ONE DAY

Ever notice how one day just seems to melt into the next and the next? You get up, dress, eat breakfast and start your day. Yes, some days are easier and all seems to go right. Some days really suck! But, they do seem to even out. You go from day to day, doing what you have to do, without thinking about it. Then you get a promotion. Or win a vacation. Or meet that special someone.

Something out of the ordinary happens and the day changes from being just like yesterday to becoming the day you remember forever. Something out of the ordinary happens and your life changes.

SCRIPTURE: 1 JOHN 3:1-3

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. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

AND NOW

Something out of the ordinary happens and the day changes. How great the love, We are children of God, When he appears.

Wow! Talk about out of the ordinary. I don’t know about you but the day I realized I AM A CHILD OF GOD, my life changed!

Dear friends, now we are children of God -- How great is the love the Father has lavished on us ---- repeat those words. Take a deep breath. Now another. Do you feel the love? Now close your eyes and just relax in God’s love.

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

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your love. Thank you for changing my life from ordinary into eternal. Amen

HE’S EVERYWHERE! HE’S EVERYWHERE!

PRIVACY

Credit card and other companies keep updating their privacy policies. The morning paper informed us that tracking devices along the highway will now track our cars. Surveillance cameras watch us as we shop and walk down the street. The government seems to want to know who we call and what our emails say. Facebook monitors our pages.

We post our life in words and pictures on Facebook. Some Tweet their every thought.

PRIVACY? What is that? There is no privacy anymore.

Has there ever been?

SCRIPTURE: PSALM 139:1-13 (The Message)

God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I'm an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I'm thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I'm never out of your sight. You know everything I'm going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too - your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful - I can't take it all in! Is there any place I can go to avoid your Spirit? To be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you're there! If I go underground, you're there! If I flew on morning's wings to the far western horizon, you'd find me in a minute - you're already there waiting! Then I said to myself, "Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I'm immersed in the light!" It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you. Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.

HE’S EVERYWHERE!  HE’S EVERYWHERE!

I find such comfort in the fact that there is no privacy in my life. You see, it doesn’t matter what my neighbors know. What my family knows. Nor what my government knows. What matters is what God knows about me. About my life.

And God knows it all. God created me! God loves me! God gave His Son so I can stand before him clean and pure.

Privacy? There is no privacy! God knows everything about my life!

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

O God, thank you for loving me enough to know me inside and out. Amen

GRADUATION

I am working on Chapter 10 of Matthew so I am ready when the class finishes Chapter 9. It takes work to stay ahead of them and they have been studying very hard. They are like the disciples; they have tried to understand the beatitudes, discussed how you do things like not worry and are amazed at the healing and ministry of Jesus.

We are almost ready for Chapter 10. The disciples are ready for graduation.

SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 10:1

He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.

GRADUATION

Okay, so it doesn’t say they received a diploma but it is the same thing. They have been following Jesus. Learning from Jesus. And now? He called his twelve. Can you say double WOW? Just imagine being the disciples. Jesus calls you.

Jesus said, “Simon and Andrew, (Can you picture the love in Jesus’ eyes?) come to me. James and John, come. Philip and Bartholomew, come. Thomas and Matthew, come. James and Thaddaeus, come. Simon and Judas Iscariot, come.”

Matthew 10:5 -- These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions:

That is when they graduated. Yes, they would continue to learn from Jesus, but Jesus was giving them their diploma. They were ready to become workers. They were ready to go out and harvest souls for Jesus.

AND NOW

Have you graduated in your faith?

Are you ready to harvest souls for Jesus? If you are, then pray: Jesus, Call my name. Amen

DON’T LOOK BACK

Our Sunday School class has been studying Matthew. Chapters eight and nine are full of healings - physical, spiritual. Healing of Jews, Gentiles, adults and children are recorded one after another. Sometimes the person came on their own. Sometimes they were carried by friends. Sometimes one person came to request the healing of another. Sometimes they even asked Jesus to go to the person that was sick. Or heal the person without even going. And one woman just touched his cloak.

We have talked about these. How the healings made some “priests and leaders” a bit upset. How some thanked Jesus and how some were so thrilled they just told everyone. We discussed how being healed changed their lives. But, I realized we were missing something. There was something important we were overlooking.

I read an article in the Guidepost about a family that moved 22 miles but kept going back to their old church. 22 miles became a long drive and they began to attend a church closer to home. It didn’t go so great. People weren’t as friendly. No one saved them a seat at their church dinners. The author said she couldn’t move past polite chitchat. Until, “something inside me crumbled.”

She said, “I’m reminded that it’s okay to look back on the past, to cherish the memories, as long as you make room for the joy that is right before you.”

Light bulb moment!! That is the common thread we were missing. All the people that came to Jesus for healing had to change. Something inside each had to crumble. They could cherish memories of who they were but they had to make room for change. And in making room, they found joy.

AND NOW

Go back and read the accounts of healing. Look at each person, think about their life and find what they changed. What they let go of. It could be the traditions of their faith they cherish. It could be their pride. It could be their shame. Then think about the joy they received. Joy because they were willing to let go. They were willing to allow their life to change.

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 19:17, 26

As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away.” But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

AND NOW #2

Now talk about someone who could not let go. Lot’s wife was not willing to make room for something better.

On a personal level, what are you holding onto? Afraid to let go of? What is keeping you from having joy? What ties you down? Are you holding onto your memories (good and bad) to the point that you are missing out on the joy right in front of you? Do you make yesterday more important than today?

Look around. What do you see? What are you holding onto that keeps you from receiving 100% of what God has for you?

If an angel told you to flee, would you? Or would you look back? Are you a pillar of salt? Or are you full of joy?

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

Lord, search me. Examine my life. What am I holding onto? What is right in front of me or what is way down in my little toe that I refuse to let go. What am I looking back at instead of looking to You? What do I need to change so I can have joy? So my spirit can be healed. Show me so I can come to You and be filled. Amen

HALF OVER

SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 1:14-15

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so.

HALF OVER

Do you realize this year is almost half over? The end of June is upon us. Six months - gone! So much planned for a new year and now that year is on the downside. Sigh! Sigh! Oh, well. There is always next year.

Well, duh! Six months might be over but there are six months yet to be. Six months of opportunity. Six months of chances. Six months to get-er-done!

Six months to:

Share a smile

  Send a card

   Take a trip

    Play with your children

      Watch a movie

      Walk in the mud

     Sing in the shower

    Read a book

   Cook a fancy meal

  Put your feet up

  Call a friend

   Finish a project

    Begin a project

     Learn something new

      Clean behind the couch

      And under the bed

     Give someone an unexpected gift

    Make the gift instead of buying it

   Tell someone you love them

  Really listen

  Laugh

   Play in the rain

    Paint a picture

     Watch the sunset

      Take a deep, peaceful breath.

Do you realize you have six months left in this year? Six whole months! What a blessing!

AND NOW

Six months -- How will you use them?

Get your calendar out. Write in some things you want to do. Write them in ink! Now look forward to the last - the best - six months of 2013.

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

Oh my, only six months left in this year. Lord, will you help me use them wisely? I realize there are many things I have to do. And people who depend on me. But use me to be a blessing. Use my life to enrich the lives of others. Let these next six months be a time of growing spiritually. A time of loving deeper. A time of learning about myself. A time to learn more about You. Lord, will you help me use the next six months wisely? Amen

JUST ANOTHER MINUTE PLEASE

I arrived early for a meeting at White’s Residential and Family Services. (http://www.whiteskids.org/) One of my CASA families has their visits there but I had not gotten railroaded nor behind someone that actually drove the speed limit, so I was early. The chapel parking lot seemed the exact place to wait. I put the windows down, watched and listened.

Beautiful flowers outside the chapel === Quiet surrounded by the noise of lawn mowers and birds === Shadows === A fountain === The campus waking up slowly === A girl on a swing === More people coming, going, waiting === An order to everyone’s movements === Pink, purple, red, white, brown, yellow and a gazillion shades of green

And then it was time to go to my meeting.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I re-joined life but those few minutes of sitting and watching the world around me were wonderful. They made me realize how much I miss - how much we all miss - when we rush along. Never taking time to park in an empty lot and watch. And listen.

SCRIPTURE: Job 37:14

(God speaking) “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.”

AND NOW

Is your life really busy? Are there just not enough hours in the day? Is there always a meeting? Or dinner to fix? Or the yard to mow? Or --- STOP! The “to do” list never ends. Sometimes, you just need to put the list aside. And stop. Stop and consider God’s wonders.

Leaving phones and all gadgets inside, go outside, by yourself or with a spouse, child or friend, sit on the step or in the grass, and listen and look. Then talk about what you saw and heard. You just might be surprised by what you are missing.

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

Lord, Life is so busy I forget to just take time. Time to enjoy your wonders. Forgive me for taking the color green for granted and not noticing the people around me. Amen

FLAG DAY, ARMY AND FATHER’S DAY

So many subjects to pick from today.It is Flag Day. This is the 238^th birthday for the United States Army. Add to that, Sunday is Father’s Day. What to say?

Flag Day -- Yes our flag is flying. It proudly announces that we support and believe in the United States of America. The Flag represents how this country has grown from 13 states to 50. It represents those who have made this country strong. It represents the farmer, the banker, the steel worker, and the teacher. It represents the mothers and fathers. The sons and daughters. It represents the doctors and nurses, the store clerk and the corporate CEO. It represents the poor and the rich. The Flag represents each of us.

Flag Day -- Yes our Flag is flying.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. HAPPY 238^TH BIRTHDAY. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

We should all be singing this song. For 238 years, the Army has been defending your right to fly the Flag. Defending not only our country and our freedoms, but the freedoms of countries around the world. So, Happy Birthday Army. Thank you

This leaves Father’s Day. I thought this picture of my dad was just the one for today. He was in the Army. In the Infantry. In World War II. This picture honors our Flag and the Army.

Dad was the father of four: a boy and three girls. He drove a truck. A semi back before power steering, air conditioned cabs or GPS. He did not have a cell phone. Not even a CB. Just him and the truck.

Dad loved to drive that truck. He drove for Merchant’s Freight out of Terre Haute, Indiana. Being the child of a truck driver was not easy. We never knew when dad would be home. He would be in and out of the house at odd times. And he slept day or night, depending on when he got home. Dad loved being a truck driver. I hated it.

It is hard to get to know someone that is never there. During the day, when we were awake, dad might be asleep. At night, when we were asleep, dad might be getting ready to take the next load. Dad wasn’t there for school programs. Dad didn’t go to church. Dad knew how to tell us to be quiet but did not know how to tell us that he loved us.

Dad did, occasionally, play games with us and we thought it was funny when he helped mom do dishes. Dad made sure he was home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. At least for part of the day. Dad --

As I write this and as I look back, I realize dad was not what I expected a dad to be. I don’t think I ever did anything right. There was always something just not quite good enough. But I also realize something else. He was - is - my dad, my father, and I love him. He provided for his family and, knowing how he grew up, I think he did the best he could. I also saw an entirely different man when he became a grandfather. I saw the love he had for them. I saw him finally able to let the love he kept in his heart come out.

My daddy died at the age of 57. I miss him.

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.