Be Still and Know...a Journey

Encouraging One Another.....Around the World

2012-01-24T10:49:00.000-08:00

I haven't written anything for quite some time. Well, at least not here. I am taking some online college courses from Ohio Christian University and have been very busy writing papers for an English Composition class. So, I have been writing....just not to you. :)

One of our requirements in this class is to participate in discussions. We are given a prompt related to what we are learning at the time and we are to post our thoughts and then respond to each other. Just like you would in a literal classroom. What I have found interesting is, just as in a classroom, we sometimes go down rabbit trails. We start off talking about our recursive writing habits and end up talking about the faithfulness of God in our lives.

There are about twelve of us in this particular class and we come from all walks of life, all age groups; many from broken homes, some from strong stable homes. Some are leaders in their church; many have been delivered from strongholds of the enemy. Several classmates have lost family members as recent as just a couple weeks ago, right around and during the holidays. I remember their pain as it was only a year ago that my Mom and Aunt were killed in a car accident.

My professor remarked today in her weekly announcement that we have all responded to one another and encouraged one another without much input needing to come from her. I think we sometimes forget she is there. But it seems we have an affinity for each other, we can relate to each other; many of our circumstances have been similar. And yes, we pray for one another.

It's almost as if God put this group of people together for a reason.

He does things like that.

It reminds me that God never leaves us alone. Even in our darkest moments, when we can't see or feel Him, He sends others to surround us and support us; friends and family, church members... those who are close to us and can be there in a moment when we call. But it also made me think.....

Paul traveled extensively in his ministry. He probably spent more time walking on the road and sailing in ships than he actually did standing and preaching. In order to get word to all the people, he began writing letters which were delivered to all the churches to be read aloud. But even that took time to get them delivered and shared among the people. However, it did allow him to reach hundreds of thousands of people with his message of the gospel.

We live in an age of advanced technology. And while many people still travel around the world to spread the gospel and share their message, for many all it takes is the click of a mouse to uplift, encourage and share with others.

I began this blog just for me as an avenue to share my walk with God and what He has been teaching me. But as I realized how many people across the United States and now even the world are reading it, I have become aware of the opportunity and yes, responsibility, I have to share my faith. The Bible says life and death are in the tongue, and that applies to the written word, also.

So to you, my faithful readers, the ones I know and the ones I don't know, while I am not Paul I pray that the words I share here on this page will always leave you with hope, encouragement and life.

And to my fellow classmates, whom I doubt I will ever meet face to face this side of heaven, let's not take for granted the words we "say" in our discussion rooms. God has put us in this place together for a reason...to learn from each other, to bless each other, to comfort and to help one another.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,

just as in fact you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Happy "New Beginning"!

2011-12-29T12:29:00.000-08:00

"It is because of the Lord's mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because his [tender] compassions fail not. They are new every morning;

great and abundant is your stability and faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:23,24 (AMP)

I'm not in to New Year's Resolutions. It seems like we make them hoping we can fulfill our goals. But when we inevitably give up, well....when I inevitably give up...it just feels like failure. I see no reason to set myself up to fail. But.....

I do believe in second chances.
I do believe in do-overs.
I do believe in new beginnings.

I serve a God who is known for giving second chances; and third, and fourth, etc.
I serve a God who loves me enough to give me a "do-over".
I serve a God who is the author of new beginnings.

Yesterday I was feeling a little down. The holidays tend to do that to me. It started about 21 years ago; not sure if it was because we left all our families in Texas or if it's the long, dark dreary winters here in the Northwest. Maybe a bit of both. But I do know that if I'm not careful I can find myself in the dumps very easily. And then of course, this was the first Christmas without my Mom and Aunt Jo; and Mitchell, my 19 year old son who moved to Georgia this summer. And looking back over the last year and all the changes and difficult times we've had....well, I began to throw myself a mini pity party and found myself having a conversation with God....

"You know what, God? I have spent this entire year wishing it was over.....and now it is. But what is different? Mom is still gone; Mitchell is still in Georgia; it's still winter in the northwest; and my family still lives in Texas. What did I think as going to happen? All of a sudden I would wake up on January 1 and I would feel better? All of this waiting didn't accomplish anything....when I look back on 2011 from my perspective all I really see is a lot of wasted time. So what now?"

Ok, it wasn't so much a conversation as it was a soliloquy.

But, God in His faithfulness gently and quietly reminded me that while a lot of my circumstances have not changed, He does not change, either. And through this whole time, in every circumstance and every trial, He has been there doing His part. But I just kept waiting for the year to be over. I have a mental picture of a little child who has been hurt. This wounded, crying child runs to their father and climbs up in His lap for comfort, which the father gives. There is a moment of being consoled, and then one of just resting in the comfort of his arms. But before long, the child jumps up and is on the run again.

I have been consoled;
I have been comforted;
but I didn't get back on the run again.
Because the reality is, life is different.
And I don't like the changes.
I'd rather sit in my Father's lap and be comforted.

And, truth be told...pout.

As Lamentations points out, it is because of His mercy and love that I have not been consumed by all of this; his compassion is never ending and we get a fresh supply of them each and every morning.

I'm not the only one who has had a rough year. My sisters have each struggled with the loss of our mom and aunt. Other friends have lost family members this year. Many are struggling with health issues; lost employment; lost homes.... life changing circumstances. And we have all been comforted by a loving Father.

Because God is a God of second chances, do-overs, new beginnings.

And so, let's not receive this grace in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1); let's finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given us...the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20:24).

It's time to step down out of His lap and get back to business...His business. He has things for me to do...plans, purposes, a future, hope. And while I may step down out of His lap, I will never be out of His sight, never be out of His arms...

Because He holds my world in His hands.

Come and Worship....

2011-12-23T01:35:00.000-08:00

I was driving home from one of my many errands...

listening to music on the car radio...

listening to Christmas carols...

I found myself wondering ....

What was it like

to kneel at the manger?

We sing songs like

Come and Worship,

Away in a Manger,

Angels We Have Heard on High,

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him.

We worship Jesus knowing now what they didn't know then.

We know what He has done for us.

He lived a sinless life

He healed the sick

He raised the dead

He gave his life...

He died a horrible death that we may have life

He defeated death and the grave

He sits at the right hand of the Father...

interceding for us.

We see Him as Savior and Lord

They only saw a baby....

lying in a manger

They knew what the angels had said...

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths

and lying in a manger."

(Luke 2:10-12)

The shepherds were doing what shepherds do....

Standing out in a field counting sheep

On a clear, cold, starry night

An uneventful evening.

Not too terribly exciting.

When suddenly....

an angel appears...

Why those shepherds?

What did they do that made them special?

Were they just in the right place at the right time?

They knew what the prophets and foretold.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

(Isaiah 9:6)

The magi....wise men, kings, astronomers...

Searching for the baby the prophets foretold...

Traveling for a long time....

Determined to find this child...

And when they did...

They gave him gifts...

And worshiped him.

Who were these men?

Why were they so persistent?

How did they know this baby was different?

From dirty shepherds to influential men;

From the fields to the palaces;

From near and from far....

They set all aside...

And they came...

To worship...

What was it like...

To kneel at the manger?

To kneel before this tiny baby....

Who was the Creator of the world?

Can you sense the wonder?

Can you hear the hush?

Can you feel the awe?

As we near the day...

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus,

in the midst of the hustle and bustle,

the shopping and the baking,

the wrapping and the unwrapping,

stop for just a moment

and kneel at the manger...

Come and worship

Christ the new born king.

It's Nice to Meet You....

2011-12-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

"Go into all the world

and preach the good news

to all creation."

Mark 16:15

(NIV)

I have been writing this blog for a little over two years. At first, I wondered if anyone would even know I was here and who would be interested enough to read my thoughts and ramblings. I started it just for me; a place to journal what God was teaching me and where He was leading me. I was amazed when people I know began to comment to me that they were blessed by my writing. Wow! That meant people were actually reading it!

At the bottom of my blog page is a map of the world. If you look at it, you will see little white hearts that mark the locations of the people who visit my blog site. I am amazed again! Some of the locations are places I have never visited...actually most of them are places I have never visited; not do I know people who live there.

I am humbled....

Sisters....
Debbi, 'Lena, Margie, Annette

I was chatting with my sister the other day; she has recently begun writing, also. She mentioned that someone in Russia had visited her page. We do not know anyone in Russia! Debbi has always had a heart for missions and would have been a wonderful missionary. But after marrying and raising eight children, she has not had the opportunity to go on many mission trips to spread the gospel to all the world. But suddenly, as we were talking I realized....

That is exactly what we are doing!

With our writing and in this age of advanced technology, we are "going into all the world" spreading the message of Jesus and sharing the love of the Father. I tell you, it has changed the way I think about the things I share. When I began this blog, I did it for me, but realizing that others are reading brings an awareness of a great responsibility. What I write should be encouraging, uplifting, biblically accurate and always point others to God. I pray that I am doing that very thing.

Again, I am humbled that you visit me and thrilled that you come back again and again. It is my prayer that each time you visit you are blessed and encouraged.

I have created a Guest Book page which you can find at the top of this blog site. I would be honored if you would sign in and tell me a bit about yourself. Since I can't see you face to face, I would love to know...

Who you are...

Where do you live?

How did you find this site?

What is God doing in your life?

What is God doing through your life?

How can I and the others visiting pray for you?

I have several "blog-sisters". These are women I have never met, but we know each other through our blogs. It is a bit like having a pen-pal and God has knit our hearts together through our writing. I love that I can be struggling with something in my heart and just by opening up a web page, I can connect with someone on the other side of the country or the world and find encouragement and love from another follower of Christ. Isn't that amazing?

"I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you,

because your faith is being reported all over the world."

Romans 1:8

(NIV)

God bless you all!

'Lena

This is the Day...Rejoice!

2011-12-03T05:52:00.000-08:00

"This is the day the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

I had to get up at 3:45 am today to take my husband to work. We only have one car and on Saturdays we each have early morning Bible Studies we attend. I usually drop him off at his men's group and then I head over to my friend, Janet's house for our ladies group. But this morning, Mark had to work some overtime. Not something he likes to do, but circumstances necessitated it. But, that meant in order for me to attend my Saturday morning ladies group, I had to drive him in to work.

Have I ever mentioned I'm not a morning person?

Anyway, as I was driving home I was praying and really just complaining to God. You see, this year hasn't been all that fun. And I have spent most of it wishing it would just be over. On the one hand I have said, "God has new mercy every morning".... and He does. But I have also said, "This year is really @$%#% and I just want it to be over!"

As I was driving home, tears running down my face, two Psalms popped into my head...

"This is the day the Lord has made;

rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

and right behind that one....

"Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart,

be acceptable in thy sight,

O Lord, my strength

and my Redeemer."

Psalm 119.14

Well, needless to say I was convicted on both counts. The first verse reminded me that every day is a gift from the Lord and each one has new mercy, new opportunities and new divine appointments if we but look for them. The second verse is the benediction we say after every service at our church. It is also one of the earliest verses I remember memorizing as a child. And yet, the words of my mouth have been speaking death into each day of this year.

It's time to turn this around.

We still are facing many challenges this holiday season. I would covet your prayers for our family, immedate and extended members. The Holy Spirit will guide you in what to pray. There are health issues, financial issues, relational issues, employment issues, emotional issues... this will be the first Christmas without my Mom and Aunt Jo, and the first Christmas my son, Mitchell won't be home with the family. And while our Christmas trees are beautiful, there's nothing under them....well, except the cat, Jasper.

So, the challenge to myself I also extend to you....

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart declare

that this IS the day the Lord has made...

REJOICE! And be glad in it!

Merry Christmas!

'Lena

Be Still....

2011-12-01T23:49:00.001-08:00

"Be still and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10

This is the verse that started me on this journey over two years ago. It reminds me that no matter what craziness there is in the world, God is in control. I have held tightly to this verse with both hands and all my heart for over two years, because I knew that no matter what, if I could just hold on tight everything would be okay.

Remember those words...

"hold on tight"

Tonight I was reading an article on this very verse and I learned something new.The word translated "be still" comes from the Hebrew term raphah which means "that which is slack, to drop, to be weak". The thought was that God is commanding us to "be weak, drop all your worries...I got this!" (I'm paraphrasing again).

Kind of the opposite of "hold on tight"; and yet, it's not really. Because I still believe we need to hold onto Jesus; hold on to the promises of God; hold on to our faith that He has everything in control. But I think the problem we sometimes face is that while we are holding on so tight to what we believe is our faith, we are in actuality still holding on tight to the situations we are desperately trying to give to God.

My family is facing some real challenges this holiday season. And while I know God is telling me to "be still" in the sense that I need to not fret and worry, I think He may also be telling me to "go slack, let it drop...be weak". Because if I hold on too tightly, I live in tension and anxiety. But if I drop it into His Hands and become weak...then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

God is in control and I am not. The writer of this article said, "...we need to drop our hands, go limp, relax and chill out". Still taking responsibility for those things we need to do, but allowing God to do those things He will do. A friend sent me a message today that said,

"Faith is not believing God can;

Faith is believing that God will.

What burdens are you carrying today? What worries are keeping you awake at night? What are you trying to do in your own strength that you just aren't able to accomplish?

Be still.....and know that He is God.

Sustaining Grace

2011-11-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

"For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield;

the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor

and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)!

No good thing will He withhold

from those who walk uprightly."

Psalm 84:11

This morning I was contemplating all that I have to be thankful for and all the ways God has sustained me this year. I took a few minutes to read my sister's blog post, Purpose & Joy. She mentions that we have two empty seats at our table this year. They are not literal seats for me as my family lives in Texas, but empty seats in my heart. I actually have four empty seats for four precious people who went home to be with Jesus this year.

I began to think back to January when I received the phone call that Momma and Aunt Jo had been in a car accident...Aunt Jo was gone and Momma was not doing well. I made that trip to Texas with my two oldest boys and it was hard. Probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My life changed that week and I didn't think I could do it...

But for His sustaining Grace...

During those six days, time after time I felt like I had hit the wall; I could go no further. One more trip to the hospital. One more decision to be made. Then the funeral. The graveside. Cleaning out the apartment. And going to the nursing home to see Daddy...who didn't know or understand what had happened.

And each time I told God,

"I'm done! I can't do anymore!"

But for His sustaining Grace...

So today, as I look back over the year and all the challenges we have had to face, I remember His Grace that carried me through those six days in Texas. And I realize that same Grace has carried me through this entire year. Through the loss of my Mom and Aunt; the loss of my dear friend, Lori and another precious saint, Ruth; the strain of finances; the challenge of a move we did not expect or instigate; the pain of broken family relationships; and even the "growing pains" we suffer when our children grow up and move on with their own lives. Each time I again said, "God, I just can't do anymore".

But for His sustaining Grace...

"For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received

[all had a share and we were all supplied with]

one grace after another and

spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing

and even favor upon favor

and gift [heaped] upon gift."

John 1:16 (amp)

Not only did He carry me through each and every circumstance, but He granted me favor time and time again. He has blessed me over and over with friends who have stood beside me, carried me through the difficult times. He has provided in ways we could never imagine. He has reminded me repeatedly that He is faithful. And through the hurts and disappointments, and yes, there have been hurts and disappointments, He gently nudges me and says, "It's not about you."

So, as I reflect on Thanksgiving today I have much to be thankful for. I have shed my own tears this week as I miss the ones who are not with me, as I reflect on the changes in my life and my family and as I adapt to those changes. But His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). And His promises are Yes and Amen! And no matter what the future holds He will be right there beside me all the way.

As you count your Blessings today, as the old hymn says, name them...one by one.

Friends and loved ones;

Family, near and far;

Food on the table;

Clothes on your back;

Roof over your head;

Love of the Father;

Redemption by the Son;

Guidance of the Holy Spirit...

and His sustaining Grace through it all.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen!

(1 Corinthians 16:18)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

'Lena

He Sings Over You....

2011-11-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

I needed this verse today. As most of you are aware, this has been a difficult and eventful year for my family. And I am so grateful for the grace God has shown us in the midst of these hard times.

Last night was kind of a mixed bag of emotions. I was at choir rehearsal getting ready for Sunday services. Geron & Becky Davis are our guests this weekend and he was teaching us some new songs. It was a good night. It was a fun night. But somewhere in the midst of it my emotions overcame me.

I was missing Momma ....

I just really wanted to talk to her.

At the end of rehearsal, Geron read to us some lyrics to a new song he was writing, and I really began to wonder if he had been following me around all year. I had a chance to speak to him after rehearsal and told him he needed to put music to it quickly so we could sing it. He reminded me that while we don't see the big picture, God does. And while I may not understand why we have faced all the challenges we have this year, God is faithful.

This morning I woke up really early and my mind was running (as our minds so easily can do at 4am). And I found this verse...Zephaniah 3:17. I am so glad God's word is alive and active. Because it was what I needed .... today!

"The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save..." He hasn't left me to face these challenges alone. He is my Father and I can run to Him. He has a plan, a purpose, and a solution to every situation we face. He is our fortress, our refuge...our haven.

"He will take great delight in you"... Wow! How often do we stop and realize that He delights in us? If you have children or grandchildren, just think about how much delight they give you. They aren't always perfect, they don't always do things the way you think they should. But still, don't they just bring a smile to your face when you think of them? The definition of delight is "great rapture, joy". My children and my little granddaughter bring me joy. And when the Father looks at us it gives Him great joy.

"He will quiet you with His love"...The Common English Bible says, "He will create calm with His love". How often do we find ourselves caught up in the chaos of our situations, and yet when we just spend time in His presence, we feel the calm, the peace of God saturate us. His love creates calm.

"He rejoices over you with singing"... This was what started the whole thought process this morning. Last night as we were singing to Him, Geron spoke of the music, the song, the melody, being pleasing to God. The chorus from his song was...

Let my song bring hope

Let my song bring peace

Let it's melody be pleasing

As it rising to Your throne

And may Your name be glorified

With my song.

That was the purpose of our song. And yet this morning I read "He rejoices over you with singing." God sings over us. Makes me wonder if in those times of chaos that bring us to Him, does He sing to us? Kind of a lullaby effect...it brings a peace and a calm to us in the midst of our storm.

No matter your circumstances today, no matter your storm, stop for just a moment, listen carefully and you'll hear Him sing over you.

'Lena

Giants in the Land...

2011-11-07T00:07:00.000-08:00

"This was back in the days...

when there were giants in the land.

The giants came from the union of the sons of God

and the daughters of men."

Genesis 6:3 (MSG)

We are facing some giants.

Big, ugly, intimidating giants.

And we look like grasshoppers in our own sight.

This verse in Genesis is speaking of literal giants that were conceived when the sons of God united with the daughters of men. And as I read it tonight, I realized that we still create giants today. Not literal people giants, but situations we find ourselves in that came about because we, the sons of God, have united with the ways of man to create situations in our lives that become giants. They can take many forms and come in many shapes and sizes.

Financial giants

Health giants

Relational giants

Employment giants

Addiction giants

Big...

Ugly...

Intimidating...

Conquerable!

In Genesis 6, God was so fed up with mankind and his sinful ways, that He determined to wipe them out and start over again. He found one righteous man and his family worthy of saving...a remnant. And so God sent a flood to destroy all the earth's living inhabitants except Noah and his little family and a whole boat full of animals. But He promised He would never destroy the earth again....although I wonder if He doesn't sometimes wish He could change His mind.

I am so grateful for His

Grace

Mercy

Redeeming Love

Because there are giants in the land again. And instead of wiping out mankind and starting all over again, He has promised a way of deliverance. He has promised to go before us in the battle; to stand beside us in the fight and to protect us as a rear guard. I love that about God! He surrounds us! And even when we have created those giants ourselves, when we humbly come before Him and ask for mercy and grace, He freely bestows it upon us and gives us a way of escape. And when those giants rise up against us we can boldly and confidently say,

"You come against me with
sword and spear and javelin,

but I come against you
in the name of the Lord Almighty"

(I Samuel 17:45 NIV)

What giants are you facing?

You are not in this battle alone...

A Wounded Heart....

2011-10-23T22:44:00.000-07:00

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

Last week I wrote about An Abandoned Heart and during the course of the week, God continued to reveal to me what an open heart looks like. As I pondered it through the week, I realized that an abandoned heart for God also means an open heart to others. I can't really be abandoned to Him and hold my heart closed to others. Throughout most of my life, I have lived a guarded life. Very few people, even now, know who I really am. Because of times in my life that I have been open to others and revealed my true heart only to find my heart wounded, I was one of those people who held my heart closed to others. By Saturday morning during my quiet time, I realized it was time to fully surrender. So I sat with my Bible and my cup of tea and told the Lord, "Here's my heart, fully surrendered to you; I no longer want to hide from you, but neither do I want to hide who I am from those you have put in my life".

I guess it's no surprise that the enemy came at me with a vengeance.

My open, abandoned heart quickly became a wounded heart. And I was broken. The first instinct is to withdraw again. "See, Lord...I did what you asked me to do, and look what happened!" My husband quickly reminded me that in the last couple years God has not only allowed me to pour my life into others, but in opening my own heart I have allowed others to pour into me. And this year would not have been as bearable had I not dropped the walls and allowed others to see my vulnerabilities and support me through the fire. We were not meant to walk this life alone; God created us to be relational people and while our ultimate and most important relationship is with Him....we need each other. If I go back to hiding my heart from others then I have let the enemy win this battle. That is not an option.

I have felt His presence today; He has been close to this broken heart. And while I have shed many tears and asked the question "why?" repeatedly, I will surrender my heart once again to Him, open it to others and protect it with the armor of God.

My abandoned heart became a wounded heart;

but the love of my Father will make it a perfect heart.

An Abandoned Heart....

2011-10-18T23:40:00.000-07:00

"O Lord, You have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me."

Psalm 139:1

I am so grateful and inspired by songwriters. They have an amazing gift for taking ordinary words and putting them to music in such a way to move us not only to worship,but also to grasp Biblical truths in such a way as to change our ordinary lives and way of thinking.

Music speaks to me.....

Tonight at our church prayer meeting, we sang a song call I'll Stand. The chorus says,

I'll stand

With arms high and heart abandoned

In awe

Of the One who gave it all

I'll stand

My soul, Lord, to You surrendered

All I am, is Yours.

As we ended the song and went into a time of corporate worship, I stood there on the platform thanking God that I could enter His throne room and stand with my arms held high and my heart open to Him. In my mind, I went back to Sunday.....

Last Sunday morning, Pastor Tyler and his wife, Kizzie preached a sermon together on relationships...namely, the marriage relationship and how it is to be a picture of our relationship with God. Kizzie told of an evening when she was at church in worship and the Lord gave her a picture. I can't tell the story as well as she, but the gist of it was she had entered the throne room of heaven and Jesus was sitting at the right hand of the God. Kizzie was dirty - her clothes, her face, and she left a trail of dirt behind her. But Jesus came off the throne, approached her and kissed her on the forehead. As he did, she became clean. Her filthy rags were gone and she was dressed in a white robe.

Back to tonight....as I stood there in worship, remembering her story, thanking God that I could stand in His throne room with my heart bared before Him I realized that even if I didn't "abandon" my heart to Him, He still knew what was in it. The light of His love shines into our hearts and sees everything anyway. Suddenly...in my heart I saw many people standing with their arms crossed almost hugging themselves. I knew they were trying to hide their heart. There were things in their heart that they didn't want anyone to see.

Hurts

Disappointments

Discouragement

Despair

Deceit

.....Sin

I understand them. I've been there. I have stood in worship with my hands held high, but inside I was holding my heart back. I didn't want anyone to see what I was hiding or holding onto. Not even God. We may be able to come to church and put on our "spiritual face" and fool others into thinking all is well. But here's the thing....we can't hide from Him. He knows what we are holding back. When we walk into that throne room with our dirt and baggage, Jesus steps in and makes us clean. What I saw tonight were people coming in and trying to hide behind others, hide behind their own worship, covering their hearts so no one, including God the Father, could see their dirt. And in my heart I began to sing another song....

Blood of Jesus, shed for me

Precious blood, my covering be

The only view God has of me

Is through the blood of Jesus.

That blood has washed us clean. If you will give Him your whole heart, Jesus' blood has made it clean and you can fully abandon it to Him.

I believe I was supposed to speak out tonight, but indecision held me back. I should have listened to my own thoughts and "abandoned" my heart to Him. But fear and pride held me back. So, since I didn't speak out at church, I'm writing it down. I wasn't sure I could communicate verbally what was in my heart and mind. I'm not sure I have communicated it well even here.

The next time you approach the throne room, whether in a corporate setting or in the privacy of your own prayer closet, try abandoning your heart to Him. Don't hold anything back...surrender it all to Him. There is nothing you can hide from Him. His love illuminates everything; His blood covers everything.

So take the opportunity to give it all .....

.....to the One who gave it all.

Perfection vs. Completetion....

2011-10-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6

This is in response to a dear friend who wrote a blog post today titled "I Get That A Lot..." She's a young mom of three, works full time and tries to spend quality time with her husband and children. It's hard....been there, done that and washed all the t-shirts!

Her point was that many of her friends and acquaintances see her as Wonder Woman. But the reality is....we are not. Sometimes we put on the face so that others think we have it all together; when in fact we are barely hanging on.

I get it.

About 22 years ago when I was a young mom with two small children, I too worked full time. I left the house at 6am, dropped the kids with the sitter (my mom), spent an hour in traffic as I drove to work, worked eight full hours and then drove another hour to pick up the boys. By the time I arrived home again I had been gone twelve hours. Then was dinner, baths and playtime with the boys before bed and trying to spend time with the husband, too. Then there were church activities, friends, etc.

Life......

I had a friend who had two boys the same age as mine; she was a stay at home mom. Often she would say to me, "Lena, I don't know how you do it!" My reply to her was...."You do what you have to do".

The laundry was not always done

The house was not always clean

The groceries were often bought late at night after the kids were in bed

Many times I felt insufficient.

And perfection? Please!! No chance!

None of us will ever be perfect, no matter how hard we try. There is a great deal of frustration to be found in perfectionism. But one thing I have found to be true.... we can be complete!

Deuteronomy 16:15b says, "For the LORD your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete." As moms, working or not, we lead very busy lives. We have a great deal of responsibility that has been bestowed upon us, especially in the raising of our children. And yes, most of us have husbands to participate in that, but the nurturing usually falls on the mom. I remember after having my first child thinking, "What on earth do I do now?" But I learned quickly that if I gave my day to Him, it went a whole lot better. And when I didn't complete all the tasks on my to-do list, I knew that tomorrow was a new day with new mercy from Him.

That's not to say that there were no trials, failures, mistakes or days I wish I could do over again. But James tells us, "...the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so you may be mature and complete..." (James 1:3,4)

And so, my sweet friend, I know you are a perseverer...you are a hard worker, a faithful wife, and a loving mom. You are not Wonder Woman....neither am I. But we are strong women of God who want the best for our families and ourselves. He will not leave you to run this race alone.....He will bring you to completion!

Love you!!!

'Lena

How You Love Me....

2011-09-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

Lord, I'm amazed by You

How You love me.

How wide...

How deep...

How great...

Is Your love for me.

You may recognize these words; they are from a beautiful chorus that we sang in church yesterday morning. It got me to thinking....music does that, remember?

So much of the time we hear and sometimes believe that we are unworthy of God's love for us. No where that I am aware of does God's Word say that. It does say that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), but it also says that even in our sin, God still loved us (Romans 5:8). So at first as I began to think of these words, I wondered, "Why should we be amazed by His love for us?"

God is our Father; and as such He loves us. If you are a parent, do you not love your children? More importantly, do you only love them when they are well behaved? When they do just as you have asked them? As parents, we love our children....unconditionally. No matter what they do, they are still our children and we love them.

I began to think about Eve who had two sons, Cain and Abel. Considering the outcome of their relationship I think it's safe to assume that like most brothers, they fought. They most likely had a hard time sharing their toys. Perhaps just the differences in their personalities caused them to rub each other the wrong way. Abel may have been the compliant child...always ready to do the right thing, help with whatever needed to be done, polite and obedient. Perhaps Cain was the more challenging child of the two...wanting to pursue his own interests, less likely to obey the first time he is asked, perhaps a bit more verbal in his dislike of people and/or situations. Whatever their childhoods were like it is apparent that there was jealousy on the part of Cain as they became young men.

We don't generally dwell on how Adam and Eve felt after Cain killed Abel. We get caught up in the story as we consider the horrific idea that one brother would kill another. But put yourself in their place...one son is dead, and the other is the murderer. Can you even imagine the pain this mother felt? These were the boys she had carried for months in her womb; these were the boys she had taught to walk and talk. These were the boys she had rocked to sleep and told stories. These were the boys that Adam had trained in the way to grow food from the ground; how to tend to the animals; how to protect the family. These were his sons....his pride and joy. And in a moment of time....both were gone. One to death and one to exile.

Did they still love Cain? After he had done this horrible thing, after in his anger and jealousy he had robbed them of their other son....could they love him?

I love my children....with all of my heart! They have not always done things that made me proud of them. They have not always done the right thing in all situations. They have disappointed me; they have hurt me. They haven't killed each other, but there were times when I thought they might! But no matter what they did or have done....I love them.

How wide...

How deep...

How great...

Is Your love for me.

I am amazed by His love for me....but not because I am unworthy of His love. I am amazed at His love because of HOW He loves me.

How wide?

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us". (Psalm 103:12)

No matter what we've done, His redeeming blood has covered us and those sins are removed....moved from one place to another. My children have asked me what it means "as far as the east is from the west". It's kind of an abstract concept to wrap your mind around. If you start heading east you will never reach west because you are always going east. That's pretty far to have your sins removed....can't get much "wider" than that!

How deep?

"Neither height north depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39)

God's love for us runs so deep, that even when we return to our old ways and disappoint Him we cannot be separated from His love.

How great?

"Because of the Lords great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail." (Lamentations 3:22). "For great is Your love, reaching to the heavens..." (Psalm 57:10a)

Because of the greatness, the hugeness of His love, we are not left to die in our sins. His compassion is so great that He made a way of redemption for us...through the death and resurrection of His son. Another infinite view of God's love. The picture of His love reaching to the heavens....an infinite length of time and space. There is no end to His great love.

I am amazed by how He loves me. Not because I don't deserve it, or I'm not worth it. Because of His grace and the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, I am a new creature. My "filthy" righteousness has been washed clean and replaced with His righteousness. I don't have to "earn" or "deserve" His love. He bestows it upon me freely. I am amazed by how He loves me because in spite of all the millions of people on the planet, He knows me ... intimately!

the number of hairs on my head;

the deepest, most secret desires of my heart;

the hurts and disappointments that I tell no one.

I can't get lost in the crowd....

My name is permanently etched on His hand and is ever before His face!

He cares about the most important things I face;

He cares about the most trivial things I face.

He not only provides for the basic needs of life, like a home for us to live in;

But He blesses me by providing one with a view of the water.

He rejoices with me when I am happy;

He holds me when I cry.

He encourages me when I am insecure;

He guides me when I don't know which way to turn.

He cheers me on when I step out in faith;

He lifts me up when I fall.

There is no way to explain it;

There is no way to measure it.

Lord, I'm amazed by You...

How You love me!

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."

Ephesians 3:17-19

As the World Turns....

2011-09-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

"For everything there is a season,

and a time for every matter under heaven"

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)

Back in the early 60's a group called "The Byrds" recorded a song written by Pete Seeger called Turn, Turn, Turn based on Ecclesiastes 3. Though that was considerably before my time (well, maybe not considerably), it is a song that has endured through the years, attesting to the fact that God's Word endures forever, even when it is used in a rock and roll song.

That song has been turning around in my head (no pun intended) today because I've arrived at another season in my life.

The Bible talks a lot about seasons. God created the moon to mark the seasons (Psalm 104:19); the animals know the seasons and when it is time to migrate (Jeremiah 8:7); God Himself changes the times and the seasons (Daniel 2:21). And Acts 1:7 says it's not for us to know the seasons that God has appointed by His own authority.

Seasons....

they come and they go.

As the world turns on it's axis and in doing so creates the different weather patterns of our seasons, our lives often do the same. Sometimes we are the in the springtime of our lives where we make new plans and start new adventures.

Weddings

Birth of babies

New jobs

These are all new beginnings.

And after springtime comes summer when we begin to see the growth of the things we have planted. And after summer comes the harvest of those moments, ideas, adventures. And I think of the winter as a time to rest up and create new ideas for the spring to come. Okay....sounds kind of corny, but just be patient with me. I'm having a thought, here....

It has struck me that while each of us go through seasons in our lives, they don't always coincide with one another, nor do they follow the same time-lines. Let me explain....

My son, Mitchell is 19 years old. Last year he went away to college and while that was difficult for me to let him go, I new it was for a short "season" and he would be back in a few months. When he came home for the summer, he realized that he was moving into a different "season" in his life. This was no longer his home; no longer was this where he belonged. So after much thought, discussion and prayer, he came to the conclusion that God was calling him to move to Georgia. (NOTE: for any of you who are not aware, we live in Washington state.....that's a long way from Georgia!).

Monday, I put Mitchell on a plane as he left behind his family and moved into a new phase, a new "season" of his life. This is his springtime where God is planting him in new soil and nurturing him so his roots will grow deep.

However, this is my autumn...the time when I have to pull him out of his roots here at home and send him on his way. It's harvest time for me....and I'm proud of the young man he has become. I am proud of the hard work Mark and I have put into nurturing him. I am proud of the way Mitchell has allowed his roots to grow deep into God's Word and has listened to the voice of his Father.

Mitchell's springtime
is my harvest.

There was never any doubt in my mind that this was the right move for him. But still, when I hugged him goodbye, I put my hand on his heart and asked, "Mitchell, are you sure...right here?" And he said, "Yes, mom, this is what I have to do."

I'll be honest....it hurt. But no one ever said doing the right thing was going to be the easy thing to do.

The next day after Mitchell got settled in to his new home in Georgia he posted as his status on Facebook...

"The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you. I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.'"

Genesis 12:1-3

He knew with a calm assurance that he was where he belonged...where God had called him to bel. I will always be Mitchell's momma, and I will always miss him when he is not nearby. But I am so grateful that we serve a God who has promised to bless him.

And not only that, but He has promised to bless those who bless Mitchell. And so to the Payne family who has taken him in and promised to love him and guide him on his way I say this....

"I have not stopped giving thanks for you,

remembering you in my prayers."

Ephesians 1:16

Seasons come and seasons go. Whatever circumstances you find yourself in today, rest assured God is fully aware of the season you are in, for he has set the times and seasons in motion. There is a time for every purpose under heaven. And we can rest in His love, grace, mercy and faithfulness!

A Holy Moment....

2011-08-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

"...for the place where you are standing is holy ground."

Exodus 3:5

A really silly thing happened the other day; but sometimes it's the small, silly, trivial things that speak the loudest to me. The details aren't important, but it got me to thinking about holy moments.

Moses and the burning bush. (Exodus 3)

....a holy moment.

Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego in the fiery furnace. (Daniel 3) The Lord stood there in the fire with them

....a holy moment.

The shepherd's bowing at the manger. (Luke 2)

....a holy moment.

Saul on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9)

....a holy moment.

Times when ordinary people encountered

an extraordinary God

....a holy moment.

Last week, a very dear friend of mine held her mother in her arms as she slipped from this world into eternity. She told me the presence of the Lord was so strong in that room, as her mother worshiped the Lord. I was reminded of just a few months earlier when I did the same....I held my mother's hand as she took her final breath on this earth and took her first breath in Heaven. I told my friend that I realized at that moment we were standing at Heaven's gate....watching our mother's walk through. Though it was sorrowful for us, it was truly a life-changing, awe-inspiring.... holy moment.

There have been times in worship where the presence of the Lord is so strong that I have literally been brought to my knees. Knowing that I was in the presence of the Holy God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, King of all creation.......a holy moment.

As I pondered this, I realized that every time I remembered a holy moment it took place in the presence of the Holy God. And as believers, we dwell in His presence. I'm reminded of a song...of course!

This is the air I breathe

Your Holy presence

Living in me...

We breathe in His very presence. We live in the presence of the King. Which makes every moment of our lives........a holy moment.

Every time we say, "God, I need You to help me...

I can't do this alone!" and He does....

....a holy moment.

Every time we ask for something as trivial

as a good parking spot and we get one....

....a holy moment.

If we really think about it, every moment of our lives is,

or can be....

...a holy moment.

So, what are your holy moments today? Are you looking for them? Or are you over-looking them? Because just as God told Moses as he stood in His presence at the burning bush....the place where you are standing is holy ground.

And this is your holy moment.....

Planted....Once Again!

2011-08-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

"I will make an agreement with them that will never end,

and I won't ever stop doing good things for them.

With all My heart I promise that they will be planted

in this land once again."

Jeremiah 32:41b

(Contemporary English Version)

In May of this year, I wrote a post titled Promise of Lilacs. It was a reminder to myself of God's all surpassing knowledge of what we need before we need it. We had found out that we were going to have to move again, and I was stressing about finding just the right place for our family. Well, we are now settling into our new home and as usual, God knew just where we needed to be and what we were going to require before we did.

No, this house doesn't have lilac trees, but it does have a beautiful willow tree in the backyard. I've always wanted a willow tree. Growing up as a child in Virginia, we had willow trees and I just love the way they reach up to heaven with their branches and then the limbs sweep back down to the earth. A picture to me of how we reach up to our Heavenly Father and He reaches down to us.

God continues to amaze me with His love for me and my family. Even when we don't understand what is going on around us, or why life doesn't work out the way we think or hope it should, it never catches Him by surprise. I know this house is an absolute gift from Him. He knew before we did the circumstances we would be facing and the reason why the beautiful condo in downtown Edmonds wasn't going to work for our family. As disappointed (and to be honest...ticked off at the rental agent) as I was, I am so glad now that the condo was rented out from under us.

So....once again, I am grateful.

For His omniscience,

His faithfulness,

His goodness,

His patience.

And for the little extras that He gives us unexpectedly.

"I won't ever stop doing good things for them."

Blessings....

2011-08-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:9

So many times we find ourselves in situations that we just don't understand. But one of the things I am comforted by is the knowledge that God knows everything we are going to face before we face it. In the past month I have been irritated and frustrated about things that haven't gone the way I wanted them to, only to discover later that if I had gotten my way, it would have been a disaster. So, while I have been thinking over these things there is a song that keeps playing on the radio and in my heart. And the writers words are so much better than mine. So, I'm going to borrow them for my post today....

We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family

Protection while we sleep

We pray for healing

For prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand

To ease our suffering.

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much
To give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when
We cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness
We doubt Your love
As if every promise from
Your Word is not enough

And all the while
You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe.

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?
What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win.
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not
This is not our home.

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the achings of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can't satisfy?
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?
(Laura Story)

Friends are Friends Forever....

2011-07-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

"The two of us have vowed friendship in God's name, saying, 'God will be the bond between me and you..." 1 Samuel 20:42 (msg)

I was born in Arlington, VA where my dad was stationed in the Navy. I was little when he left the Navy and began to work for the government. But when I was seven years old, we left Virginia and moved to California, where we lived for two years. At the age of nine, we moved again to Houston, Texas. I have vague memories of little girls I played with in Virginia and California, but because I was so young, many of those friendship were forgotten. When we moved to Houston, one of the little girls I met was our pastors youngest daughter, Lori. She was a year younger than I, but we became fast friends.

Oh, the slumber parties; the church camps; the Missionette classes; the birthday parties. We spent lots of weekends at each others homes. And when we weren't together, we were on the phone. Many were the nights I remember sitting in the hallway of my house talking on the phone with her (our phone was in my parents bedroom, so I stretched the cord out into the hallway). We would talk for HOURS and then it became a "you hang up first", "No, you hang up first"....until finally she would say, "I really have to go now" at which point I would begin singing

"Goodnight,

Sleep tight,

And pleasant dreams to you.

Here's a wish

And a prayer

That all your dreams come true

And now til we meet again

Adios, Au revoir, Auf Wiedersehen.....

Goodnight!"

(Anyone remember Lawrence Welk?)

This sequence would be repeated often before one of our mothers would make us get off the phone. We grew to become teenagers, and I graduated from High School the year before she did. She gave me a beautiful figurine of a young woman in a long dress holding a bonnet....I still have that figurine on my shelf. A reminder of the young girls we were and the memories we shared. She had an after school job as a bank teller at a bank near my home. She worked the drive-thru, and I opened an account there so I could go and visit her. There was a guy that worked with her, and she set me up on my first blind date with him. I think his name was Randy and we went on two dates....he was kind of an odd cookie. We laughed about that experience for a long time.

I believe it was that same year that her parents went to Switzerland on a long trip; several weeks, I think. Her brother and sister were already out of the house, so I came to stay with her while parents were gone. We had so much fun... pretending to be all grown up and on our own....Just Lori, me and "Little Bit", her pet poodle. Her mom brought me a beautiful crystal bell from Switzerland with my initials etched in it.

We became young women...Lori got married before I did and moved away; Dallas, I think. I believe John was still in college. When they came back, they moved to Pasadena and began attending a different church closer to their home. We saw each other a few times when she would come to visit her parents church. But soon I was married and Mark and I had moved away....we lost touch. But I never forget my childhood friend.

As the age of Facebook came around and I began to reconnect with old friends from High School and church, I began looking for her. You would be surprised how many Lori Moon's there are! One day I found Donna Banning (her sister-in-law) and sent her a message that I was looking for Lori, would she please give my contact information to her. About a week later, I received a Facebook friend request from Lori! I was SO excited! I had found my oldest friend! We talked on the phone, sent emails and facebook chats to catch up on the nearly 30 years we had been separated. It was as if we had never been apart....the years melted away. She had the same sweet voice, the same quirky sense of humor, and the same love and compassion for others that I remembered from all those years ago.

As we shared with each other how our lives had grown and changed, she rather casually mentioned she had been fighting breast cancer. She was so upbeat and positive. She had so much faith... she knew her Heavenly Father was her source, her strength, her Savior and her healer. She was a valiant warrior....and I was encouraged by her strength. Every time we spoke, I would ask, "Lori, how are you doing?" and she would always respond, "Oh, I'm good." I never spoke to her when she was down or discouraged.

Sharon, Lori, Lena
"Friends are Friends Forever"

Last June, my husband and I made a trip back to Houston. I had not been back to Houston in almost 22 years! And I told Mark that if we went to Houston, I was going to see Lori. It was a trip full of disasters and at one point we almost decided to stay home. But we made it to town, and on June 8th I spent three amazing hours with Lori and one of our other childhood friends, Sharon Messersmith. We had so much fun, laughing over old memories; crying over losses we had each experienced; rejoicing in victories we had won. It was a most precious time. When we parted, we prayed together and it was truly a holy moment. The Lord was in that room with us and we all knew it. It was an absolute gift from our Father.....

Last Friday, on July 15th, Lori went to be with Jesus. My first response was sadness - my friend was gone. My second response was gratefulness - the Lord had given me a most precious gift in allowing me to visit with her and love on her before He took her home. And finally, my response is to rejoice with her....for she is in that place that we all long to be....

the arms of the Father

the throne room of God.

No more pain,

no more fear...

and she's probably telling Jesus her really corny jokes!

My heart aches from the loss. I will miss our phone calls and emails. I will miss her encouragement and confidence. But I will remember her faith in God, her absolute love of Jesus and her valiant courage.

In the words of Michael W Smith, "Friends are friends forever, if the Lord's the Lord of them...". Our friendship did not end because we were separated for so many years. And it will not end just because she left this earthly dwelling. I will see her again.....and I can't wait for her to show me around the streets of gold!

Lori Banning Moon.....you were a true friend, and a valiant warrior! I miss you, dear friend.... "and now til we meet again...." I love you!!

I Just Came to Talk to You, Lord....

2011-05-17T05:42:00.000-07:00

It's been a difficult year.

Full of challenges and disappointments;

heart breaks and heart aches.

There are so many things

I could talk to God about today.
The list is long
And can be overwhelming.

You see, I still miss my Mom and my Aunt.

Their deaths in January forever changed my life.

I lost two moms that day.

I returned home from their funerals
to discover we were losing our home

bringing uncertainty, insecurity and

phone calls from

lawyers, landlords and real estate agents.

The next week brought turmoil
from extended family

Words were used as weapons

Relationships were forever changed

Hearts were broken.

My friend, Lori,
whom I have known for 40 years,

has battled cancer for three years

and is now in hospice care.

She needs a miracle.

Then came the news that my sister, Annette

who has fought diabetes for many years

now has new challenges to battle.

The dialysis she undergoes three days a week

is doing irreparable harm to her body.

She needs a miracle.

The list is long

And can be overwhelming.

I woke early this morning, around 4:15am

My husband had left for work

I heard the furnace running

and got up to turn it off.

As I returned to bed

I heard the birds chirping.

Daylight was just beginning to creep

across the eastern horizon.

I lay there in bed and thought to pray.

Because, you see,
The list is long.

And can be overwhelming.

But as I lay there,

this song began to play in my mind.

I didn't come here to ask You for anything
I just came to talk with You, Lord
You've answered a million prayers or more,
That I forgot to thank You for
I just came to talk with You Lord.

Maybe tomorrow there'll be trouble and sorrow
And a thousand teardrops may fall
But until I face tomorrow's task
I have no special favor to ask
I just came to talk with You, Lord

How many times, Lord
Have troubles brought me down to my knees
Oh, but I just came to talk with You Lord
You see, I have no selfish motive in mind
I just want to thank You for all the other times
I just came to talk with You Lord

Maybe tomorrow there'll be trouble and sorrow
And a thousand teardrops may fall
But until I face tomorrow's task
I have no special favor to ask
I just came to talk with You, Lord
(Dottie Rambo)

As I lay here,
I am reminded
of all the times I come to God
with my list.
My needs
My wants
My wishes

So, today, as the birds sing
their morning song outside my window
I will spend some time just talking with God.
Thanking Him for the birds and their song
Thanking Him for Momma and Aunt Jo
and all the things they taught me
Thanking Him for the many times He has provided
Thanking Him for His promise to continue to provide
Thanking Him for my 40 year friendship with Lori
Thanking Him for His sustaining grace for Annette
Thanking Him for His mercies...
New every morning!

You see, He's answered a million prayers or more,
That I forgot to thank Him for
So, I'll just sit and talk with the Lord.

Have you talked with Him today?

The Promise of Lilacs...

2011-05-10T23:41:00.000-07:00

"I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

Jeremiah 29:11 (Message)

In March of last year I wrote a post called "Can I Trust You, God?" in which I told the story of my lilacs. It's the story of having to leave our home and my beloved little lilac tree and moving to another place, only to discover when spring came that this new house had five lilac trees in the back yard. It was a lesson God taught me about how much He loves me and how He knew not only where we would be living, but knew years in advance that I would need those lilac trees. It was a tremendous lesson in trust....a lesson I need to be reminded of often.

Now, nearly three years later, we find ourselves in need of another home, as the landlord is selling this one. This has stressed me out on more than one occasion lately. I have been reminding myself repeatedly that my security is not in the house I live in, but in God and His faithfulness. And yet, the insecurity that I feel in not knowing how long we can stay in this house, where we will be moving and if finances will be available when we need to move overwhelms me at times.

Today was a rare sunny day in the Northwest. We have had an extremely cold and wet spring as of yet; but today the sun came out and I spent a little while out on the deck. As I sat there, I noticed the lilac trees were beginning to bud out. I could tell the purple blossoms and white blossoms were just beginning to appear and soon will be open and fragrant. It was kind of a bittersweet moment, because while I love these trees and can't wait for them to bloom, once again I will be leaving behind my lilac trees.

As I stood there, I was reminded of what God had shown me on that spring day in 2009...I can trust Him. Just as He knew before what I would need and when I would need it, He is fully aware of what I need now.

Tonight at prayer meeting, I gave it to Him again. I surrendered my need to know; my need to be in control; my need to solve the problem. He supplied my need before and gave me more than I asked or imagined by giving me five lilac trees to replace the one I had to leave behind. . I have no reason to doubt Him now. He has a plan....plans to take care of me and my family.

Once again, when we let go, God can move.....Before I left the church tonight, someone approached me about a house. I don't know if this is the house God has in store for us, but Mark and I will meet with them, look at the house and see what happens.

I wonder if this house has lilac trees?

The Storms Keep Raging...

2011-05-01T23:29:00.000-07:00

"...All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it."

1 Corinthians 10:13 (Message)

Have you ever been at that place where you feel like you have been pushed to your limit? There is not one more thing that can be put on your plate,or you will drop it. You don't want to answer the phone or open the door because you may not be able to handle what's on the other side...

My husband and I have spent this year in that place. I will be completely frank with you and tell you that this year has been terrible. Our New Year began with such promise, but my world was shaken on January 3, 2011, and since that day, one thing after another has bombarded us. I told my husband last night that I didn't think I had ever gotten my "sea legs" after my mom died and the storms just keep coming.

Two promises I hang onto...

One, God will never let me be pushed past my limit; and He promises to be there with me all the way to get me through it.

Two, God will use whatever circumstances I find myself in, whatever the enemy throws my way to try to destroy me, God will turn it and use it for my good.

(Technically, I guess those are three promises...but isn't that just like God, to make His Word alive and grow as we hang onto every syllable?)

We were talking tonight with our son, Ryan, and he was remembering a vision he had a few years ago. One where God showed him the legion of angels that surrounded our house protecting us from the enemy that were wanting to get in. I ponder on that vision often, because I believe they are still there...guarding, protecting and ready to fight on our behalf.

The next few weeks will be challenging ones for Mark and I. We face some very difficult circumstances that will require God's grace and mercy, His provision and direction. We would appreciate your standing with us in prayer. And while we brave the storms we will take shelter in His Word and look expectantly for the good, the growth it will bring, the promise of Sunshine after the storm.

"...Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good..."

Genesis 50:20 (Message)

Earth Day or Good Friday....

2011-04-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

"This is love: not that we loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his Son

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

1 John 4:10

Like so many of you, I have found Facebook to be a surprisingly useful tool to find past friends from years gone by and to keep up with daily life of so many of my friends and family that I don't see often. It has become part of my daily routine to check in each morning to see if any of them have sent me a message or just to get a tiny glimpse of what may be going on in their lives. It has been fun to find people from High School or the church I grew up in as a child and reconnect with them.

This morning, as I checked in on Facebook, there were many posts celebrating today....Good Friday. Here are just a few examples:

Today we recognize the day Jesus was crucified

and died on a wooden cross to save humanity

from ultimate death because of sin.

What makes it a Good Friday

is that the story doesn’t end here…

(Joyce Meyer)

Some of us have lost the wonder of this faith, we take Christ’s work on the Cross for granted & His power to give us a new life is relegated to the back seat along with Santa & the Easter Bunny. Are you going to enter the wonder this Easter?

(Jan Eide)

Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master. Had no degree, yet they called him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.
I serve a risen Savior and His name is Jesus!

(Cyndi Hansen)

Good Friday. So soo good.

Thanks so much Jesus, for doing it ALL!

(Ginny Chapman)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
Thank you, Jesus for all you went through

to bring us in to relationship with you.

(Kerry Bergus)

Thank you, Jesus for paying the price,

my life and my future are secure in your hands.

(Walt Kerr)

‎"Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow"

(Kathryn Widell)

It's Friday but Sunday is comin!!!

(Bekah Henehan)

Jesus, You knew they were going to kill You.

You sacrificed Yourself for me.

Thank You isn't enough.

I give You all of me.

I remember...

(Heidi Davis)

Thank you Jesus for what You did for me!

"It is finished".

(Jim Speer)

I was feeling so encouraged and so blessed. All these reminders of what Jesus did on this day. His death in our place... for our sins. His unfathomable love for us that He would take our place. I continued to scroll down and the next post was from one of our local TV stations.....

"Happy Earth Day! To celebrate we have an eco themed Question of the Day on First News at 4pm today. Plus watch **** Morning News all next week for more chances to win tickets to the Seattle Green Festival."

Really? I know I live in a part of the country that puts great emphasis on environmental issues and has a tendency to value whales over the sanctity of life, but it just struck me as ironic that today of all days would be "Earth Day".

"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof"

(Psalm 24:1).

God created the world (read Genesis 1) and saw that it was good. He then created man and gave us dominion over the earth....to subdue it, replenish it and care for it. Psalm 8:6-8 says,

"You put us in charge of your handcrafted world,
      repeated to us your Genesis-charge,
   Made us lords of sheep and cattle,
      even animals out in the wild,
   Birds flying and fish swimming,
      whales singing in the ocean deeps."

(The Message)

It is our responsibility to be good stewards over the earth. But not to worship it. We worship a God who has no height nor depth nor width to His love for us and that love is everlasting! This weekend, we remember and celebrate that love.

As I was getting dinner ready one night last week, I was listening to a pastor on TV preach his Easter message. He said that the details of the crucifixion were so horrific that people in that day didn't speak of it. If you read all four gospels, you will hear that Jesus was crucified on a cross, but none of them give details of the event. He said that was because they didn't talk about it. It was too horrible. I think that's why we have had to do historical studies to determine exactly what that meant....crucifixion.

I don't like watching movies that are graphic in detail, even if they are historically accurate. My husband loves historical/war movies. But I can't bring myself to watch movies that detail the Holocaust or slavery or any movie that depicts injustice to people. I just don't find human suffering entertaining. My sister often says, "My entertainment shouldn't hurt" and I agree; not physically or emotionally. That is one reason it was hard for me to watch The Passion of the Christ. Whatever you may think of Mel Gibson, he did give us a pretty graphic depiction of just what Jesus went through.

But the main reason it was difficult to watch

is because it was a fairly accurate and graphic view

of just what Jesus did......

for ME.

It is very hard for me to understand a love that would ON PURPOSE take my place and go through such pain and agony and death. I don't understand that kind of love. Not because I have never received love, because I have. I am surrounded by friends and family members who love me and express that love to me in various ways. But our love is imperfect love. As hard as we try, we will hurt the ones we love....with our words, our actions, our mistakes...And no matter what sacrifices we may be willing to make for the ones we love, how far would we go?

But perfect love....

"This is how God showed his love among us:

He sent his one and only Son into the world

that we might live through him.

This is love: not that we loved God,

but that he loved us and sent his Son

as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

(1 John 4:9,10)

This is love!

So today, April 22, 2011, may be Earth Day, but today I choose to recognize Good Friday. A day to reflect and remember the amazing love that nailed Jesus to a cross...

in my place

for my sins

to give me life and life abundantly

to secure eternity with Him.

Today I will remember....

Perfect Love.

Sticks and Stones...

2011-04-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

Sticks and stones

may break my bones

but words can never

hurt me

Just a little ditty we used to sing as children

when the other kids would call us names or

tell us we were stupid,

or fat,

or ugly.

Our parents would try to comfort us...

"They're just words...they can't hurt you."

But they were wrong.....

Words can indeed hurt us.

A harsh word

A careless word

A sarcastic word

There is something deep within us that is

deeply wounded when words are used as weapons.

And we try to overcome that pain

by holding "conversations"

in our heads.

But, somehow those conversations

never resolve the situation

nor do they soothe the pain.

They only seem to

create a deeper ache.

We want to know

"Why?"

"Why would they say that?"

Sometimes we may never have the answer.

Sometimes words are born of

bitterness

anger

pain

disappointment

discouragement.

"But the things that come out of

a person's mouth

come from the heart."

Matthew 15:18

It's a "heart condition"

that can spread

from one to another

with more....

Words

But there is an alternative...

"If anyone speaks,

they should do so

as one who speaks

the very words of God"

1 Peter 4:11

Forgiveness doesn't always come easy;

But it is a necessary antibiotic

to the poisonous words

poured over you.

Where do we run?

How do we start

forgiving?

There is a place

A haven

A balm

In the shelter of Your presence...

You keep them safe in Your dwelling

from accusing tongues.

Psalm 31:20 (NIV)

In the shelter of Your presence,

I will rest in Your dwelling.

And as I allow Your love to heal

my broken heart,

I pray....

"Let the words of my mouth

And the meditation of my heart

Be acceptable in Thy sight

O Lord, My Strength

and My Redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 (KJV)

On the Road Again....

2011-03-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

"By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud

to guide them on their way..."

Exodus 13:21 (NIV)

I have a confession to make. I was complaining today...and trying to work myself up into a pity party. You see.....we have to move, again! My husband and I have moved so many times in our 28 years of marriage you would think we were in the military. But no...we just move a lot.

Sometimes it is of our own choosing...

There was the time shortly after we were married that we moved from a lovely one bedroom condo to a two-bedroom apartment because we were expecting a baby. Later we moved from a two-bedroom apartment to a three-bedroom house because we had another baby. Then the life-changing moment when we moved 3000 miles across the country to start a new life. There was the absolute hand of God move when we were living in a 700 square foot, two-bedroom apartment with three small boys and pregnant with my daughter when God provided us with a lovely three-bedroom home with a yard.

Sometimes it is not of our own choosing...
We've lost two houses to parking lots!
We lost one home to foreclosure.
And now we are losing this home to divorce.

Ok...stop right there!

No, Mark and I are not getting a divorce!

Shame on you!

Anyway...when we moved into this house almost three years ago we were told the owner had bought it as a retirement investment and wouldn't be asking us to vacate any time soon. So we felt fairly comfortable settling in and calling it home. However, life sometimes changes circumstances beyond our control. As their marriage fell apart, our life has become interrupted. And we find ourselves in the position of having to sort through stuff, pack our belongings, and look for a new home...........again.

And so, this morning, I was complaining! I was standing in my kitchen looking around and praying, "You know, God, I really need direction and some clarity of mind. 'Cause when I look around at all this stuff we have to pack, I don't even know where to start. And I really don't want to do this again!" When we moved into this house we went from a five bedroom house to a three bedroom house. We downsized and threw out a LOT of stuff. And yet, here in 2 1/2 short years, in spite of the fact that we have married off two children and sent one to college, we have accumulated MORE STUFF! It can almost move me to a panic attack.

As I stood at my kitchen sink chopping up potatoes for dinner, it struck me....I wonder if this is how the Israelites felt? I mean, they spent 40 years traveling around a desert that really isn't that big. So they must have spent some time just camped out. And if you think about it, they had a lot of stuff too. When they left Egypt, "the Israelites asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The LORD had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians." (Exodus 12:35,36) They had stuff!

Then, God gave Moses instructions on how to assemble a tabernacle....a traveling tabernacle. This was made with linen curtains and gold rods and had lots of utensils and bronze serving items, candle sticks, altars...Read Exodus 26. This was not just a simple little pup tent!

So when the cloud pillar stopped....they stopped; and they set up camp. They put down tent pegs and raised the canvas flaps; they unpacked their pots and pans, their cots and bedrolls. They sorted through all the clothes and moved hand-me-downs to the next kid....got them all put away in their individual "foot-lockers" arranged at the end of their section of the tent. The Levites went through the huge process of setting up the tabernacle and laying out all the sacrificial utensils and tables with the lamp-stands and incense.... when suddenly.....

The cloud began to shift....

Can you just hear the mothers? "Are you kidding me? I just got out the gold candlestick our Egyptian neighbors gave us! I just got them polished and found the perfect spot for them in the corner of our tent! Now we have to move again?"

And so they begin to pack it all up again. But, in the backs of their minds do you think they ever wondered, "Maybe this will be the last time! Maybe when we stop next, we will finally....be....there! Home...." I know I have.

I realize that the Israelites wandered for 40 years due to their rebellion and sin. And I know that some of the times Mark and I have had to move was due to poor choices we have made. But I also think that each place they traveled was a place to learn; a place to see a new or greater aspect of God; a place to grow. And a place to see the hand of God move on their behalf. Battles were fought; victories were won. Likewise, each place Mark and our family has gone has been the same. Each step along the way has taught us things about ourselves and shown us new and greater characteristics of God and each time we are amazed at who He is and how He moves.

Battles have been fought;

Victories have been won.

So, for now, it's "On the road again.." I don't know about you, but I like plans. I like to know what I'm doing and when I'm doing it. I don't even really like to be spontaneous about going out to dinner, because if we decide where we are going to go too quickly, we usually end up going somewhere we wish we hadn't. So to know that I have to move, but don't know where or when....yeah, don't like that too much! But as I have looked back over the years I realize that more often than not, that has been the case for us. I can really only think of 3 times that we have found a place to move, and then decided to do so. (We've moved 13 times!!!) Usually we have discovered we HAVE to move and then wondered how it was all going to work out. But I have to say...

God is always faithful!

He has always provided us with a place to live, always on time, and always been better than the place we had before. It just requires a little faith. I'm reminded of Abraham when God said to him, "Leave....and go to a place that I will show you." (Genesis 12:1) He didn't tell him where he was going....just go. "I'll let you know when you get there" (me paraphrasing). Sometimes that's the faith we need....blind faith. The kind that says, "Ok, God, I'll go. I'll start moving and You direct my feet".

step by step

day by day

moment by moment

box by box.

As with the Israelites, every move we have made has been a memorable place along the journey. Sometimes they were hard fought battles but with victorious outcomes...water from a rock, manna from heaven, quail in times of lack.

And so, it begins...another move along the way. I will try to keep my complaining to a minimum, Lord. (With the Israelites as my example, complaining didn't really do a lot for them!) Because You and I have been down this road before. You are ever faithful, ever trustworthy and Your love endures forever. You have never left me or disappointed me. I will try not to run ahead of You, because this inevitably slows us down. I will follow Your footsteps when I can't see Your hand; and I will reach for Your hand when I can't find Your footsteps.

To my prayer warrior friends, please pray with us for His leading, His provision and our patience.

"The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]" .

Psalm 37:23 (AMP)

Grace...Cut to Fit

2011-03-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

My grace is enough; it's all you need.

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (Message)

This week I am taking a Chaplaincy Training class. I took this course last year, but there is so much information that it is worth sitting through again. But this time, I am seeing it through different eyes.

Today we talked about the grieving process. I knew it would be a difficult day. I was prepared... box of tissue in hand; waterproof mascara applied. I knew the story that was going to be told as an example of a sudden and heartbreaking loss and how the family dealt with it...it was the same story that was told in last years class. But this time, I was hearing it with different ears...

I listened with a compassionate heart as this mother told of her 5 year old son who went from a healthy, vibrant, active little boy at breakfast to sudden death after lunch. No warning....no time to prepare. Just a sudden and quick illness that took his life. My mother's heart could only imagine her pain at the loss of a child; my daughter's heart could relate to the suddenness of the loss after losing my mom and aunt to a sudden car accident.

However, when our Children's Pastor began to tell his story of going to the hospital to be with the family and described the things he saw in the hospital, my mind went back. In an instant....

I was back in Texas in that hospital room with Momma

I heard the machine that kept pumping oxygen into her lungs

I saw the numbers on the monitor as they dropped

I felt her hand in mine as I watched her take her last breath...

And it was as if the air had been sucked out of the room.

I couldn't breathe....

I had to leave....

Pastor Cindi had told us at the start of the day that it would be a hard day. She said that we would want to get up and leave. She asked us to stay. And I knew in my heart of hearts she was talking to me. But I just couldn't continue to sit there...

I got up and walked out the back into the hall and leaned up against the wall and began to weep. My husband followed me out and just held me. My friend, Vanessa came and hugged me and we went outside for fresh air and deep breaths.

I wish I could say the rest of the day got better; but there was more to deal with. As we talked about the grieving process and what we can do to come along side those who have dealt with a loss, there were reminders of the love and support I received.

Cards that came just at the right time

Text messages,

facebook notifications

emails

On one of our breaks this afternoon, I told Pastor Cindi, "I am not having fun today!" She smiled in her quiet and compassionate way and said, "I know...I prayed for you this morning." She knew this would be a hard day for me. But then she reminded me, "His grace is sufficient; cut to fit the exact situation you are in".

I came home from this day absolutely exhausted. Ate dinner and went to bed. But before I went to sleep, I heard from my oldest sister, Debbi. She had been out to the crash site...the first time since the accident 10 weeks ago. She said to me... " Neecie came out and met me in Greenville yesterday, and we went to see the accident site. I was having panic attacks every time I had to cross that street, and thought I would fall apart when I saw the actual spot. But I didn't. We got out and walked around, and just stood there with her arm around me. It took the power out of it. I felt very sad, but very calm."

Grace, cut to fit...

No matter the situations we find ourselves in; no matter the hardships we must face; no matter the obstacles the enemy would put in our paths to distract us, waylay us, or destroy us, His grace...God's grace, is sufficient to carry us through it.

The song that is playing as you read this is called Rescue by Desperation Band.These are the lyrics...

You are the source

of the life

I can't be left behind

No one else will do

I will take hold of You.

I need You, Jesus

To come to my rescue

Where else can I go

There's no other name by

Which I am saved

Capture me with grace

I will follow You

This world has nothing for me

I will follow You

Time and time again, He has come to my rescue. His grace is indeed sufficient for me. When it seems that all around me has fallen apart; when the air has been sucked out of my world, I will follow Him.

Where else can I go?

A Time to Mourn...

2011-03-08T11:03:00.000-08:00

"I will turn their mourning into gladness;

I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."

Jeremiah 31:13

My apologies to those of you who regularly follow my blog. The past few weeks have been a little difficult....a desert experience, I guess you would say. And I haven't had much to share.

It's been 9 weeks since the accident that killed my mother and my aunt. Part of me thinks I should be over this by now. You see, my mom and aunt lived in Texas and I live in Washington. I didn't see them every day. They weren't a part of my everyday life; they were phone calls once a week. So, to other people around me, my day to day life here in Washington doesn't look any different...it doesn't look like anthying has changed. But my heart has. A dear friend reminded me yesterday that I didn't just lose a person in my life...I lost a relationship.

As I have spent the last few weeks trying to go back to life as usual, I'm really just going through the motions. I don't like that feeling. It's not fair to my family; it's not fair to my friends; it's not fair to me.

So, if you'll forgive me for this small pity party, I will take some time off from my Desert series to focus on some healing time. I will be taking a Grief class at church in the next few weeks. Ecclesiastes 3 says, "There is a time to mourn...". I guess I need to actually take that time before I try to get on with life "as usual".

I thank all of you who regularly visit here and support me. Your prayers are what held me up during that difficult week between the accident and the funerals. And I know many of you continue to pray for me and my sisters. We are grateful to you for all of your encouragement and continued prayers.

"I thank my God every time I remember you."

Philippians 1:3

Love you,

'Lena

Can You Hear Me Now?

2011-02-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

"I called to the LORD; I called out to my God.

From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”

2 Samuel 22:7

It was early afternoon as we left Hoover Dam and headed into Arizona. The day was sunny, windy and very dry. As we began to descend into the desert we drove for close to 75 miles without seeing any visible signs of life....no gas stations, no markets, no houses. It was indeed isolated. I wondered what would happen if we were to have an emergency or car trouble. These are the kinds of areas where the guy on the television commercial for cell phones says, “Can you hear me now?” This leads me to our next point…

3. Communication May Be Difficult

It's often difficult to explain to others what we are going through. Trying to put our feelings and emotions into words is not always easy. If we have been hurt by someone we trust and love, anger or mistrust of others can cause us to pull away from those around us. We stuff our thoughts and emotions because we have no one we feel we can confide in. We feel the need to put up barriers and protect our hearts from being wounded again. So we withdraw to a lonely barren place.

There are occasions when we find ourselves in situations that others simply don’t understand. They may not understand your emotions, or your reactions, or even know what kind of support they could possibly give you. They don’t know what to say! And so, we with draw further…

The enemy loves it when we isolate ourselves…we become easy prey. That very isolation that we intended to cocoon ourselves in makes communication with others very difficult. We just don't want anyone to get too close.

And we end up in the desert

with no one to talk to

except…

There is One with whom we are always able to communicate. One who is always there to listen. One who always understands. One who is always trustworthy. One who always cares. One who never leaves. And One who always has the answer. Our first line of communication is with our God.

"I called out to my God.

From His temple He heard my voice;

my cry came to His ears."

(2 Samuel 22:7)

As I mentioned before, sometimes these barren places are necessary pathways to our God-given destination. Just like Moses and the Israelites, they had to pass through the wilderness on the way to Canaan. It was the pathway God had chosen for them. But the barrenness and desolation often caused them to grumble. Not a good form of communication! But, when they cried out to God, He always heard them and always answered them. He is the one line of communication that will never be broken or interrupted.

That communication line runs both ways, though. Often it’s not us calling out to God, but Him calling us. There are many instances in the Bible where men of God were in the wilderness and God called them.

Moses was hiding out in the wilderness, tending his father-in-law’s sheep on the far side when God out to him from the burning bush. “When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” (Exodus 3:4)

Elijah was running for his life from King Ahab. He fled to the wilderness, fell down and said, “I have had enough, LORD,” ...Take my life;…” (I Kings 19:4). The Lord sent angels to minister to him and feed him, after which he lay down and slept. When he awoke, he fled again to a cave and hid. But, God found him and called out to him and asked him “What are you doing here?” God had a plan for Elijah and it wasn’t hiding out in a cave or wilderness.

If we run to a wilderness on our own to hide, He won't leave us there. He has a plan for us...and He will call out to us. Are we listening? Hebrews 4:7 says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” Sometimes, like Elijah, we are listening for God in the thunder, earthquakes or wind. But he found God to be in the whisper. Listen for it...

“Whether you turn to the right or the left,

you will hear a voice behind you saying,

‘This is the way, walk in it.’”

Isaiah 30:21

Can you hear Him now?

Know the Terrain....

2011-02-17T15:33:00.000-08:00

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105

2. Know the Terrain - Get a map!

Know the terrain you will be in.

When we left Seattle and headed for Phoenix, we had an atlas that we used to map our trip. We checked out different highways and routes to see which ones would be the quickest, or the most scenic, or the safest. As we got to the end of the road on one page, we would simply turn the page and pick up the route on the next page. We used that atlas until the pages are worn and tattered. We knew which page to turn to as we crossed from Washington into Oregon, and again from Oregon into California. We knew which page to look at when we approached Hoover Dam and as we crossed into Arizona. And if perchance, we took a wrong turn, we would just go back to the page with the last place we knew we were right and correct our error....or find a new road to get us back to where we belonged. And trust me....at 3am in the pitch black darkness of a barren Nevada desert.....that's no easy feat!

How many times have you traveled through life wishing you had an atlas? Something that would show you where the road you are on goes, let you know if you are on the right road, get you back on track when you've made a wrong turn, or simply point you in the right direction. While God doesn’t give us an atlas that shows us the entire route our lives will take, He does give us step by step instructions…one day at a time, one step at a time.

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

The Bible is our road map.

His Word shows us the way to live, the way to serve, the way to treat others, the way to shine His light in a dark world. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us." (msg). Every word is training us to live God's way.

His Word tells us how to dress for the journey. "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:14-17). From head to toe, His word tells us what we will need to wear in order to be prepared for the journey, but also to face an enemy.

His Word tells us when to rest and leads us to quiet waters to replenish our dry and thirsty souls. Psalm 23:2,3 "You have bedded me down in lush meadows, You find me quiet pools to drink from. True to Your word, You let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction". (msg) There are times when we just need to stop and take a breather...a sabbath as it were. His Word shows us how to be quiet and drink from His living water. And when we are ready to go again, He points us in the right direction.

His Word is truth. If we listen to His Word, we cannot be deceived by the enemy. John 16:13 say, "But...the Spirit of truth...will guide you into all the truth." (niv).

We have the Word of God as our road map with the Holy Spirit as our personal guide. I like the way the Message puts Isaiah 42:16..

"But I'll take the hand of those who don't know the way,

who can't see where they're going.

I'll be a personal guide to them,

directing them through unknown country.

I'll be right there to show them what roads to take,

make sure they don't fall into the ditch.

These are the things I'll be doing for them—

sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute."

So, if you are looking for a road map to get you through this life, pick up your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. He'll never leave you for a minute!

Next.... Communication May Be Difficult!

Be Prepared....

2011-02-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

"Be prepared, in season and out of season."

2 Timothy 4:2

When I returned from Arizona last year, I began pondering the things I felt God had dropped into my heart regarding the desert experience. I called my dear friend, Carole, who we had visited in Arizona and asked her to do some research for me. She sent me a list of things to do to be prepared for a hike in a real desert. It seemed to be a really good place to start studying to prepare for a spiritual desert. Today we will start with the first step:

1. Be Prepared: Understand that in the desert …

There may be water, there may not be, depending on the season.

When God delivered the Israelites from the Egyptians, He led them through the wilderness instead of the more direct route that would have gotten them to Canaan in 11 to 30 days, depending on which commentary you read. They spent 40 years in the wilderness. Exodus 13:17 tells us, “God didn't lead them by the road through the land of the Philistines, which was the shortest route, for God thought, ‘If the people encounter war, they'll change their minds and go back to Egypt.’" So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea.

God sent them into the wilderness on purpose, because He knew that if they faced the Philistines in war, they would be tempted to return to Egypt and its “safety”. They weren’t prepared to face battle yet; they didn’t know who their God was yet; they didn’t know they could trust Him yet. They needed some time to get to know their God and that He would be on their side at all times…that He would guard, guide, protect and provide.

He was the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night to direct them.
He was their rear guard to hide them from the Egyptians as they prepared to cross the Red Sea.
He was their Waymaker through the Red Sea and made a way where there had seemed to be no way.
He was their conqueror when he destroyed the entire Egyptian army.

So, while God directed the Israelites into the desert as they left Egypt, He did not send them unprepared. Exodus 12:35, 36 says, “The Israelites did according to the word of Moses; and they [urgently] asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver and of gold, and clothing. The Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they gave them what they asked. And they stripped the Egyptians [of those things].” (AMP) God sent them out into the wilderness prepared. They had everything that they needed. And even though they were out there for 40 years, the Bible tells us that not even their shoes wore out!

They were prepared…until they ran out of water!

But God had that under control too. When there was no water, He made water spew forth from a rock (Exodus 17). When the waters were bitter, he sweetened them (Exodus 15). He refreshed them with water.

As we travel thru life, most likely at one time or another we will find ourselves in a desert. How do we prepare? How do we prepare for a desert that we may not know we will be traveling through? Sometimes we find ourselves in the desert because we have isolated ourselves from fellowship with others…it is by our own choosing. Sometimes, like the Israelites, it’s just a path that we must take to get to the destination God has for us.

When you find yourself in that place, what is your water?

What refreshes your soul in times of drought?

Spending time in His Word regularly will help prepare us for those “dry” seasons. Psalm 19:14 says, “Thy Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Getting to know God and having a relationship with Him will prepare us for those times when we feel alone. Or during those “waiting” periods when we don’t really see anything happening in our lives.

"He satisfies the thirsty soul"

(Psalm 107:9)

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters…”

Isaiah 55:1

“Let the one who is thirsty come;

and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”

Revelation 22:17

No matter the reason we find ourselves in the desert, it is important to remember first of all, that God has never left us or forsaken us. He is always right there with us...sometimes waiting for us to notice Him, but there guarding us all the same.

“But GOD himself took charge of his people,

took Jacob on as his personal concern.

He found him out in the wilderness, in an empty, windswept wasteland.

He threw his arms around him, lavished attention on him,

guarding him as the apple of his eye.”

Deuteronomy 32:10 (MSG)

Are you preparing?

A Drive Through the Desert...

2011-02-15T12:01:00.000-08:00

"His splendor was like the sunrise;

rays flashed from his hand,

where his power was hidden."

Habakkuk 3:4

Sometimes we find ourselves traveling through a desert or wilderness time in our lives. These can be places we have wandered into on our own, or they can be places we must travel through in order to get to where God is leading us. Sometimes He sends us through that wilderness as a time of testing. But no matter the reason we find ourselves there…there are some things we should remember.

Last May my family took a road trip to Arizona. We drove straight through for 25 hours from Seattle to Phoenix. Before we left we sat down, looked at a map and planned out our route. This route took us through valleys, up and over mountain passes and across several deserts...or maybe it was just one really BIG desert. Some of the scenery along the way was absolutely beautiful! As we passed through the high mountain passes in the middle of the night it began to snow and along the roadside we would occasionally see wolves. Pretty amazing! Coming down out of those passes in the early but dark hours of the morning into the valleys, seeing the lights of the cities below was incredible, too. But we knew we had to travel through that desert. We tried to plan the trip in such a way as to not be in the desert in the heat of the day. But, it was a really big desert!

I took over driving at 4am just as we began to get into the desert. Let me tell you, it was really dark! There are no street lights in the desert. No towns or houses or any visible signs of life, just a lot of darkness. Fortunately, the road through the desert is pretty straight. As I drove down that long, lonely stretch of highway, the sky slowly began to lighten. While it was still dark, I began to see dark shadows along the horizon. I couldn’t tell what they were. They looked a little like dark, ominous clouds. Was there a storm approaching? I don’t like storms and I sure didn’t want to drive through one! Everyone else was asleep in the car, so I just continued on, watching those dark shadows…not sure of what I was approaching. I never passed another car along that road. It was lonely. It was unsettling. The road ahead was uncertain.

Isn’t life like that sometimes? We find ourselves traveling a road that we have never been on before. We may know what our destination is, but the route is unfamiliar to us. Sometimes we find ourselves traveling alone, or with occupants who are taking a much needed rest. And there are dark shadows up ahead that we can’t quite figure out what they could be. Should we be afraid of them? Or should we just continue to drive straight into them? Only the morning light will tell….

The Lord spoke to me as we traveled through that desert. It has taken me almost a year to process some of it and I’m not entirely sure I am finished. But I have some thoughts I’d like to share with you. And it could take a while. So, I’m doing something new and different on my blog.

A series….

I haven’t decided what to call it yet. But I’m going to take you on my trip through the desert. Some of what I found was hot, dry, barren and a little eerie. But there is beauty in the desert. There is life in the desert. And there are lessons to be learned in the desert. And there are also rivers in the desert. Hey! Maybe that’s what I’ll call it!

So, are you ready? I would love to hear your thoughts as we go through this. Please leave comments or let me know if you find yourself in a desert. I would love to pray with you (confidentially, of course). Feel free to email me, too.

Oh, and those ominous, dark shadows I saw? As the sun began to rise in the east, I watched one of the most glorious sunrises I have ever seen, come right over the top of those huge dark ominous......mountains!

His splendor...rays of light from His hand.

See, there really is beauty in the desert!

‘Lena

Surrender....Even If It Hurts!

2011-01-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

"...a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say,

“Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

Isaiah 44:20

Saturday morning I met as usual with the ladies who gather weekly for prayer, the Word and fellowship. These ladies have literally carried me through the past few difficult weeks. As leader of this group, it is my responsibility to have a plan, or at least a guide-line for each week. My original thought for the new year, was to talk about New Year's Resolutions and how for most of us....they never work. But due to the accident, I was in Texas when the first Saturday came around, and though I was home for the second Saturday, they spent that morning just loving on me.

Last week, as I began to think and prepare for Saturday, I kept coming back to the Resolution thought. My initial thought was it was too late in the month to follow through with that (don't ask me why I thought that); but Friday night as I lay in bed, I couldn't get away from it. I finally had to get up and write down the thoughts and scriptures that were coming to my mind. And I knew we were supposed to do communion....

I've never led communion before.....

In a nutshell...the New Year makes me think of a "new start". Resolution means "determination". That makes me think of "I can do this"...a me mentality. We can do nothing in our own strength. The word I felt the Lord kept giving me was surrender. What is it that we are holding onto so tightly that He wants us to surrender to Him this year? Our finances, our marriages, our fears, our failures, our "me-me-me" thoughts and actions. We spent some time in quiet prayer, wrote down those things on paper and have made a commitment to search the scriptures to see what His Word says about them...and to hold one another accountable. Then we sealed it with communion.

It was a holy moment...

We know the enemy will come against us in these matters. He doesn't want us to let go of the chains he has been holding us down with. He will tell us that we can't do it...we can't live without this thing we are holding onto. It's our right to hang onto this. You know what?

It's a lie!

Saturday morning, we made a covenant with God to let go of these things, and we made a covenant with each other to pray for each other. This morning, as I was in prayer, I got this word picture...I don't see visions or anything, I get descriptions.

I was asking the Holy Spirit to lead us and guide each of us through our day. Be our eyes and ears; guard our mouths...and protect us from the enemy. But then this thought came to me.....have you ever bought a really tough piece of meat? It has all these tough fibers in it that you just know will be really hard to chew on. So you lay it out flat on the counter top, get one of those big metal meat cleavers....and start pounding! The cleaver breaks through up tough fibers and loosens up the meat. Then, if you are a really good cook, you find some yummy marinade to soak it in, usually with a vinegar base in it, which aids in the tenderizing process.

Sometimes, our hearts are like that...we know we need to surrender, but we have hung onto it for so long that we have become hardened. And the Holy Spirit has to come and "tenderize" us...sometimes it hurts. But when He is through, He will cover us in His sweet presence, a healing balm, to aid in the tenderizing process and bring healing.

Yesterday the choir sang a song that says,

Holy Spirit, come and fill us

Touch us, change us, rearrange us

Heal us, free us

Lord, we seek Your face.

Wash us, cleanse us

Please forgive us

Mold us, make us

Come and shake us

Lord, let Your glory fill this place.

Some of those things might be a little painful...changing and rearranging, molding, shaking, Those will change our "composition" so to speak. A little like breaking up the fibers in a tough piece of meat.

So, what are you holding onto that He wants you to surrender? Usually it is some lie of the enemy that tells us we must hold tight to it. Isaiah 43:18,19 says “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!" Letting go can hurt, but as you surrender that thing you have held onto so tightly, and you feel the pain it may bring to let it go.....recognize the work of the Holy Spirit and be thankful.....His healing balm is right behind it!

Love you all!

'Lena

Do You Believe It?

2011-01-19T23:18:00.000-08:00

"And when I go and make ready a place for you,

I will come back again and will take you to Myself,

that where I am you may be also."

John 14:3

Today we went to see The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader. It's the first time we have been out since my Mother and Aunt passed away. I thought it would help distract my mind, but it only made me ponder more deeply....

There is a scene in the movie where a little girl whose mother has been taken away says to Lucy Pevensie, "I miss my mom", to which Lucy replies, "I miss my mom, too". I can relate to that statement....

I miss my mom.....

Lucy goes on to tell the little girl that they would see her again....somehow, somewhere. This tied into my thoughts of late. You see, I have been a Christian all my life; I accepted Jesus as my Savior as a little girl. I have always believed in one God, the Father; His Son, Jesus; and the Holy Spirit....three in One. I have always believed that when we die we will go to heaven. I have always believed that if we don't die before Jesus returns, that He indeed would return and take us to Heaven to live with Him there.

This is what I was taught....

This is what I read in the Bible....

This I have believed....

I stood at the hospital bedside of my Mother two weeks ago today and told her it was okay....She could let go of this life...we would be alright; Daddy would be alright; it was okay for her to go on to be with Jesus. I sang a song to her that says,

"Someday I leave this earthly dwelling,

Through time and space my soul will soar

And finally see the face of Jesus

And praise His name forevermore."

I told her how exciting it would be to see the face of Jesus....I let her go. And she left this world.

Then I came home. And it wasn't until I was in the car Friday driving to do some mindless errand, alone with my thoughts that I wondered....will I see her again? Is she really seeing the face of Jesus? Do I really believe what I have said I believe all this time? I have never had my beliefs tested in this way. I have never had to say goodbye to someone on this side and believe that I would see them again on the other side...in heaven.

At the end of the movie, the travelers near the end of the world...Aslan's country. Lucy says, "Do you really believe there is such a place?" To which Reepicheep replies, "We have nothing if not belief!"

God knows our thoughts even before we think them. Sunday morning in our church services, there was a word spoken by one of our dear ladies. We were reminded that God is the I AM. We were reminded that there was no other way to heaven but through Him. We were asked....

Do you believe it?

The Bible tells us in the book of John in the beginning was the Word...with God and was God. Then John tells us that God made everything...the heavens and the earth and all that dwells in them. He goes on to say that God loves us so much, that He sent His one and only Son to die in our place. To be the sacrificial Lamb for our sins. As you continue to read John, you will learn that after His death, Jesus rose again...defeated death and the grave in order that we may have life...eternally. And in John 14 it says that Jesus left to go and prepare a place for us. A place in Heaven where we will dwell with Him...eternally.

If I believe that God created the heavens and the earth...and I do;
If I believe that He sent Jesus to die for my sins, to redeem me from death...and I do;
If I believe that Jesus rose from the dead...defeated it...and I do;
If I believe that He ascended to Heaven and dwells at the right hand of the Father...and I do;

Then I must believe that He is preparing a place for us...that we would dwell with Him eternally. And I must believe that when Momma and Aunt Jo left this world, they entered Heaven to live with Him... eternally.

Because it's all or nothing. Either I believe all of His Word....or I believe nothing. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God..." All scripture...not just some of it. So this I believe...Yes, I will see Momma and Aunt Jo again! Yes, they really are seeing the face of Jesus!!! And yes, I really do believe what I have been taught all these years. So my question to you is...

Do you believe it?

Kindness of Strangers....or Entertaining Angels?

2011-01-17T08:32:00.000-08:00

" ..for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Hebrews 13:2

I have been blessed in the past two weeks by the kindness and gentle loving I have received from my friends and church family. But I have also been blessed by the kindness of strangers....

The friendly, smiling woman sitting next to me on the airplane who, after asking why I was traveling to Dallas became silent...yet quietly handed me a tissue as she saw my tears.
The cheerful, chatty car rental agent...always trying to get his customers to purchase upgrades. He was a really good salesman. However, when he discovered why we were there, gave me a free upgrade to a luxury car.
The sweet nurse at Momma's bedside, Randel...she was so gentle with her and patient with our questions. She and I spent about an hour talking together about Momma's condition, her final destination and Randel reminded me that He was with her even then, as we spoke.
The precious 85 year old woman who owned the florist shop where we purchased the flowers for the funeral services. Her kindness, compassion and even her feisty-ness (which so reminded us of Aunt Jo) made difficult decisions much easier to make. She told my brother-in-law that for $2000 he could have the flowers and the whole shop! That's exactly something my aunt would say....she made us all smile when it was difficult to do so.
The amazing doctors who treated Momma with gentleness and respect. They had told us that she was not aware of anything going on around her, yet as they removed the tubes and other devices, they called her by name and spoke gently to her...treating her with respect and dignity.
The funeral director, Jeremy, who went above and beyond what anyone expected him to do, or his "job" required him to do...staying up all night to get everything prepared for the services.
The ever so kind security guards at DFW who quietly and patiently told me to breathe as I completely broke down in the airport heading home. I'm not sure grief counseling is in their job descriptions!
Even the young man sitting next to me on the airplane from DFW to Seattle....drunk as a skunk, as my aunt would say...lending me his phone after mine had died to call my husband and tell him we were in Spokane instead of Seattle.

(My 4 hour flight turned into 12 hours as we flew into a snowstorm that had just hit Seattle. As they plowed the runway, we circled.....and circled.....and circled....and circled.....until we had to go to Spokane to get more gas to circle....and circle...In Spokane we had to wait to fuel up because of the other planes that had been circling and run out of fuel. Then the snow storm hit Spokane and we had to de-ice before we could fly out again.)

This world is full of broken and hurting people...and we, as believers in Christ, have been called to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ. But sometimes, when we ourselves are broken and hurting...God sends strangers to us to assist and encourage and bring comfort in our time of need.

So, whether it was the kindness of strangers, or entertaining angels unaware, my hope is that somehow...in all of this, they saw Jesus in me.....

How Can I Say Thanks?

2011-01-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers..."

Philemon 1:4

The last two weeks have been indescribable.

And it may take me a while to unpack and process it all.

And it may not make sense for a while.

But I have to begin with "Thank you!"

Monday, January 3rd, I received a phone call from my sister in Texas. That's where I am from...where all my family lives. I was standing in my kitchen slicing up steak to stir fry for dinner. Wasn't expecting to hear from her...was a little surprised, actually. But nothing prepared me for what I was to hear.....

My mother and her sister, my aunt, had just been in a horrible car accident. The details of which were horrendous....sometimes you just don't need to know the details. My aunt passed away shortly after arriving at the hospital. My mother was in critical condition. Both of them had signed DNR's (Do Not Recusitate).

Nothing prepares you for such a phone call.....

They live in a small town in Texas. The hospital there could do nothing for Momma, but they could put her on a respirator and send her to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, about 90 minutes away, in hopes the bigger trauma hospital could save her. The decision was made to do so. Late that night, I received another call....it didn't look good. The doctors told my three sisters that there was too much damage; but they could leave her on the respirator until I arrived....

I can't begin to describe the feelings...

not sure I can even define them yet...

maybe I never will.

My husband couldn't get off work, but my two oldest boys went with me. The days that followed were filled with horror, pain, sorrow, tears....lots and lots of tears...and grace.

So much grace!!

The Presence of the Lord was with us every moment of every day; with every decision that had to be made; with every step that we had to take. And to those of you who were aware of this situation and prayed for us and encouraged us and loved on us, I can only say.....

Thank You!!!

As I process all of this and share, you will understand how and why I needed you so much. But for now, just know that every time I said to God, "I can't do this anymore...I can't take anymore...I am done", I would get a text message, a facebook message or an email from one of you. And it would remind me that prayers were going up on our behalf and He was surrounding us all with His love and His strength. I am 50 years old, and I can honestly say I have never in all my life felt so much love bestowed upon me. It has blessed me beyond measure.

As the days come, I will be able to articulate the ways I knew your prayers and felt His presence. During this extreme time of sorrow, I saw His hand move and knew His love for me in life-changing ways.

We honored my mother, Marjorie Rae Fite Brown and my aunt, Josephine Fite Newton in a double service on Saturday, January 8, 2011. My sisters and I sang "In the Presence of Jehovah" as we laid flowers on their caskets...for that is truly where they are now.

Momma Aunt Jo

Your continued prayers for our family are greatly appreciated. "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8) and that is where my dear mother and sweet aunt are today....but we miss them!

Love you with all my heart!!!

'Lena

Immanuel...God With Us

2010-12-26T00:31:00.000-08:00

^"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign:

Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel

[God with us]."

Isaiah 7:14 (amp)

Christmas, 2010...

Another Christmas has come and gone.

Another year soon to be ended.

So many emotions run through me....

I'm not really sure I can put it all into words.

I am in awe of the things for which I have to be thankful, to be grateful...and the many reasons I have to say "I am blessed." God is with us...

I am constantly amazed when someone tells me that something I have written or said has blessed or encouraged them. I have to go back and read it again and try to figure out how something I said could possibly have any affect on them. God is with us...

I am so thankful that my son's college tuition was provided for in miraculous and amazing ways, and always, at just the right moment. God is with us...

I am honored to be a part of two separate prayer groups with some amazing praying women. The result of these times has been healing for several and financial provision for others. Relationships are being restored and new lives brought to Christ. God is with us...

I am privileged to rejoice with a young woman who believed she would never give birth to a third child as she prepares for the birth of her little boy. God is with us....

I am amazed at His faithfulness as he provided a house and a car for my son and his family...all in one week! God is with us....

I am so proud of who my children are growing up to be. This Christmas, when all our budgets were stretched beyond limits, I watched them give to each other sacrificially...preferring others over themselves...letting go of something they want so desperately and saved for and worked towards for so long, just in order to give to others. God is with us...

I am forever grateful for the old friends that have walked beside me throughout the years; and for the new friends God has given me this year to continue the journey, encouraging me and loving me along the way. God is with us....

But, He doesn't always look like we think He should! :)
The past few years have taught me many things, one of the most important being that His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9). When I have prayed for Him to come through for me, He did...but many times He did it in an unexpected moment, in an unexpected and often surprising way. Many times it just didn't make sense to me...but His thoughts are higher than mine.

And so, we come to the end of Christmas, 2010 celebrating in the birth of Jesus. And we quickly approach the beginning of the New Year, 2011, filled with thankfulness for what God has done and is continuing to do; filled with promise and hope; waiting expectantly for the surprises.

Because, God is with us.....

Merry Christmas!
'Lena

^"Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel--

which, when translated, means, God with us.^"

^{Matthew 1:23}

A Conversation I Never Had....

2010-11-26T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,
and attend to know understanding.

Proverbs 4:1 KJV


Me and Daddy, 1980

I called my mother tonight. She and the rest of my family live in Texas. I haven't been back for a visit since August, 2008 and much has changed since then. My father now lives in a nursing home, while my mother and her sister live together in a seniors' apartment complex type of place....you know, no kids allowed. The last two years have been difficult for both my parents. After 62 years of marriage, my mom is having to live without my dad. And my dad, requiring pretty much constant care, has to stay in the nursing home often asking her if he can come home yet.

The last time I saw my dad was at their 60th wedding anniversary. I have a picture of the two of us as he gave me a Bible that my mother's parents had given him in 1944. Often, he would get a little confused in his mind and his stories, but he was very lucid that day and we had a wonderful visit. Since then, his health has had its ups and downs. He had a stroke last Thanksgiving, which is why he is in a nursing home now. Every now and then, I'll ask my mother if he remembers me, and she assures me that he does...but sometimes, I wonder.

Tonight she told me about a conversation Daddy and I ..... never had.

Mother visits Daddy every day. One day last week when she got there, he told her he had just been on the phone and had the best conversation with 'Lena Jean...that's me! He was so excited because I was writing about Jonah and I had called to ask Daddy some questions about him. We apparently spent quite some time on the phone together discussing Jonah and he was so happy to hear from me and tell me everything he knew about him. He said it was a wonderful visit......

Daddy doesn't have a phone in his room. He doesn't have access to a phone at all. But he had apparently spent the morning talking with me and discussing God's Word. I so wish I could have been there for that conversation. I'm sure I would have learned a lot from him. And at least for that one day, he remembered me.

Daddy, Father's Day 2010

Happy Thanksgiving, Daddy! I love you very much....

Now, I think I'll go read Jonah again.....I may have some questions for my Dad.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God.

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalm 100

When I was a little girl, I memorized all of Psalm 100. Of course, it was the King James Version, which to a small child doesn't always make sense. But as I grew older and began to take God's Word to heart, I realize that everything we have to be thankful for is right here in this little Psalm. We can thank Him for our families, and our health, and our "things" that we have been blessed with. But really...doesn't it all come out of who He is and how He loves us?

He is God! The creator of Heaven and Earth and all that is in them. The God who was here before time and will be here when everything else has passed away.

He made us! He created us from the dust of the earth and breathed the breath of life into us....His breath! His Spirit dwells within us.

We belong to Him! We are precious in His sight and His eyes are always upon us. He sees our going and our coming and will never leave us or forsake us. Our names are written on the palm of His hand!

We are His people...His sheep. He tends to our needs as a shepherd tends to the needs of his flock. He guards over us and protects us. He searches for us when we go wandering off. He corrects us when we take a wrong turn.

He is good! He is altogether good...and He will not withhold any good thing from those who walk in His ways. His desire is that we would have not only life, but an abundant life full of good things.

His love endures forever! Endures....that word means "to continue to exist; last: to support adverse force or influence of any kind". That means that nothing we can ever do will cause Him to stop loving us! We can disappoint Him, we can deny Him, we can turn our backs on Him and walk away....but He will never stop loving us.

He is faithful! His promises are "yes" and "amen". He will do all that He has promised to do. He is always there; He is always watching over us; He is always listening to hear us when we call on Him, or just sit and talk with Him.

What more could we possibly need or want? So, today while we are celebrating with our friends and families, remember to take time to thank Him for all that He is and all that He will be.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:34

A Thankful Heart...revisited

2010-11-21T20:00:00.000-08:00

This is actually an edited re-post from November 20, 2009....but I think it bears repeating.

~~~~~~~

It's that time of year again. The weather has changed...we actually had snow flurries today; the days are shorter...I keep thinking it's bedtime at 6pm; and the fireplaces are stoked. The shopping centers are starting their "Black Friday" sales a week early and the radio stations began playing Christmas music on November 1st....

It's almost Christmas!

There is a sense of anticipation and excitement again this year. Everyone is so excited for Christmas! The neighbors down the street already have their Christmas lights up. I went the last week of October to purchase fall decorations for Thanksgiving and the stores had all them all put away and the Christmas decorations were out on the shelves.

What's the rush?

I love Christmas...it's one of my favorite times of the year. There is a certain stillness...a peacefulness in the lights, the aromas; and a joyfulness in the giving. But, I'm afraid that in all the excitement and preparation we forget a very important day...

Thanksgiving

The world tells us that Thanksgiving is a day for food and football. A day for the family to gather and enjoy each others company....or get on each others nerves. A long weekend to begin shopping for Christmas. And for some, it's a couple of days to work for double time and a half. But the day was meant to be set apart to remember our blessings and be thankful.

We have so much to be thankful for. Psalm 50 says that God does not scorn our offerings. He told His people that he accepted their offerings, but not because He needed them. He owns all the creatures of the forest, the birds of the air, and the cattle on a thousand hills...He had no need for their burnt offerings. He even said if He were hungry, He would not tell them. But this is what He wants...

“Sacrifice thank offerings to God....

call on Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

Psalm 50:14,15

Remember all that He has done for you, and all that He has yet to do. For His promises are "yes" and "Amen". And He will do all that He has promised.

God has done so much for me...
~He saved me.
~He raised me when I was in the pit of depression.
~He restored my soul.
~He healed my broken heart.
~He gave me back my self-worth.
~He provided a home when we had none.

~He supplied food, when the cupboards were bare.
~He sent finances when we were in need.

God has given me...
~A wonderful husband who loves me and our children and works hard to provide for us.
~Five amazing children who love God with all their hearts, and bring such joy, laughter, love and encouragement to me each and every day.
~Two beautiful daughters-in-law who love our boys and complete them, coming along side them to encourage and support.
~Our first grandchild....Allison Lucy Ehlert.
~Friends and family who listen and support us.
~Health, strength, love, mercy, grace, joy, peace, restoration

God has promised me...

~Strength for today.
~Hope for tomorrow.
~Abundant Life
~Life Eternal
~Joy Everlasting
~And so much more!

What has He done for you?

What has He given you?

What has He promised you?

I do love Christmas...and I feel the same excitement and anticipation that I sense in so many others this year. But, God wants a thankful heart. So, before we get caught up in the Christmas season, take this week to offer a sacrifice offering of thankfulness and give Him...

A Thankful Heart.

Faith....

2010-10-28T00:59:00.000-07:00

"To the faithful you show Yourself faithful..."

Psalm 18:25

Once a month we try to go out to eat somewhere, as the budget allows. Last Saturday afternoon my husband and I took our two youngest children out for an early dinner. As we left the restaurant, we passed by Wight's Nursery. Out front was a sign that said, "Come In and See Our Fall Colors". So, since it was a windy, stormy autumn afternoon, we thought it seemed an appropriate thing to do. Much to our surprise, as we entered the front doors, all of the "autumn colors" had been relegated to a corner and Christmas was going up!

For those of you who do not live in the Seattle area, Wight's Nursery is a garden nursery that sells plants of all kinds, indoor and outdoor, and anything and everything you could possibly think of needing for your garden or patio. And every year for Christmas they put up dozens and dozens of Christmas trees decorated in all styles. It's truly a Winter Wonderland! All the lights and decorations are for sale, even right off the trees. It has become a wonderful Christmas tradition for us each year to go and pick out an ornament, one per family member, for our tree. However, we were very surprised to see Christmas set up so early this year! But as we wandered around, we began to get in the spirit of things.

Another tradition that my youngest son, Mackenzie, and I have started is to pick a "Christmas word". Last year it was HOPE; the year before that it was BELIEVE. We try to find an ornament or decoration of some kind with that word on it. As we wandered about Wight's, we started looking for our "word". There were lots of JOY and PEACE. But we were looking for something different...something that fit our lives the past year.

As we rounded a corner, I saw a snowman made out of Styrofoam balls holding a little sign that said, FAITH. That one caught my attention, because this has definitely been a year to live and walk by faith. But honestly, it was kinda ugly! So, we kept looking. But, I began to ponder....

faith.....

Mark and I have had to stand in faith and believe God for some huge things this year. Each week, I pray with women who are facing giants! Financial issues, health issues, family crisis, grieving the loss of loved ones, waiting for those prodigal children to return. These and so many more situations we face are ones that could destroy us.....if we do not stand on faith. Isaiah 7:9 says,

"If you do not stand firm in your faith,

you will not stand at all."

This is one of my favorite verses of scripture. God is telling us that faith is our sure foundation. When the uncertainties, the fears, the anxieties...the health issues, the bills, the failed relationship...when all those things that can shake us do just that - we have to stand on our faith! Or we will fall.

But faith....faith comes through for us.....

Back in August, I put my 18 year old son on an airplane to Cleveland, Tennessee, headed off for his first year of college. When he left on that Wednesday, we needed $8000 for the rest of his tuition....$4000 per semester! I had NO IDEA where that money was coming from. But, we took a step of faith and sent him on his way. Two days later, on Friday, he registered for classes and headed off to the business office to find out how much we needed to pay. His bill came to $400 per semester!! That's 1/10 of the total we needed. I don't know where the extra funding came from but I DO know....All things are possible, if we believe (Matthew 19:26).

Last Saturday, as I continued to wander around Wight's, I came upon a beautifully decorated tree. As I admired it and studied the ornaments on the tree, right in front of me was a simple ornament of white wood and written in red it said, "Faith". It was perfect! I had already decided that my tree would be decorated in red this year...and here was the perfect ornament. I picked it up and searched the store for Mackenzie...we had found our first ornament for 2010.

No matter your circumstances, no matter your battle...you can rest in the faithfulness of your God. He will never leave you, forsake you, abandon you or ignore you. Jesus said, "According to your faith will it be done to you" (Matthew 9:29). So stand in your faith, and I will agree and stand with you. And we will see God do great and mighty things.....

And, let me be the first to wish you.....

Merry Christmas!!

~'Lena

Sweet Tea.....

2010-10-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to take a moment to send out a message to all of you. I'm hoping to place an order for my book, "Sweet Tea: Finding Divine Goodness in an Ordinary Life" next week. You can pre-order yours today for $10!! I've been told they make great gifts for birthdays/Christmas, etc...... (I'll ship it to you for an additional $2 per book.)

For any of my new readers....last spring I wrote a book based on prior posts on my blog. I sold out the first printing and I am going to a Second Edition printing. If you are interested in purchasing a book, please email me at ehlert.lena@comcast.net and I will send you an address to which you can send your check or money order.

Thank you all for your encouragement and support. And I pray God blesses you all immensely today!

~~'Lena

Haven of Rest....

2010-10-21T23:33:00.000-07:00

"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven"

Psalm 107:30-31

Tuesday night in prayer meeting, Pastor was asking us how we knew we were in the Presence of God. My mind and heart began to travel as it so often does. I began with his original question, and my first thought was, "I have known His peace in horrific, terrifying and uncertain circumstances." Remembering that peace and how I felt in those times, reminded me of an old hymn we used to sing when I was a child...

I’ve anchored my soul
in the “Haven of Rest,”
I’ll sail the wide seas no more;
The tempest may sweep
o'er the wild, stormy, deep,
In Jesus I’m safe evermore.

A haven is defined as "a place of safety or sanctuary; shelter, refuge." Jesus is my refuge, my safe place. The rock that I anchor myself to when the storms of life assail. Jesus is my comfort, my support; He surrounds me and protects me. And at times, He wraps His arms around me and holds me....and lets me know that I am safe.

How precious the thought
that we all may recline,

Like John, the beloved so blest,

On Jesus’ strong arm,
where no tempest can harm,

Secure in the “Haven of Rest.”

Henry L. Gilmour, pub. 1890, Public Domain

Jesus is my Haven of Rest...

No Time For Excuses....

2010-10-20T12:49:00.000-07:00

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them,

"Who do people say I am?"

Mark 8:27

It's been a while since I have written anything. No reason, really...mostly just excuses. You see, school started and our daily schedule shifted. My laptop died and I hate sitting down here in the office at a desk. I'd rather sit on my couch in the dark, quiet of my living room. So, I stopped.

However, it's time to put away the excuses ... but, where do I go from here? I have spent the last year studying and remembering who God is and how He shows up in my "ordinary" life. And I know I have not even begun to tap into all the He is.

God is Father

God is Creator

God is Holy

God is Almighty

God is All-Sufficient

God is....
Indescribable!

When I think of God, I think of all the hugeness and might that He is. The majesty, the Kingship, the things that can make us feel like He is unapproachable. But what do we think of when we consider Jesus? We know that the three, God - the Father, God - the Son, and God - the Holy Spirit are one, yet they are each separate. So what comes to mind when we think of Jesus? Let's explore this a bit...give me your thoughts and ideas. And we'll take this journey down a new path.

Who is Jesus to you?

Holding Onto the Lie...

2010-09-10T01:22:00.000-07:00

Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?" He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say,

"Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?"

Isaiah 44:19,20

Several years ago as I was reading Isaiah 44, I was struck by a question God asked. The chapter begins with God talking to Israel, His Chosen people. He encourages them by reminding them that He is God and there is no one like Him. As the chapter continues, God begins to talk about those who make idols...creating gods out of things they have made with their own hands. He points out that they take trees and use part of them for firewood to keep warm; they use part of it to cook their food; and then, with what is left they form a god and worship it. This same material that warms their bodies, they then bow down to and say, "save me, you are my god." (vs. 17)

As I began to ponder, I realized that there are many things in our lives that we turn into idols. Sometimes it can be a seemingly trivial thing, like watching too much TV or spending too much time on the computer; maybe it is fashion or careers. It can even be mistakes we have made in our past...things we just can't seem to let go. Anything we put before God becomes an idol. Mine was a lie....a lie I had believed for a very long time....

"I'm just not good enough!"

You see, I have never had a lot of confidence; not in myself, not in my abilities. I knew there were things I loved to do; things I wanted to do; even things I was already doing. But I never felt like I was good enough. I never felt like I quite measured up to the expectations of others. When I got to that line in verse 20 "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" I heard God say..."You are believing a lie....and you have made it an idol." I spent so much time worrying what others thought of me and my abilities, that it had pushed God out of first place in my life.

I have a date beside this chapter in my Bible...

The date God said,

"Let go of the lie!"

The date I decided,

"It's a lie! I am good enough!"

December 3, 2002

We all have gifts and abilities in different areas that have been bestowed upon us by God. He created each one of us uniquely to accomplish those things He has set before us. Our giftings and our callings are indeed from God and "God's gifts and His call are irrevocable." (Romans 11:29). I decided then that I no longer needed the approval of others. All God expected of me was my best....and my best is good enough for Him.

I think the reason this is all coming back to my mind is because I find myself contemplating my life a lot lately. In 25 days I will be 50 years old! (I just had a small anxiety attack!) And I have discovered that if I am not careful...the old lie resurfaces. The enemy,"the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray" (Revelation 12:9) would love to convince me that I have failed and that I'm done.

I was reminded by my dear friend Janet, that I have indeed been busy these last 50 years...

Married for 27 years
Raised (and still raising) five children
Homeschooling
Ministry opportunities in the church
"Sweet Tea:Finding Divine Goodness in an Ordinary Life"

There are still things that I want to do that I just don't see ever having the opportunity. I still have dreams that haven't been fulfilled. I have wondered if I shouldn't have done more or accomplished more by now. And then there is the question..."Am I done?"

But I have decided that I'm not done! I still have a purpose and a calling. I still have children at home; still homeschooling. I now have a granddaughter to cherish. I still love to lift my voice and sing praise to Him. I still want to teach and encourage others....and who knows, I may have another book in me! All God expects of me is my best...and my best is good enough for Him!

Are you holding onto a lie? Has the enemy convinced you that you have no purpose? No future? No hope? Have you created an idol out of something in your life? Something that has purpose and importance, but perhaps you have given it too much credence in your life?

Ask yourself, "Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?" then let it go....Not only is it extra baggage you are carrying, but it will free up that hand to accomplish that which He has set before you.

It's Time to Tear a Hole in the Roof.....

2010-08-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

"And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the [thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay. And when Jesus saw their faith..."

Mark 2:5(amp)

I was reading the other day in Mark 2 about the paralytic man Jesus healed. Jesus was teaching in a house, probably Peter's, and the place was packed! There was no room for anyone else to get in the house...even outside around the door was jammed full of people listening to Jesus teach. Four men carried a paralytic man on a bed or quilt of some kind. They couldn't get in the door for all the people. However, instead of giving up, they climbed to the roof, still carrying this man. They tore a hole in the roof...probably not an easy task. The four of these men then lowered this man down through the roof. I don't know what the roof was constructed of, but I would imagine that as they were tearing a hole in it, debris would begin to fall upon the heads of those inside.

I wonder what the people thought?

I wonder if the distraction annoyed those listening to Jesus?

I wonder if Jesus stopped teaching and waited ?

I wonder why those four men went to so much trouble?

We all have those times when we are in desperate need of a touch from God. The situations we face when we know that without an intervention from God Himself we will not make it.

The pink slip you get at work
That unexpected bill that demands to be paid!

That dreaded diagnoses that only the Hand of God can heal

The loved one who has wandered so far from God and is lost

Remember that feeling you get? That desperation you feel? Most of us will find a few friends and ask them to pray with us and for our situation.We might even call the prayer chain at church if it's serious enough. And we do so with full faith and confidence that they will stand with us in prayer because we can't do it all alone. We need our friends to intercede with us...to help us get to Jesus.

Then one day, a friend comes to us and says, "I need you to pray with/for me", or we get an email or phone call from the prayer chain; a requested mentioned in church or our Bible Study Class.....

"I just lost my job and have no idea where to turn!
I have a huge debt that needs to be paid!

I have received a diagnosis that only God can cure!

My son, my daughter, my husband, my wife...they are lost and they need to be found!"

Do we feel their desperation? Do we fall on our face before God and intercede on their behalf? Do we carry them up the roof and tear a hole through it? Do we do whatever it takes to get them to Jesus? Or do we say, "I'll pray for you" and then go on our way?

I've been reminded of this lately for two reasons.

One, I have several friends that are facing desperate situations. I have a precious friend who is desperately in need of healing. She is battling stage 4 cancer and has been for several years. I often think of her and pray for her healing. I have two dear friends who are the same age as my husband and myself and the husband has just recently received that "pink slip". In this economy and at our ages, this is a huge battle to face. Both friends have asked me to pray with and for them. I am praying and believing for complete healing for Lori; and I am praying for guidance, direction and provision for CJ and Doug. I know that our God is a Healer, Provider, Deliverer; He's our Victory, and He never leaves us or forsakes us.

The other reason I have been dwelling on this lately is because...I'm guilty! I have been asked to pray with someone over a situation and I have done so....at that time. Then, I have forgotten about it..only to be vaguely reminded when I see them again the next week at church.

I wonder what would have happened to the paralytic man if his friends, upon seeing the crowds in and around the house where Jesus was, said to him, "Well, we don't seem to be able to get in today. Let's come back and try again tomorrow." They may have obligations or responsibilities the next day that kept them busy or caused them to forget. They may have thought, "well, we tried, but it didn't work" and given up on their friend.

But these men, these friends, pursued Jesus... they continued on in desperation. The same desperation this paralytic man must have felt, but was powerless to do anything about. They didn't give up until they got through the roof to Jesus.

They didn't give up until they got their friend to Jesus and he "arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad or mat and went out before them all..." (vs. 12)

I've been in desperate situations. I remember the hours, the days, the nights, crying out before the Lord for deliverance, for provision, for healing. I have asked friends and family to pray with me regarding those situations. And I have trusted that they are praying with the same desperation that I have for an answer.

God has reminded me lately as I have prayed for these dear friends and others who I know are facing similar battles, that I don't have the same fervency in prayer that I would if I were praying for my own needs. My prayer is that God would help me tear through the roof on behalf of others. To keep on until we see the Hand of God move miraculously in situations that seem impossible in our eyes.

The other thing I am reminded of is that whatever your need is, it is a desperate need. It's not our place to judge the significance or importance of the prayer request. The next time you are asked to pray for someone facing desperate situations, or any situation, remember those four men who wouldn't give up until their friend got to Jesus. Do whatever it takes to "tear back the roof" and receive deliverance from Jesus.

Matthew 7:7 says, "Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you."

Lori, I'm gonna keep on.

Doug, CJ, I'm gonna keep on.

It's time to tear a hole in the roof.......

I Give Him to You, God...Again

2010-08-11T23:48:00.000-07:00

I put him on a plane today...my little boy.

Not so little anymore...6'2" and all grown up

Tender-hearted...sensitive to the feelings of others.

A gentleman who knows girls should be treated differently than "the guys".

He's never "too cool" to say "I love you, mom".

He has a mantle on him...a call of God.

When he was a baby, Mark and I dedicated him to the Lord, just as we have with all of our children. We have trusted God with his life, his health, his safety and his well-being. And God, being the Faithful One, has never let us down.

Last night at prayer meeting while praying with a precious woman, she reminded me that we had given Him to God once...and that now it was time to do so again.

So, I put him on a plane today...my little boy.

Not so little anymore...6'2" and all grown up

Tender-hearted...sensitive to the feelings of others.

A gentleman who knows girls should be treated differently than "the guys".

Still not "too cool" to say "I love you, mom".

He has a mantle on him...a call of God.

"...being confident of this,

that he who began a good work in you

will carry it on to completion

until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 1:6

Letting Go.....

2010-07-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

I have been so honored and yes, amazed, at the number of people who have told me how blessed they are by my posts. And I have to say, that all the credit goes to God our Father. And I am so grateful to each of you for your kind words and encouragement. So I was wondering, could you return the favor? I need a few words of encouragement from those of you who have been where I am now.

You see, I am totally stressing out! Most of you are aware that I am a mother of five and even a grandmother. But I've never had to say "goodbye" to one of my children. While my two oldest boys are married and out of the house, they live close by and we see them often. And even if a couple weeks go by without seeing or hearing from them, I know that I can stop by or have them over for dinner anytime.

My third son, Mitchell, just graduated from high school and two weeks from today he leaves for college......in Cleveland, Tennessee!! And the "mommy" in me is having a really hard time with this...

We were hoping to have him fly out with a friend who attends there, but that flight was unavailable to us. So I had to book him on another flight that's not a non-stop... he's going to have to change planes...by himself.

I was up until 2am this morning trying to find financing for the rest of his tuition. I don't get this.....there are all these websites that say there is "tons of money" out there for education, but I can't seem to find it. I cannot begin to tell you how many scholarship offers we have filled out! It's crazy!!! And so incredibly frustrating...

And you know what the craziest thing is???? As I'm sitting here typing this, feeling sorry for myself, crying into my Kleenex my play list below is playing. And the first thing I hear is...

"I will be still and know and know You are God".

And while I am trying to ignore that one, the next song comes on.

"I am not forgotten....He knows my name"

As I continue to type and spill out my woes to you, the next song comes on....

"Shake yourself loose from everything that binds you up!"

I guess while I was hoping to get pity and perhaps a few more Kleenex from some of you God decided to use what He has already given me to help me through this storm. God has reminded me to be still and know that He has all things under control. He has not forgotten us; He knows MY name and He knows Mitchell's name. Therefore, I will stand on His Word and shake loose from the fears that have tried to encamp around me. Mitchell is perfectly capable of doing this without me, because, in fact, he won't be alone. God is our provider. And all things, including the enemy, are under our feet!

But, if you think of us, please include us in your prayers...I still have to say goodbye; we still need provision for tuition, books and the miscellaneous items he will need for school.

And there will be that empty room downstairs....

From Traitor to Super Hero...

2010-07-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

"How far has the LORD taken our sins from us?

Farther than the distance from east to west!"

Psalm 103:12 (amp)

I'm a simple person, really. If you've read much of my writings you probably know that. God speaks to me in the simplest of things.

Today was the last day of VBA (Vacation Bible Adventure) at our church.The theme this year was Heroes and my son, Mitchell (18) was part of the dramatic storyline that carried throughout the week. He was Secret Agent 0011. I stopped in this morning to see the opening session and watch his skit. As the story unfolded, to my dismay, it was discovered that Agent 0011 had in fact been working all along for the bad guy...Mega Really Bad Dude. My son was a double agent and my mother's heart broke! But in the end, he did the right thing and became a Super Hero. I was so proud of him!

It was a simple story, and the kids all loved it. But what was interesting to watch during the course of the day was how Agent 0011 was treated by the children after that session. At the end of the day, the children were coming up to the actors and getting their autographs, and several of them would call Agent 0011.....traitor. Even though in the end, he realized the right thing to do and saved the city from Mega Really Bad Dude, what they remembered about him was who he was; not who he became.

"Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ

(the Messiah) he is a new creation

(a new creature altogether);

the old [previous moral and spiritual condition]

has passed away.

Behold, the fresh and new has come!"

2 Corinthians 5:17 (amp)

As I was driving home from the church today, thinking back on it all and feeling proud of the young man my son has become, I pondered the story line and wondered if the children actually got it. I think they understood the concept of being a hero, but did they get the idea that once we come to Christ, we become different...a new person?

For that matter, do we get it?

How many times have talked about someone and said, "You know, the ex-drug addict" or "the ex-prostitute" or the "ex-whatever"? And while we are so grateful for God's mercy and grace and the deliverance He has brought, we still describe them by what they were and not who they are now...new creations in Christ.

If God has indeed separated our sins from us, as far as the east is from the west, then why do we act and treat each other as if they are still in our back pocket? They no longer define who we are. The redeeming work of Jesus' blood now defines us.

So, if like Agent 0011 you have been working in the past for the wrong side, so to speak, but have come to know and serve God, don't let the enemy remind you that you were once a traitor. You are a new creation. And greater is He who is within you, then he who is in the world....You are a Super Hero now!

Fear vs. Dentist....

2010-07-17T21:21:00.000-07:00

"But perfect love drives out fear..."

1 John 4:18

I have an irrational, totally unreasonable and unfounded fear of dentists. I have never had a bad experience with one...just don't like them! (I apologize to any dentists who are reading this; it's nothing personal, I assure you).

My whole life, I have had those ridiculous dreams that have me in some public place or party and suddenly all my teeth fall out. The weird thing is...nobody seems to notice. It's kind of like those dreams where you are the only one with no clothes on and no one cares or thinks it's odd. I'm not sure if I'm afraid of dentists because of the dreams, or if I have the dreams because I am afraid of the dentist.

I have been to the dentist three times in my life. The first time I was about six or seven years old and had a loose tooth that I wouldn't pull. So my mother decided to take me to the dentist, who informed her it wasn't ready to pull. Later that night...I pulled the tooth.

My second visit to the dentist occurred about 15 years later. I was on a lunch break from work and eating a piece of chicken. Something broke off the back of my bottom front tooth. I panicked...my dreams had come true and my teeth were falling out! Turns out it was only plaque that had built up over 22 years.

My third and final visit was about ten years later. My bottom right wisdom tooth began to fall apart. So, I took a deep breath and headed to the dentist. He simply pulled it and sent me on my way...still no cavities, mom!

Fast forward another 18 years (if you are good at math, you now know how old I am). My left bottom wisdom tooth began to fall apart this past Memorial Day while we were visiting friends in Arizona. When we returned home I had things to do...kids to finish up school, Mitchell's graduation, anything else I could think of to put off the inevitable...another visit to the dentist.

Last week, I finally went to the dentist. It was very obvious that I was anxious and well, afraid. He was very gentle in looking at my teeth, and yeah, mom...still no cavities. But that wisdom tooth has to come out. He could have simply pulled it....but he knew my fear. So,he decided that it was in my best interest to have me put completely under anesthetic to remove the tooth. So Monday I get to visit...the oral surgeon!

This may seem like a silly story, but it got me to thinking about fear. The thing about fear is, the more you give in to it, the bigger it becomes. It would be much simpler and easier to just have the tooth removed. But my fears have gotten the best of me, and so for my sake, and possibly for the dentists, it has become more complicated, more expensive and more anxiety ridden.

FEAR...how often do we think we are protecting ourselves by letting our fear rule? If we play it "safe" we won't get hurt. We don't follow our dreams because we are afraid of failing. We don't follow our hearts because we are afraid of what people might think. We don't follow our calling because we are afraid we aren't good enough. We don't follow God's leading because.....we are afraid.

What are we afraid of?

Have you ever sensed that you were supposed to go to someone and pray for them, but hesitate because you don't want them to think you are strange? Have you ever been sitting in church and felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to read a scripture or give an encouragement, but hesitate because... what if you're out of place? Do you feel like God has called you to the ministry but fear getting up in front of people? Has God placed in you a desire to sing but your fear of inadequacy holds you back? FEAR....

"What if I don't have what it takes? What if I fail?"

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." (MSG) If God has it all planned out, and His only intent is to give us hope, then do we really think He would ask us to do something that would cause us to fail?

"The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1) When the enemy tries to put us in a stronghold of fear, we can tell him we already reside in a stronghold!

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe." (Proverbs 29:25) Our fears trap us; but we find safety in Him.

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10) God is always with us..and will enable us to do that which we need to do. Whatever that may be...from the great things to the small.

"You came near when I called you, and you said, "Do not fear." (Lamentations 3:57) He is there when we call out to Him, and calms our fears and reassures us. no matter how trivial our fears may be....even the dentist!

So even though my story is a little silly, I hope it reminds you, as it reminded me that we have a great big God that doesn't think anything that affects our lives is silly. He cares about everything, whether it be my irrational fears of doctors or something that takes a great step of faith.

If you have a desire, a dream, a calling, and your fears are holding you back, remember that God is your stronghold; your shelter, your master planner. He has your best interest in mind and will not call you to do that which you are not equipped to do.

And if you happen to think of me at 9:25am on Monday morning, I'll be facing my fears....in the oral surgeons office!

May the God of peace...strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages).

Amen (so be it).

Hebrews 13:21