave any part of my life up to someone else. James speaks clearly, though, that we must ask for wisdom and believe that God will give it to us, or we cannot expect to receive anything from God.

Those are powerful words. Now that I understand their true meaning, I am working on putting it into practice in my daily life. When a challenge arises, I now ask for wisdom to deal with the challenge and then tell God I believe He is in control (not me!). This is a new concept for me to implement in my life. However, now that James set me straight, I need to learn from my misunderstanding!

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for clarifying what Scripture verses really mean. I don’t want to misunderstand Your Word. Thank you for Your promise that if we ask for wisdom, You will give it to us generously, without finding fault. Please clear up any misunderstandings I may have in my spiritual walk so that I may grow closer to You.

Scripture: James 1

He Makes Me Feel Safe

2010-10-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

Recently I was listening to a young woman talk about her husband. She was asked why she was attracted to him and what she liked about him. Her response was simple. “He makes me feel safe,” she replied. Her words resonated with me because I think that in general, we all want to feel like we are safe.

For a little while yesterday I did not feel safe. This may seem trivial to some people, but if anyone has a phobia of some sort, you will relate to my predicament. I thought I heard a mouse in the house. Some people are scared of snakes, other of spiders and I’m petrified of mice and rodents in general. Stuart Little – not cute. Tom & Jerry – not cute. Even that new “chef” cartoon rat – not cute.

So when I thought I heard a mouse in my house yesterday I sat paralyzed on my stairs. My pride evaporated as I called my friend next door and she came over with her 5-year-old son to help me look for the mouse. While her son sat on the stairs with me, Nikki searched and could not find even a hint of mouse droppings. Only then did I feel safe enough to get off of the stairs and help her look.

“Mouse!” Yelled her son from his perch on the stairs. My heart stopped beating as I looked at him for a clue as to where the mouse was. “Just kidding,” he said as he doubled over in laughter. Not funny!

I’m a little embarrassed to say that the mouse noise I heard was really my ice cube maker frantically trying to make ice. As my dear, mouse-hunting friend left, I thanked her for helping me feel safe in my house again.

I realize that many of you are going through situations that are much more critical than a mouse in your house. You may feel open, vulnerable and in need of a safe place to wait out the storm you’re enduring.

Yesterday I listed some verses that proclaimed “God is our refuge.” I looked up the word refuge in the dictionary. It means (1)The state of being protected, as from danger or hardship. (2) A place that provides protection or shelter: haven. Something to which one may turn for help, relief, or escape.

In the midst of our trials, God wants to be our protector, our shelter, our escape. Will you tuck yourself under God’s shelter today? Will you let Him be your protector and trust that He will do what He’s promised? He is the only one who can truly help you feel safe in the midst of turmoil.

Scripture: Ps. 18:2, Ps. 62:5-8

Prayer: Lord, when trials and scary situations enter our lives, thank you that we can turn to You for protection, guidance and safety. We want to trust You to hold us through the difficult times in our lives. Life brings many ups and downs, but we know that You are constant through it all.

Ok, I get it!

2010-10-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had the feeling that God was trying to tell you something? I’ve had that feeling lately.

My scripture readings over the last few days have started to develop a common theme. I’ve been reading Psalms 59-62, and I’ve been struck by the concept that God is our refuge. My last blog entry talked about God being our refuge during the storms of life. Then today I was talking to my sister-in-law who’s in charge of women’s ministries at her church in Texas. I asked her what they have going on right now and she said they’re working on a women’s retreat about refuge.

Ok, I get it! I think God wants to show me something!

To really get a handle on the fact that God wants to be our place of refuge, let’s do something together. Print off the following verses and circle every time a word relating to “refuge” is mentioned. The psalmist lists various words for refuge such as “fortress,” “rock,” “shield,” etc.

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Psalm 18:2

“O my Strength, I watch for You;
You, O God, are my fortress.”
Psalm 59:9

“But I will sing of your strength,
In the morning I will sing of your love;
For you are my fortress,
My refuge in times of trouble.
O my Strength, I sing praise to You;
You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.”
Psalm 59:16-17

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
My hope comes from Him,
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will not be shaken,
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your hearts to Him,
For God is our refuge.”
Psalm 62:5-8

Now make a list of each word you found as synonym for refuge.

Here is the list I came up with: rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn & strength. Do we have the same list? These words attest to a powerful God, don’t they? There’s more to discover about God and His desire to be our refuge, so let’s learn more about it together. Stay posted, and maybe we can say, “Ok, I get it” together!

Prayer: Lord, what do you have to show us through Your Word today? We read that You want to be our refuge because we see You’ve mentioned it over and over in Scripture. Please show each one of us how to apply this concept to our lives as we dig into these Bible verses.

Scripture: See above verses!

Divine Assignments

2010-10-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

This morning the kids and I were reading a devotional about divine assignments. (Not the 007 type, but pretty close!) There are many examples of divine assignments in the Bible. Mary’s was to give birth to the Messiah. It’s hard to top that one! Moses had the divine assignment of freeing the Israelites from slavery. These were clearly tasks ordained by God!

We started thinking about how we could be involved with God’s divine assignments. What types of divine assignments can a stay-at-home mom and two grade-school age kids, or any of us for that matter, encounter in our daily lives?

The kids had some great ideas. They could help someone at school who is hurting. They could be extra kind and include someone in their class who is not always included. My ideas were to encourage a friend or write a blog entry that could draw someone closer to Christ. We all prayed that God would show us His divine assignment for today and then the kids left for school.

I didn’t have long to wait for mine to be revealed. Soon after the kids left, a friend called. She has been going through a rough time lately and I knew my divine assignment was to encourage her. The Scripture passages I’ve been reading lately fit in perfectly with the issues she’s dealing with right now, so I shared what the Lord had shown me.

The important part of my divine assignment was that I had the tools to help my friend. There have been times in my life when I have not been in the Word and would not have been able to help her. I was thankful that I’d been reading the Bible and that God could use what He’s been showing me to help someone else.

Another friend of mine is often presented with divine assignments at her workplace. Co-workers and even clients come to her for advice and wisdom because they know her knowledge comes from the Lord. Some of her divine assignments are unexpected and take time out of her busy day, but I know that the Lord has placed her at her job so that He can use her to encourage others around her.

All of us have divine assignments. We just have to look for them and take advantage of them when they arise. If you don’t feel like you have any divine assignments, then pray that God will give you one. Read the Word daily so you have the right tools to complete the assignment. I can’t wait to find out about the divine assignments my kids had today!

Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want You to give me divine assignments. I know I need to be in Your Word and in prayer so that I will see the assignments when You present them. I want to be ready and waiting when an assignment arises and I want to be used by You.

Searching for Refuge

2010-10-01T06:38:00.000-07:00

This summer my mom and I took the kids up to Minnesota’s captivating North Shore. It rained most of the time, but we still enjoyed breathtaking views of the beautiful rocky shoreline. The rain continued through our entire trip home. As we reached my mom’s house to drop her off, the rain’s intensity increased and so did my desire for the kids and I to reach our own home and our own beds.

A few minutes after leaving mom’s house the weather turned ugly. I have never driven through such a horrible storm as I did that day. I could not see even one foot in front of me as the driving rain poured down and then it began to hail. When I saw lightning flash three times on the road in front of me, I knew the kids and I needed to pray, literally, for our lives.

I searched for a place on the side of the road to pull over. I longed for some driveway or another side road where we could take refuge. If we stayed on the road and pulled over, we risked the chance of someone coming behind us and hitting us. If we turned around to go back to my parent’s house, we risked the chance of someone coming from the other direction and hitting us. It was one of the scariest moments of my life.

“We’re going to turn around. Pray!” I told the kids. With a desperate prayer, I swung the car around and started the scary journey back to my parent’s home. After fifteen long minutes that felt like hours, we arrived at our place of refuge. It felt so good to be safe in a warm, dry place.

I was reminded of this story today as I read in Psalms. Quite a few verses in the book of Psalms talk about God as our refuge.

Psalm 57:1 “…for in You my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.”
Psalm 59:16-17 “For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
Psalm 61: 3 “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.”

These are just a few verses that I’ve read lately, so I’m sure there are plenty more about God being our refuge. That day in the midst of a physical storm in my life, God was there, guiding my car to a safe place of refuge. When you or I are experiencing an emotional storm, He is also there. The Bible says we can take refuge in the shadow of His wings.

No matter what kind of storm you’re going through in life, take refuge in God. He wants to put His arms around you and embrace you. He wants you to take refuge in the shadow of His wings until the storm has passed. Like me on that horrible night, you may have to go through the storm first, but take heart in knowing He will be right beside you until the disaster has passed.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 57, 59 & 61

Prayer: Lord, we do not enjoy going through storms, whether they’re physical or emotional. However, we know storms are part of life here on earth. Thank you for being such a loving and caring God. Thank you for promising to be our refuge until the storm has passed. Thank you for coming along side us as we encounter storms in our lives. We will trust in You.

Silent Step Could Mean Big Changes

2010-09-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

This year is one of those “bonus” school years for me because both of my kids are in the same school. This unique “bonus” happens once every three years. It’s an ideal situation because I only have to keep track of what is going on at one school instead of two!

Unfortunately, the upper elementary school where both kids attend doesn’t seem to need as many parent volunteers as the primary school did. While I miss being involved in their classrooms, I’ve found out I can still volunteer in other areas. Now I’m on the call list to help with the school’s quarterly testing. It’s not the same as being in their classes, which made me a little sad. However, the job did come with the title, “Volunteer Test Proctor.” Who in their right mind would turn down a job with such a prestigious name?

As I proctored some tests yesterday, I realized that there was a higher purpose to being a Volunteer Test Proctor. (I really enjoy using that title.) I decided I would use the testing time to pray for each one of the students in my computer lab by name. As I walked around the room, I prayed that God would protect them, that they would have a good school year, and most importantly, I prayed that they would seek God and know Him on a personal level.

When they finished their test, I told each one of them that they’d done a good job and to have a good day. I tried to compliment them on something they were wearing (it happened to be crazy hat day so it was pretty easy to start up conversations) or ask them about the book they’d brought to read after their test. I don’t know what each child’s home life is like, so I tried to be a bright spot in their day.

I Timothy 2:1-4 says, “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone … God our Savior wants all men to be saved.” Maybe you don’t have a school setting available to you, but you could go around your office and pray for each co-worker by name. At the check-out line, you can silently pray for the clerk. As you drive out of your neighborhood, you can pray over one house a day and ask God to be present in that home.

There are many unique ways to pray for people every day. Silent prayers can make a huge difference, even if the person you’re praying for is a stranger. Start today by finding someone you can bless through anonymous prayer. You may never know the outcome of that prayer, but we don’t have to know the end result for prayer to be effective. We can trust in God’s Word that says He wants all men to be saved. Your intercession can make all the difference in the world.

Scripture: I Timothy 2:1-4

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you allow us to help change the world through prayers. Please help us to take notice of the people around us who need prayer. Thank you that You want all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. We want to take the time to pray for others, even if we’ve never met them and will never see them again. Thank you for the power of prayer.

Dating Again

2010-09-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Back in March, I started doing something I called “50 First Dates.” (Check the March archives for the “50 First Dates” entry.) I felt God calling me to spend the first part of my day with Him, so I decided to commit to spending 50 mornings in a row with Him. Those “dates” became some of the sweetest experiences I’ve ever had with God. I felt close so to Him, and I was really growing in my faith.

After the 50 days were done, I became lax on how diligently I was spending the first part of my day with God. I’d miss one here or there then I’d miss a couple days in a row. As time went on, I could tell my relationship with God was getting weaker. I wasn’t keeping Him as a priority in my day. I’d justify not spending time with Him in the morning by telling myself I’d spend time with Him later. Sometimes later never came.

A friend and I decided to hold each other accountable to spending time early in the morning with God. We called it giving God our “first and best” to God. However, we realized that the first moment we wake up in the morning may not actually be the “best” time to spend with God. (If you’ve read my blog then you’re acutely aware I am not a morning person!)

We decided that we would change it to giving the first part of the day to God, either first thing when we woke up or right after the kids left for school -- but no later than that!

Today was a new beginning. Of course I started after the kids went to school. I’m looking forward to 49 more dates with God. After that, I’ll start 50 more dates until I hit 365. I realized I can’t afford to stop the dates or even to postpone the dates. I want that close fellowship with my Savior.

After the kids left for school, I read James 4:8 which says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” It’s so simple. If we spend time with God, He will come near to us. I am clinging to that promise in James and I’m looking forward to what God wants to show me.

Scripture: James 4:8

Prayer: Lord, what are we missing on the days we choose not to spend time with You? Why would we choose not to spend time in close fellowship with the Creator of the universe? We are sorry for all of the times we don’t put You first in our day. Thank you for the promise in Your Word that if we come near to You, You will come near to us. Thank you for the gift of a relationship with You. We promise not to take it for granted.

Panic Mode

2010-09-22T06:54:00.001-07:00

On Monday of last week I have to admit I was freaking out. You see, my husband and I are going to Florida in two months and we need someone to watch our kids. All of a sudden on Monday I started to panic. I needed to find six nights of childcare and for some reason, I needed to do it on that Monday.

Do you ever have days like that – days where something that really isn’t an emergency all of a sudden seems extremely important? That’s how it was for me last Monday. I was feeling a sense of urgency to find a temporary home for my kids and I worked myself up into panic mode.

I tried not to sound as desperate as I felt when I sent out an e-mail to a few friends. I was hoping that if each of them could take my kids for a night or two, then maybe things would work out.

Soon I got a phone call from a friend saying that my kids could stay with her family for the whole week. A couple of hours later I got an e-mail from another friend who had already arranged her work schedule and she also offered to take my kids for the entire week. At this point I was speechless (not a common thing for me)!

While I was still reeling from my friends’ very generous offers, I headed over to the school for parent orientation night. I saw another friend I had contacted earlier that day. She asked me if I had read my e-mails tonight. I told her I hadn’t. She said, “You may want to read them. I sent you one that details why our family should get to watch your kids for the whole week.”

Again, I was speechless and amazed. My first thought was, “God is so good.” I was overwhelmed by the knowledge that the God who created the universe cares about me so much that he found childcare for me. Now that’s a caring God!

As I sat through the orientation, I don’t remember hearing much about what the teacher said. (Sorry Mr. Tweten!) My heart was so full of love and thankfulness that I couldn’t focus very well on what was going on around me. I can’t remember a time where I felt so loved by my friends. I have some of the greatest friends in the world, and that evening I was reminded of that fact.

It’s funny how just that morning I was in panic/freak out mode. Then God, in His infinite love and mercy, decided to bless me – and not just bless me, but bless the socks off me! All I could do was stand in awe of Him and fall more deeply in love with Him.

Scripture: Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Prayer: God, You fill my cup and not just to the top, but overflowing! Thank you for friends who lift me up and encourage me by their selfless actions. God, You bless me beyond measure.

The Foolish Man with a Talking Donkey

2010-09-03T10:04:00.000-07:00

When you picture a donkey, what is the first word that comes to mind? Ok, you probably shouldn’t say that word out loud, but I’m guessing it wasn’t the word “smart.” I can think of a lot of animals that I would consider smarter than a donkey. When I see bees spreading pollen or hear about a dog that saved someone’s life, it reminds me of how smart some animals are. However, when I think about donkeys, “smart” isn’t the first word that comes to mind!

There’s a story in Numbers 22 about a man named Balaam and his donkey. The story begins one morning as Balaam and his donkey set out for Moab. However, God did not want him to go on this journey, so He sent an angel to stand in the middle of the road. Balaam could not see the angel, but his donkey could! The Bible says the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a sword drawn. The donkey (which the Bible says was female – could it be this is why it was so smart?) turned off the road into a field. Balaam was mad at his transportation for going off the path and he beat the donkey.

As they continued to travel they ended up in a path between two vineyards with walls on both sides. Again the angel of the Lord stood in their way and this time the donkey saw the angel and pressed against a wall, crushing Balaam’s foot. Balaam beat her again.

Amidst the strange happenings of the day, Balaam continued on his journey and the angel again tried to block his path. When the donkey saw the angel for the third time, she laid down underneath Balaam. She may have been thinking, “Enough is enough! Maybe there’s a reason this angel keeps blocking our path!” Balaam again got mad and beat her.

To make a strange day even more absurd, the donkey spoke to Balaam and asked, “What have I done to make you beat me three times?”

Even stranger yet, Balaam answered her, like it’s an every-day occurrence to talk to your donkey! “You have made a fool out of me! If I had a sword, I’d kill you right now!” he answered.

“Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” (it’s hard to even type this because, really, donkeys don’t talk!) asked the donkey.

“No,” replied Balaam.

Then Balaam’s eyes were opened and he saw the angel of the Lord. The puzzling events of the day must have fit together as he realized that God was using his donkey to halt his journey.

Balaam wasn’t supposed to go on the journey, but he did so against God’s will. Then when God used his donkey to try and stop him, he beat his donkey because he “felt like a fool.” Balaam’s pride took over and how he looked was more important to him than what God was trying to tell him. He was willing to kill his method of transportation to save face.

Is that how we react when someone hurts us or offends us? I see it in my kids when someone says something that hurts them. They feel bad or foolish, so they lash out with words or actions that are worse than what was done to them. It’s such a pride thing!

I know I’ve said things to others out of anger or hurt feelings and I’ve regretted it later. If someone makes me feel foolish, my natural reaction is to want them to feel foolish, too. It’s not right. I should just turn away and I shouldn’t lash out. Sometimes that’s easier said than done. However, I don’t want God to have to follow me around and use taking animals to get me to see the light in this area. I want to learn how to deal correctly with situations when I’m wronged!

It’s ok to acknowledge that someone has hurt us or wronged us, but it’s not ok to get back at them. We may need to talk to that person and let them know what they said was hurtful, but it should always be done in a loving manner. When we’re in the midst of the situation, it’s better to hold our tongue than to say something we regret later. If only Balaam would’ve taken the hint and turned around, he would have skipped the whole part about feeling foolish and he would have have spared his donkey a lot of pain!

Prayer: Lord, people are going to say or do things that hurt me – it’s a fact of life. When they do, please help me keep my pride in check. Guide my reaction so that I do not respond out of anger or frustration. Help me to stand up for myself in a Godly way and to show grace and love to others … even those who say hurtful things.

Scripture: Numbers 22

Pick up Your Coffee and Follow Him

2010-08-07T07:26:00.000-07:00

Imagine yourself casually strolling down the streets of your town. You may be window shopping or just sipping a cup of coffee as you enjoy the day. As you stop to glance in a new boutique, you realize there is someone beside you. As you turn to face Him, you notice a kind man, a stranger looking at you like He knows you.

“I’ve been wanting to speak with you since I saw you get your coffee,” He says to you.

“Do I know you?” You ask, not really afraid, but a little perplexed.

“You may have heard of Me, but we haven’t officially met in person. My name is Jesus, and I want you to put down your coffee and follow Me.” He states this so matter-of-factly that you immediately set down your favorite latte and walk with Him. There are others following this man, too, and you suddenly realize this is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and King of Israel.

Of course, this is a modern-day example of what it may have been like when Jesus chose his disciples. John 1:35-51 shows Jesus choosing His first disciples. Andrew, Peter and Philip followed Jesus without hesitation, but Nathanael waivered. Personally, I can relate more to Nathanael’s reaction than the other three who followed so quickly. Change doesn’t come easy for me, and I don’t think it came easy for Nathanael either.

Nathanael needed a little confirmation before he would take the plunge and follow Jesus. “How do You know me?” Nathanael questioned. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were sitting under the fig tree before Philip called you.” Jesus knew all about Nathanael before He even met him. This intimate knowledge convinced Nathanael and he replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”

Let’s talk about the other three disciples for a minute. According to this scripture passage, they followed Jesus without question from the beginning. Reading these verses made me wonder what it was about Jesus that caused these men to quit their jobs and refocus their lives to follow Christ. My conclusion is that the reasons for following Jesus are the same today as they were 2,000 years ago. Anyone who meets Him wants to learn more about Him.

The disciples followed Jesus because they could tell there was something special about Him. They wanted to know more, so they dropped everything to follow Him. It’s the same for us. The more we learn about Him, the more we want to know. The more I dig into the Bible, the more I want to learn about Jesus. There is something amazing about Him that draws us in today just as it drew in the disciples so long ago.

One irony is that unlike the opening story, I am usually not setting down my coffee to follow Jesus, I’m picking it up! The best part of my day is sitting on my favorite couch with a hot cup of coffee, reading the Bible and getting to know more about the Lord. “How do you know me?” I ask Him during one of these quiet moments. “I saw you here while you with your vanilla hazelnut coffee.” That’s all I need to know.

Scripture Reading: John 1:35-51

Prayer: Jesus, it’s amazing that you know us just by looking at us. After all, You created us and so You know everything about us. Please help us to make time for you each day to get to know you better.

One of Those Days

2010-07-28T07:47:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had “one of those days?” I recently experienced “one.” I was mad, frustrated and annoyed with everyone around me. You could say I was tightly wound. It’s a good thing I don’t own a dog, because I probably would’ve kicked him!

It was a day where it seemed I could do nothing right. My husband and I were arguing about minor miscommunications. My kids weren’t obeying. No one liked the supper I made, and I was beating myself up over not being a good enough friend. I was starting to feel less and less valuable as the minutes ticked on.

We ended up running errands as a family that night. As many of you know, kids and errands don’t always mix well. This time it was a lethal combination. To give an example, even a store clerk had to reprimand my kids. It was not my most shining moment as a parent. By the time we arrived home at 9:30, I was mentally exhausted.

My son, however, seemed to have a bounce in his step. There’s nothing more annoying to someone in a mental pity party than to see a cheerful person. The minute we got out of the car, he ran up to me and excitedly asked, “Mom, can I tell you something?”

I blankly stared at him with the I-can’t-believe-you-would-dare-to-be-cheerful-after-what-you-pulled-at-the-store-tonight look. He watched my face for a few seconds, assessing the situation. Then he carefully said, “I’ll just tell you about it tomorrow” and turned and ran in the house. Smart kid.

The rest of the evening didn’t improve much, so I was hoping the next day would be better. Since the kids were grounded, it turned out to be a productive day around home. We baked a triple batch of banana bread, cleaned the wood floors and even played a game of “Life” together.

We also went into the Community Center so they could burn off some energy in the pool and I could work out my previous frustrations in the fitness room. As I was cruising on the elliptical machine, the song “Who I am in You” by Addison Road played on my iPod.

Oh, you’re bringing me to life
And I’m finding who I am in You
Who I am in You
Oh, You’re changing me inside,
And I’m finding who I am in You,
Who I am in You

As I listened to the song, I realized that my self-imposed inadequacies fade when God looks at me. It’s who I am in Him that really matters. I had been focusing on what I thought were my failures instead of seeing myself as God sees me. As the words to that song played, I felt God’s love wash over me and the painful memories of the previous day faded in comparison.

Scripture verse: “From everlasting to everlasting,
The Lord’s love is with those who fear Him,
And His righteousness with their children’s children.”
Psalm 103:17

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for loving me in spite of my failures and inadequacy. You love me not just today or tomorrow; Your love is from everlasting to everlasting. Even when I am frustrated with myself and those around me, Your love is always there for me. I need to focus on who I am in You and cling to that beautiful thought. Thank you for extending Your righteousness to my children and grandchildren. I am blessed by Your love for me and for my family.

Happy Birthday Me

2010-07-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday yesterday. I want you to know that I’m not a birthday diva. Really, I’m not. However, if someone wants to call me to wish me happy birthday or send me a card, I’m not going to turn them away. That would be rude. After all, you only turn 29 … once!

Who am I to refuse a free Caribou birthday drink or a complimentary Pollo Fundido and fried ice cream at Mexican Village? And if my family wants to get me a pedicure for my birthday gift, I will humbly accept it as the loving gift it was intended to be. If my son wants to make my bed, who am I to refuse that once-in-a-lifetime experience? If my kids want to stand a little closer to me on my birthday or hold my hand a little more often, then you can bet I’m going to soak in all the extra attention that my birthday brings.

I can’t help it if my little friend Sawyer and my niece Stella call to sing me an adorable birthday song. When texts pop up with sweet birthday wishes and encouraging words, I have to admit I feel pretty special. When I look at my facebook wall and see all the birthday messages from friends and family, I am touched and blessed to know that so many people acknowledged my special day. I’m not a birthday diva – not at all!

I am so thankful for all the birthday wishes, gifts and free food and drink, but there is more to my birthday than that. As you can see, I love all the attention my birthday brings, but it would mean nothing without love of one person; my Lord. It’s wonderful to have the love of my family and friends, but it’s astounding to have a Savior who loves me. He shows me He loves me every day through His Word, through conversations in prayer, through nature and through people He places in my life.

Psalm 16:2 says, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” Not even birthdays! God gives me everything good in my life.

In Psalm 16:11 David says, “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m going to love getting my pedicure, but eternal pleasures sound pretty good, too. I wonder what a heavenly pedicure would feel like?

Scripture passage: Psalm 16

Prayer: Lord, thank you for every good thing You’ve brought into my life. I acknowledge that You are the reason I am on this earth and I want to thank you for giving me life and for giving me the opportunity to spend eternity with You. You do fill me with joy and I give You honor for every blessing in my life. Help me to use my life to honor You. In Your name I pray, Amen.

It's Sooooooo Easy!

2010-07-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

One of my high school teachers used to say a phrase that still echoes in my head today. After he’d finish teaching his lesson, he’d add the statement, “It’s sooooooo easy” using his patronizing voice. The tiny word “so” was never as long as when his low voice would drag it out. That phrase always made me feel like I was in idiot if I didn’t catch on to what he was teaching that day.

I was reminded of this phrase the other day when I was reading in 1 John. I came across one simple verse that epitomizes the Christian life. “And this is His (God’s) command: to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us (1 John 3:23).” You can see why I fell in love with that verse! In that one verse, we have the essence of what it means to be a Christian. I thought to myself, “It’s sooooo easy!” Even though living the Christian life isn’t always easy, God made it easy for us to understand what being a Christian is all about.

The first part of that verse says that we become a child of Christ by believing in the name of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. John 6:40 tells us that “Anyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life.” Believing in Jesus is not always easy or simple for some people. There are many reasons that people use for not believing in Jesus. However, to those who do choose to believe in Him and are willing to trust and serve Him, He has promised eternal life.

The second part of the verse says to love one another as He commanded us. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is where we show we are true disciples of Christ. After we accept Christ, we are instructed to love one another. Notice that there are no stipulations to this verse. (I kind of wish there were!) What about the co-worker who has it out for us? What about the Christian friend who has hurt us? What about that family member who works on our last nerve? What about people who have done despicable things? Are we really supposed to love them?

The end of this verse makes it clear that we are called to love everyone. Sometimes it’s not soooooo easy to love certain people. It’s easy for me to love people in my life who are kind to me. It’s a lot harder to love people who are difficult.

God set the ultimate example of love by sending His only Son to die for a sinful world. That sinful world includes you and me. We have done nothing to deserve God’s love, yet while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Loving others can mean different things for different people. Some people love others by helping those in need. Some people show love by participating in a missions trip. Some people show love by choosing to forgive someone who’s hurt them. Other people show love by reaching out to people in their community. There are many ways to show God's love.

No matter how God wants you to show love, the important thing is that you are doing it. It’s not always soooooo easy to show love. Take God for example. I’m sure it wasn’t sooooo easy for Him to give up His Son and watch Him suffer, but He did it out of love. After God’s ultimate sacrifice, all He asks of us is that we believe in Jesus and love others. That doesn’t seem like much to ask!

Scripture reading: I John 3

Prayer: Lord, I believe in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. I want to obey Your command by loving others. Please show me how to love others around me and in other parts of the world. Thank you for Your sacrifice of love for us when You sent Your Son to die on the cross for my sins.

Shut up and Listen

2010-06-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Being still is a foreign concept to many of us. I know I often have a hard time quieting my mind. Sometimes when I pray or read my devotions, my mind wanders off to a hundred different places. What do I need at the grocery store? What do I have on my agenda today? I haven’t called my friend back yet. There are so many thoughts going through my mind during devotions, but not all of them pertain to God!

Our world today offers such a wide variety of conveniences that we don’t feel we should ever have to be still and wait for anything. I can get a hold of people in a flash through my cell phone, e-mail or facebook. Sometimes, if I don’t need an immediate response, I actually send a letter through the mail (how archaic) or use my landline to make a phone call. If the person I call isn’t home, I can leave a message for them to call me back as soon as possible.

In less than 5 minutes I can get a pizza, sub sandwich, fresh salad, burger, chicken dinner or a loaded burrito. At home I can make a skillet meal in 15 minutes and then put the dishes in my dishwasher, which will clean & sterilize an entire load of dishes in less than two hours. I can microwave leftovers in one minute and heat up my coffee in 20 seconds. Yesterday I actually stopped the microwave after 19 seconds because I couldn’t wait any longer!

It’s hard to practice the discipline of being still in a world where we don’t have to wait for anything. Sometimes we even use multiple modern conveniences at once. For instance, I can talk on my phone at home (through my “Madonna” headset) while I wash & fold laundry, clean my house or cook dinner. I like to call it multitasking! However, when I multitask, I’m not 100 percent focused on any one task.

In Psalm 46:10 the Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” When I was reading this verse, I realized something. God doesn’t want a percentage of our attention. He wants all of it. When I spend time with God, I need to be fully devoted to Him. I need to be still and listen.

Sometimes I pray about the same request over and over. I wonder why God is not answering my prayers. Then I think about how much time I’ve actually spent with Him being still, reading the Scriptures and listening. It is possible to pray and yet not listen to God. There are poignant words to a Christian song that say, “I try to hear from heaven, but I talk the whole time.” Those lyrics hit me hard because I am guilty of praying and not hearing. I talk to God, but I don’t listen quietly for His response.

A big part of seeking God involves being still. It’s a discipline. We need to practice being still and restructure our devotional time to include quietly listening. Keep a notebook nearby so that when your mind wanders, you can write down your thoughts (like your grocery list and who you forgot to call) and deal with them later.

If we want to hear from heaven, we need to shut up. Please don’t tell my kids I said shut up or I’ll get in big trouble! I’m going to conclude by rephrasing Psalm 46:10-11 into a prayer.

Prayer:
Lord, I am going to shut up and listen. I acknowledge that You are God. You are more than enough for any situation I encounter, so I will trust You. Part of trusting You is presenting my requests to You and then sitting quietly to listen for Your response. You may not answer immediately, but I realize that You can’t answer at all if I’m not listening! You will be exalted among the nations and You will be exalted in the earth. You are that amazing! The Lord Almighty is always with me, He is the God of Jacob and He’s my fortress. You have always been around and You will protect me through any storm in life.

Scripture reading: Psalm 46

Because God Says So!

2010-06-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was walking in Minneapolis with some friends. As we walked, we passed a homeless man who was asking for spare change. While most of us looked away and ignored him, one of my friends walked over and gave him some money. I think her act of kindness touched our hearts and also taught us a valuable lesson. God wants us to help others, not walk by them.

I can only speak for myself when I say I was humbled by that experience. In the past I have walked or driven past people who ask for money. It’s not that I don’t care about them, it’s more that I don’t care enough to do anything to help them. My heart would feel bad for them, that they had no place to live and that they were surviving on spare change. My hands, however, did not bear any of the fruit from my heart.

When I graduated from college I worked in the city and saw people asking for money every day. I became callous to their needs. I began to justify the fact that I walked right past them by telling myself these people with their tin cans or guitars looked perfectly capable of getting a job. Maybe they were just lazy. They probably didn’t make good use of their money while they had it, so why should I be responsible to help them out of their crisis?

Why? Because God says so!

Psalm 41:1 says, “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.” My study Bible says that God wants our generosity to reflect His own free giving. As He has blessed us, we should bless others. Now that’s something to wrap my little brain around! He has given me so many earthly blessings and on top of that I have the promise of eternal life with Him. With that in mind, I feel humbled when I think of how many needy people I’ve walked by in my life.

This weekend my husband and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary in downtown Minneapolis. We took a little time to “people watch” after dinner. I may seem like a redneck for even saying this, but I have to admit it was fun to sit and watch all the “city folk” and see the diversity of people enjoying the city that evening. As we sat on a bench, a homeless man came up to us and asked us for a quarter. At first we said we didn’t have a quarter, but as he walked away I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me.

I quickly decided that it was time I stop feeling bad for people in need and actually do something about it. I called to him, “Sir!” As he turned around, I reached into my purse to find some money. It was only a couple of dollars, but he seemed grateful. I realized that it didn’t matter why he was homeless or how he got to that place in life. What matters is that God wants us to have regard for the weak and needy.

Prayer: Lord, help me to not only see the needs of others around me, but to do something about their needs! Please show me how I can help someone today.

Scripture: Psalm 41

Spuds and Studs

2010-05-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

A Story About Mother’s Day

When my husband told me that he was taking care of Mother’s Day dinner, I felt like I was in heaven! I think most women enjoy a day off from cooking and this was going to be my lucky day! In my mind I was planning all of the ways I would be relaxing while my husband slaved away in the kitchen. It was going to be great!

We traveled to Barry’s brother’s house on Saturday and I was already salivating in anticipation of the food that would be prepared the next day. I was picturing the dinner table in my mind. However, when I closed my eyes, all I could see was grilled chicken and potato chips. I imagined a beautiful table set with placemats, nice dishes, chicken and chips.

Why did this picture keep coming to mind? Maybe it’s because reality had sunk in. It’s a known fact that my husband doesn’t like to cook. He is great at grilling, but he doesn’t cook. The only things I’ve seen him make are frozen pizza’s and grilled cheese.

I started to panic. Maybe I wasn’t going to have my lavish Mother’s Day dinner after all.

My fears were confirmed on Saturday night as my husband and brother-in-law prepared the grocery list. My sister-in-law and I were telling them we’d like to have grilled chicken and baked potatoes. We suggested they should buy a five-pound bag of white potatoes. “Do you know where to find them?” she asked. “Yeah, we’ll just buy baked potatoes,” answered my husband (who only bakes frozen pizzas).

This is where the panic really set in.

After a trip to two grocery stores and the Dairy Queen (to get me a Blizzard), they returned home.

Before we turned in for bed, we asked my brother-in-law how he was going to prepare the baked potatoes. “We’re going to grill them,” he replied. My sister-in-law explained there wouldn’t be room on the grill with all the chicken. “Then we’ll put them in the microwave,” he said.

More panic.

Just then Barry walked in the room and we asked him if he knew how to cook a baked potato. He seemed very sure of himself as he answered, “You chop them up and cook them in a pot.” Hilarious laughter ensued as we asked them what part of baked potato they weren’t understanding! So far they were going to grill, microwave and boil our baked potatoes! When Barry asked if he should peel the potatoes before he boiled them, I was laughing so hard I almost lost it.

I’m not a fortune teller, but I could see a trip to McDonald’s in our future!

In the end we didn’t make a fast food run, and our meal was great. Barry cleaned the potatoes and my sister-in-law wrapped them in foil and baked them.

After dinner it was time for a dessert of angel food cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream. We snuck in the kitchen to find Barry frosting the angel food cake with the whipped cream. He had the whole cake almost covered by the time we got there. I guess it all gets mixed up in your stomach regardless of how it’s presented!

As I thought about the events of this weekend, the words of Ephesians 5:25 came to mind. It says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” My husband showed he loved me by making an effort to do something that’s out of his comfort zone. The man who only cooks pizza and grilled cheese did his best to make me a special Mother’s Day lunch.

We dined on grilled chicken, baked potatoes, dill pickle chips and Cool Whip-frosted angel food cake. My husband set the table with the good dishes (and some dusty water glasses he didn’t know he was supposed to rinse out). The point is that he tried very hard to make it a special day.

When I close my eyes I can still picture the beautifully-set table. I can still taste the lemon-pepper chicken. I can hear the unmistakable laughter of family. The memories of this Mother’s Day will last forever, thanks to my husband, the stud who dared to cook a spud!

If you want to know more, read Ephesians 5.

Questions: What have you done lately to bless someone else? Is there something the Holy Spirit is telling you to do that you know will stretch your faith? Pray that the Lord will give you strength and courage to follow His will.

24-Hour Prayer Power

2010-04-30T07:22:00.000-07:00

What a difference a day makes! I’ve heard this saying before, but this weekend I realized just how true it is. Although the saying should be, “what a difference a day of prayer makes!” From Saturday morning to Sunday morning God showed me just how much power there is in prayer.

The reason behind my fervent prayer was the fact that I was playing the drums on the worship team at church on Sunday. We’d had worship team practice on Thursday night and to say that it hadn’t gone well would be an understatement. I had messed up many times and couldn’t seem to get some of the song endings right. My negative thoughts convinced me I’d ruin worship and make a fool of myself in the process.

To top it off, my seasonal allergies kicked into high gear. I felt miserable! By Saturday the need for prayer was undeniably evident. During these types of situations, the only thing that calms me down is talking to God by writing in my prayer journal. As I settled down before the Lord, I wrote Him a desperate prayer.

4.24.10
Lord, my throat hurts, my head hurts, my eyes are watering and I can’t sleep. Please help my body to function! Lord, I want to glorify You on the drums tomorrow. I need You to take my meager ability and multiply it! I can only do this though Your strength. I am claiming Philippians 4:13, “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

Writing that prayer helped calm my fears and get me through the day. There was only a little time for practicing on Saturday, so I needed to trust God for musical ability that could only come from Him! Judging from Thursday’s practice, He’d have to pull off a miracle! I woke up early Sunday morning and decided that time would be best spent in prayer. I remembered the encouraging words of Psalm 33 and decided to read it again. Then I wrote another prayer in my journal.

4.25.10 (a.m.)
Psalm 33 says to “Sing joyfully to the Lord … Praise Him, Praise the Lord with the harp (I inserted the drums), make music to Him on the ten-stringed lyre (again, drums), sing to Him a new song, play skillfully and shout for joy.”

Lord, I don’t feel well today. I really need You! I want to honor You on the drums today. Please guide my hands and feet so that others may worship You. Please help me to play skillfully. I don’t want my mistakes to distract others. I will give You all the honor and glory.

The only way I was going to play skillfully was if God took over. There was absolutely no way anyone was going to “shout for joy” if I played like I did in practice. I was depending on God to take my drumsticks and use them for His glory.

He answered my prayer in a big way! On Sunday evening I took a few minutes to think about how God had made His presence known in my life that day and I made another prayer journal entry.

4.25.10 (p.m.)
Lord, thank you for being my hands and feet today. Worship time was awesome! I could feel Your presence. Thank you for answering my prayers. You showed Yourself through the music, communion and through Pastor’s message. You are an amazing and awesome God!

Sometimes I try to live my life in my own strength and I don’t rely on God. Then things start going wrong and I wonder why my life is a mess. This weekend’s 24-hour prayer power experience has helped me realize that God deserves to take charge of everything in my life. Why am I still holding on to things, thinking that I can do a better job handling my life than He can?

Playing the drums is one of my steps of faith. On my own I cannot make a joyful noise, but He has the power to make a joyful noise through me. I’d rather have my life planned out and scheduled so that there are no surprises or unknowns, but the Lord knows that I need experiences like playing the drums so I’ll depend on Him.

What drumsticks (areas of your life) to you need to hand over to God? Let Him take over those areas and use them to play skillfully.

If you want to know more, read Psalm 33.

What Do You Expect?

2010-04-12T14:34:00.000-07:00

My husband once told me that I expect too much out of people. When he said this to me, it was one of those comments I didn’t want to hear because it was painfully true. I am definitely guilty of putting unrealistic expectations on my friends, my family and even my husband.

Some expectations are fine. I expect my kids to work hard in school, do their chores at home and show respect to others. However, I can’t expect them to be perfect. They are going to fight with each other. They are going to fail. They are going to do things that make me want to crawl into a hole. I cannot have unrealistic expectations for them and I need to love them even when they let me down.

When we were first married, I had lofty expectations of my husband. He needed to have a good job, treat me like a queen, be frugal with money and spend all of his free time with me. How hard could that be? I wanted him to give me the world on a silver platter, and when that didn’t happen (imagine that!), I was disappointed.

When I raised my expectations of him to such a high level, there was no way he could reach them. Not even with an extension ladder or a ten-foot pole. It caused a lot of tension in our marriage when he wanted to golf on Saturdays instead of spending time with me. What I didn’t realize was that since he excelled at golf, playing 18 holes was a way for him to do something he was good at and to blow off steam. Steam that may have come from the weight of my expectations!

In the end, I decided to take up golf myself so we could play together. Now our whole family can golf and it’s a fun way to spend time together. It still gets a little tense when golf season rolls around, but I’m working on being supportive – or at least tolerant of the time spent golfing. I’m trying to accept my husband and encourage him, even if it includes golf!

In the book “One Month to Live” by Kerry & Chris Shook, there’s a section about accepting others. They say, “One of our greatest problems in relationships is that we’re always trying to change the people we’re relating to. To accept others means that we stop trying to change them and we start trying to understand them.” They cite Romans 15:7 which says, “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

My daughter and I recently saw the movie, “Tooth Fairy” starring Dwayne Johnson (previously known as “The Rock”), who plays a washed-up professional hockey player. After one hockey game, Johnson meets a little boy who idolizes him. The little boy looks at his idol and says, “One day I’m going to play in the big leagues just like you!” However, instead of encouraging the kid, Johnson tells him how hard life is as a hockey player and that only a small percentage of kids who play hockey ever end up playing it professionally. He goes on and on with his tirade and then ends by saying, “Lower your expectations.” I’m pretty sure that’s not what the boy wanted to hear from his hero.

However, it may actually be a good concept for relationships. Maybe if we could lower our unrealistic expectations of others, we would enjoy our relationships more. There are some things like honesty, trust & loyalty that are essential to relationships, but there are other things that are not. If we’re looking to others to meet needs that only God can meet, then our expectations will always fall short.

Prayer: Lord, I want to look at others through Your eyes. I don’t want to judge others or put urealistic expectations on them. Just as You accept me as I am, please help me to accept others. I want to bring You praise by accepting others as a beautiful creation You made.

If you want to know more, read Matthew 7:1-5 and Romans 15:7-13.

Easter Fortune Cookie

2010-04-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

Have you ever sung a song over and over in your head and then later realized you’d been singing the wrong lyrics? It’s happened to me before, and it’s also happened to my daughter. Once, she was convinced Taylor Swift’s lyrics “Didn’t kiss him and I should have” were “Didn’t kiss him on the shoe head.” No matter what we said, we couldn’t convince her otherwise.

We sang a song at church last Sunday called “Lead Me to the Cross.” I’ll list some of the real lyrics and then I’ll explain how I was singing them wrong. The song begins:

Savior I come, quiet my soul, remember
Redemption’s hill, where Your blood was spilled
For my ransom
Everything I once held dear, I count it all as lost.

Lead me to the cross, where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees, Lord I lay me down
Bring me to my knees, I belong to You
Oh lead me, lead me to the cross.

I realized I had always sung the wrong lyrics to this song. I was singing, “lead me to the cross, where your blood poured out” instead of “where your love poured out.” Literally, Jesus’ blood poured out, but in reality, it was His love that was pouring out for us. As we sang that song, I pictured Jesus on the cross, blood spilling down, love flowing out. Love for a human race that he chose to die for, regardless of whether we loved Him back or not.

Philippians 2:7-11 explains how Jesus took the nature of a servant in human likeness, humbling Himself to die on a cross. He was the perfect sacrificial lamb, and He took on our sin when he died. Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All we have to do is receive the gift He’s offering.

As I was thinking about Easter and the significance of celebrating this holiday, a funny thing happened. I was eating at my favorite Chinese restaurant with my mom and I opened my fortune cookie at the end of our meal. It read, “You will soon receive an unusual gift freely given. Accept!” If that isn’t a good fortune for Easter, I don’t know what is! Who knew the fortune in a cookie could hit the mark so perfectly?

What about you? Have you accepted? Will you accept? It’s a gift freely given, and it’s yours for the taking. Thank goodness the gift of eternal life God gave us by sending His Son is not just a fortune; it’s a reality.

If you want to know more, read John 19:16-30.

50 First Dates

2010-03-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

I’m pretty out of it in the morning, but I must have been especially tired last Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, I read through a Psalm as I usually do and then I prayed. On Wednesday I went back and read the same Psalm over again by accident. I didn’t even remember that I’d read it the day before! On Tuesday I hadn’t underlined or highlighted anything, but on Wednesday the words of that Psalm gave me the encouragement I needed for that day.

At first I felt a little embarrassed because of my mistake. How could I have read a whole Psalm the previous morning and not remembered it? Not only that, but how could I get so much out of the Psalm on Wednesday when the previous day I hadn’t highlighted anything?

This scenario reminded me of the movie “50 First Dates” starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Let me clarify something – I am by no means recommending this movie! I guess I’ll claim the adage, “Do as I say and not as I do!” However, the premise of this movie does have some value. In the movie, Adam meets Drew who has amnesia and never remembers the previous day. Adam spends every day wooing Drew, spending time with her and making her fall in love with him. Then he wakes up the next morning and starts from square one. He loves her so much that he is willing have 50 first dates with her.

In the movie, Drew Barrymore’s character began each day with a fresh, new perspective on life. Wouldn’t it be nice sometimes to not remember what happened yesterday? In real life, we can get a positive outlook for the day by spending time with God. We can have 50 first dates (or more) with God.

It doesn’t even matter if we get up and read the same Scripture passage every day (although at some point we’ll have to move on – there’s a lot of Scripture to cover). Sometimes one Scripture will affect us differently than it did the last time we read it. The important thing is that we’re spending time in God’s Word each day. We shouldn’t get frustrated if we don’t remember everything we’ve read, because maybe what we read was just enough to get us through one day.

If you’ve read my previous two blog entries, then you’ll know that I’m getting up every morning to spend the first minutes of my day with God. It’s been an adjustment since I’m “crabbier” in the morning, but it’s been a great change in my life. Now I am going to bump my First Fruits Challenge up to 50 First Dates with God. To meet this goal I get to spend 27 more dates with God. That will equal fifty mornings spent with the only One who can tolerate me at that time of the day. Do you think maybe I could become a morning person? I guess only God can do miracles!

If you want to know more, read Psalm 12 (but try not to forget you read it!).

Fruit of the Firstfruits Challenge

2010-03-17T12:29:00.000-07:00

Two weeks have passed since I began the Firstfruits Challenge. When I began this challenge to wake up every morning and spend my first ten minutes with God, I didn’t even know what that looked like. Should I pray? Should I read Scripture? Which book of the Bible should I choose?

I decided to open up the book of Psalms and start reading. Some days I would read a chapter and then meditate on the words. Other days I would read a few verses and then spend time in prayer. Most days it was difficult to get up and get going, but I always felt good about the day after spending the first few minutes with God.

Overall, what I’m learning through this experience is that I feel grounded. After my quiet time with God, I stand on solid footing for the day ahead. When trials and difficult situations pop up, I am better equipped to handle them knowing that I’ve started my day with the One who gives me strength to handle each situation.

My daughter and I love to tackle the rock climbing wall at our local community center. It’s an amazing experience to climb the wall and feel the satisfaction of ringing the bell at the top. In order to ring the bell, we have to watch our footing and grab on to the solid rocks. If we didn’t have these rocks to use for leverage, we would never be able to scale that wall.

It’s the same way with our relationship with God. We need the firm foundation of His Word to use as footing while we scale the wall called “life.”

When I started this challenge, I expected my life to be turned upside down. I thought something radical might happen. Instead, I found stability. I found the firm footing on which I could start my day. I found that God is a God of consistency and strength.

There was one day when I did have a “light bulb moment.” This particular morning I was especially tired after a night of restless sleep. I decided I “deserved” to pray about my lack of sleep before I read the Bible. It was after I presented my request to God that I opened my Bible to Psalm 5 and read verses 1-3. Here’s what they said …

“Give ear to my words, O LORD,
consider my sighing.
Listen to my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.”

I was so excited that the Lord would hear my voice and listen to my requests in the morning! I was crying out to Him for help and I could wait with expectation. I felt like God was telling me it was okay to lay my requests before Him because He wants to help me. These verses showed me that He is a God of compassion. I’d be crazy not to spend the first minutes of my day with a God like that!

The Firstfruits Challenge continues. I figure if Someone wants to spend time with me in the morning, I’d better take advantage of it. I can use all the stable footing I can get!

If you want to know more, read Psalm 5.

Firstfruits Challenge

2010-03-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

If you know me, then you know I am not a morning person. When my alarm goes off my first reaction is to shut it off and go back to sleep. I don’t like to talk to people (including my poor husband) and I’m not friendly in the morning. I really don’t like mornings. Have I stressed that enough? Knowing this about me will make what I’m about to say all the more ironic.

In my weekly women’s Bible study, I felt challenged to spend more time alone with God. I realized if I really want to hear from Him, I need to spend more time in the Word and in prayer. I also know that God wants our best – whether that involves time, financial giving or whatever He might ask of us.

As I was thinking about this, the term “firstfruits” popped into my head. I knew I’d heard it somewhere in the Bible, so I looked it up. It turns out the word was used in Leviticus 23:9-14, where the Feast of Firstfruits required that the first crops harvested be offered to God. The Israelites could not eat the food from their harvest until they had made this offering.

Personally, I felt like God wanted me to give Him the firstfruits of my day. It made me laugh, because if God really wants to spend the first part of my day with me, then good for Him! Not many people do! However, if anyone can handle me in the morning, it's God. Actually, He’s probably the only One who can handle me in the morning!

I decided to spend 10 minutes with God each morning as the first thing I do. It may not seem like a lot, but to a non-morning person, it’s a start! I’m calling it the “Firstfruits Challenge.”

Today was the second day of my self-imposed challenge and it went well. I woke up, shut off my alarm and pumped myself up by chanting, “firstfruits, firstfruits, firstfruits,” over and over again in my head. (Yes, I am officially a dork.) I got out of bed and spent time with the only One (understandably) who wants to spend time with me in the morning.

I’m excited to see how my days are changed because of this. Whether you’re a morning person or not, will you consider joining me in the Firstfruits Challenge? Let’s find out what God has in store for us even before our morning coffee. Don’t worry … the firstfruits chant is optional!

If you want to know more, read Leviticus 23:9-14

God is God

2010-03-02T12:46:00.000-08:00

Life’s not always going to go our way. It’s a fact that’s sad, but true! We all have struggles in our daily lives. Whether our issues involve finances, health, family, friends, church, work or something else, we all have struggles.

There’s something I’ve been struggling with lately. Sometimes I wonder why I have to deal with this issue. It affects my family, friends and everyday life. I’ve been praying about it a lot because this isn’t my first experience with this problem. I’ve been down this road before and I didn’t enjoy the first trip!

If there’s one thing God’s taught me during this time, it’s that God is God and I am not. (I think Steven Curtis Chapman has mentioned this, too!) Even though I don’t understand why I struggle in this particular area, He does. He created me and He knows me better than anyone else. I don’t need to have all the answers, I just need to know that He’s there beside me.

Yesterday the kids and I were reading in John (we switched to reading the New Testament to get ready for Easter). In John 1:1-2 it says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” The “Word” here refers to Jesus, which means that Jesus and God have been around since the beginning of time. That’s a hard, yet amazing concept to fathom.

When life is difficult and uncertain, I can rest in the knowledge that God is God. He’s been here since the beginning and He’ll be with me through every problem I face.

Thank you, God, for being the God who created the world and the God who cares about me. You have proven that You love me and I trust in that love.

If you want to know more, read John 1:1-18

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

2010-02-17T17:48:00.000-08:00

It’s a little pathetic, but I’m still not over the Vikings’ NFC Championship loss. Yes, I know many weeks have passed since that game was played. Yes, I know that the Super Bowl has come and gone. I know I should be over the loss by now, but I’m not!

When I think about why I just can’t get over that game, I realize my frustration stems from one thing … missed opportunities. Fumbles, bad coaching and the disturbing interception by a veteran quarterback could all be considered missed opportunities. I’m sure the Vikings would like to have those plays back, but that’s not going to happen. They missed their opportunity.

The topic of missed opportunities came up in a conversation with some friends last week. We talked about how, at one time or another, we’d felt the Holy Spirit nudging us to do something and we didn’t obey. We talked about times when we felt called to send a card, bring a meal or pray over someone in need and we didn’t do it. We all felt like we had missed opportunities.

Personally, I am guilty of making excuses for not obeying the Spirit’s prompting. “I’m too tired.” “I’m a bad cook.” “I’m too busy.” “If I send a card to someone, they’ll think I’m weird.” The truth is that they probably already know I’m weird, so I may as well send a card and confirm it!

Recently I received an “opportunity” when I felt the Lord prompting me to call a friend from my Bible study class. I ended up calling her on the afternoon before one of our studies. When I asked her if she was enjoying the study, there was a long pause. She replied, “Actually, I just decided a few minutes ago that I wasn’t going to come to the study anymore. “ When I asked her why she had made that decision, she explained that she felt like she had too many questions and that everyone else seemed to know more than she did. I assured her that none of us had all the answers and we were all in the same boat – seeking to know God better. After we talked a little longer, she decided to continue attending the study.

I hung up the phone and immediately thanked God for His perfect timing. I was glad that He had prompted me to call at the exact time my friend had decided to stop attending the study. We both realized that God knew exactly when I should call her. This experience gave me deep feeling of God’s presence and it made me wonder why I don’t obey every time I hear His voice!

The best way we can recognize an opportunity is through reading God’s Word and listening to the Holy Spirit. When we feel His prompting, we have to go for it! Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” What opportunity is God sending your way this week?

McDonald’s Angel

2010-02-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

Today the kids and I went to McDonald’s for supper. We placed our order and the cashier told us we owed $9.52. I swiped my credit card, but the transaction didn’t go through. The cashier told me to swipe it again, but it still did not work. Her manager told her their server was down, so they would only accept cash.

I don’t carry much cash, so I fumbled through my purse to see if I could scrounge up the money. As I was looking in my purse, I saw a ten dollar bill land on the counter in front of me. I looked up to see where it came from and noticed a high school kid standing next to me with his wallet open.

Imagine my surprise when a high school boy who I had never met was offering to buy my kids and I dinner. Now that doesn’t happen every day! When I was in high school, the only thing I was thinking about was myself. I don’t think it would have dawned on me to pay for someone else’s meal.

I was able to find ten dollars in my purse and humbly gave the kid back his money. I thanked him profusely and told him that by offering to pay for meal, he had made my day! He said that he worked at McDonald’s and felt bad for customers when the computers didn’t work right. How sweet is that?

Galatians 6:10 says, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” I wonder if that high school boy knew how much his willingness to “do good” meant to me? He really did brighten my day. He was my "McDonald’s angel." Now … if he could only transform their food into something nutritious!

Jethro Knows Best

2010-02-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

When my husband and I were first married, we had our eyes on a certain car we wanted to buy. We had both recently graduated from college and money was tight. Wanting advice about our situation, we decided to call my parents and run the idea by them. All we heard on the other end of the phone line was silence – a silence that spoke volumes! We read between the (phone) lines and knew they were not in favor of our upcoming purchase. In the end, we decided not to buy the car.

I was reminded of this story this week while the kids and I were reading Exodus 18. The chapter title in my Bible reads, “Jethro Visits Moses.” My initial thought was, “Is this the ‘Beverly Hillbillies?’” You don’t see a name like Jethro in the Bible very often! That show was way before my time, however I do remember Jethro actually is a character from the show. Jethro is also the name of Moses’ father-in-law.

Jethro (the one from the Bible) played an important role in Moses’ life in many ways. He helped take care of his daughter and grandsons while Moses was away. When they reunited, he listened to Moses as he shared what God was doing in his life. Then Jethro rejoiced with Moses and they praised God together.

As Jethro spent time with Moses, he saw how much Moses was working. Moses was serving as judge for the Israelites, who required his attention from morning until evening. To put it bluntly, Moses was overworked! Jethro noticed this and told Moses that if he kept up at this pace, he’d wear himself out! He told Moses, “Listen to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you.” Jethro proceeded to suggest ways to divide the work between other capable leaders.

Thank goodness for close friends and family who can see areas in our lives that need to change and care enough to talk to us about it. It didn’t hurt that Jethro had tangibly shown Moses he cared about him by building a relationship with him. Verse 24 says, “Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said.”

I think the moral of this story is that sometimes people who are older and wiser than us can help us make good decisions and choices. Let’s face it, they’ve been around the block a few more times than we have! We can learn valuable lessons from both their mistakes and successes.

Wise old Jethro also gave me the opportunity to talk to my kids about why they should listen to their teachers, parents, pastors and other wise adults. It was a valuable lesson I was all too eager to point out!

There’s another old TV show that also fits in with what I’m trying to say. It’s the show “Father Knows Best” (also way before my time). I would like to take some liberties and suggest a new title for Exodus 18: “Father-in-Law Knows Best.” Jethro, you’ve got the leading role!

Stomach Flu Blessing

2010-01-22T19:24:00.000-08:00

On Wednesdays I get to help in my daughter Shalyn’s second grade class and then eat lunch with her. This Wednesday I enjoyed turkey gravy over mashed potatoes, mushy peas, a pumpkin muffin, canned pears and chocolate milk. I’m sure your mouth is salivating as you read this! She was happy and healthy when I left school, but I received a call from the school nurse only an hour later. She asked if I could pick up Shalyn from school; she had thrown up in music class!

How mortifying to throw up in front of your class! I asked her if she at least made it to the garbage and she answered, “The second time I did!” Her body continued to rid itself of the unwanted food for the next few hours. At one point she looked at me and in a sad, quiet voice asked, “Why is God letting this happen?” Oh, the drama of a seven-year-old! I wanted to tell her that other people were struggling with worse things than the stomach flu, but I didn’t think it was the right time or place!

On Thursday night as Shalyn lay resting on the couch, my son Caleb excitedly told us about the “best day in the world.” He was referring to Friday, when his fourth-grade class would spend the entire day in their pajamas, reading and eating healthy snacks. From school he would go to a friend's house and then cap off the evening by attending “Friday Fun Night” at school.

Unfortunately, he woke up with the stomach flu and spent the "best day in the world" on the couch. The three of us spent the day doing puzzles, watching movies and snuggling. I tried valiantly to make them eat and drink as much as their tummies could handle. At one point in the evening, Caleb looked sad. I asked him what was wrong and he said, “I was just thinking about what my friends are probably doing right now.” I sympathetically replied, “It’s no fun to be sick, is it?”

As we wrapped up our final movie, I told them it was time for bed. Caleb looked at me and said, “I had a fun day with you, mom.” I asked him why it was fun and he told me it was fun because I spent time with him and sat next to him.

Wow!

If those kind words from my nine-year-old son were payment for hours spent cleaning the bathroom, washing sheets and dispensing Tylenol…I’ll take it! And as much as I don’t enjoy wearing my “nurse mom” hat sometimes, hearing those words actually made these past days feel worthwhile. I’m not saying I want the stomach flu to stay around or come back anytime soon, but I will say there was an unexpected blessing this time around!

First Time for Everything!

2010-01-19T09:27:00.000-08:00

Here goes. I'm officially a blogger! Deep breath. Silent prayer. Away I go!

It's been 18 years since I started college. Please don't try to figure out my age. (Would you believe I started college when I was nine?) At a young age I had an interest in reading and writing, so I decided to major in Communications with a Journalism emphasis. I'll save the college stories for another day!

After college I had numerous jobs, only one of which included writing. Then I had kids and realized that writing would be taking a back seat to diapers and play time. I did dabble in writing for our local MOPS group and various other creative, yet personal projects. (Do Christmas letters count?) I always said that once my kids were in school I would pursue writing. Well, my kids have been in school for a year and a half! It seems like it is time to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak.

To jumpstart my writing endeavor, I attended a Christian writing conference this past summer. What a great experience! On the last day of the conference, those of us on the writer's track said our final goodbyes and gathered into writing groups. Our goal was to continue sharpening our writing skills with the help of other sisters in Christ who enjoyed writing.

One of the first emails from our newly-formed writing group suggested we exchange blog addresses. Hmmmm. Blog address. My eyebrows went up as I pondered the daunting thought of a blog. In all honesty, I didn't really even know what a blog was. I felt like an out-of-touch, stay-at-home mom who'd been living under a rock for the last nine years.

Suffice it to say, the list of blogs was sent out sans mine!

As I thought more about getting back into the writing game, I realized that a blog would give me the accountability I needed to write on a consistent basis. However, I worried that I would be just another blogger in a sea of millions. Did we really need another blogger? Another opinion? Another two cents in a bank of millions?

While I prayed about whether or not to start a blog, the Lord reminded me that He values everyone. From the poorest and most destitute to an exalted king. He reminded me that He gave me the desire to write many years ago, even before I majored in Journalism. I believe that He puts passions and desires in our hearts for a reason. I may not be a published author (yet!), but everyone has to start somewhere. I'm starting here, with this blog. I'm taking a step in faith. Even though my writing is far from perfect or polished, writing this blog is what I'm supposed to do. I have the time, my kids are in school, so here I go! I guess there really is a first time for everything!

My final thought for today is my prayer each time I write. "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14

GQ Too

Facts or Feelings?

How Smart is That?

A True Love Story

From Pagers to Siri

Running on Empty

Who Do I Think I Am?

More Questions Than Answers

Just Like Joshua

Cool Car Conversation Continued

Cool Car Conversation

How Did I Get Here?

An Unexpected Journey

Baby, Baby!

Fast Food gods

Where’s the Rest?

Thursdays with Wayne

Don’t Skip a Step!

Sit in the Dirt

A Special Gift

Like to be Liked

The Nerve of Some People!

Celebrate 50!

Step Away from the Chocolate

Squashing the “What Ifs”

My Mentor(s)

Can I Give You a Pedicure?

Emotional Connection

Letters from Mary Fran

It’s Hard to Share – Even for Adults!

10 Bad Days

Good Gifts

Why Do We Have Big Buts?

Boomerang

Is it More Blessed to Give or to Receive?

Following a Plow

Bright Red Lights

Christmas, Age 8

Letter from a Friend (Part 1)

Shades of Gray: Part 2 (The Filter)

Shades of Gray (Part 1: The Dilemma)

Reflections

Bless This Meal (Please!)

Don’t Look at Me!

Pick Me!

What Did I Forget?

Wake up to Tomorrow

Divine Assignments

Later is Now

Control Freak

J-O Y spells Prayer

Misunderstandings

He Makes Me Feel Safe

Ok, I get it!

Divine Assignments

Searching for Refuge

Silent Step Could Mean Big Changes

Dating Again

Panic Mode

The Foolish Man with a Talking Donkey

Pick up Your Coffee and Follow Him

One of Those Days

Happy Birthday Me

It's Sooooooo Easy!

Shut up and Listen

Because God Says So!

Spuds and Studs

24-Hour Prayer Power

What Do You Expect?

Easter Fortune Cookie

50 First Dates

Fruit of the Firstfruits Challenge

Firstfruits Challenge

God is God

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

McDonald’s Angel

Jethro Knows Best

Stomach Flu Blessing

First Time for Everything!