This Thing Called Cancer

“Up Against the Wall”

2011-08-12T00:41:00.000-04:00

Deb Douglas, Women’s Minister of First Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana, recently told the story of her experience in a Houston airport. Not having the best of days, Deb noticed a peculiar looking wall covered in tiles. She was disturbed by the fact that the mismatched tiles were arranged in such a hodge-podge, but even worse - there was an area of tiles that were missing all together. Not being able to make sense of it, she became infuriated that the airport would care so little and not take the time to maintain it.

Feeling as if she needed to speak up on behalf of the wall, Deb took several steps back. She caught a glimpse of a man in a red coat and assumed he was an airport employee - the perfect person in which to plead her case that the wall of tiles should be “fixed”. But just as her accusations began to spill off her tongue she caught a second look at the tile wall and it all became so clear. From a distance, she realized that those same mismatched tiles in reality created a beautiful mosaic.

Women in crisis tend to be “up against the wall”. All we can focus on is what is right in front of us and we cannot seem to see beyond the moment. But when we take a step back and look through God’s lens, we find that He was creating something beautiful all along.

God is weaving a golden thread through the tapestry of our lives, and yes, that includes the junk as well as the joys. Each experience, good and bad, becomes a tile on our wall. We cannot seem to make any sense of it by looking at the individual tiles, but when we take a step back and consider the bigger picture, an amazing mosaic will be brought to light. For, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

As we face the struggles of life, we must keep in perspective that God can bring good out of any situation. Each tile is an important piece to our puzzle. Without it, the beautiful mosaic would not be complete.

“The Aroma of Christ”

2011-08-03T13:46:00.000-04:00

It was an early summer morning just following a light, but steady rain shower. I decided to get a walk in before heading off to work. Living in the country provides for many sights, but most of all smells (if you know what I mean), especially when you live smack dab in the middle of Amish country, surrounded by farmland and barnyards. I passed numerous friendly cows along the way as I walked briskly up the road. Suddenly there was one aroma in particular that caught my attention. Now it’s not exactly what you’re thinking. Normally when the words cow and aroma are placed in the same sentence one would assume to experience something quite unpleasant, but that was not the case. Instead, the smell stopped me in my tracks and transported me back about 30 years to my childhood.

The picture was vivid in my mind. It was one of laughter and simplicity – a carefree spirit – as I recalled the memories of living in the country as a child. I remembered watching the neighbors working in the field and my brothers helping as they baled the hay. I was swept away to a less complicated summer day, where as a child I did not stress about the cares of the world. I smiled as I came back to reality, and then it hit me. Isn’t it truly amazing how something as simple as an aroma can take you right back to a time or an event in the past as if it had happened just yesterday.

At that intricate moment the aroma of freshly cut hay hit my nostrils and hurled me back in time. For others it may be the smell of freshly baked bread that ushers in reminders of grandma’s kitchen. Or maybe the aroma of a certain sweet-smelling perfume that brings back memories of mom. Sometimes certain odors trigger unpleasant memories that we wish to forget or have buried deep into our subconscious and it’s painful to remember. Whatever the case, the sense of smell can play a key role in our everyday lives. Did you know that we as Christians are called to be an aroma?

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Smell has a strong power to vividly bring back memories, or images of people and places. It is definitely more important than we realize. What do we smell like as a church to the world around us - to our families and our neighbors? Are we leaving behind an unpleasant odor, or are we a welcome and refreshing fragrance? When others breathe in our aroma, is it that of Christ? Are we spreading His fragrance among those who are perishing? Let us be challenged to be the scent that sweeps others back to pleasant memories of salvation, mercy and grace as we spread the fragrance of hope to a dying world. Let us live our lives in such a way that people remember the fragrance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus because of us – the aroma of Christ.

“Blurry Vision”

2011-07-15T18:35:00.000-04:00

When I was in the third grade, it was realized that my vision wasn’t the best. I have never really been fond of wearing glasses, I hated it actually, and being involved in sports and such my parents allowed me to get contacts in the sixth grade. What a difference, and how liberating to just pop them in my eyes and go. Now in my late thirties, I continue to prefer contacts over glasses.

It was a normal day. I rolled out of bed at the sound of my alarm, (well after hitting snooze a few times), and headed into the bathroom to get ready for work. One of the very first things I do in the morning is put my contacts in so I can see clearly to apply makeup. If I tried to do otherwise, I would most likely resemble a four-year old’s attempt to “look like mommy”. I finished getting ready, had some breakfast, and headed to the office. But during the drive it seemed as if there was something in my eye. I blinked a few times and everything was fine.

I plopped down in front of the computer screen and had just begun to get some work done when my eye began to hurt once more. I reached up and gently maneuvered my contact back and forth to try to relieve the discomfort. But instead of retrieving an eyelash, or a piece of lint, there on the tip of my finger lay two separate halves of my contact lens. Oh great! Now, if you know me at all, you will understand that this really presented a problem because I am blind as a bat without my corrective lenses. And those of you who are contact wearers will also understand how it feels to have one contact in and one contact out – blurry vision to say the least.

So, bull-headed as I am, I stuck it out instead of running home to get a replacement. Squinting most of the day, I would close my right eye when there was really something I needed to see or read. But as the hours passed, I began to get a headache and feel a bit nauseous. I was stubborn and had my mind made up that I was not going to make a trip all the way home and come back again. I would just stick it out.

It wasn’t until I had put in my hours at the office that I realized driving home may also be an issue. I hopped in my van and headed for home, relieved that a replacement was waiting there for me and it would not be long until I would be seeing clearly once more. But driving proved to pose quite a challenge. In order for me to see well enough to drive, I had to close my right eye, which totally impaired my depth perception and my judgment of distance. More than once I found myself creeping up a bit too far on the vehicle ahead of me. Who knows what may have been coming at my right side that I never even saw due to ‘my blind eye’.

Doesn’t this sound familiar? Because of our stubbornness and unwillingness to change we turn a ‘blind eye’ to the things of the world. We drive around in life with altered judgment as we peer out of one good eye. Our depth perception cannot reach beyond ourselves, the needs of others remain unnoticed. The compromises we make impair our vision and we miss out on all the opportunities God has for our lives. We are content with squinting, instead of making full use of the immeasurable gifts that God has given – to see fully through two eyes – wide open.

We as humans need help. We cannot do this life on our own – when we try to, we stumble and we fall. But God has provided us with corrective lenses, the truth of His word and a passion for His people. When we look at Him through new eyes, the blurry vision is removed and we can see Him clearly – becoming more like Him!

“And we, who with unveiled faces [clear vision] all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

I need a truer vision, Lord, a vision filled with Thee,
To see the needy world again with eyes willing to see.
A world where people are hurting and hungry every day,
A world that’s ready and waiting to hear what You would say.

I need a wider vision, Lord, a vision filled with Thee,
To see that lonely woman down the street from me.
The teenager who’s all mixed up, the child who’s been abused,
The day-to-day cares in my neighborhood. Lord, I want to be used.

Give me a new vision, Lord. A vision filled with Thee,
To see the world and my neighborhood as Your eyes would see.
Help me use my gifts, dear Lord, in ways that glorify You,
To act with loving kindness toward those with a different view.

A truer, wider, new vision, Lord. That’s what I need,
To carry out Your commands in word and thought and deed.

-Unknown

“God has a wonderful plan for your life…and so does everyone else”

2011-07-06T10:58:00.000-04:00

I tend to be a perfectionist. I set high standards for myself and when I miss the mark I become laden with guilt. Apparently there are others out there who deal with the same issues. According to the studies of psychologist Roy Baumeister, the average person spends approximately 2 hours a day feeling guilty. For 39 minutes of that time, people feel moderate to severe guilt that may limit their abilities. This does not refer to the standards we set for ourselves only, but also includes the expectations of others. I don’t know about you, but I can’t meet my own expectations, let alone everyone else’s.

The good news is – it’s not that way with God. God is perfect in every way, yet we can meet His expectations for us because His expectations are realistic. Isn’t it interesting that there are some people you will never be able to please, but you can please God? It’s mind-boggling! Now I’m not referring to any standard of perfection or sinlessness that can only be obtained in heaven. God has called us to become more like Christ and that in and of itself is a higher standard that we are to strive for. I’m referring to God’s plans for our lives versus people‘s plans for us. It is essential for me to discover His will, because when I learn what He expects of me, I don’t have to try to live up to everyone else’s standards. If I am not living out God’s plan, then I am serving man and not God.

God’s expectations for me are perfect. He knows what I am, and what I am not, capable of. And unlike our critics, He does not expect what we cannot give. He sets His standard for us based on the gifts and talents He has blessed us with. It is important to note though, that although God does not expect too much of us, He also does not expect too little – there’s always two extremes. There are those who strive to do more than they should and others who do less than they should. Both can lead to disaster.

There are benefits to God-pleasing and pitfalls to people-pleasing. When we strive to please God, we become better people. When we seek to please men, we become bitter people. When we strive to please God, we are filled with joy. When we seek to please men, we are stripped of joy. When we strive to please God, we receive strength. When we seek to please men, we become exhausted. There is peace and freedom found when we look for God’s approval, but only guilt and frustration when we strive after the approval of men.

We are called to possess a servant's heart. But to serve out of love rather than out of obligation. Galatians 5:13 says, "You, my brothers, were called to be free {from the expectations of men}. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." When we serve man as unto the Lord, we serve in love. When we serve man out of obligation only, we rob ourselves of the blessing of servanthood.

When we fall short of the expectations of man, we tend to judge ourselves unworthy, or consider ourselves a failure when in reality we our God’s beloved. Listen to these beautiful words taken from the book, “Abba’s Child” by Brennan Manning,

“We ourselves are the greatest obstacle to our own nobility of soul. We judge ourselves unworthy servants, and that judgment becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. What we need is a glimpse of the true self – unself-conscious, unpretentious, immersed in life, absorbed in the present moment, breathing in God as naturally as a fish swimming in water. Sanctity lies in discovering my true self, moving toward it, and living out of it. ‘Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. You are precious in my eyes, because you are honored and I love you…the mountains may depart, the hills may be shaken, (you may disappoint yourself and others), but my love for you will never leave you and my covenant of peace with you will never be shaken’ (Isaiah 43:1, 4; 54:10). Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. God’s love for you and choice of you constitute your worth. Accept that, and let it become the most important thing in your life. The basis of my personal worth is not my possessions, my talents, not esteem, (or approval) of others, or reputation…I stand anchored now in God before whom I stand naked, this God who tells me, ‘You are my beloved.’ Being the beloved is our identity, the core of our existence.”

Amen and Amen.

“If only we all could apply some extra grace, this world would become a better place…”

“God at Work…in Alaska – a Beautiful Journey”

2011-06-17T14:05:00.000-04:00

"Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him." -Daniel 2:20, 22

When our children were very young, Mike and I made a commitment to take each of them on a special getaway just for them. Four years ago, Lauren and I made our mother-daughter trip through the Panama Canal, and in another few years Tyler will have his special trip with dad. But, this was Hayley’s year. Our mother-daughter excursion found us on a journey to beautiful Alaska!

Our trip began on Saturday, May 28^th, 2011 as we flew from Akron, Ohio to Seattle, Washington where we stayed for the night. On Sunday, May 29^th, Hayley and I boarded a cruise ship bound for the Inside Passage along the gulf of southeast Alaska. All of Sunday and Monday was spent at sea, learning our way around the boat, relaxing, and enjoying one another’s company, and of course, sampling all the food!

Tuesday, May 31^st, we enjoyed the city of Ketchikan, Alaska. Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “First City” because it’s the first major community travelers come to as they journey north. Located on an island, Ketchikan began life as an Indian fishing camp. The name comes from a Tlingit Indian phrase that means, “eagle with spread-out wings”. In the early 1900’s, when gold was Alaska’s claim to fame, fishing and timber industries were established helping to make it the fourth-largest city. Visitors are intrigued by Ketchikan’s rich Indian heritage, which includes the world’s oldest collection of totem poles.

For our first excursion in Ketchikan, we took a floatplane ride into Misty Fjords National Monument. Many years ago, the area was covered in ice. Massive glacier action carved out its present landscape. Donning our own set of head phones in this 7 passenger plane, we were amazed at the views from above – land untouched by humans, only accessible by floatplane or boat from Ketchikan. We soared to the tops of majestic mountains shrouded in mists, was inspired by the beauty of free-flowing water falls caused by melting ice, an endless view of evergreen forests, and cliffs that soar as high as 3,000 feet into the air.

We searched for roaming wildlife while our pilot narrated the tour. The peak of our plane ride came when we landed on a remote lake. Here we were able to get out and enjoy even more amazing landscape before heading back to Ketchikan.

When we returned from the plane ride, we hopped on a bus headed to the rainforest canopy where we would gear up to soar once more. This time, we were ziplining through the treetops of the Alaskan rainforest surrounded by mountains. Our hearts pounded as we stepped off that first platform, but after a total of eight ziplines and three swinging bridges, we were flying without fear! The most challenging (and fun) zip was 135 feet off the ground and 750 feet long! Upon mastering our zipline course, we headed back to the ship, excited for the next day’s destination - Juneau. In being true to its name, we sighted many bald eagles which are numerous in Alaska.

Wednesday, June 1^st, our ship made its way through Tracy Arm Fjord. The wind was crisp on deck, but the views were splendid as the ship navigated through the narrow opening. Sights such as steep fjord walls, hanging valleys, waterfalls, glacially polished rocks, distant snow-capped mountains, and free-floating blocks of ice all contributed to our experience.

Upon our arrival in Juneau, we toured the city with a private tour guide. Our first stop was Gold Creek, also known as “Last Chance Basin”, where Joe Juneau and Richard Harris struck gold in 1880. The creek is city- owned, allowing anyone to roam its banks in search of their own treasure of gold. Hayley and I each tried our hand at gold panning. No nuggets are found there anymore, but we were able to capture some gold dust and Hayley pocketed a souvenir stone from the creek.

From there we ventured on to the famous Mendenhall Glacier, a glacier which spans a length of 12 miles located in the Mendenhall Valley and is a part of the Tongass National Forest. We entered the park and hiked to a closer view of the glacier, as well as an amazing waterfall nearby. Then our guide drove us to two other points where we could view the glacier at different angles. From there, we drove past the University of Southeast Alaska to a very old, small log chapel on the lake. In Juneau, we also took a ride through town seeing many other places of interest, such as the capital building, airport, and parks, and then did a little shopping before re-boarding the ship in route to the next port of call.

Thursday, June 2nd we arrived in Skagway. Known to thousands of hopeful gold-rushers as the gateway to the gold fields. It may have been the shortest route to the Klondike, but definitely not the easiest. Thousands of stampeders lost their lives on the White Pass and Chilkoot Trails. The White Pass Railroad is one of the most popular attractions in Skagway, but we opted to take in the scenery on horseback instead. A bus took us to a horse ranch where we would embark on a trail ride through the Alaskan and Canadian wilderness. Hayley's horse’s name was Doc and I saddled up on Spirit. Our 2 hours on horseback took us through the brush and to the tops of mountains, along ridges with indescribable landscapes. The horses were spirited, yet gentle, and the ride was amazing. It was almost difficult to take it all in.

On this excursion we spotted a black bear, a grizzly bear, and a moose. At the conclusion of the trail ride, our tour guide made several stops for us to enjoy the pristine views of Alaska including the Klondike, Yukon and White Pass. We spotted a black bear and a grizzly from the bus and a moose and another black bear while on the horses. Prior to the excursion, we enjoyed the old-time sites of the gold rush town of Skagway while doing some shopping.

We relaxed during another day at sea on Friday and most of the day Saturday, until the ship pulled in to our final port – Victoria, British Colombia, a picture-perfect city exuding old-world charm. Here we were amazed at the grandeur of the Empress Hotel and a shrub cutting of Killer Whales. Our time was short here, so we proceeded to window shop until we re-boarded to head for Seattle where we disembarked Sunday morning and made our way to the airport for our flights home. We were amazed at the beautiful weather we experienced our entire trip, with temperatures in the upper 60’s and lower 70’s, and no rain (which is quite uncommon especially in Ketchikan).

I was so in awe of the true beauty of Alaska – the mountains, glaciers, waters, and wildlife, as creation sang out its’ praises to Him! It felt so good to breathe in the crisp, clean air! I could not help but praise God for His marvelous creation and power – proof that He IS at work – everywhere. It reminds me of the passage in Romans 1,

“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

God is visible through His handiwork and I am grateful to have had this opportunity to share in that reminder with my daughter Hayley. These are memories that will last a lifetime and a bonding experience like no other!

If you are interested in viewing

our entire Alaska photo album,

you can do so by looking me up

on FaceBook!

“Be Careful What You Wish For”

2011-06-09T12:12:00.000-04:00

My dad’s cancer happened to be the kind known for a high recurrence rate within the first year of surgery. Knowing this can make you jump at every little thing - a sore throat, a cough, or even just a headache. It’s because of this, that my dad needs to see a doctor for a checkup every month. Several months of checkups went by with good reports, but one month was not so lucky. The doctor detected a new spot on the voice box, a possibility that the cancer had returned. Why? Why does it seem that when you have finally knocked out your opponent, you find yourself back in the ring for yet another round?

The time arrived for another surgery – a biopsy, to determine the status of the new spot that was detected. My teeth were set on edge – waiting to hear the news. If it was in fact a new growth of cancer, it could lead us to more surgeries, radiation, or possibly chemo therapy, or a total loss of voice. None of which is something I wish for him to have to endure. But just as I began to envision a negative future, it was my dad who brought me back to reality – pointing his finger towards the sky as he so often does and saying, “It’s in the Lord’s hands – I’m trusting Him no matter what!” – a true statement of faith.

But I must tell you that this ordeal has still been a struggle for dad and our family. My dad’s greatest fear is that he would totally lose his voice. Through the years, he has been quite vocal about his faith - a Sunday School teacher, many mission’s trips, a volunteer at the local Nursing and Retirement Home, encouraging and witnessing to those around him. If he did not have a voice, how could he continue to share what God has laid upon his heart? How could he make a difference for the Kingdom of God without a voice?

Left with only a whisper from the previous surgery, dad counted himself pretty lucky and thankful to still be able to communicate, even if whispering posed many challenges. But in the midst of the uncertainty of new cancer and more treatments, my dad cried out to God not to take away what remained of his voice. He fervently prayed to allow him to serve the Lord vocally, even if with just a whisper. When the results were given, we were elated to find the area biopsied was not cancer, but most likely scar tissue left behind from the previous surgery. Praise the Lord! There was rejoicing all around and huge smiles beaming from my father’s face with yet another finger pointed to the sky as he gave God the glory. He had won round two, or had he?

During the long drive home, dad developed some complications which directed him to yet another hospital – this time an emergency room. Questions and doubts of God’s presence and mercy flooded his mind, “Why would you bring me through and then allow me to fall again?” Dad described God’s answer as almost an immediate audible response – “You asked me to spare your voice so you could witness didn’t you? Now do it!” Within the time spent in the ER, God gave the opportunity to tell three different nurses about God’s love and goodness!

We cannot dismiss any opportunity God places in our lives to speak truth and life into another. It may even happen through our misfortune. We should be continually asking the Lord for these chances – but as you stand at the wishing well, be careful what you wish for, because you just never know how those opportunities will present themselves.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:2-6

“Life is Hard - God is Good”

2011-05-19T23:24:00.001-04:00

Life has been hard these last few months. Funny how you can go so long without trouble then it all breaks loose. You know what I mean - “when it rains it pours”, or so it seems. I’m sure you can relate. When we’re faced with trials and suffering, we want answers. Why? How long? Where are you God? What did I do to deserve this? But God gives us something other than a bunch of answers. His answer does not come in the form of an explanation. No, the answer to our suffering is God Himself.

It’s difficult sometimes to believe that God is good when our world is collapsing around us. How can a good God allow us to endure such pain? To be quite honest - I still struggle with this one. But I once heard it said that suffering is not God’s way of torturing us, rather, it’s His way of teaching us - and I am learning more and more every day.

For one thing, I know that my hardships lead me to Him. I am the closest to Jesus when I am dependent on Him to meet my needs. I can do nothing in my own power - I am a weak person, but in my weakness, He is made strong! I have also learned that my sufferings cause me to be more sensitive to the needs of others. I am much more able to help my neighbor when I know how they feel and more able to provide comfort, hope and words of encouragement when I can testify to God’s goodness in my own brokenness.

Not only does my pain cause me to run to Him, but it also causes me to worship Him and to grow my faith. Oh, the worship that breaks forth when our good God comes through! When He provides us with the strength to get through the day - He is worthy of praise! When He lifts our burden - He is worthy of praise! When He places contentment in our hearts - He is worthy of praise! With each breath we take - He is worthy of praise! It’s easy to rejoice when life is good and it’s smooth sailing, but God delights in us when we worship Him even in the tough times. It takes a greater faith to worship God in want, than to worship Him in plenty.

I had the privilege of visiting a precious saint and prayer warrior of our church while she was in the hospital recently. I was amazed at how many stories of faith she had to share. One by one she recounted, all ending with “God is so good. I’m so thankful.” But one particular story stood out to me. She told me of her son who was diagnosed as deaf at six and a half months old and how she faithfully prayed for his condition. For many years she believed that God was going to heal him and restore his hearing, but as time passed she began to question God and His goodness. Why would God allow her precious child to remain deaf?

Her son is grown now and married to a beautiful woman who is also deaf. But the one thing she said that made the most impact on me was this, “I didn’t understand God’s ways until my son and his wife adopted three deaf orphans. Because of their own deafness, they can communicate and have provided them with a home and a family where they are understood and loved!”

It doesn’t always feel like our pain is serving any purpose. But God allows us to go through suffering to fulfill His plan for our lives. He sees the big picture, we only see bits and pieces. What Satan means to harm us - God can turn around for our good and the good of others. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Despite knowing that suffering draws me closer to God, that hardships help me to help others, that pain leads me to worship, that trials grow my faith, and that tribulations can lead to fulfilling God’s purposes, it still can be difficult to swallow in the midst of suffering. I know that God is able to take away my pain with one word spoken from His lips - He has the power! But until then, I will seek God Himself instead of answers and choose to walk this journey of faith believing that God is in control and holds me in the palm of His hand. For I will rest in the truth in which I cling, “Life is hard, but God is good!”

I invite you to listen to the song, "Life is Hard, but God is Good" by Pam Thum. I pray it blesses you as much as it blesses me. (You will want to mute the music player at the bottom of the page prior to loading the video.)

“Panic, or Peace? Fear, or Faith?”

2011-04-26T17:11:00.000-04:00

“That day when evening came, he (Jesus) said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.” Mark 4:35-39

Tornadoes plowed through North Carolina recently, destroying most everything in their path and sending many to seek shelter from the storm that was reported to have "splintered trees like baseball bats". I cringed as I heard a story recalled by one who had survived the storm. The man told of how he grabbed his cousin’s 3-month old baby and headed for a closet in an attempt at safety. My heart beat faster, my breathing picked up and my hair stood on end as in tears he explained how the wind was so strong it plucked the baby right from his very arms and sent the helpless infant swirling into the dark sky. Immediately after the raging winds ceased, the man along with neighbors frantically searched through the rubble in search of the precious child the winds had claimed. Amazingly, the baby was found - alive - an incredible survival story that will be shared for years to come.

There are a few things I have learned about storms. For one - they are extremely unpredictable. Storms rise up suddenly and unexpectedly, many without any warning at all. Even the greatest weather men and the most technical of equipment can be wrong in forecasting storms and what they may leave behind. Storms are inevitable. They WILL happen. We WILL experience them. There’s nothing we can do to stop them and they are totally out of our control. And storms are impartial. The rains don’t pick and choose who they will pour down upon. The winds are not partial as to whom they will blow against. The storms rage against the bad and the good, the believer and the unbeliever, the rich and the poor alike.

We have a choice as to how we will respond when faced with the raging winds and downpour of the storms. Will we choose to respond with panic, or with peace? Will we choose fear, or faith?

In Mark 4, the disciples chose panic and fear when the waves rose against them - even though Jesus was with them in the boat. These guys were not novices when it came to the sea. They had been through many storms I’m sure, but this one must have been more intense, for they were extremely afraid. They were most likely yelling at the top of their lungs, “We’re gonna die!” The disciples portrayed our typical reaction when we are faced with the storms of life - panic and fear. But in comparison - Jesus, after a full day of teaching, was exhausted and laid down for a nap. The scripture says Jesus lay asleep upon a cushion despite the furious squalls and the waves crashing against the boat, rocking them to and fro. Sleeping in the midst of a storm? Wow, I call that peace! Jesus was not worried about the storm. He displayed complete faith that things were going to be alright! And if Jesus is all-knowing, then we can boldly say that Jesus knew the storm was coming even before he got in the boat.

In the middle of our storm, we tend to lay awake at night and toss and turn in bed - thoughts reeling in our minds. We try to analyze and figure it all out on our own - worrying about how it all will end. Resting in God’s hands in the midst of our storm is a true statement of faith. It’s like saying, “Lord, this problem is beyond me. It’s totally out of my control. I don’t know how you are going to work this out, but I am trusting you. So I’m going to bed now.”

The disciples had just witnessed the miracles of Jesus first-hand. They should have known that with Jesus in the boat, there was no need to be afraid. They had someone with them who was very capable of handling the situation. But fear comes when we experience things beyond our control and it’s easy to forget that the those unpredictable, inevitable, impartial storms may take US by surprise, but they don’t fool GOD. Nothing catches Him off guard! I am convinced that Jesus knew they were going to encounter a storm, but yet He says, “Get in! We’re going to the other side!” He didn’t say it would be an uneventful trip. He didn’t say they wouldn’t get wet. But the one thing He promised was that they were going to the other side - they were going to make it. The greatest threat to the disciples was not the storm - it was their unbelief.

Do you feel like the waves are taking you under and you’re not going to make it? What waves are crashing against your boat today? Jesus wants to calm the storm in your life. He wants to speak, “Peace, be still”, in the midst of your situation regardless of it’s intensity. No wave is too big for Him to calm. Choose peace instead of panic. Grab hold of faith rather than fear. And trust in the One who asks you to get into the boat and promises to take you to the other side. Then, share your survival story for years to come.

"Dry Bones"

2011-04-14T11:38:00.000-04:00

If ever there was a time that we need a breakthrough, the time is now. If ever there was a time that we need an answer from the Lord, the time is upon us. Cries to the Lord seem to go unheard and one thing after another seem to go wrong. All that is left is dry bones in a wasteland - the very life sucked out of what once had purpose and meaning. These bones are desperate for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit - desperate to rise and fall with precious breath once again. These bones lay helpless, yearning for hope to be restored.

God, by the hand of the Holy Spirit, placed Ezekiel in the midst of a valley full of nothing but dry bones. And God asks, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel surveys the scene. It looks pretty grim, for all that is left is dry bones. There’s no blood, no flesh, no life to even speak of. There is no way humanly possible that could raise these bones back to the land of the living. From man’s perspective - life here is impossible. It is absurd to even think that these dry bones could ever live again. But Ezekiel does not answer what seems to be the obvious. Instead he places the decision back into the capable hands of the very One who asked. “O Sovereign Lord, You alone know.”

So the Lord tells Ezekiel to preach to the bones! Say to those bones, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

So Ezekiel did as the Lord commanded. As he spoke, there was a rattling sound and the bones began to shake. And I can picture it now - those dead, dry bones raising up to connect with one another. First the feet and ankles connecting to the leg bones, adding themselves to the ribs. Then the arms and hands becoming restored to the body as the spine and skull take their place to form the complete skeleton. The muscles, tendons, and ligaments appear upon the dry frame and quickly are covered by skin. But still, the greatest component to life was missing. Oh, the bodies looked alive, but they were still dead, as no breath was found in them.

And God commanded Ezekiel to call upon the four winds, that breath may come and breathe life back into that which was slain - to restore hope into that which was hopeless. By the Spirit of the Lord, the breath of life entered what was once a lifeless, hopeless valley of dry bones.

We all have encountered situations that seem utterly hopeless. God alone holds the answer. He is the only One who can restore that which seems lost. That which seems to be impossible to resurrect, is always possible when placed in the hands of God. There are really no hopeless situations - only people who have grown hopeless within hard times.

What are the dried up bones in your life? What circumstances are you experiencing where you need to call upon the Lord to breathe life back into that which seems dead? It’s difficult to imagine those dead, dry bones ever having life again. It’s hard to imagine your situation ever getting better. It’s hard to imagine life beyond your present circumstances. God is promising to raise you up from that grave and restore you to life once again. Will you claim that promise today? Surrender to Him, for it’s only by His power that life can be restored to your dry bones.

The Word of God raises us up and the Spirit of God gives us life. We may be helpless, but never hopeless.

“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. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:13-14

“This is All for You!”

2011-04-02T12:04:00.000-04:00

If you’re like me, you may have decided to try out the new TV show “Mobbed”, hosted and created by Howie Mandel. It’s one of those television shows that peek your curiosity every time a preview comes on. You await the time the very first episode airs so you can finally establish once and for all if it’s going to be a program worth your time, or prove to be a waste of time.

If you’re not familiar with the show, allow me to give you a little background. This cross between reality television and hidden camera phenomenon bring together a large quantity of complete strangers to form a ‘flash mob’ in an effort to surprise an unknowing participant during the reveal of a monumental secret. The program documents the preparations taken to pull off such an enormous task and ushers you through the intense moments of anticipation right up to the reaction of the one who is unsuspecting.

In the most recent episode, a man contacted “Mobbed” with the intent of being chosen to propose to his girlfriend using this ‘flash mob’ technique. Obviously in love, he wanted to show her once and for all that she is the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with. He wants to prove to her just how much he loves her, and to make her feel wanted, special, and significant. What better way to ask one to marry you than to declare your love in front of a multitude of people - singing to you and dancing to the song “Everlasting Love”. Clapping for you and cheering you on while escorted across town upon red carpets that have been rolled out to signify your ‘celebrity’ status.

Here's a little peek at what transpired. (You will want to mute the music player at the bottom of the page to view.)

Tears ran down my cheeks as I witnessed this stranger’s reaction - bending over in amazement, cupping her hand over her mouth in bewilderment, her own joyful, but uncontrollable tears causing mascara to smear around her eyes. The participating crowd, totaling over 1,000 people, proved to be a truly magnificent surprise, but not as wonderful as the moment that he came into view. She simply ‘lit up’ as the dancers and the members of the band turned to make room for the man she loved - all dressed up in a tuxedo and walking toward her with a smile upon his face. I will never forget his words, “This is all for you! I did this all for you!” And we all know what happened next - he popped the question and she said yes. Her friends and family appeared and before they knew it, they placed rings upon one another’s fingers and were pronounced husband and wife!

I couldn’t help but have a sense of jealousy churn within me. I thought to myself - Wow, it must be an incredible feeling to have someone love you so much that they would go to such trouble to let you know - to make you feel wanted, to make you feel special, to make you feel significant.

That’s when God gave me a vision. He placed in my mind a picture of a beautiful sunset over sparkling waters and then a breathtaking snow-capped mountain range. Then just like a whisper in my ear, He said, “This is all for you!” From there, I was taken to another image in my mind. This time, it was a picture of the cross - Jesus hanging there upon it, taking in His final breath. And again, He whispered to me, “I did this all for you!”

I was suddenly whisked away from a feeling of unimportance to a place of real acceptance. God so gently reminded me that He loves me with an “Everlasting Love”, that I AM wanted, and that I AM special, and that I AM significant! He gave me the beauty of the landscapes, the stars in the skies, the sun and the moon, the flowers, the precious hidden treasures of His creation - and He did it all for me! But most of all He sent His own precious Son to die on a cross to pay the penalty of my sin so I might live - He did it all for me! And He did it all for you!

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Revelation 19:6-8)

And the bride’s face ‘lit up’ as the bridegroom came into view. With a smile upon his face he whispered, “This is all for you! I did this all for you!”
　
　
　
　
　

“Stressed? – Bang Head Here”

2011-03-28T16:10:00.001-04:00

A man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy road. They came to a traffic light that turned yellow. The man stopped just at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the turn of the light to red. The tailgating woman was furious! She honked her horn and screamed in frustration at the thought of missing her chance to get through the light. She was obviously trying to get to her destination as quickly as possible.

Still in the process of throwing her temper tantrum, she heard a tap on the window. She looked up only to find a policeman standing there. The officer ordered her to exit the car with her hands up. He carted her off to the police station where she was searched, finger-printed, mug shot taken and placed in a holding cell.

After a few hours the policeman came to her cell and opened up the door. The woman asked, “Why did you arrest me? I didn’t do anything wrong?” The officer apologized for the mistake and went on to explain. “I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing the horn, flipping off the guy in the car in front of you, and cussing a blue streak. When I saw the “What would Jesus do” bumper sticker, the “Choose Life” license plate holder, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem, I naturally assumed that you had stolen the car.”

We all encounter moments of stress. Don’t believe those who claim that Christians are exempt. Being a Christian does not free us from experiencing difficult times. We do not remain untouched by sorrow, anxieties, worry, or fear. So if we as Christians are faced with these tough circumstances, what separates us from anyone else?

What is your first reaction when you are stressed? Do you run to the refrigerator, or open the cupboard door? Do you fantasize about getting away to a tropical island? Do you take your worries and stress out on those you love – saying hurtful things, making hasty decisions? Do you have improper thoughts about how to get out of your situation? Do you just want to bang your head against the wall? When we are under pressure, it’s easy to react in anger and frustration.

Stress can be caused by a multitude of triggers. The pressure of living up to the expectations of yourself and others, uncertainty about your future, life-changing events (such as a death, marriage, or birth), and loss of control over a situation all contribute to our stress levels. The results of stress can be catastrophic. People trapped by anxiety lose their joy for living. They become judgmental of others - constantly looking at the negative rather than the good, living a life of failure and defeat. Health issues, depression, obesity and insomnia can all be linked to long-term stress. But how on earth do we win over worry?

In Psalms 55, the Psalmist describes a life overwhelmed by troubles and suffering, a heart in anguish, fear and trembling. Verses 6-8 tell of his first reaction to stress. “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest - I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.” There is a better solution, and the Psalmist finds it beginning in verse 16, “but I call to God and the Lord saves me”. Instead of running away, he runs to God.

Getting away and going on vacation can be a good thing. We all require time to renew and refresh – to recharge our batteries, so to speak. But when we get back, those things that are stressing us out will be there waiting for us. The only remedy to coping with the stressand anxiety is to run to God. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.” (Psalm 55:22)

As Christ-followers, we should not run from reality. We need to face reality strengthened by our faith and trust in the One who cares about our every need. Keep in mind that stress has spiritual benefits. Often times it is stress that leads us to make a change, give up a bad habit, take better care of ourselves or mature in certain areas. But most importantly, the anxieties that we encounter should bring us to our knees and lead us into prayer. And prayer changes things. Jesus invites us to come and lay all of our burdens upon Him and He will give us rest. (Matthew 6:25) Philippians 4:6 tells us not to be anxious about anything, but pray about everything.

The enemy wants to thwart the peace of God in our lives. That is why each day when we wake up we have to make an intentional decision to give our cares over to God. In a moment of weakness it’s easy to base our reactions on our feelings rather than truth. The Holy Spirit is constantly whispering truth in our ears, but Satan is constantly whispering lies. Who are we listening to? The answer, my friend, is determined by our prayer life. I have heard it said that “right praying leads to right thinking, and right thinking leads to right living”.

It is true that we all have stress in our lives, but more importantly, are we glorifying God in how we react to them? Our relationship with God is a crucial factor in our stress management. We have a choice to withdraw from life and bang our head against the wall, or to trust God to see us through. What choice are you making today?

“Calgon…Take Me Away!”

2011-03-24T15:05:00.000-04:00

Feel like giving up? Feel like you’re hopeless and the only thing left to do is just walk away, slam the door, never look back and hop on a bus going somewhere, you don‘t even care where? Ever just want to scream out, “Calgon….take me away!”

Recently a dear friend texted me to ask how I was doing. She was concerned about me as I was dealing with a mother in a nursing home following the removal of a second brain tumor, a father dealing with a new spot on his voice box that needs to be biopsied, my own chronic back and leg pain, not to mention all the daily chores of housework, caring for my own families’ needs, and working a job. My response to her was this, “Do Christians ever have a breaking point? Because I believe I’m approaching mine!” I was most definitely experiencing a “Calgon…take me away” moment - my breaking point.

“In human psychology, the breaking point is a moment of stress in which a person breaks down or a situation becomes critical. A breaking point can lead to a shift in morals and world perception.” (Wikipedia)

Now here’s MY definition of breaking point - “the desire to give up, quit, throw in the towel, take your ball and go home; due to stressful circumstances that break your will, that cause hopelessness and despair, that shakes your faith and sometimes can cause you to doubt the very God you believe in, or make you just want Jesus to come back already because you’re sick and tired of all the drama.” Calgon take me away - turns into Jesus, take me away!

Sometimes the circumstances are so heavy, the pain leads many to believe that the only way out is to take their own lives. But the real reason some commit suicide is not because of the pain, it’s because they no longer have hope. They can’t break free and there seems to be no solutions to their problems. They can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, their perception is that they are buried in darkness.

It reminds me of Job. Job knew what it was like to feel hopelessness and despair - to have the light drowned out by the darkness. I’m sure Job had many “Calgon, take me away” moments. God had taken away everything that Job held dear. At one point he begged to die, rather than to live with nothing.

How are you like Job? What has God “taken away“? Do you feel there’s no end to your situation, that it will never get better? Maybe you’ve even considered quitting - giving up on a rebellious teen, walking away from a job where you’ve been cheated and mistreated, closing the door on a broken marriage, withdrawing yourself from your family and your friends to avoid future hurt, going through with the abortion so no one will know, giving up the fight on an illness that threatens to take your life.

In one way or another we all have been there. We’ve all felt hopeless and when we do, the desire to give up floods our very being. There are many who hide and go through the motions of life even though inside they’re hurting. They have cut themselves off from those they love and the things they love. Oh, they haven’t gone anywhere physically, but inside they have stopped fighting. Some hide it so well that no one would ever realize the pain they face daily.

So how do we as Christians avoid the temptation to give up? How do we keep ourselves from hanging up the phone when God puts us on hold? Where do we find the strength to go on when all our strength is gone?

“Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” Job 42:1-3

God has a plan - no matter how desperate your situation may be. And His plans cannot be altered. God has a purpose for your life AND for whatever struggle you may be facing today. Giving up is not part of that plan. Romans 8:28 tells us that God works everything for our good if we love Him. And we as Christians are called to live out His purposes for our lives. According to Barnes Notes on the Bible the phrase, “for our good” means the following:

“They (our afflictions) shall cooperate; they shall mutually contribute to our good. They take off our affections from this world; they teach us the truth about our frail, transitory, and lying condition; they lead us to look to God for support, and to heaven for a final home; and they produce a subdued spirit. a humble temper, a patient, tender, and kind disposition. This has been the experience of all saints; and at the end of life they have been able to say it was good for them to be afflicted.”

You are not in the situation you are in today by coincidence. It’s not just a case of bad luck. It’s not because your momma chose to feed you peas instead of corn. It’s to fulfill God’s purposes in your life. It’s to remind you that you NEED Him and you can’t do anything aside from His power working in your life. And sometimes His plans don’t seem like good ones in our eyes. Job says on our behalf as well as his own, I have belly-ached about my situation, things I didn’t know anything about, not taking into consideration that You had it all under control God - that You had something more wonderful in mind for me.

God is in the business of transformation and God is able to transform YOU. You want to know His will for your life? “Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

It’s not always easy to change our thinking, especially when it feels as if our prayers are bouncing off the walls, or when it feels as if God must be on vacation, like maybe in the Bermuda Triangle. And when we can’t seem to find the pulse of God, we buckle under the pressures, the expectations that people place upon us and those we place upon ourselves. We just want to give up! It’s important to renew our minds everyday. To focus on the truth of who God is and what He promises to do in our lives. And yes, it’s a faith journey. I have heard it said that heartbreak is a blessing from God. It is His way of keeping us from what is wrong for us. The old way of thinking focuses on the heartbreak. The new way of thinking thanks God for whatever it is He has saved us from.

I myself have experienced, is experiencing, and will continue to experience circumstances in my life where I feel like throwing in the towel. Would I even be writing this if I wasn’t going through what I am facing today? Probably not. Perhaps this is part of God’s invisible purpose for my pain.

Even if God’s plan involves NOT changing my circumstances, I must grasp the fact that my hope is not based upon what God can do for me here and now. The most important hope I cling to is an eternal hope. The hope that has been provided for me by Jesus’ death on the cross. Those who believe in Him and His sacrifice find true hope and healing on the other side. But to receive that reward in glory, I must press on - even in the “Calgon, take me away” moments. 　

Love Letter from Jesus

2011-03-23T12:53:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my sister who posted this song on her Facebook wall. With everything our family has been going through lately, the song seems so fitting for us. I feel in my spirit that I have received these words as a love letter from Jesus. It's a beautiful reminder that He won't let go and He won't let me fall, no matter the storm.

If you would like to listen to the song and see the lyrics, I have posted the video below. It's such a beautiful song. You will want to turn the volume down on my music player at the bottom of the page. If you wish not to view the video, here are the words. I hope that with whatever trials or sufferings that you are going through in life today, that you will find these words as comforting as I have.

"I Won't Let Go" - Jesus (performed by Rascal Flatts)

It’s like a storm
That cuts a path
It’s breaks your will
It feels like that

You think your lost
But your not lost on your own
Your not alone

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
If you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I wont let go

It hurts my heart
To see you cry
I know it’s dark
This part of life
Oh it finds us all
And we’re too small
To stop the rain
Oh but when it rains

I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight

And I wont let you fall

Don’t be afraid to fall
I’m right here to catch you
I wont let you down
It wont get you down
Your gonna make it
Yea I know you can make it

Cause I will stand by you
I will help you through
When you’ve done all you can do
And you can’t cope
And I will dry your eyes
I will fight your fight
I will hold you tight
And I wont let go
Oh I’m gonna hold you
And I wont let go
Wont let you go
No I wont

Rascal Flatts - I Won't Let Go (Lyrics)

2011-03-23T12:38:00.000-04:00

“It’s Raining”

2011-03-10T15:05:00.002-05:00

It’s raining today. It’s been raining off and on for the last few weeks and has caused some major flooding in our area. Roads, fields, and parking lots are being covered – cars and basements are filling up with water.

As I look out at the rain, I notice that it falls everywhere. It doesn’t seem to have a preference as to where it lands. It doesn’t have a choice really. It just falls everywhere, even in unwanted places. It pours down heavily on the windshields of drivers passing by, impairing their vision. It soaks pedestrians as they run for cover. It spoils the plans of many who have had to alter their routines or clear their schedules due to the inclement weather.

It’s raining today – but not just on the outside. As I write this, I’m sitting in a hospital waiting room awaiting the news. My mother is in surgery to have another brain tumor removed. The first tumor was removed three years ago, but unfortunately has returned. It was only a short six months ago, I found myself in a different hospital as I sat with and held the hand of my father as he endured his own medical procedures to remove the cancer that ravaged his voice box and vocal cords.

There are times in our lives when we experience rain. It may just be a drizzle of irritating trouble. The sprinkles don’t really alter our course – they just cause us to take caution. Then comes the season where we experience more consistent showers. We may need to pull out the umbrella in an effort to block our troubles from getting us too wet. These troubles are more than just annoying, they’re very visible and we may even need to alter our direction, or wait for the rains to let up before proceeding.

Then there are the times of intense storms – the lightning flashes, the thunder rolls, echoing our cries for help. The storm of trouble rages on and there may be more than one struggle beating down on our windshield, impairing our vision. But finally we reach the point of literal downpour and the floods come – filling us up to the brim with fear and hurt, overwhelming us with tears and strife, stopping us dead in our tracks. And like the remains of a physical flood, leaving us broken up and cracked – parts of us unsalvageable.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

The question is not whether we will experience the storms. The question is how we hold up in the midst of them. It’s raining today – and the rains will continue to come. What matters is the foundation. When our home is built on the strong foundation of Christ, we cannot fall despite the magnitude of the storm. But if we build our house on foolishness then a mighty crash can be expected.

“Everyone wants happiness, no one wants pain, but you can't make a rainbow without a little rain.” -Unknown

Torrential rains can come and wreak havoc on your life – there may even be some loss experienced. But instead of focusing on all the bad stuff the rain brings, try to get a glimpse of the good. Just as the rain can cause damage, it also has its advantages. It waters the grass and the fields. It makes things grow. It refreshes us on a hot day. It sometimes keeps us indoors so we can take care of things on the “inside” that maybe we have put off for a long while. And then, a rainbow appears.

Now think in spiritual terms at these same concepts. The rains make us grow. The rains refresh the parched and the dry. The rains cause us to “clean up” on the inside, and then the rainbow appears! Trust in the One who provides shelter from the storm and rejoice in the coming of the rainbow!

“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.” Isaiah 25:4a

“The Lion’s on the Move”

2011-03-01T14:41:00.000-05:00

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:8-11

I heard a story once about someone’s interesting zoo experience. The man and his family were standing at the fence marveling at the lion exhibit. As they eagerly watched the cat pace back and forth, they noticed an attendant enter the cage through a door on the opposite side. He had nothing in his hands but a broom. Carefully, the attendant closed the door and proceeded to sweep the floor of the cage.

The worker had no weapon to ward off any attack. As he approached the beast the lion hissed at him and proceeded with his pacing. The onlookers were amazed at the bravery of the attendant, for certainly he was taking his life into his own hands! One of the guests exclaimed, “You certainly are a brave man!” The worker replied, “No, I ain’t brave.” A second onlooker yelled out, “Well, then, the lion must be tame.” The attendant answered, “No, he ain’t tame.” “Then why doesn’t he attack you?” asked another. “Mister,” the worker replied, “he’s old, and he ain’t got no teeth.”

Satan paces to and fro on the prowl and longs to destroy us, but we must be careful and alert because his tactics are very subtle. Some of his most productive weapons are his use of pride and self-interest. He knows that when he can get us to focus on ourselves, then we are not focusing on God. When we put faith in man, our faith is not in the One who created man. If he can lead us into temptation and we fall, guilt and shame can rule us causing us to be ineffective and feel unworthy of forgiveness.

A doctor and his wife flew into the jungles of Africa to enjoy some bird-watching and photography. They cuddled up in their tent with a campfire outside. They had been warned to be sure to keep the fire burning all night, or the lions would come near. The fire was blazing when they fell asleep, but as the night passed on the fire went out. It was then, that a lioness stuck her head into the tent and attacked the doctor in front of his wife. If the fire goes out, the lions move in - even in Christians!

Everywhere we turn the enemy’s roaring is loud and convincing. Even God’s people can often be found cowering in fear at the intimidating roar. His roars are an attempt to drown out the voice of God. I would dare to say that all of us have experienced that roar at some point this week. Perhaps even this very moment you are hearing his ferocious roar in your ear. He wants you to feel defeated by your illness, the loss of your job, your financial situation, that broken relationship, or that bad habit you just can‘t kick. But the good news is that when the lion is roaring, he cannot be biting! The scriptures don’t say the lion roams around biting, ripping and tearing. He only “seeks” whom he may attempt to devour. But if we are not careful and alert, a roar is all he needs to rip our lives to shreds.

So how then, do we fight against the evil one? Not only has the writer warned us to be alert, he wants us to be aware of the devil’s schemes, mindful of the danger and realize if we aren’t careful, Satan can gain a swift advantage. We also need to understand that the devil is able to masquerade as an angel of light - we can easily be fooled by him. (2 Cor. 11:14)

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7 Our true defense is submission to God - placing ourselves under His protection, claiming our place under the shed blood of Christ, fighting evil by the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11), clothing ourselves with the full armor of our Lord (Eph. 6:11), and taking up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). God is faithful. He will never allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. The Lord will always provide us with a way of escape. (1 Cor. 10:13)

Are you being hissed at today? Is Satan roaring in your ear? The enemy would love nothing more than to make you feel as if you are powerless against his evil schemes. We need to remember, “he ain’t got no teeth” compared to our all-powerful God! If God is for us, who can be against us?

“A Lesson from the Canine Population”

2011-02-12T15:44:00.001-05:00

“Look, I'm standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I'll come in and we'll eat together.” Revelation 3:20 (God’s Word Translation)

I’ve given birth three times, but I actually have four children. The baby of the family happens to be a two-year old Miniature Schnauzer named Bella. She’s a sweet little thing and is definitely attached to me. It’s not uncommon for me to trip because she’s under my feet, or for her to follow me from room to room. When I get ready in the mornings, I close the door, but I don’t latch it completely. Like clockwork, Bella will nudge the door open just enough so she can see me. But, because she understands I am busy - she will hop on the bed and patiently wait until I emerge.

The same thing happens when she wants to play. She quietly brings a toy and drops it in front of me. Then she sits and waits for me to grab a hold - a sign that says it’s time for tug-a-war, or an intense game of chase. It literally thrills little Bella, when I choose to make the grab instead of ignore her silent pleas. Amazingly enough, choosing to deny her invitations never discourage her from “asking” me to play.

Dogs are amazing! Their love for their owner is unconditional. They don’t care if you are successful, popular, or athletic. They have no concept of how much money you make and they will snuggle you even when you are sick, hurting, or unlovable. Their loyalty is like none other on earth. Maybe that’s why we often hear the saying, “A dog is a man’s best friend.”

Do these canine qualities remind you of anyone? There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, closer than even your beloved pet! A friend who loves me no matter how bad I mess up, or how unlovable I really am. A friend who stands at my door and knocks, gently, patiently - watching, waiting for me to grab hold and respond to Him. And when I do, oh how it thrills His heart!

Maybe you can look back on this last week and recognize the opportunities that God dropped in front of you and then waited patiently for you to pick it up and run with it. Maybe you see the instances where God has knocked, but you just never answered the door. Maybe God wanted you to do something, say something, learn something, get rid of something - but you never answered the door.

God is the knocker, the stander, the one who wants to come in and have fellowship with you and me, but we have to open the door. He will never push it open or break it down. But He WILL knock. And He will KEEP knocking! Won’t you answer?

"Friday's Favorite"

2011-01-28T12:53:00.002-05:00

"My Beloved" - Kari Jobe

You're My Beloved
You're My Bride
To sing over you is My delight
Come away with Me My love

You're Beautiful to Me
So beautiful to Me

Under My mercy
Come and wait
Till we are standing face to face
I see no stain on you
My child

You're Beautiful to Me
So Beautiful to Me

I sing over you My song of peace
Cast all your care down at My feet
Come and find your rest in Me

I'll breathe My life inside of you
I'll bear you up on eagle's wings
And hide you in the shadow of My strength
I'll take you to My quiet waters
I'll restore your soul
Come rest in Me and be made whole

You're My beloved
You're My Bride
To sing over you is my delight
Come away with me my love

“Remember Who You Are”

2011-01-25T12:43:00.000-05:00

Just recently I was reminded of something my parents would say to me as a teenager. I would get ready to go out with friends, or maybe a boyfriend, and before I would walk out the door, it was not unusual for mom or dad to say the words, “Remember who you are.” It was their way of saying, “the choices you make not only affect you, they affect others as well.” Your family is part of your identity and what you do reflects not only on yourself, but also on the family name. A name in which you should take pride in. A name to protect.

Unfortunately, many people today are facing an identity crisis. There are people in the world who feel they don’t fit in, who are searching for a place to belong, who don’t know who they are. Even Christians seem to have lost their sense of identity. Too many young people are seeking identity from wearing the latest fashions, keeping up with popular trends, or giving into the expectations of their peers, while other Christians are gaining identity from their careers, struggles, or their roles in life.

In my Psychology class in college I recall discussing the I.R. theory, (Identity Role Theory). Theorist Erik Erikson coined the term, “identity crisis” and felt it was one of the most important conflicts people face. It is referred to as the time of intense analysis of who you are. An identity crisis occurs when one confuses her identity with her roles in life.

All of us have roles in life - husband/wife, father/mother, salesperson/teacher, student/retired, etc. These roles are temporary. A married couple may experience divorce or their spouse may pass away. Anyone can change careers whether by resigning, getting fired or laid off. Obviously, we age and so do our children. These roles in most cases are based on our performance. When we fall short, we tend to feel like a failure which can make a dramatic impact on how we view our identity, or our worth. Our circumstances can also affect the way we view ourselves. Rich or poor, healthy or ill, strong or broken relationships - all of these examples can change at the drop of a hat.

How we identify ourselves to others says a great deal about how we perceive ourselves. Not only do we try to communicate what we feel is important, but we want to reveal the area in which we find worth as a person. I may introduce myself as Dayna Schrock, mother of 3. Or, maybe I would say, Dayna Schrock, Secretary. Being a mother and a secretary happen to be important roles I carry, but they are not my identity. Another may identify themselves as alcoholic, cancer survivor, or maybe even CEO. Again, our circumstances and our positions do not define true identity.

On the other hand, an identity is something permanent and based on grace alone. Grace given by Christ. No one can take away your true identity.

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:4-8, 11-14)

Are you defining your worth by the position you hold, the money you make, or your circumstances in life? Are you looking at yourself through the eyes of the world, or through the eyes of your heavenly Father? Are you living out a life of the ordinary and routine because you have accepted it as your lot? Have you made up your mind that you are a failure, unable to measure up because of what you have been told by others?

Each one of us is a unique and special individual placed on this earth for a purpose - God’s purpose! We need to be reminded that God’s standard of measurement is much different than the world’s, but we often give way to the enemy in believing that we are worth much less. In Christ, we are significant! He paid the penalty of our sin with His death on the cross. He is in us and we are in Him. He sees that our potential is much greater than we or others give us credit. Now when God looks at us, he doesn’t see sin, He sees us as a new redeemed creation. God doesn’t see us as failures in the roles we carry. He identifies us as His children, holy and blameless. We have been adopted into the family of God, taking on the family name. A name in which we should take pride in and protect. Our choices not only affect us, they affect others around us.

If we were to introduce ourselves using our true identity, we would tack onto our name, “child of God” - permanent, and based on grace. Oh how the perspective of ourselves changes when we realize that our very Creator loves us with an unfailing love despite our roles and positions, despite our circumstances in life, despite our successes and our failures - and He calls us His very own. His love for us is permanent and never based on our performance!

Remember who you are!

"Monday's Moment"

2011-01-24T19:22:00.000-05:00

"We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder. We always have the choice." -Cancer Warriors Facebook Page

"Monday's Moment"

2011-01-17T10:46:00.000-05:00

"FAITH is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase" -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." -Martin Luther King Jr.

"Friday's Favorite"

2011-01-14T11:53:00.000-05:00

"I Can Only Imagine" - Mercy Me

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
When I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever, forever worship you

I can only imagine

“What Must Heaven Be Like?”

2011-01-12T16:34:00.000-05:00

“We shall not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. If this fallen world in all of its brokenness can be so wonderful, what must heaven be like?” - T. S. Elliot

A note came home from school with my third grader. It was stapled closed and read, “Mr. and Mrs. Schrock”. You never quite know what to expect when you have a very inquisitive 8-year old son and he brings home a note from school. But I carefully opened it and began to read it’s contents. In the note, my son’s teacher explained how the children were drawing pictures to go along with their story. He was quite perplexed about how to accurately depict an illustration of heaven. He approached her, “Teacher -how do I draw heaven?” She responded, “Well, that’s a tricky one, maybe you could draw streets of gold and tall mansions.” He just gave her a strange look. But his teacher replied, “Haven’t you ever heard of streets of gold in heaven before?” He very innocently and honestly said, “No - we haven’t gotten that far in church yet!”

Some of you may be wondering the exact same thing. What must heaven be like? Although we are quick to answer streets of gold and beautiful mansions, it’s HEAVEN - there MUST BE MORE! There is more! Like my son, if we haven’t gotten that far yet we need to turn to the final book of the bible. The book of Revelation gives us a taste of what heaven must be like, at least through the eyes of John.

John’s view of the Holy City came from the top of a high mountain. He was taken there by an angel. God’s glory shone through out the city “and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.” The City has twelve gates, and each gate is guarded by an angel. The wall is made of jasper, the city is of gold, the gates of pearl, and the foundations of twelve precious stones.

Verse 16 of Revelation 21 tells us, “The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He (the angel) measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long.” Ok, so let’s put that into the year 2011 terms. Stadia was an old Roman method of measurement. One stadia equaled 607 feet, times 12,000 stadia, equals 7,284,000 feet, OR 1,379 miles. Stick with me here - the city was 1,379 miles long, 1,379 miles high, and 1,379 miles wide. Wow! Try drawing that illustration to go along with your next story!

What must heaven be like? God paints the picture of a river of life as clear as crystal which flows and the tree of life which grows and yields fruit in this holy city. There will be no need for the sun or the moon, for God Almighty himself will provide an abundance of light and there will be no dark night. Gold and precious stones, the very things we hold in high value as humans, will be the very things our feet will trample upon. You see - the values of heaven are certainly not material, but spiritual.

The city is marvelous beyond description. What John experienced within his vision must be symbolic. For it seems as if God has used only terms that we as humans can understand to describe the indescribable. But, it is important that we don’t focus completely on the surroundings. The most important feature of this holy and beautiful city is to be in the very presence of God Himself for eternity. It is written in John 17:3, “this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sadness, crying, or pain, because all the old ways are gone.” Revelation 21:4

What must heaven be like? Heaven is a real place. Heaven is a right place. It is the city in which we will be free from sin’s curse. All of the wrongs of the world will be made right. All evil will cease and be replaced with that which is good. Sadness will be no more, instead only joy will be present. Gone forever are the feelings of hate and despair. For hope and love will prevail. Every sickness will come to an end and our bodies and souls will experience complete wholeness. Every failure, inadequacy, frustration, struggle, and suffering will be over forever. Only complete success, complete adequacy, and complete fulfillment is possible in the presence of Christ.

Isn’t it reassuring to catch just a glimpse of the place that God is preparing for His children? Think about the trials and sufferings of life that will no longer cause us pain! There will be no more need to strive and struggle. But until then, we must make sure we are ready. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:10-13

What does it mean to be ready? Verse 14 goes on to encourage us to be spotless, blameless, and at peace with God. Why does God wait to bring us into this holy city? Because His patience means salvation to those who have not come to know Him as Lord and Savior, (vs. 15). Furthermore, we are to be on our guard - growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ!

What must heaven be like? Set aside all else, if it’s where God is….it’s where I want to be. In the words of the great Buzz Lightyear, for “Infinity and beyond!”

"Monday's Moment"

2011-01-10T13:46:00.001-05:00

"No one can go back and make a brand new start, but anyone can start from here and make a brand new end." - "Remininscences"

"Friday's Favorite"

2011-01-07T14:01:00.000-05:00

"On Eagles' Wings" - by Theocracy

The tears stream down her face onto the cold hospital bed
Just like a prisoner between four ugly walls
The fear she can’t control is running rampant in her head
With every day she spent just waiting for that call
And I will never leave her side
We walk the tightrope between faith and fear
Each moment of our lives
But then the darkest hour of night is turned to day
Another miracle, another act unfolding in this play
And I’m blown away
The wine overflows, and my cup runneth over again
I’m blown away
My thankfulness grows with these blessings I can’t comprehend

You raise my spirit to the sky above to fly away
To fly on eagles’ wings
You lift the fallen back on high again to coronate
The King above all kings
All honor
All glory
Raised to Your Majesty on eagles’ wings

I looked him in the eye and played those words over and over in my mind
But that can’t be what he just said
I heard it for myself and know that life can be unkind
But can’t you see I’m much too young to lose my dad?
But I’m blown away
When you laugh at the odds, for the doctors cannot know your plans
I’m blown away
You hold the keys to all life and all death and all time in your hands

You raise my spirit to the sky above to fly away
To fly on eagles’ wings
You lift the fallen back on high again to coronate
The King above all kings
All honor
All glory
Raised to Your Majesty on eagles’ wings

Every tribe and every nation
(Lift your voices and sing)
All in heaven, all creation
Let the tongues of men and angels
(Lift your voices and sing)
All ye blessed, all ye thankful, sing!

You raise my spirit to the sky above to fly away
To fly on eagles’ wings
You lift the fallen back on high again to coronate
The King above all kings
All honor
All glory
Raised to Your Majesty on eagles’ wings

“On Eagles’ Wings”

2011-01-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

“In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye, like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions. The Lord alone led him; no foreign god was with him.” Deuteronomy 32:10-12

I recently learned an interesting fact about how a female eagle finds her mate. She watches carefully for a male eagle who shows interest in her and when ready to be courted, she flies down, picks up a twig and carries it high into the air. She drops the twig and watches to see if the male eagle will catch it before it hits the ground. If he is successful and returns the twig to the female, she will find a larger twig or branch to drop a second time. The eagle will repeat this process with various sized branches from various heights. If the male ever allows the branch to fall to the ground, she flies away and the courtship is over.

For the final test, the female picks up the largest branch she can carry and will fly in a figure eight pattern. She will choose her timing and suddenly drop it to see if the male will succeed. If he does, they will lock their talons in flight and become one another’s lifetime mate.

The most interesting fact about this process is to realize the reason behind the female eagle’s series of tests. You see - when a baby eaglet reaches a certain point of maturity, it is time for the mother to push it from the nest in order to see if it will fly. Obviously, this is a stressful time for the eaglet. He has never flown before and instinct must take over, but there is that possibility the small bird isn’t ready yet to take flight. The mother nudges him over the edge anyway. He flaps his wings frantically as he falls faster and faster. Just before he hits the ground, the father eagle swoops down just in the nick of time and catches him on his wings. Daddy will then safely return the baby back to the nest where he will await the next flying lesson.

It is easy to see here why the momma eagle was so adamant about choosing a mate that could pass the test - one that could be trusted. For her precious babies very lives depended on his swiftness to catch them and carry them through. Sometimes I feel like that baby eagle who has been pushed out of the nest. I flap my wings like crazy in order to take flight, but despite my efforts I continue to fall farther and farther. But in all those situations, I have had a daddy eagle swoop down just in time to catch me and carry me to safety.

Are you experiencing circumstances in life that make you feel as if you are falling farther and farther, ready to hit the ground? Does it appear that there is no one there to catch you? God is actively working on our behalf and He is there to support us. He knows what is best and just how much we need to learn through our circumstances. He may allow pain and suffering, but He has promised we will never experience more than we can handle. It is in these very moments that His grace provides us with hope and encouragement and the more we get to know Him the easier it is to trust that He will be there to catch us when we fall. When we can’t find our wings, He will continue teaching us until we do. He carries us through - on eagles’ wings!
　

"Monday's Moment"

2011-01-03T14:34:00.000-05:00

Try to make at least one person happy every day. If you can't do a kind deed, speak a kind word. If you can't speak a kind word, think a kind thought. Count up, if you can, the treasure of happiness that you would dispense in a week, in a year, in a lifetime. - Lawrence G. Lovasik

“New Year’s Resolution: Live to Die & Die to Live”

2010-12-31T14:23:00.004-05:00

What a difference we hope one evening will make! December 31 is here. The ball drops at midnight. Toasts are made as we look back on the year that has passed, looking forward to the year to come. A new year begins, complete with new possibilities, new opportunities, new dreams, and a new hope for a new ME – hence the New Year’s resolution. Unfortunately, more years than not, before too long we realize it’s a new year, but the same old me.

Resolutions are usually made with the best of intentions, but most times made without considering how unrealistic and undisciplined we human beings really can be. We set ourselves up to have to cope with guilt and failure when we discover that our momentum has waned (usually by mid to late January). Some of the most common resolutions made each year include losing weight, exercising & eating healthy, getting out of debt, getting a better job, reducing stress, learning something new, or taking on a new hobby. Some may resolve to spending more time with their family, spending more time with God, volunteering more, or educating yourself more. We begin January 1 with a bang, but as time passes those very things we thought were important enough to pursue seem to fall by the wayside. Old habits die hard!

I’ve been doing some thinking myself about what my New Year’s resolution might be for 2011. The thought struck me, “we’re just livin’ to die”. But what does that really mean? I guess you could say that some people live their days going about their business. They may be happy, but do they experience true joy that life can bring? It’s difficult to be joyful sometimes, especially if the past year has been a rough one. Maybe in 2010 you lost a loved one – maybe you lost a job – maybe you discovered your own health was failing. Those are not “joyful” times – those are hard times. You’re just barely getting by, or just stuck in the same old routines.

There’s a flipside to that coin. My mind is drawn to a country song by Tim McGraw entitled, “Live Like You Were Dyin”. A man in his early forties has discovered a serious health issue. One, we are led to believe, that has not given him much time to live. The man is asked the question, “How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news. What do you do?” The man’s response was clear. He did the things he always wanted to do, but never took the time. He took some risks. He went sky-diving. He climbed the Rocky Mountains. He went bull-riding. But not all of his choices were physically challenging. No, some of his choices were those of the heart. He loved deeper, he spoke sweeter, and he gave forgiveness to those he had been denying forgiveness. He made a point to be a better husband, a better friend, he read the Bible more, and all of a sudden the simple things he didn’t want to be bothered with at one time, were the very things he came to enjoy about life. His perspective changed when he realized he was not guaranteed tomorrow.

Living to die means so much more than just putting in your time here on earth. Like the lyrics of this song that go on to question - if we have the gift of tomorrow and an eternity to think about what we would do with it, then what would we do with it? What CAN we do with it? I believe that God desires for us to live life to the fullest, to realize our hopes and dreams and to go after them, to slow down and enjoy what He has created and the blessings that He has given, to make a difference in the lives of others. But before we can truly live to die, we must first die to live.

Have you ever thought about dying to live? There is death that brings life. There is a dying that brings fulfillment and blessing. God longs for us to enjoy an abundant life filled with true joy and it’s available to us now. But to die right now? What does that mean? Colossians 3:1-10 tells us to put ourselves to death – not our physical bodies, but the evil ways and habits we have been accustomed to - such as greed, immorality, improper attitudes, the evil desires of the flesh, and anger, just to name a few. It means dying to self, putting yourself aside for the benefit of others, dying so you may gain life - life more abundant! New life is found when we give ourselves over to the living Christ and allow him to hide us in Himself. Taking off the old and putting on the new – isn’t that really what New Year’s resolutions are all about? No longer the same old me!

My New Year’s Resolution? - Live to die and die to live.

Living to die – TRULY living – is wonderful, but dying to live is freedom!

"Friday's Favorite"

2010-12-31T14:13:00.000-05:00

"Live Like You Were Dyin" - Tim McGraw

He said: "I was in my early forties,
With a lot of life before me,
An' a moment came that stopped me on a dime.
I spent most of the next days,
Looking at the x-rays,
An' talking 'bout the options an' talkin’ ‘bout sweet time."
I asked him when it sank in,
That this might really be the real end,
How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?
Man whatcha do?

An' he said: "I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin'."

He said "I was finally the husband,
That most the time I wasn’t.
An' I became a friend a friend would like to have.
And all of a sudden goin' fishin’,
Wasn’t such an imposition,
And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.
Well, I finally read the Good Book,
And I took a good long hard look,
At what I'd do if I could do it all again,
And then:

"I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin'."

Like tomorrow was a gift,
And you got eternity,
To think about what you’d do with it.
An' what did you do with it?
An' what can I do with it?
An' what would I do with it?

"Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,
I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.
And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,
And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin'."
An' he said: "Some day, I hope you get the chance,
To live like you were dyin'."

"Monday's Moment"

2010-12-27T09:45:00.000-05:00

"Be proud of how far you have come, and have faith in how far you can go." - Richard Springs

"So What's In a Birthday?"

2010-12-24T14:58:00.000-05:00

“December 24th” - ring any bells? I’m sure the words “Christmas Eve” come to mind almost immediately. The day before Christmas is a day to finish up the last minute shopping, attend family gatherings, or take part in traditions such as eating a special meal, watching a favorite Christmas movie, or maybe opening stocking gifts. But for me, Christmas Eve marks a separate occasion - my birthday.

Now I could go on and on about how unfortunate this has been for me. Christmas birthdays totally get lost in the shuffle. The anticipation of Christmas has its way of overshadowing a day that should also be special and significant. But like many other things in life, my birth date was not something I could choose. It was totally out of my control. I am sure God had a reason for me to arrive on this day just as He had a plan for you to arrive on the date you were born.

Now consider the date, December 25, which you most certainly recognize as Christmas Day. But once again, a different birthday can so easily get lost in the shuffle of opening gifts, family gatherings, and a ham dinner.

So what’s in a birthday?

Most parents can relate to the feelings of expectation upon the news of a baby on the way. Many thoughts and dreams for the child consume our minds - but fears and worries also make their presence known. Will the baby be a boy or a girl? Will he or she be healthy? Will she look more like her dad, or like her mother? What kind of personality will he have? What will she do when she gets older? I am sure young Mary thought of many of these things when told by the angel Gabriel that she would give birth to the son of God. Although she had different questions to ponder, such as, “how can this be since I am a virgin?”

Finally the baby arrives and we are so full of love and joy we can hardly contain it! It’s time to make the announcement! “This is the most precious, beautiful, special child EVER”! Fathers hand out candy bars to co-workers and friends. Baby announcements complete with name, weight and length are mailed to proclaim the grand arrival. Visitors arrive to take their turn holding the new bundle of joy and many times baby showers are given in honor of the precious little life that has entered into the world! Even the baby announces her arrival with a strong cry of disapproval to the abrupt change that has taken place in her environment. God didn’t pull out any stops in the announcement of the birth of his son. The first announcement came by way of the angel Gabriel to Mary and in a dream to Joseph. A complete band of angels appearing in the night along with one unmistakable star painted in the sky to point the way.

Once the baby is here it’s time to give him or her a name. It’s one of the most exciting, and sometimes difficult traditions. A child’s name will identify him for the rest of his life. Many times we pass down a name according to a family tradition - maybe a name in honor of a loved one or a famous person, or holds significant meaning. Other names are completely unique by using an unusual spelling or pronouncement. Mary and Joseph didn’t have to worry about the name of their son. Gabriel told Mary at the first announcement that his name would be Jesus (Yeshua), which means “ The Lord saves”.

A birthday would not be complete without a celebration. After all, a birthday comes only once a year! It’s about celebrating life - a very unique life! It’s a time when family and friends recognize you as special to them, celebrating who you are. Candles on a cake stand in honor of the years gone by. And what’s a celebration without gifts? Giving a gift to someone on their birthday says, “you are important to me”, “you mean something to me”, “you are significant”. Even the toddler Jesus (who literally already owned everything in creation) was given gifts of great value by the wise men to celebrate his birth.

So what’s in a birthday?

A birthday is celebrated in thankfulness of the passing of another year. You may not feel like you have much worth celebrating. The past year may have brought you what seems like only pain and grief. But it’s important to take a look at how God has brought you through and how you have grown in your relationship with him. A birthday is not only pondering on the past, but it also signifies a look ahead at accomplishments and blessings to come. The celebration of a birthday should be a reflection of where we have come from and an evaluation of where we are headed - a look at how well we are living out our life’s purpose. In reflection of Jesus’ birth we find that he was born to restore our ability to fulfill this purpose. He was born to give us life - life more abundant! He was born to give us a hope and a future! He was born to die on a cross which would save us from an eternity separated from him! This was his gift to us - what will be our gift to him? What gift could we possibly give to celebrate his birth?

Romans 12:1-2 says we should offer ourselves as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to him. To not be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we might discern God’s perfect will for our lives.

So what’s in a birthday?

A birthday is to be remembered. It’s easy for Christmas birthdays to be overlooked, sometimes even forgotten. I have some extra special people in my life who have gone totally out of their way to make sure I feel very special on my birthday. How must Jesus feel when we scurry about getting “wrapped up” in Christmas, not remembering it as the day of his birth? Tomorrow is Jesus’ birthday! Won’t you consider going out of your way to recognize Him? Won’t you celebrate Him by giving the most precious gift ever? The gift of yourself.

“Pace Yourself”

2010-12-17T14:44:00.000-05:00

Life moves at an extremely fast pace, wouldn’t you agree? Too many times there are too many things on the to-do list. I often wonder, how on earth will I accomplish all that needs to be done. There are meetings to be had, kid’s activities to attend, housework to be done, people to see and places to go - all thrown on top of physical ailments, a stressful job or marriage, broken relationships, or financial difficulties. I am no different than the average over-worked, over-stimulated, over-whelmed American.

With Christmas upon us, we find ourselves in the midst of one of the prime fast-paced seasons of the year. Be the first in line for the Black Friday specials. Put your Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving. Tear open the gifts in record time. Hurry from feast to feast and banquet to banquet. Our December days become jam packed with baking and shopping and our December nights with programs, wrapping and more shopping. It’s easy to get so busy that we fail to slow down and enjoy this joyous season.

Sometimes I feel like I need a pace car.

I’m not a huge racing fan, but I recently learned a few facts about pace cars that peeked my interest. In motor sports the pace car (also known as the safety car) limits the speed of competing cars on a racetrack. During a caution, the safety car enters the track ahead of the leader. Competitors are not allowed to pass the pace car or other competitors during a caution, and the pace car leads the field at a pre-determined safe speed. Cars use less fuel while running behind the safety car (usually half as much as under racing conditions), which can allow drivers to run longer on a tank of fuel than originally expected.

We get driving so fast in this race called life. Most of the time competing against people who are supposed to be our team mates. Sometimes we make good decisions about taking a pitstop to refuel and check our tires. More frequently we push it to the limit. We don’t seem to grasp the benefit of having a pace car. If we slow down long enough to ponder the thought, we would realize that driving at a more steady speed allows us to run more efficiently.

Hurrying has dramatic negative effects on us. When we are always running at a fast pace, our energy becomes depleted and our stress level goes up. But we continue to go on and on and on. When will we realize that we are not the Energizer Bunny? Besides increasing stress, rushing from place to place has a way of stealing our joy. The faster we move in life, the less time we seem to have to enjoy it. It’s much harder to pay attention to the detail of the landscape or the beauty of the sunset when racing at 200 miles per hour. We don’t know what we’re truly missing until we enter the caution and follow the pace car.

Artists realize that the faster they go, the less productive they are. Traveling at the speed of light causes us to lose the ability to think and act creatively. I have been known to spend much time scrapbooking and making homemade cards. I know for a fact that if I rush, that’s when I make the most mistakes. But taking it slow allows for a steady hand and a mind open to imagination and the flow of ideas.

Most importantly though, is the fact that when I’m pushing it to the limit, I can’t hear God. It’s hard to listen to anyone when we’re in a hurry. Take for example, you’re rushing out the door just as your child gets home from school. He desperately wants to tell you about his day, so as you are putting on your coat, grabbing your purse and the car keys, you nod your head and say, “uh-huh, uh-huh, that’s nice honey - gotta run”. You may have caught a few of his words, but your mind was not focused on him. In the process, you miss out on the detail and you also hurt your child’s feelings. How do we make God feel when we are so wrapped up in getting from place to place, success to success, that we don’t take the time to stop and listen to His voice?

“Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

We get to know our God when we slow down, be quiet and become still. Activity creates noise and noise drowns out the voice of God. But how do we slow down in a society that seems to encourage us to be constantly doing - in a culture that promotes fast food, high speed, convenience, and get rich quick schemes?

It’s time we destroy the myth that makes us believe that the more we do the more worthy we become. In other words, the more I do, the more valued, loved, and respected I am. We are constantly attempting to prove our worth. The busier I am, the more important I am - right? No way. This process is just a vicious cycle of constantly trying to gain the approval of others, draining a tank that’s already on E.

It’s time we crush the thought that life is a competition. It’s not. The bumper sticker that says, “He who dies with the most toys wins” is a lie from the enemy. The fact is that you are not in a competition with anybody. You are unique, a one of a kind masterpiece created by God. Everything about you is only yours and no one else’s. Competitions arise when we compare ourselves to others and that in turn only leads to discontentment. Discontentment fosters discouragement, jealousy and pride. Realizing you are not competing against anyone in life is a freeing concept. When you feel free and content, you tend to slow down the pace.

Sometimes we have to cut something out in order to slow down. The things we let go of may be good things, but are they the BEST things. Personally, I have discovered that the more I put on my plate the less effective I become in all areas. I would rather do a few things and make a huge impact than to do many things and impact very few. Focus on your strengths, your passions, the things you enjoy and the areas God has gifted you in. You will accomplish much more when you concentrate on your strengths and your priorities. Any more than that is destined for burn-out.

God thought slowing down was such an important concept that He even made it one of the Ten Commandments - the 4^th one to be exact. “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy”. Sabbath literally means “day of rest”. The older I get the more I realize I NEED a day during the week to unwind and refresh. When I don’t, I become irritable and short-tempered, not to mention just plain tired. God knew from the time the earth was created and all living things were formed that we would need to rest - that we would need to set aside a day in our busy week to slow down. Disengaging from a strenuous lifestyle can provide us with the needed mental, physical and emotional break - a break from the “doing” of life. On the other hand - the spiritual hand - the Sabbath is a time to center our focus on worshipping God and worship has a way of placing life in perspective. Perspective helps us to make wise decisions. If I don’t take time to worship and get my focus on God and all that He has done for me, well then my focus remains on me. And if I’m too busy to worship God, well then I’m just too busy.

I truly believe God has a way of using life’s circumstances to slow us down when we don’t do it for ourselves. He may use physical illness and put us to bed. He may get us off the roads due to an ice storm. Or, he may use law enforcement. Twice in two months, I was pulled over by a policeman for speeding. I was appalled at the fact that I shattered a 17-year crystal clear driving record all because I was in too much of a hurry. The most amazing part of it all is that the kind officers took pity on me, only issuing warnings on both occasions. I have no doubt in my mind that God was teaching me a most valuable lesson - slow down. Not just on the road in my vehicle, but in the race of life. I was spared from the consequence, not just once, but two times. You better believe I’m watching the speedometer much closer these days. I am striving to stay in the caution, safely following close behind the pace car - which will eventually lead me home.

“Rebuilding the Walls”

2010-12-07T20:03:00.000-05:00

It was almost two years ago that I received a call from my sister at 6am. She was in tears and could hardly even speak. You know what it’s like when you get that unexpected call at an unexpected time? You’re heart quivers and a lump finds it’s way to your throat. But I managed to get out the words, “what’s wrong?” She proceeded in the best way she could to inform me that she was standing in her front yard watching her house burn down.

My sister, along with her husband and son, managed to narrowly escape a house fire that had been brewing most of the night. It was by the grace of God that they survived, but most of what they owned did not. It was difficult to imagine how such destruction could ever be restored, but there was no question in their minds - they would rebuild.

This reminds me of an Old Testament story in the book of Nehemiah. I had read the story before, but never truly understood it’s meaning until directed there by a dear friend just recently. I mean, it’s hard enough to just find the book of Nehemiah in the Bible let alone recall all the details of the story.

God, fed up with evil, allowed the Israelites to be overrun by the king of Babylon, who burned down the walls of Jerusalem - killing many people and sending others into exile. Toward the end of this time of exile, Nehemiah returned to a burned out, broken down Jerusalem with a plan and a vision. His intense concern gave him a mission to rebuild the walls of the city. He began by surveying the damage and he confessed his sins as well as his father’s sins and the sins of his father’s father. His prayer immediately led him into a time of commitment to rebuild and restore. But Nehemiah could not rebuild alone. He brought together a whole community. Everyone, including entire families worked together, each building the portion of the wall that was closest to their home.

There were constant distractions - an economic crisis was in progress and many people were starving. Nehemiah encouraged the people to rally around those in need, but they never stopped working on the wall. There were unending threats to progress - Israel’s enemies were not happy to see the walls being built. Again, the community found ways to pull together. They continued to build while defending the city.

Amazingly, the walls were completed in just 52 days - record time. It was almost unthinkable! Their enemies were certain it could not be done and there were days that the people themselves questioned whether it was even possible. But the faithful, combined effort of a community led to unimaginable success.

We can look at this story and believe it’s just that - a story about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. But, it’s so much more. It’s not just about restoring physical walls - it’s about rebuilding the spiritual ruins of our lives. It’s about reclaiming something that was lost, pulling it from the rubble and setting it right again. It’s about reclaiming a hope for the future!

In ancient cities the only real means of protection were the walls. The walls represented strength and defense against the enemy. They were very thick and very high. In our lives, the rebuilding of the walls is a picture of re-establishing strength, restoration to a life in ruins. Do you have a wall that needs rebuilding? Do you feel like you are in exile and in desperate need of restoration? Have the flames of depression, guilt, divorce, joblessness, or physical illness burned down the walls of the place that you once found refuge? You may look at your life and see that your walls are broken down and that your defenses are gone. There is no longer the ability to resist destructive attacks. How can a life in ruins ever be restored?

The first step is concern. Nehemiah surveys the scene and he weeps. He mourns the loss, showing great concern for the city and it’s people. Have you mourned the loss in your life? Have you ever truly grieved the devastation of the hurt you are experiencing? You will never rebuild the walls until you first weep over the ruins.

Second comes confession. Nehemiah’s mourning immediately turns into a prayer of confession. Confession is saying, “there are things that I have done, or things that I failed to do, that have contributed to my life’s ruin”. In some cases, our hurts have been out of our control. But how have we reacted to the suffering? Confession is saying, “I’m sorry for responding in bitterness and anger.”

The next step is commitment. Nehemiah is a man who, out of concern, and after the confession of his heart, commits himself to a building project. We must make a commitment to God and to ourselves to rebuild the walls. Moving forward despite the threats and distractions. Rebuilding takes extreme courage. When we make a commitment to rise up and rebuild, the enemy will rise up and oppose. Satan will do all he can to make it difficult to continue.

Last, but not least is community. Do you really think Nehemiah could have built the walls alone? No way. People were willing to work. Nehemiah set them to work building the part of the wall nearest to them. They worked together as a community. We were not meant to do life alone. We need each other. And yes, we need to make commitments to restore our own devastation, but we also need to make commitments to help rebuild the walls of those closest to us.

Jerusalem remains a symbolic city - used in scriptures as a place God desires to dwell. But as we discover in the New Testament, God’s true desire is to dwell within us - His people. A personal relationship with Him is first and foremost to any restoration project we could ever attempt. You may be in great need of restoration, but it can be done. With the help of a Savior, a great concern, a heart of confession that leads to commitment and the help of a community, a successful rebuilding of your walls can take place. So go, rebuild your portion of the wall - and may God bless your efforts.
　

"Friday's Favorite"

2010-11-26T13:15:00.000-05:00

"Life of Praise" - Casting Crowns

I will love You, Lord always
Not just for the things You've done for me
And I will praise You all my days
Not just for the change You've made in me
But I'll praise You for You are holy, Lord
And I'll lift my hands, but You are worthy of so much more

For You are awesome, God of the Nations,
Lion of Judah, Rock of the Ages, Alpha, Omega
You're worthy of all praise
More than these hands I'll raise
I'll live a life of praise
I'll live a life of praise

I will serve You, Lord always, for You are my strength
When I am weak
I will never be afraid for You are my rock and You protect me
But I'll praise You for You are holy, Lord
And I'll lift my hands, but You are worthy of so much more

"Thankfulness"

2010-11-25T00:06:00.002-05:00

I threw a party for myself this week - complete with cake, party hats, and noise-makers. But I wasn’t celebrating my birthday, or any other special occasion, or monumental milestone. The party in which I made myself guest of honor was in fact, a pity party.

Have you ever been there? Have you ever been in the midst of a trial and all you could focus on was YOU? It’s so easy to become caught up in our pain, and when that happens, an attitude of thankfulness is difficult to find among the selfish cries of, “why God?”

I once heard it said that we are too anxious to receive and too careless to give thanks. A perfect example of this is the story of the ten lepers found in Luke chapter 17. Jesus heals all ten of the men with leprosy after asking them to go and show themselves to the priests. All ten men received, but only one bothered to come back to thank Jesus for his healing. We are so quick to hurl our requests at God. Shouldn't we be even quicker to fling a word of thanks in His direction?

Why is it so important to foster a thankful heart regardless of our circumstances?

1.) Thankfulness is God’s will for our lives.
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
2.) Thankfulness is a result of the goodness of God.
“Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” (Psalm 106:1)
3.) Thankfulness is a form of worship.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4)
4.) Thankfulness is a result of spiritual maturity.
“Let your roots grow down into him (Christ), and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:7)

Thankfulness is an attitude. It is never self-serving and always places the focus on the giver. A grateful heart means humbling a selfish spirit to acknowledge that something has been done for, or has been undeservingly received. Thankfulness is what God desires in response to His goodness, mercy and grace. It is an act of worship and should be a direct result of spiritual growth.

But, let’s revisit 1 Thessalonians 5 a bit further. Notice, it says to be thankful in “all circumstances”. Some versions state , “in everything”, or “whatever happens”. WOW! It doesn’t say, “be thankful when things are going well”. It doesn’t read, “have a grateful heart when you get what you want”. God asks us to live a life full of thankfulness no matter what trial, pain, or suffering we are enduring. So how in the world do we do it?

Grasping God’s Grace - I don’t believe Paul is urging us to be thankful in every circumstance to make us feel guilty, or to bog us down with a request we simply cannot handle. I believe Paul is suggesting that we take a look at how big our God is and how much grace He has to offer. His love is unfailing and His grace is abounding - in ALL things and in ALL circumstances. By His grace, God supplies the power we need to overcome.

Grasping God’s Eternal Perspective - Being thankful, regardless of the circumstances, begins with an eternal perspective and hope. I know that my salvation can never be taken away from me despite the trials I face here on this earth. The circumstances of this life will one day diminish. In heaven there will be no pain, no tears, no heartaches, no bills to pay, or people to satisfy. Our lives here are temporary, as is our sufferings.

Grasping God’s Goodness - The thankful Christian looks for the goodness of God in all circumstances. One of my favorite quotes is, “Don’t grumble if you don’t have what you want; be thankful you don’t get what you deserve.” We all deserve an eternity separated from God because of our guilt and sin. But God has saved us with the redeeming blood of His Son Jesus. His goodness provides us with the only way to eternal life. For every pain we selfishly focus on in our lives, there are countless blessings that are overlooked in the process.

Grasping God’s Purpose - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) We may not always recognize God’s purposes for our lives. In some circumstances, we will never completely comprehend why He allows us to experience the sufferings we go through. True contentment can only be born into our pains when we grasp the fact that God has a purpose. And even though it may not be revealed in our timing, it is a matter of trusting the One who holds us in the palm of His hand. For He who promised is faithful.
　
Thankfulness is so much more than comparing our own circumstances to someone else’s. Thankfulness is so much more than having plenty of food to eat, clothes to wear, a roof over your head, money to get by, or good health. We so easily take all of these things for granted. For in a blink of an eye, any of these things could disappear.

Thankfulness is a state of being and a way of life. Let’s make an effort today to recognize the blessings we’ve come to take for granted. Let’s focus on what we have rather than on what we don’t have. It’s easy to be thankful for the good things in life, but a life of true fulfillment can come to those who are also thankful for their setbacks - despite the temptation to break out the cake, the party hats, and the noise-makers.

"Friday's Favorite"

2010-11-19T18:18:00.002-05:00

"Desperate" - by FireFlight

Seek and you will find, they say
but I've been looking everyday
for a way past this wall that's in front of my face.
I'm on hands and knees searching for my faith.

I know there's so much at stake,
but I don't know if I can take one more pat on the back saying I'll be okay.
Can't you see my whole life is in disarray?

You've got me desperate.

I know You hear me,
Would You give me a sign?
Reel me in before I've fallen in line.
You've put me on a path I don't understand
I'm standing on a ledge waving my hands.

You've got me desperate (do You see me?)
Desperate (do You hear me?)
Desperate (will You help me?)
You've got me desperate.

I know You're my only hope
The only One who truly knows how it feels, what it's like when it all starts to fall
You're the One I can trust who hears when I call.

You've got me desperate.

I know You hear me,
Would You give me a sign?
Reel me in before I've fallen in line.
You've put me on a path I don't understand
I'm standing on a ledge waving my hands.

You've got me desperate (do You see me?)
Desperate (do You hear me?)
Desperate (will You help me?)
You've got me desperate.

Some things I'll never figure out
Until I let hope erase my doubt.

You've got me desperate.