I BELIEVE

When you start combining this and that, it is something new. If I mix a box of Jell-O and add nothing but water, it is Jell-O. If I make a cake and put Jell-O in it, it is a cake with Jell-O. The Jell-O is no longer pure, it is just an addition to something else.

The other day I saw an interesting remark: Resist the influences of other world religions. As I thought about it, it made sense. If I keep allowing my religion, what I believe, to be influenced by other religions, I no longer have a strong foundation. I no longer have a Christian faith. I have an addition to something else.

SCRIPTURES

You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

I BELIEVE -- THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God the Father Almighty, (God, not a created idol, GOD. And I believe there is only one God.)

maker of heaven and earth (I do not believe in the big bang theory. I believe GOD made the world. The universe. Made me. I did not come from pond scum nor did I evolve from apes. I do understand that man used the word “day” when referring to God’s time of creation and do not believe this all happened in six “days.” But God could have created all of this in six “days” if He had wanted to.)

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: (Only Son!! Not a prophet. A SON!)

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, (I accept this as fact!)

suffered under Pontius Pilate, (I cannot image the love it took for God to allow this nor for Jesus to accept it, when Jesus was without sin.)

was crucified, dead, and buried; (I believe Jesus died on the cross and His body was placed in a grave.)

the third day he rose from the dead; (God had sent His Son for a reason; to take away my sins. Job done!)

he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; (God welcomed His Son. God wanted Jesus back beside Him. What father would not want the same?)

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. (I so want to forget that I will be judged. But I will be.)

I believe in the Holy Spirit, (A part of the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The part of the Trinity that lives within my soul to guide me.)

the holy catholic church, (I believe in the church Jesus built upon the faith of Peter.)

the communion of saints, (I cannot do this alone. I must have help and part of that help is the support of others who believe in God, the Father Almighty.)

the forgiveness of sins, (This is a biggie!! I do believe my sins are forgiven. I believe this because Jesus took my sins to the Cross.)

the resurrection of the body (The grave will not be able to keep me.)

and the life everlasting. (My everlasting life began the minute I accepted the Son of God. Part of that life is now. Part of that life is yet to come.)

Amen

550 - 38 =

Bet you are wondering about the title of this writing. It is a bit strange but might make sense as you read on.

I love our local library book sales. Good books at great prices and the book sales help the library in so many ways. 50¢ here and $1 there can quickly add up to extra prizes for the summer reading program.

This year, as I was helping with set-up, I saw it. Sitting there just waiting for me. The fringe benefit of helping set-up is that you can purchase books that day. But this wasn’t a book. It was a puzzle. A jigsaw puzzle. And it was going to be mine!

Isn’t that a beautiful picture? I could hardly wait. Those little faces as they looked at Jesus. The lamb. I was excited as I turned each piece over and pulled out the red pieces. That is where I would start. I would start with Jesus and then work around Him.

Then it happened. There was a red piece missing. I looked on the floor to see if I had dropped it. I checked the box again to see if I had left it in the bag. Oh, well. One missing piece would be okay. I continued on.

The trouble soon became worse. All of Jesus wasn’t there. A piece of the lamb was missing. One child was missing hair. I was now really ticked!!! What puzzle lover would put a puzzle in a book sale that was missing so many pieces? And just how many pieces were missing? I was now determined to find out.

Find out, I did. Out of 550 pieces 38 were missing!!

SCRIPTURE: ACTS 17:24-28

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

AND NOW

When we do not have God in our lives, we are like the puzzle with the pieces missing. We are not all there. We are not complete.

Do you feel that way? Like something is missing from your life? And no matter what you try to do or where you turn, it doesn’t help? There is just an empty feeling that will not go away? Maybe you need to seek Him.

God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. For in him we live and move and have our being.

Fill yourself! He is not far.

TOO LATE

Last week was so busy and I honestly thought this week would be a bit less hectic. And it has been, but somehow it filled up. I think a few times I got distracted by Candy Crush. I can get distracted easily. Just now I looked over my shoulder and there are rainbows dancing on the office wall. So way cool! Yes, I can get distracted by small things.

And distractions lead to not getting things done and putting things off till tomorrow. Then maybe till the next day. Besides, I don’t have to have the message for church ready until June 16 so there is not big hurry. There will be time.

SCRIPTURES: MATTHEW 24:36, 40-42, 44

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

AND NOW

There are things we can put off until tomorrow. It really doesn’t matter if I beat the next level of Candy Crush or not. BUT there are things we cannot put off.

God loves you. He wants to spend eternity with you. Have you made the decision to spend eternity with Him? Or are you waiting until tomorrow to make that decision?

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

LET US PRAY

O God, I want to be assured of my eternal life today. I do not want to put it off until tomorrow. Amen.

(Now, open your heart and just talk to God. He will accept your prayer. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It doesn’t have to be long. It just has to be honest.)

BOY IT IS QUIET

Bill has been working in the fields the last couple of weeks and boy has it been quiet. Now, I am not complaining! He loves to get in big boy toys and go back and forth across the field at eight miles per hour. (Go figure. Eight miles per hour would drive me crazy.) (Okay, crazier.) He totally understands that I am not getting up at 4:30 to tell him goodbye or fix his lunch. (Not part of my retirement package.) and he chuckles when he says, “The yard needs mowed.” (He chuckles because he knows I hate to mow and, again, not part of my retirement package.)

I do not mind being alone and I have actually enjoyed the last two weeks. Enjoyed, except for one thing. Boy it is quiet!

I was surprised when I realized how quiet the house is. I turned on the TV and the radio, but that made no difference.

Now Bill would say what I am missing is someone to listen to me rattle on like a junk car. And there might be just a bit of truth in that. But that isn’t it either.

Something was missing. And what was missing wasn’t noise.

SCRIPTURES: ROMANS: 8:37-39

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

AND NOW

That is it! We have been married almost 48 years and many times, because of family needs, business needs or vacations we have been apart. Sometimes for a week or two at a time. Besides, he comes home each night. Why did it seem so quiet this time? Then I realized the quiet was making me think how it would feel to be separated from God. The quiet was like a void.

Although Bill and I will always be connected by our love, we can be apart - separated - by miles and someday, for only a brief time, by death. But separated from God? NO WAY!!!!

How quiet would it be, what void would there be to feel separated from God? If you feel that way, go back and read the scripture. Separated from God? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

God, I love all the “neithers and nors.” Knowing I am never separated from you takes away my quiet. Fills the void. Thank you for always being with me. Amen

A MOTHER’S DAY THANK YOU

With Mother’s Day only two days away, I am feeling very grateful. I would like to thank two people: Bill (aka Willie) and Terri.

You see, without them I would not be a mother. And my life would not be complete without the lessons they have taught me.

MODESTY: I quickly learned that modesty is not always an option. Not sure if I learned this the first time I went to the doctor and he explained what those stirrups were for or in the delivery room surrounded by people I did not know. (Back in “the day” even fathers were not allowed in the delivery room.) --- Modesty had to be lost in the doctor’s office because by the time I went into the delivery room I just wanted it over with. I did not care who was watching. Yup, modesty went right out the window along with trying to keep that hospital gown tied in the back.

SLEEP: Did you know you can stay awake for days on end? Sleep is so over-rated. Now, I must admit, Willie and Terri were very easy babies to take care of. There was the nightly feeding, but that was a breeze. The lack of sleep hits with the first case of teething. Or the first case of flu. Or an extremely high fever. Those times when only “mommy” will do. When you sit on the couch putting one cold cloth after another on a very hot forehead. Or read the same story over and over because that is the only thing that will help them relax. Those times when you finally, finally get them laid down. When your head hits the pillow -- and the phone rings. Yes, sleep is so over-rated.

INTELLIGENCE: Now I do not claim to be a rocket scientist and my spelling is atrocious (thank you spell check), but I am not the dullest pencil the box either. Or at least I didn’t think so until I discovered I could not answer simple questions, like: Which came first the chicken or the egg? Did the cow really jump over the moon? What is 2 X a(b+c) ÷ 4? (If that is a real problem, then it is a result of dumb luck.) Luckily, I did not have to answer the question of where do babies come from because our cat Cottage Cheese (Yes that was her name.) gave birth in front of all the neighborhood kids. Lesson learned -- there were way more questions that I could not answer than I could. Do not feel sorry for me though. I do know how to get an elephant in the fridge and that you do not bury the survivors.

IDENTITY: To be honest, my identity left when I got married. I became “Bill’s wife.” That was followed with, “Oh, you are Willie’s mom.” And then, “Oh, you are Terri’s mom.” I honestly thought I would, someday resume being Mary. Know what?

I like my identity just fine! I love being a mother. I love being Willie’s mother. I love being Terri’s mother.

With Mother’s Day only two days away, I am feeling very grateful. I would like to thank two people: Bill (aka Willie) and Terri. You see, without them I would not be a mother. And my life would not be complete without the lessons they have taught me.

CHILD’S LAUGHTER: The sound of a child’s laughter is magic. It is sweeter than the softest melody and more powerful than the grandest symphony.

HANDS: I will forever treasure the feel of their hands in mine. A small hand taking mine, as we walked across the street. A small hand holding mine, as we watched a scary cartoon. A small hand holding mine, just because.

INSTANT LOVE: I loved them as they were safe within my womb. I loved them deeply the moment I saw them. I love them now.

Thank you Bill. Thank you Terri. I am so grateful you call me mommy.

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 113:9

He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

PRAYER

Praise the Lord indeed! I am a happy mother! AMEN

BUBBLES

Some days I feel like this. A bit wacky, but having a great day.

But there are always those other days.

When the kids were small and it was “one of those days”, Bill would come home to find me sitting on the back steps blowing bubbles. He knew better than to ask questions and was quickly prepared for an evening of “yes dear.” Hubby does know how to stay out of the dog house.

I do love to blow bubbles. Bill swears I buy bubble stuff by the gallon and thinks I should buy it by the case. For some reason, I can blow bubbles, watch them spin, change color and float away and just feel better. My body relaxes. My mood changes. It is as if all the cares in the world softly were taken away.

SCRIPTURES

In the beginning God -- Genesis 1:1

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. -- Matthew 28:20

I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. -- Revelation 1:8

AND NOW

Sadly, bubbles do not last. As great as they are, they break easily. And, when it is raining and storming, you just cannot blow bubbles.

There is one thing that lasts. One thing that does not break. One thing that is there in the rain and the storm. GOD

I love blowing bubbles but I rest in the Hand of God.

Where do you rest?

FEAR WILL NOT WIN

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 34:4

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

FEAR WILL NOT WIN ! ! ! ! !

How easy it would be to watch the news and lock the door. How easy it would be to stay inside - safe. Away from danger. Away from hate. And evil.

How easy to say it will never happen here. Only there. It will never happen to me. Only to them. I will not read the paper. I will not watch the news. I will just be quiet and wait for it all to end. I will close the blinds tightly and turn my lights off. The phone unplugged. No one will know where I am. Then I will be safe. Then no one can harm me. I will ---

I refuse to allow fear to destroy my life!

I refuse to allow fear to consume me!

I will not close my door to the world! I will not stay inside! I will not sit quietly by afraid to say anything. I will fight hate and evil because I know it can happen here. I know it can happen to me.

FEAR WILL NOT WIN ! ! ! ! !

Evil wins because people stay behind their doors instead of telling gangs they do not want them in their neighborhood. Evil wins because parents want to be friends with their kids instead of teaching them values and telling them no. Evil wins because we have become a society of “you owe me” and feel we do not have to take responsibility for our actions and decisions. Evil wins because our youth receive grades/trophies they did not earn and they do not know how to congratulate the winners and accept the fact that they lost. Evil wins because we forget that, at times, life just plain sucks. Evil wins because violence is a part of our television programs, our movies and our video games. Evil wins because violence becomes acceptable. Evil wins because words like respect, honor and loyalty no longer fit into our lifestyles.

Evil wins when fear makes us hide behind closed doors. Evil wins when fear keeps us silent.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

I refuse to allow fear to destroy my life! I refuse to allow fear to consume me! Fear will not win!

WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?

Do you ever look around and think, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Chair in a bag: Imagine some poor guy trying to carry an armload of those aluminum folding chairs back to the car and his wife is following behind, herding the kids in front of her. Do you think, as he picked the chairs up for the tenth time, he thought, “These would sure be easier to carry if they folded up and fit in a bag with a strap.”

Bottled water: While the man was thinking about putting chairs in bags, his wife was thinking, “This two gallon water jug is heavy and the kids have dropped the cups again. This picnic would be so much easier if the water was in bottles we could just toss when empty.”

Wheels on suitcases: As the family checked into the motel, the kids complained that the suitcases were heavy. The youngest looked at the oldest and muttered, “Sure wish this had wheels.”

You realize the person that came up with a chair in a bag no longer carries chairs, the bottled water industry is huge and those wheels sure are handy on a suitcase.

And I want to know: Why didn’t I think of that? I could be rich selling things people do not really need. Yes, a chair in a bag makes going to the little league game a bit more comfortable than sitting on bleachers. That bottle of water is quick to grab and it is so much easier to pull a suitcase than to carry one.

But if I had thought of those darn chairs, I could be rich!

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 23 (KJV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He resoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; they rod and they staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

AND NOW

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Green pastures. Still waters. Restored soul. Fear no evil. Comfort. My cup runneth over. Goodness. Mercy. Dwell in the house of the lord for ever!

I AM RICH!                 I AM RICH!

LET US PRAY

My Lord, my Shepherd, You give me all I need. You gently tell me to rest at the end of my struggles. You direct me to quiet times and give my soul new strength. You allow me to call upon You as righteous and You tell me not to be afraid and give me comfort. Even when my enemies surround me, Your touch anoints me. I have so many blessings that one lifetime cannot hold them and You have made my life easier because of Your goodness and mercy. And when this life ends, I know my next home is Your house. Thank you for making be so rich!!! Amen

ANOTHER WALK ON THE BEACH

One of my favorite places is Jekyll Island, Georgia. It is not real commercial. It is pretty laid back and has an amazing beach. We so enjoyed spending a couple days there at the end of our vacation. As I was walking the beach, I remembered something I had written in 1992.

A WALK ON THE BEACH

I walked on the beach and there did see

How close to life the ocean can be.

The tide, like our days, comes and goes

Our lives, like the tide, have highs and lows.

The tide of life can be strong, its pull never ceases

Leaving our bodies broken, our souls in pieces.

Or the tide may be gentle, leaving us whole and strong

Life fitting together, each piece where it belongs.

Our life is uncertain, no day is the same

We go through life seeking fortune and fame.

But the sand changes, as the wind does blow

And the road isn’t straight, when the tide is low.

As I walked along, many people would go by

Some would keep on going, others would say hi.

Daily we see people, who care and who reach out

But some never quite understand, what life is all about.

So when you walk your beaches, as through this life you go

When the sand is shifting, as your tide goes to and fro.

Remember other people are walking beaches too

Ready to reach out and share the joy of life with you.

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 139:9

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

AND NOW

Is your tide at a high or low right now? No matter which, remember God is holding you fast.

MARY’S LITTLE BOY

Mary heard a noise and when she looked up saw her son. He seemed so tall. When did her little boy get to be a man? Funny, she didn’t feel old enough to have a child in his 30s.

“Jesus,” she said. “I did not expect to see you today.”

Looking at his mother, Jesus began to speak. “Mother, I…”

Mary, feeling a sharp pain in her stomach, quickly cut him off. “Are you here to tell me you healed someone?”

Jesus tried to continue, “No, mother, I came to..”

Again Mary spoke, “I know. You walked on water again and Peter tried but failed. ---

“No, mother, I came to…” Jesus tried again.

--- Oh, how I laughed when you told me that story. All I could think about was when you were learning to walk and tried to escape to the courtyard. You must have fallen three or four times, but you were one determined child. You just got back up. Took a step. And fell again.”

Falling silent, Mary rose from her chair. She looked into Jesus’ eyes. Her tear quietly fell to the floor.

Taking his mother into his arms, Jesus said, “Mother, the time is near. Are you ready? Do you understand?”

Feeling the floor shake beneath her, Mary sat down. She dropped her head. Tears now streaming down her cheeks. Her heart about to burst. It was as if ….

As if what? She did not know what to feel? Pride? Dread? Humility? Anger? Confusion? Sadness?

Yes, that was it. Sadness.

“Are there any words I can use to make this easier?” Jesus asked his mother.

Mary simply nodded her head no. She was afraid to look into his eyes again. She knew that if she did that she would beg him to stay. Beg him to wait just a bit longer. He was so young. Wasn’t there more he could do here? Did he really have to do this?

Just then, Mary remembered. She remembered the angel. She remembered the birth. She remembered her son in the temple. She remembered the miracles. She remembered…..

Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest.

Only then was Mary able to lift her head. Only then was Mary able to stand. Only then was Mary able to take the hand of her son.

Only then was Mary able to tell her son goodbye.

And Mary watched the Son of God turn and walk away.

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

YOU ARE ---

NOTE:  The Travel Bug has hit us, so – unless another snow storm hits – we are going to do a bit traveling.  I will not be posting any blogs during March.  So, during March, look around your world.  Find reminders of God around your home.  At work.  As you look out the window. God is always there.  -- Celebrate each day,  Mary

YOU ARE ---

Our church is doing a study on the book Soul Shift, by Steve DeNeff and David Drury. Last week’s chapter was titled Slave To Child and it made for some good discussion. There was a sentence that said, “We don’t need others to tell us our identity.” What I wrote in the margin was, “Or do we become what people tell us we are?”

As I was preparing the lesson, I really thought about this. Do we live our lives based on how others describe us? On what other people think of us? Do we remember the good things people tell us? Or do we get a death grip on the negative and allow it to shape our whole lives?

If someone calls you dumb, do you quit trying to learn? If someone tells you to shut up, do you decide you will never try to express your opinion again? If someone says your child is not good enough, do you feel like a failure as a parent?

Not to boast but my margin drawings during a Bible Study are rather famous. Oh, not because they are good! But because I am brave enough to show them. This is my drawing of things we might hear.

How would you feel if these things had been said to you? Were any of these said to you? Do you say them to others? If so, how will they feel?

Do you think it matters who we listen to? What if you were told you are chosen? Or that you are confident. What if you were called a saint?

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 1:12

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God

AND NOW

Wow --- If you grew up hearing that you are loved. That you are special. That you are a Child of God. You are one lucky person!!

But wait (just like the infomercial there is a bonus coming) -- It is not too late! You have a choice. You can listen to the world. OR You can choose to listen to a Father that loves you.

LET US PRAY: Please read the following as your prayer. This is from Soul Shift but I have reworded so it will be personal.

O Lord,

I don’t think I am worth much. I don’t value the body You have given me, but You call my body a temple where the Holy Spirit lives.

I say I cannot ask for much, that I should be as humble as slaves in a throne room; You say I can approach the throne of grace with confidence.

I feel empty; You say I am given all the fullness.

I feel condemned for my sin and figure I am stuck with my sins and dirty little habits; You say I am free -- no longer condemned. You chose me to be holy and blameless in Your sight.

You say I am a saint.

You say I am Your child.

O Lord, help me listen to you and become who I really am.

Amen

I SURRENDER ALL

EASTER 2013

Ash Wednesday: February 13

Palm Sunday: March 24

Good Friday: March 29

Easter: March 31

As you read that list, did you think ashes, palm branches, cross and Easter Bunny? Easter brings to mind so many things but everything, except the Easter Bunny, can be summed up with one word: SURRENDER.

SURRENDER MEANS:

>> To give up into the power of another

>> Declare yourself defeated: to declare to an opponent that he or she has won so that fighting or conflict can cease

>> To restore before expiration of the term

>> To give up or give back (something that has been granted)

Jesus surrendered his life so we could surrender ours, but we sure do fight that surrender. We want to hold back. We don’t want to give in.

Give up into the power of another: It is so hard to admit we cannot accomplish everything on our own. What relief we receive when we surrender to the power of God.

Declare yourself defeated so fighting/conflict can cease: God has a special plan just for you. He has one for me too. The conflict comes in when we (that would be you and me) try to make our plan more important than His. Listen close because I am going to whisper a secret to you. Ready? God’s plan is better! When we surrender our plan our conflict with God will end. (Now that doesn’t mean His plan will be easy for us. It just means we surrender and know God will help us get through.)

Restore before expiration: Well that one is easy. Surrender before we die, because then it is too late.

To give up or give back something that has been granted: God granted us life but to receive eternal life, we must surrender this life.

AND NOW

Yup. Easter is all about surrender. Think about that as you prepare for Easter Sunday when we celebrate the surrender on the cross and the resurrection that followed.

God surrendered His Son. Jesus surrendered His life. Are you ready to surrender?

I SURRENDER ALL

All to Jesus, I surrender;

Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;

Let me feel the Holy Spirit,

Truly know that Thou art mine.

I surrender all, I surrender all,

All to Thee, my bless'd Savior,

I surrender all.

==========================================

Judson W. Van DeVenter (1855-1939) wrote the words to the hymn I Surrender All. You can go to this link to read about this man.

http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/i-surrender-all-the-song-and-the-story.html

WHEN DID THAT HOUSE GET THERE?

Do you ever drive down a road you travel a lot and say, “When did that house get there?” Then you realize it is probably 50 years old. Why hadn’t you seen the house last week? Or the week before that? Or yesterday?

The answer: Familiarity. As you drove down that road, time after time after time, the house became familiar and blended in with everything around it. You also quit noticing the pond that sparkles when the sun hits it. And the beautiful garden with tall corn and red peppers. And you drive right by that house because you are used to seeing it.

Until that day when all of a sudden, “When did that house get there?” Something just a bit different caught your eye. Maybe the sun was shining on the windows or maybe there was a car pulling out of the drive. For whatever reason, you saw it.

Familiarity can be good. It makes us feel safe. It sets the norm. Familiarity means we know what to expect.

But familiarity can be bad. We can stay where it is safe and never grow. The norm can become boring. And we take the expected for granted.

Familiarity can be dangerous. The road becomes so familiar that we quit paying attention and could have a wreck. A safe, familiar life can mean missed opportunities. Familiarity with our family/friends/home/church -- with our God -- can mean we take them for granted. We become so familiar with family/friends/home/church -- with God --

SCRIPTURE: HEBREWS 2:1

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

AND NOW

Do not drift away. Yes, this verse says to pay careful attention to what we have heard but it does apply to familiar things in our lives. We need to pay careful attention to our family/friends/home/church -- to our God -- so they do not become so familiar that they blend in with everything around us. If that happens, one day we will say, “Where did they go? I don’t remember when I quit seeing them.”

PLEASE PRAY

Open your heart. Talk to God.

WRONG DATE

One of my pet peeves is that everyone calls to remind you of your appointment.

• “Hello, this is the dentist office and I am calling to remind you of your 7:45 appointment tomorrow morning.”

• “This is a courtesy call to remind you that your prescription is ready to be filled.”

I want to tell them, “I am an adult. I have a calendar. I know!”

I received one of those calls yesterday. Bill said, “The lady from Timbercrest called to remind you about speaking the 12th and to see if you have a choice of hymns.” The 12th? I am to speak the 15th^. I have it on my calendar. And I did.

But when I called back, they had me down for the 12th, so the 12th it will be. My bad? I don’t know. I am just glad I was called and reminded or I would have been a few days late. And they would have wondered why I wasn’t there.

SCRIPTURE

John 10:3-4 -- The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

AND NOW

Okay, so some calls keep us from missing out. One call I know I do not want to miss -- When the gate is opened, when the Shepherd calls me by name -- I want to receive that call!

What about you? The Shepherd knows your name. Do you know the Shepherd’s voice?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear Shepherd, I pray I am never too busy or too far away to hear my named called. I pray my Spirit will always recognize Your voice. Amen

JURY DUTY

My husband is s-o-o-o-o-o-o-o excited. He received a notice that he has been selected to be on a jury. He is to call Monday to see if he has to show up on Tuesday, but he sure hopes he gets picked. Yes, he is excited.

Okay. He is not! He does not want to be on the jury. And isn’t that the reaction of most of us?

We don’t want to do that. We don’t want to listen to lawyers. We don’t want to listen to facts. Honestly, most of the time our minds are made up as soon as we see the defendant and hear the charges.

Funny how we don’t want to be on a jury because we don’t want to have to “judge” another person, but we do it daily. We are not sitting on a jury. We just judge others.

The “WE” here means all of us! Even if we try, we judge people we meet.

We judge by their clothing, the way they talk, how they eat and how their children behave. We judge by the number of tattoos and the length of hair. We judge by what church they attend, what political party they belong to and what team they root for. We judge by how they keep their yard mowed and how loud they play their music. We judge ---

Darn. God just gave me a whack on the head with that 2 X 4 he keeps handy. It has my name engraved on it and the imprint of my forehead from being used so many times.

God asked, “So this is how you judge my children? By what they wear and what team they want to win the Super Bowl? Goodness, girl. What are you thinking? Go back and look at that list. And you know it is only the tip of the iceberg. You judge people on way more than you put down here.”

God continued, “Did you look at that list? Now - name one thing on there that is so important that you should judge someone on it. How they talk? I will give you that one if they are using my name in vain, but if you are just considering bad grammar or a strange accent - not important! Length of their hair? I assume you are talking about my male children. Mary, have you any idea how long Jesus’ hair was? Do you think I cared?”

Knowing He was not done, I prepared for the next whack and I received one. Getting my attention, God said, “MARY, YOU ARE NOT TO JUDGE!”

Then God softly said, “Judging - my Son and I have that under control. You are to love.”

SCRIPTURES

Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns. The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved: he will judge the peoples with equity. Psalm 96:10

This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:16

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you -- who are you to judge your neighbor? James 4:12

AND NOW

We all judge. The bottom line is that we shouldn’t.  We judge on the wrong things.  God judges fairly and uses a much better measuring stick!

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear Lord, Take away my judgmental attitude. Amen

THE PIT AND THE LIGHT

SCRIPTURES

He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light. God does all these things to a man - twice, even three times - to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him. Job 33:28-30

Many are asking, “Who can show us any good?” Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:6-8

I read these scriptures and the contract of pit and light created such images in my mind.

THE PIT

Pit: Deep. Dark. Narrow. Alone. Scared. No ladder to get out. Noisy because every fear would be running through the mind.

Those words sent chills down my spine. What would that be like? To be at the bottom of a deep, dark pit. Alone and scared because you knew there was no way out. And terrifying thoughts going around and around and around, until a scream comes from the very center of your soul.

Is that what a deep depression feels like? Or times when fear takes over? Or when helplessness invades every cell? Or when the realization comes there is no way out?

THE LIGHT

Light: Bright. Warm. Yellow. Safe. A part of. Able to see.

These words made we feel good. Where there is light I wouldn’t feel shut off from others and I would feel safe because I could see what was going on around me. And I would not need a ladder.

Anyone can fall into a pit. That pit may have the name of depression. Or fear. Or helplessness. Or no-where-to-turn. And, when at the bottom of the pit, there may seem no way out.

THE PIT: A WAY OUT

~ O Lord,

~ He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit

~ to turn back his soul from the pit

~ Who can show us any good?

It is said that if you are deep enough down a well you can see the stars. Even if it is daylight. From the bottom of the well, you can see the stars.

But the secret is that you have to look up. You have to seek the light.

THE LIGHT: THE WAY OUT

~ O Lord,

~ I will live to enjoy the light

~ the light of life may shine on him

~ Let the light of your face shine upon us

But there is a way out if we seek it. Just like the person at the bottom of a well, we have to lift our eyes and look up. God wants to help us climb out and His light will guide us.

AND NOW

Seek God’s light and follow. And yes, God’s light might guide you to counseling. Or medication. Or to a minister. God’s light will, for sure, guide in the right direction and lead you to exactly what you need to overcome the pits in your life.

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

O Lord, show me your light. A light so bright it will show me the ladder - the way - to climb out of the darkness into light so I may enjoy life. Thank you for a light that leads me to dwell in your safety so I may have joy and then rest and sleep in peace. Amen

-----------------------------------------------

PS. For those among us who are fact checkers: I Googled “seeing stars from a well” and the answer is: No you cannot. I have still sited this very old idea, because, if it were true, you would still have to look up to see them.

WAITING

Don’t ya love to wait?

• Go to the grocery store and wait to be checked out.
• Go to the doctor’s office and wait. And wait. And wait.
• Wait in a traffic jam and at the stop lights.

Wait. Wait. Wait.

• Place a call, push the buttons and wait until a real person answers.
• Get to a meeting on time and wait for all the people that did not allow extra time in case of a traffic jam.
• Go to a play and wait until all the late-comers are seated.
• Go to a movie and wait through, at least, three turn-off-your-cell-phones, two ads for popcorn and previews for movies you do not want to see.

Wait. Wait. Wait.

Yup - don’t ya love to wait? Bet your answer is no!

Some places I can understand. A doctor’s schedule can quickly get behind and I am glad they tell people to turn off their cell phones, but why hold the start of a meeting or a play just because people cannot be on time?

I understand an occasional “Sorry I am late. I got railroaded.” But I have no patience waiting for people who are always late. People who are so inconsiderate ----

Can you tell I do not like to wait?

Ever notice how just a small change can make all the difference in the world? What happens if we take the word “wait” and change it to “wait on”?

WAIT -- to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until)

WAIT ON -- to perform the duties of an attendant or servant or to supply the wants of a person/looking after a person/doing everything possible for them

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 25:37-40

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in; or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

AND NOW

What happens if you take the word “wait” and change it to “wait on”?

What difference would it make in your life if you went FROM waiting for something to happen TO waiting on the ‘least of these brothers of mine’?

HEARING AND JOY

Do you ever wonder if your spouse really listens to you? I have proof that mine does.

We were in the hardware store and I commented on a couple of things I saw. “Isn’t that angel adorable?” Looking down another aisle, “Oh, look at that girl. Doesn’t she just make you smile?”

We bought what we came for and went home. What I didn’t know is that my hubby had heard me. He went back and bought the angel and the girl.

SCRIPTURES

God heard their groaning -- Exodus 2:24 first part

“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!” -- Job 31:35

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord. -- Psalm 139:4

HEARING

I do not think Bill realizes how special it made me feel to know that he heard me. He not only listened, he heard! We all need to know that someone hears us.

So often we ask to hear God, but just as often we need to know God hears us. Because, when we know God hears us, we feel special. We know God cares enough to do more than just listen. God hears.

NOW ADMIT IT - SHE MADE YOU SMILE?

I HAVE NAMED HER JOY!

SCRIPTURES

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. -- Psalm 28:7

Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God. -- Psalm 43:4

JOY

Every time I look at the girl, I smile. My heart leaps for joy. My heart feels the love with which this gift was given.

And just now, as often happens this blog is going to take a turn I had not planned. (God has a way of doing that to me.) Hearing and Joy. That is all I had planned. I was ready to stop.

But, as I typed the words “the love with which this gift was given”, my mind went to another gift. The gift of a Son. A gift given with love. A gift that brings eternal joy.

Now doesn’t that just make you smile? Doesn’t that just fill you with joy? Doesn’t that make you realize God hears and, with love, gives you just what you need?

AND NOW

Talk to God because He really does hear you. Be filled with joy for the gift of His Son and the love with which the gift was given.

AND NOW

SCRIPTURES

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. Luke 1:38 (KJV)

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: Matthew 1:24 (KJV)

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10 (KJV)

Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:2 (KJV)

AND NOW

The last four weeks I have encouraged you to put yourself in the place of Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men. This week, I want to encourage you to put yourself in the place of --- In the place of you!

But, look at yourself with the traits of Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men. How are you doing? Are you a servant? Do you trust? Do you hear? Do you seek?

LET ME OFFER A PRAYER FOR YOU

I pray you are

• like Mary: May you be a servant who lives according to God’s word,
• like Joseph: May you trust God when He asks you to obey,
• like the Shepherds: May you hear and believe,
• like the Wise Men: May you search until you find the Son of God.

Amen

ROAD TRIP -- FOLLOW THAT STAR

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 2:1-11 (KJV)

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judaea, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

ROAD TRIP -- FOLLOW THAT STAR

Wonder if that STAR could be considered the first GPS? Wonder if the Wise Men would have felt more comfortable if they had an iPad to show them exactly where they were and where they were going?

This week I want you to think about the Wise Men. Picture them studying the Scriptures and books on astrology. Picture them bent over maps of the heavens and circling constellations. Picture them saying --“There it is!”

“Road trip! Are you in? Are you going? I wonder how long it will take. What gifts should we offer? Will we need back up camels? Do we know if there are any camel stations along the way?”

Okay - It does sound a bit silly, but there are so many questions about the Wise Men that are not answered. Which one first searched the Scriptures? Which one tried to use the stars to figure out a location? Which one saw the star first?

I do believe the Wise Men could give a very interesting Travelogue on their journey.

AND NOW

The answers to these questions really do not matter. The importing thing is that they searched. They searched and then they went. They searched, they went and then they honored Jesus with gifts.

Take time to talk to Jesus. Tell him about how your search.

===============================================

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MAY YOUR CHRISTMAS BE A BLESSED DAY

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP WITH ALL THE NOISE?

The last two weeks I have asked you to think about how Mary felt. About how Joseph felt. Did you find that easy? This week, I want you to try again. The scene: It is very dark.

Did you figure out that you are a shepherd?

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8 (KJV)

It is time to get into character. The day has been very long. The sheep have finally quieted. Luckily this is not your night to keep watch and you are ready to sleep. First you lay on your right side, but there is a rock hitting your knee. Then you try your left side, but that is not much better. The ground is hard! Plus the shepherd next to you is snoring to beat the band.

Finally, you are comfortable. The snoring stops. All is quiet. Your eyes are heavy and --

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:9-14 (KJV)

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

AND NOW

Well, that was interesting! Can you picture the shepherd shaking his head and saying, “How am I supposed to sleep with all that noise? And the shepherds in the next county would be able to see that light. Of course, there is no going back to sleep now.”

Can you see the shepherds forming a committee to see if they should go check out what they had just been told? Did they take a vote? Were there some that just wanted to go back to sleep?

SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:15-16 (KJV)

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

It took effort to go to Bethlehem. They couldn’t just leave the sheep. But it says “they came with haste.”

QUESTIONS

Would you have gone with haste? Or would you have rolled over and gone back to sleep?

Today, do you go with haste to find Jesus? Or do you say, “I believe.” and then roll over and go back to sleep?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

O Lord, I want to be like the shepherds. I want Your glory to shine around me. I want the good tidings of great joy that began that night. I want to be like the shepherds and come to You with haste. Amen

SHALL I BELIEVE HER?

I am sure that Mary was scared and uncertain when she spoke with Joseph. Would he believe her? After all, it was a bit far-fetched. Can you picture Mary approaching Joseph? Head bowed. Walking slowly. Asking God for strength.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:18 (KJV)

Can you picture Joseph, looking up, seeing Mary and wondering why she was coming toward him with such hesitant steps?

Now put your eyes on Mary, as she raises her head, and tells Joseph she is with child.

Now look back at Joseph. Is there shock in his eyes? Did he catch his breath? Did his world shake? Could he look Mary in the eyes?

As Mary turned and walked away, did he think, “Shall I believe her?”

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 1:19-21 (KJV)

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

AND NOW

As you are preparing for Christmas, put yourself in Joseph’s place. Has anyone ever told you something that just shook your world? Were you hurt? Did you believe them? Did you have to hear from someone else that they were telling the truth?

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:24-25

Did you do the right thing?

LET US PRAY: Today, talk to God and ask Him for the strength to do the right thing when faced with a situation you did not expect.

GETTING CLOSER

Can you believe this is the last day of November? I am not sure where the last few months have gone. Especially the last eight months. It seems like yesterday that --

Do you think this might be what Mary was thinking? Was she wondering, “How did I get from ‘Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.’ (Luke 1:28 KJV) to being very uncomfortable?”

Did she ever say, “God, could you tell your Son to lie still so I can sleep?”

Did she ever tell Joseph, “There is no way this delivery is so near. And now we have to go to Bethlehem. I think that ole Caesar Augustus called for this new tax just to add to my stress level!”?

Wouldn’t you just love to sit down with Mary and ask her questions?

• What was your first thought when the angel Gabriel appeared?
• Did you question at all?
• Did you wonder, “Why me?”
• Were you scared?
• Did you gently touch your belly when Elisabeth called your baby “blessed”?
• How did you tell your parents and how did they react?
• Did you hug Joseph when he told you an angel had visited him?
• How did it feel when the Son of God moved inside you?

From experience, I can tell you that the first eight months of a pregnancy goes by very quickly. The last month is an eternity. You are uncomfortable. It is hard to stand up. It is hard to lie down. And there are still meals to cook, dust to redistribute, shopping to be done, a suitcase to pack and family members that believe they are still entitled to their fair share of attention. The last month --- HELP!!!

How did Mary feel?

SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:46-49 (KJV)

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his hand maiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

AND NOW

As you are preparing for Christmas, put yourself in Mary’s place? Yes, men. This means you too. Stop and really think about Mary. Young. Pregnant. Just a few weeks from delivery.

What do you think she was thinking? Feeling? Praying?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear Jesus, I am preparing for Christmas. I am preparing to celebrate your birth. I pray that as I shop, as I cook, as I work, as I rest, I will not forget why I am doing all of this. . . . . Amen

INVITING YOU IN

Last week I wrote about how, when reading a book, a sentence could just jump right off the pages into your imagination. This can happen during a movie too.

Reluctant to step out from behind the wall she had built around herself, the woman turned to the man and said, “Are you inviting me out?”

The man looked her in the eyes and said, “No. I am inviting you in.”

Now what woman wouldn’t just swoon at those words? And, of course, she said yes. The movie ended, in typical Christmas season style, and they kissed.

Think about that concept: I am inviting you in.

SCRIPTURES

encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:12

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection Philippians 3: first part of verse 10

AND NOW

Have you heard God quietly call you into His kingdom and glory? Have you told Christ that you want to know Him?

Being on the outside is not what God wants for you. He is inviting you IN ! ! ! !

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

O Lord, I accept Your invitation into your kingdom and glory. I want to know You and I invite you to be in my life. Amen

IT’S ONLY WORDS - REALLY?

I love to read and am thrilled when a picture jumps out from the pages.

Jack Reacher, in Lee Child’s The Affair, was riding on a bus. “The bus ride was magnificent, in its way. Not a radical distance, no more than a small portion of the giant continent, no more than an inch on a one-page map, but it took six hours.”

Are you ready? The next sentence made my imagination jump. “The view out the window changed so slowly it seemed never to change at all, but even so the landscape at the end of the journey was very different than at the beginning.”

OH MY GOSH! Can you say: Description of life? Day by day, our lives don’t seem so different. Get up. Get dressed. Go to work/work at home. Eat supper. Watch the same show we watched the week before. Go to bed. Get up.----- And it starts all over again. Each day a repeat of the day before.

It’s funny but we don’t notice the slight differences. A day is less than an inch on our travel through life. But one day, we realize our lives have changed. We realize our hair is grey. When did that happen? We realize our children have grown up. When did that happen? We realize those people we went to school with are old. When did that happen? One day we realize we are at a different place than where we began. And we wonder, “When did that happen?”

Have you read The Shack? I have, at least three times. C. Baxter Kruger, Ph.D. has written The Shack Revisited. Dr. Kruger tells about being twelve years old, lost and separated from his parents after a football game in New Orleans. He took the trolley, trying to find where they had parked the car. The streetcar made a complete roundtrip and the driver said, “Son, we have made the circuit. What do you want to do?”

Dr. Kruger called this the “Scared to Death” streetcar. “We don’t know who we are or why we are here, or what’s going to happen next.” OH MY GOSH! Been there, done that.

How often do we get lost and just don’t know what to do? Some give up. Some sleep. Some stay busy. Some pretend. But we are scared. We keep “looking out the trolley window hoping to see something that will give us a hint of home, of hope, of peace.”

Yes, I just love it when words jump off the page and into my imagination, into my heart, into my soul.

AND NOW

Read a book. Find those special words that stir your very soul and cause your imagination to soar. Soak them in.

Read the Bible. God has filled it with images that will cause your imagination to explode and open your eyes to wonders that were hidden.

Imagine this: Isaiah 6:1 -3-- I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Read the Bible. God has filled it with special words that will not only stir your soul, but save it.

Hold onto these words. 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.

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Lord Almighty, I can close my eyes and see your robe flowing from heaven, to my feet. I can hear the seraphs calling, “Holy, holy, holy.” I read that you gave Your Son for me and humbly accept this gift of eternal life. Amen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

Greetings,

If you are looking for a new post, you won’t find one today.  My birthday was Wednesday.  Then had some mommy/daughter time.  So, no ne post. 

Have a blessed week,

Mary—now another year older. 

IS THAT WITH A “K”, “Y” OR “IE”?

When we first started attending a new church, I discovered something. There were already two ladies named Mary. No problem. One was always called Mary. One was called Mary with addition of her middle name. That left me with Mary plus my last name.

We have more than one Barbara and more than one Joyce. At least three Debs. Sometimes you have to clarify which Barbara or Joyce or Deb, but, 30 some years later; people still use my full name. It has become an “inside” joke.

But names can be confusing and I think those with name of Cathy cause us the most trouble. There is a Cathy. Two that spell their names Kathy. Also a Cathie. Plus one Cathlyn who goes by Cathy. Making sure you have the spelling correct can be quite a challenge.

I think I got to thinking about names, because in five days, I celebrate another birthday. Number 66! So 66 years ago, my mother gave me a name.

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 139:13-4, 16

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

WOW!! God made me. He wrote about me in His book. That means God knows how to spell my name. He doesn’t need a middle name. Or a last name. And He knows just how to spell each and every Cathy/Kathy/Cathie. Now doesn’t that just make you grin from ear to ear?

God! The creator of the universe knows me. Knows you. And He wrote about us in His book.

AND NOW

How does it feel to know that God cares so much for you that He knows your name? That He made you and that you are fearfully and wonderfully made?

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

God, You know my name. You made me. You consider me wonderful. You wrote about me in Your book. Thank you. Amen

MISDIRECTED ANGER

Recently our news, emails and Facebook have been inundated by comments on rape. It seems our politicians should engage brain before opening mouth. But politicians are not the only ones and I believe we are misdirecting our anger.

"It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." - Todd Akin (R)

April 25, 1988: During an NBC interview with Connie Chung on the subject of stress, Knight utters the now-infamous quote: "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it." The remark triggers a protest march of about 300 people on the Indiana campus.

Whoopi Goldberg on 43-year-old Roman Polanski raping and sodomizing a 13-year-old girl: "I know it wasn't rape-rape. It was something else but I don't believe it was rape-rape. He went to jail and and [sic] when they let him out he was like "You know what this guy's going to give me a hundred years in jail I'm not staying, so that's why he left."

Bellefonte, Pa. -- The silence of Jerry Sandusky was total. Even after the jury foreman had spoken, finding the former Penn State assistant coach guilty on 45 of 48 counts of child sexual molestation of 10 victims, even as he was being led in handcuffs, out the back door of the Centre County Courthouse, and off to a nearby jail, to spend his first night of the rest of his life as a convicted felon, he never made a noise.

You can get a ring tone for your phone from The Fantasticks’ Rape Song: So why be stingy? It depends on what you pay! The kids will love it. It depends on what you Ra-aa-aa-pe! Ole!

We have every right to be angry with the statement made by Todd Akin. BUT were we just as angry when Bobby Knight said to “relax and enjoy it”? Did you complain to the View about Whoopi Goldberg’s comments? Are you willing to hold your Alma-mater accountable for putting sports over the molestation of our children? Are you mad there are songs that make rape a ringtone?

Misdirected anger! We should be mad because a person of the other political party said something stupid about rape. We should be irate when anyone makes light of rape!

Misdirected anger! The following information was taken from the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network website www.rainn.org

Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted

1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed rape; 2.8% attempted rape). 17.7 million American women have been victims of attempted or completed rape.

1 out of 33 American men have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime. 2.78 million American men have been victims of sexual assault or rape.

15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under age 12. 7% of girls in grades 5-8 and 12% of girls in grades 9-12 said they had been sexually abused. 3% of boys grades 5-8 and 5% of boys in grades 9-12 said they had been sexually abused. 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims know their attacker.

54% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police and 97% of rapists will never spend a day in jail.

Victims of sexual assault are:

• 3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
• 6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
• 13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
• 26 times more likely to abuse drugs.
• 4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.

Are you mad about the politician’s comments? GOOD. But, if on November 7, 2012, you are no longer mad, then your anger is misdirected. And, if the comments of politicians are the only ones that make you mad, then your anger is misdirected. Your anger - my anger - should be directed toward rape!  Rape – period!

LET US PRAY:

O Lord, Today we lift up all who are victims of sexual assault. Surround them with people who can help them heal. Give them the courage to stand tall and unashamed. Restore their joy. Amen

DRY BONES

Many years ago, when I woke up from a really strange dream, I told Bill, “It must have been the pepperoni pizza.” From then on, whenever we have a wild dream, we smile and blame that ole pepperoni pizza.

Have you read Ezekiel? He didn’t have a dream caused by a pizza; he had a vision from the heavens. I love the first chapter because I have a vivid imagination and can feel the windstorm, flashing lightning and fire. I can hear the voice from above and see the glory of the Lord. Ezekiel fell facedown! Then God said to him, “Son of man, stand up on your feet and I will speak to you.”

What do you want to bet that Ezekiel’s knees were weak and his hands were shaking? I wonder what was going through his mind. Was he trying to remember just how good/bad he had been?

Fast forward to chapter 37 and Ezekiel is now in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.

SCRIPTURES: EZEKIEL 37: parts of various verses

God: “Son of man, can these bones live?”

Ezekiel: “O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

God: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.”

DRY BONES

Just how confused do you think poor ole Ezekiel was? First he gets a vision, which made him fall down flat, and now God tells him to speak to dry bones. Maybe he did have pepperoni pizza after all.

AND NOW

Go back and read Ezekiel chapters 1 and 37:1-14. Chapter one is just way cool. Chapter 37 was written to the Israelites to give them hope.

I am sure thinking about my broken arm and doing therapy this morning is why I thought about the scripture on dry bones. I don’t know about you, but there are times I have felt like a dry bone. Like the world was moving and I was just standing still. Like nothing I did turned out right. Like God was very far away.

“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet -- a vast army.”

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

O Lord, Thank you for the hope sent through your prophet, Ezekiel. Put your Spirit in me so I may stand and live. Live and not be a dry bone. … Amen

HARVEST

SCRIPTURE: Exodus 23:16

Celebrate the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field. Celebrate the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your crops from the field.

HARVEST

I don’t know about the area you live in, but in my little corner of the world tractors, trucks and combines are traveling back and forth across the fields to harvest the crops. It has been a rough year with no rain on one field and barely enough rain on another. Yields range from next to nothing to a normal crop. Those involved in agriculture are putting in long days to harvest what crops there are. They are missing their children’s ball games and, if the weather map says rain, they often have Sunday morning worship as they harvest, plow or unload the truck.

But there would be no harvest if there had not been work.

Farmers and ranchers across this great land work hard. They work hard to feed themselves. Their neighbors. You. They go to work before daylight and return home after dark. They check on a cow in the middle of the night just to make sure the delivery is going okay. They leave the dinner table because the truck showed up early for a load of hogs. They order seed and fertilizer in November that will not be used until the ground is ready to plant in the spring. They plant, tend, nurture and trust that what they produce (Corn, soybeans, wheat, potatoes, cattle, hogs, pumpkins, coffee, carrots, lettuce, chickens and another gazillion products.) will grow and harvest will begin again.

Yes, those involved in agriculture work hard to feed themselves, their neighbors and you. They work hard to provide for your physical body.

SCRIPTURE: John 4:31-36

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.”

HARVEST

Do you consider yourself a sower? Ever thought about yourself as a crop? Got news for you: YOU ARE BOTH!

AND NOW

Think about that last sentence. How do you sow the Word of God so others can be saved? Are you ready to be harvested into eternal life?

LET US PRAY

Today, please talk with the Lord. Ask Him to guide you as you sow His Word. And, if you are not spiritually ready to be harvested, talk to Him about that also.

BIBLE ROULETTE

Today, I started my writing with an idea in mind: I will play Bible Roulette. With eyes closed, I will select verses.

• So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 1 Kings 17:5
• The book contains a short prologue and a longer epilogue, which may have been added to the outer materials. Proverbs Introduction
• to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him. Jude 11:15
• Blank -- (Yes, my finger pointed at a blank section of a page.)

I was sure this would point out that just taking random verses would make no sense. Would give no lesson. Know something? God has a sense of humor.

BIBLE ROULETTE

Did you just hear God laugh?

God - for sure - directed my finger to the first verse. So he did what the Lord had told him. Okay, that had to be a fluke because this verse preaches! Doing as the Lord told is a whole sermon. Or a simple prayer: Lord, I want to do as You tell me.

I was sure random pick two, part of the introduction to Proverbs, would make my point. God smiled and said, “Mary, you will understand the Books of the Bible, the inspired words of Me, if you understand who wrote them and why.” Okay, this random pick makes sense: Understand. Gain wisdom.

Finally! Random pick three proves my point. This verse makes no sense. First of all, it starts in the middle of a sentence. Why in the world did they number in the middle of sentences? Very confusing. Makes me wonder what the first of the sentence said God just smiled again. (So glad I am making His day.) Makes me wonder. Reading the Bible does seem to work that way. One verse makes you want to read another. One question makes you want to find the answer.

Well, I have God now! On pick four, my finger landed on a blank part of the page. Blank. No lesson there. And God said, “Are you so sure?”

Tenderly, God continued, “Mary, your tomorrow is a blank page. It is up to you what you write on it. You can be joyous. You can be bitter. You can be empty. Or you can be filled. Your tomorrow is up to you. Just remember, no matter what you do. No matter where you go. I am with you.”

SCRIPTURE: REVELATION 22:1

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb…

AND NOW?

My page is not going to be blank.  Don’t know about you, but I think I will find a really, REALLY big dipper and head to the river.

LET US PRAY (Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.)

Dear Lord, My tomorrow is a blank page. It is up to me what I write on it. I can be joyous. I can be bitter. I can be empty. Or I can be filled. My tomorrow is up to me, but I will remember, no matter what I do. No matter where I go. You are with me. Amen