The Crooked Path

She edged closer as we chattered in the hallway about life, family and the upcoming women’s retreat. She stood a ways off as if afraid to approach us – she was tiny and a bit timid. She walked slowly, almost painfully.


As the group began to scatter she asked one of the girls how she could volunteer to help out around the church. There was some stammering and stuttering and then a suggestion to ask the pastor’s wife - -because when all else fails send them to the pastor or his wife.


I joined in the conversation and soon all the others fell away. It was just the two of us, this timid woman extending her hand to help when she seemed more in need than most, and me.


Her story came out in bits and sentence fragments. Open heart surgery just a few weeks ago. No longer able to work. Want to do something. Need to stay busy.


She told me “I’ve only been here a couple of times.” In the way she spoke, it’s like she expected rejection. I knew there was more to her story.


We talked about places she may want to volunteer. We talked about Wednesday night suppers and Sunday school and then I mentioned Bible study. She seemed excited, but a bit anxious. I shared the dates and showed her where we meet. We traded phone numbers.


As we walked out of the empty church building I told her I’d call next week about Bible study. Worry clouded her face, “I try to do good, but I always mess up.” I assured her that most of my life consisted of a series of mess ups.


She told me “I try to keep it straight, but then I fall back into the old ‘stuff’” and assured her I had lots of turns and curves on my path. I shared that much of my life was spent face first in a ditch of sin, but I realized that my words have little impact. I look like the church girl. I carry the bible, I lead the studies, and I seem like I have it together (which is so far from the truth).


As we parted ways, my heart was heavy. She'd had the open heart surgery, but I felt as if my heart was broken.


Does she think that she has to be on the living good and on the straight path before she can come to Bible study?


Does she think she has to fit the mold to come hear about God’s saving grace?


What are we doing if people think they have to fit in to come in?

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:17 (ESV)

Take the time today to reach out.





Invite someone to Bible study, church or for coffee -- someone you'd never thought to invite before. The person who lives on the fringes, the outsider, the one who doesn't quite fit the mold that we've created.





Show everyone you come in contact with that Christ's love knows no boundaries and there are no molds to fit or rules to follow. You only need to accept His gift of grace and declare He is Lord.

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 (NIV)

In Him,

Mary



Come by Mary's blog at www.MaryRSnyder.com

The Circle of Three

It was a typical Sunday morning in church. The pastor told a funny story, challenged me in my walk with God, gave me much to consider and then closed with a heartwarming story about a homeless man. He gave the invitation to salvation and we bowed our heads to pray. We sang the obligatory hymn for the alter call. I considered deep, meaningful issues -- where are we eating lunch?


He walked down the aisle, his leather vest, biker gloves and bandanna-wrapped head made him stand apart from this Sunday morning crowd that is much more comfortable in an SUV than on the back of a bike. As he stood at the front and spoke to our pastor, the tattoo on his bicep caught my attention. I couldn't make out the words in the three circles, but I wondered about them. What do they mean? Are they a code? A creed? Who is he?



I loved that he was here -- in my very traditional Southern Baptist church. We don't get many bikers... okay, we don't get any bikers. And edgy is not something we see in these parts. I loved it. This was just what I wanted to see in the church -- different people. My heart soared -- and then it shattered. As I watched these two men, one young, dressed in leather and the other older in a suit, there heads together almost touching -- one slightly graying, the other wrapped in a bandanna, my heart broke.


As much as I talk about wanting to break out of the box, I don't do anything to reach out to those who are different. I don't ask people who cross my path about God in their lives. I don't ask them to come to my church. I don't ask God to use me to reach others for Him.


I just don't ask.


Do I not ask because I'm afraid of the answer? Am I afraid that God will use me? Or am I afraid He won't?


As I looked at those two men, heads bowed together, each with one hand on the other one's shoulder -- one leather biker glove, the other with a single gold wedding ring. So very different, these two men, but joined together before the God who created them both, the God who loves them both and the God who sent His son to die for both.


What an incredible picture and the tattoo? I never did make out the words within the three circles. It doesn't really matter, because to me, that image represented the three who stood at the front of the church -- my pastor, the biker, and my Savior. Two I saw in the flesh and the other I felt in my spirit.


Are you stepping out on faith? Believing God for miracles? The love of Christ is beyond our comprehension and it's this love that conquers all -- even death.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. -- Eph 3:14-19 (ESV)

Sisters, trust God to do a mighty work! Ask Him to do that mighty work through you and in you. Believe God!


In Him,

Mary



Visit my blog at Adventures in Faith & Friendships!

Place of Grace

I love reality shows.
There, I admit it and I'm not even ashamed of it. But I'm not a hit show reality show kind of girl; I love the obscure, the off-beat, the nutty reality shows.

I don't watch Survivor - too many bugs and weird stuff to eat. I don't watch Big Brother, it just makes me sad. I do watch the Bachelor. I LOVE The Amazing Race and I can't wait for the new season.

Other than these here are some of my lesser known current / recent past favorites:

Groomer Has It - 12 dog groomers wash, cut, and fluff their way through 12 weeks of pet grooming drama. Don't laugh, there was actually some serious cat drama.

Here Come the Newlyweds Show -- seven newly married couples compete for weekly prizes and a shot at the grand prize. I tried to get my newlywed daughter to try out for the show - didn't work. What can you do, you try to raise them right and then they just go off and become responsible and all.

Project Runway - I've watched every season. Nothing like watching someone whip up a ball gown from left over fruit, some scrap metal, and a string of Christmas garland.

Top Chef -Another one I've watched since the very first episode. The whole cooking thing fascinates me and if I had the time.... oh, who am I kidding, if I had the time I'd just read more.

As someone who loves reality shows, I'm always shocked when Reality slaps me in the face. I assume that everyone is truly kind and honest deep down. I want to believe that people don't hurt others on purpose and I tend to forget that people are human - and flawed. Just like me.

When I find myself smack dab in the middle of a reality slap, I try to remember the words Paul wrote in the book of Romans

For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Romans 7:19

When I find myself on the receiving end of hurt, I remember that I've hurt people, too. I know just how Paul feels. I struggle. I want to do the right thing and I don't. I want to be all those wonderful Christian attributes - kind, compassionate, merciful, giving, faithful, loving and all the others. Many days, I'm not. I want to do the good, but I end up in the bad. I'm human and flawed. Most days I'm just a mess. I'm blessed because I know I'm saved by grace - and not only saved by grace, but also into grace.

Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:18

Read that verse again -- into this grace in which we stand -- amazing. We aren't only saved by grace but into grace!

It's in this grace I want to stand. It's in this grace I want to live. It's in this grace I find my reality, I find my reason for being, and it's in this grace I find my sanctuary.

I'll stand in this grace and face reality head on - slaps and all. And in this grace I will find the joy of knowing God and the hope that will sustain me, the hope of the glory of God.

It's an amazing place -- this place of Grace.

Is Reality knocking at your door? Are you facing trials or dealing with struggles? Look to God for the grace to face anything.

Are you standing in the grace that God so freely pours over you?

Remember He has a plan for your life -- stand on this promise and in His grace.


In Him,

Mary




Come by and visit my blog, Adventures in Faith & Friendship

Mary Snyder was a featured speaker at A Woman Inspired Ministry Online Conference!! Join us at A Woman Inspired to purchase the entire Ministry Online Conference in an mp3 collection!

All Aboard!

Luxurious 40 foot cruiser complete with a large, comfortable deck for lounging in the sun, well –appointed living quarters, and all the comforts of home from satellite television to hot showers. This was just one of the boats we saw on a recent family vacation to the coast.

Instead of a house or condo on the beach, we opted for a house on the river that flows into the bay. The scenery was much different – green, lush and almost tropical as opposed to wide open beaches and crashing waves. We explored the river and came face to face with boats that ranged from canoes to yachts. There was something for everyone – my husband loved the bass boats but I fell for the lavish cruisers.

I could just see myself on the deck of those big boats --big, floppy hat, iced down Diet Coke at my side and a good book in my hand. When I shared my love of the cruiser with my husband he glanced at it and said “too fancy, you can’t fish from that.” Fishing? Who said anything about fishing? My dream consisted of lots of lounging, reading and resting.

There were other boats on the waterways – the snazzy bass boats with their rumbling outboard motors that enticed my hubby, high speed ski boats, pontoon boats and then there are the ones I call the working boats. These working boats were as big as or bigger than the fancy cruisers, but that’s where the similarities ended. These boats were made for work. The decks were filled with all manner of equipment, most didn’t make any sense to me, but I understood the nets and they had big nets for dragging in lots of something. I didn’t daydream myself on the deck of these boats. I didn’t want to think about working that hard and getting my hands that dirty.

I want to live the Christian life of the luxury cruiser. I want to rest on my deck and sip my drink; I don’t want to get my hands dirty. I don’t want to sling the nets out or pull them back in. I’m afraid to face the storms that will surely come. I don’t want to work for hours on top of hours only to come up empty handed. Give me the luxury boat with satellite and I’ll just relax in the cabin when the weather is bad or the sun gets too hot.

Oh Lord, forgive me for wanting the comfortable life. I wasn’t called to that. I was called to get my hands dirty. God called me to serve Him. I’m just to say yes, He’ll provide the details.

As Paul said to the church at Thessalonica:

“ we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.” 1 Thess 2:12

Walk worthy of God. That will stop you right in your tracks. How do I walk worthy of the Holy God? The God who created the heavens and the earth – how do I walk worthy of Him?

We walk worthy of Him through the power of Jesus Christ. It’s in Christ that we each find our strength to do the work that He has called us to do. It’s in Christ that I stand. It’s in His grace I find my strength. It’s in His Word I find my direction.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6

God calls all of His children to His service and there will be storms, but He will provide. There will be work, but He will equip. There will be hard times, but He provides all of our needs.

God may be calling you to serve on the luxury cruiser or He may be calling you to serve on the working ship, but know this, He is calling you to serve His Kingdom.

Where is God calling you today?


In Him,





Come by and visit my blog, Joy Filled Living

Mary Snyder was a featured speaker at A Woman Inspired Ministry Online Conference!! Join us at A Woman Inspired to purchase the entire Ministry Online Conference in an mp3 collection!

An Amazing Grace Life

I'm a huge fan of The Amazing Race. I love the adventure, the thrills and new experiences, everything …. except the eating weird stuff part. I don’t like that.

As I've watched this past season it struck me how much this show makes me think of life in Christ - -a fully lived life in Christ is an Amazing Adventure. It's not a race so much as a marathon. It's not about competition but about facing adversity and adventure together. It's about stepping out of your comfort zone; it's about reaching out to new people and cultures; it's about having a spirit that wants to learn and grow, and it’s about partnering with my brothers and sisters in Christ and working together.

I want that kind of Amazing Race life – more an Amazing Grace life. I don’t want to settle for the quiet, peaceful, comfortable existence. I want to live on the edge; I want to reach out to those who others shun; I want to step out in faith – no, I want to LEAP out in faith.

I want to live BIG because I serve God Almighty who spoke this world into existence. I serve the God who raised His son from the dead on the third day and He’s now seated at the right hand of God. I serve a God who is , and was, and is to be! That’s why I want the Amazing Grace life because that’s what He’s done for me! He’s poured out His Amazing Grace over my life.

“And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16

And when the day is done I want to speak the words of the Apostle Paul

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. “ 2 Timothy 4:7

It’s easy for me to sit in my comfortable chair and type these words. It’s easy for me to say “I want to live on the edge,” but it’s not easy to see the need that’s right in front of me. Like the lady in my church who suffers from depression; the man down the street who lost his job; the teenager who lost her Mom to drugs. Reaching out will take me out of my comfort zone. Reaching out will put my heart on the line. Reaching out may require a leap of faith. It’s easy to say I want to live BIG for God; it’s much harder to do.

My heart cry is to see, truly see, the world around me and to open my eyes and my heart to where God is leading me. I want to see the needs He places before me and meet them. I want to reach out to the people He places in my life and connect with them. I want to go wherever He leads me no matter if it’s down the street or across the world. I want to live the life that God has called me to live and if I do that I will have finished the race and kept the faith.

Where is God leading you?


In Him,

Come by and visit my blog, Joy Filled Living

Join us June 8th - 11th where Mary Snyder will be a featured speaker at A Woman Inspired Ministry Online Conference!! We'd LOVE to see you there!

High Horses

I can’t stand high horses, so why do I consistently climb up on mine? Maybe I just like the view? Who knows.

My latest high horse adventure was just the other day when a dear girlfriend mentioned she’d run into a mutual friend – we’ll call him J. And J’s not just any mutual friend, but one who’d been at the center of a church scandal. I won’t go into details, but J left the ministry over the scandal.

When my girlfriend told me about running into J and how they’d talked, I huffed (as you can only do when you’re up on that high horse) and reminded her of all his failures. She went on to tell me about what was happening in J’s life and I huffed again and said “can’t believe you’re so gracious after everything that happened.” And then she said “well, I’m not one to judge after all we’ve been through.”

WHAMO! that hit me right between the eyes. My girlfriend was quick to say “not that you’re being judgmental.” But I was being judgmental, she was just being kind. I was right up on top of my high horse thinking because J’s sin was on display for all to see, hear and talk about that made him worse than me. It doesn’t. It just makes him a better target.

I don’t know J’s heart, but I sure know mine. I was acting proud and arrogant. I was thinking that deadly thought “Lord, at least I’m not as bad as J (or K or L or whatever letter your person is.)” I was full of pride; I was minimizing my sins and maximizing the sins of others. Sin is sin. And I’m definitely not one to judge anyone – kind of like the pot calling the kettle black.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

All have sinned – that includes me why up here on my high horse. The Lord used the humble heart of my girlfriend to speak volumes to my spirit. I've prayed for a humble spirit and I've asked the Lord to make me realize when I'm being proud. He did.

Over the last many months, I’ve claimed several verses and worked to apply them to my life. One is:

Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up. James 4:10

This past year has been a blast – it’s been a roller coaster of an adventure from incredibly wonderful and fun to confusing and sad. It’s been one amazing adventure with the Lord and it comes on the heels of one of the most difficult times I’ve experienced in my Christian life. I’m just humbled that the Lord has blessed me in so very many ways and He just continues to do so while I’m acting all self –righteous up on that high horse.

Why is it so very easy to see the sins of others and not the ones that I commit? Believe me, it’s a full time job just asking for forgiveness from all of my sins– I have plenty to keep me busy.

Remember those verses I’ve claimed. Here is another:

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6

More grace to the humble. I need more grace. I need all the grace I can get my hands on. It is grace that saved my soul (Eph 2:10) and grace that set me free from the chains of sin (Romans 6:14). This is the grace I live under and it’s the grace that J lives under, too. This is the grace that covers our sins whether they’re known all over town or a secret only known by you.

Just because my name isn’t on everyone’s lips and my transgressions aren’t the topic of the day, doesn’t mean I don’t need that same grace. I do. I, too, fall short of the glory of God. Daily.

So for now, I’ll stay off the high horse and work on humbling myself before the Lord. He’s my joy and my strength. And when J comes to mind again (or up in conversation), I’ll remember to pray for him. Maybe he will do the same for me.

And I hope to put that high horse out to pasture -- for good.


In Him,

Come by and visit my blog, Joy Filled Living

Marshmallow Faith

I love marshmallows. Something about those little cylinders of squishy sweetness makes me all happy inside. They’re fun to eat and even more fun to eat after you roast them over a fire. The outside gets all crispy and the inside is gooey.

As I roasted a marshmallow the other day I thought about how we Christians can be like marshmallows when it comes to our faith. Do we just melt in the fire?

Some days I worry that I may have marshmallow faith – and that’s not what I want. I want a faith that will stand the test of time and the fiery trials. I don’t want to melt in the fires of life. I want to be more like gold and grow stonger through my trials. I want substance and staying power.

Marshmallows are great fun to eat but you can’t live on them. Marshmallow faith is a lot like that to -- sweet and fun, but they can’t fill up that deep down hunger. You can’t survive on a diet of marshmallows alone and you won’t live in victorious freedom with marshmallow faith.

Just what is marshmallow faith? It’s faith that turns to goo when the heat hits. It’s a faith that’s all about the sugary sweetness and not about the meat of God’s Word. It’s a faith that will make you happy for a short while, but it won’t sustain you over the long haul. It’s a faith without substance. It’s a faith built on the knowledge of others, not a personal knowledge.

This is not the faith that God has called me to. He’s called me to be in a relationship with Him. He’s called me to walk worthy of His call on my life. He’s called me to do His will. He’s called me to walk in His ways. And, sister, he’s called you to all of the same. No one gets to be a marshmallow. No one gets to just float on the top of the hot chocolate.

so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing
fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Col 1:10

Are you living in marshmallow faith?

Are you all about the sugary sweet and not about the tough stuff?

Does your knowledge of God come from another person?

God has called you to Him and He’s waiting for you. Call on His name, open His Word and spend time with Him there. It’s in His word that you’ll find freedom to love Him and serve Him. In His word you’ll find the joy of the Lord and in His word you’ll find the strength and the knowledge to move beyond a marshmallow faith..

In Him,

Come by and visit my blog, Joy Filled Living

Waves of Life

I was blessed to be on the Girls Getaway Cruise in early February. This cruise combines incredible Christian music, amazing artists, awesome speakers, and funny comedians with all the food, fun, and fellowship of a cruise.

Did I mention the food?

Getting comfortable with the swaying of the ship was easy at first until the waves got bigger and swaying more noticeable. When the white ‘sick’ bags went up I knew we were in trouble.

I quickly realized if I kept my knees bent and swayed with the boat, I managed much better. Of course, when the boat started rocking a bit more I wanted to lock my knees but I knew that would make it worse. I struggle to keep my legs loose and just sway back and forth like I was on a teeter totter (not that it was ever that bad).

As I swayed through that one slightly rough night, I realized how much walking on the swaying boat was like walking with the Lord.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Col 2:6-7

It’s in Christ that I find my sea legs when the going gets rough. When circumstances start my life to swaying and rocking, I bend my knees and call on Him. I ask Him to give me the wisdom to roll with the waves. Only in Christ do I have the strength to make it through the storms of life.

Have I always done this?

Sadly, no. I’ve followed my own path and refused to bend to His will for my life. I thought my plans were better. I locked my knees and refused to bend. This is when I end up facedown, knocked to my knees by my rigid spirit. I wish I could tell you that this only happened once, but I’m not quite that quick to learn and God had to teach me this lesson time and time again before it sunk in.

During one of those facedown on the ground times I realized that surrendering to God’s will is the only way that I can become the person God is calling me to be. I have to trust God to take me to the place where I can walk worthy of the call He’s placed on my life.

… to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thess 2:12)

He calls me and He calls you to walk worthy of His glory. He is God. The one Holy God – righteous and just. He loves you more than you can imagine and He calls you. Bend your knees, sway with the waves, enjoy the ride and walk worthy of the call He is placing on your life. Trust me it’s an adventure when you walk with Jesus.

Are you walking through the waves of life right now?

Is God calling you to trust in Him as He leads you through the storm?

Trust Him. He is faithful and will do it. (1 Thess 5:24)


In Him,

Come by and visit my blog, Joy Filled Living

The Pretty Red Jeep

A pretty red Jeep. It’s not brand new, but it’s exactly what she wanted. To her it’s freedom and maturity. To me, it’s letting go and moving on.

She checked online auto sites almost daily and was constantly on the lookout for just the right vehicle. She considered several different models. I almost talked her into a hot pink completely restored vintage Volkswagen Beetle but she balked when she learned that air conditioning wasn’t an option. She considered lost of makes and models, but she fell head over heels for the Jeep Cherokee and not the Grand, just the plain, basic Jeep. We checked it out and decided this is one vehicle that we could live with.

We looked all over, traveling hundreds of miles over the weeks as we tracked down an elusive used Jeep that met our requirements -- low miles, good maintenance records and within our price range. No luck. We just couldn’t find one that met our needs. Finally, we were ready to give up – and even our sweet – almost- 16 daughter was willing to settle for her second favorite when the pretty red Jeep showed up. We found it on a car lot that I pass every day and is only two miles from the high school. After traveling miles and miles, the very thing we were searching for was right in our backyard – or pretty close by.

That pretty red Jeep may say freedom to my darling almost 16 year old daughter, but not to me. As I talked to the Lord about this new place in my life, I asked Him for wisdom to walk this new path. A path that doesn’t require me to take and pick up children from school, something I’ve been since my oldest started Kindergarten in 1992. That’s 17 years of traveling for those who are counting.

As I considered this new beginning in my life, I realized that this is all a part of God’s plan for my life. He knows what happens next even if I don’t. He’s planned out the days that follow today and tomorrow.

You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your
book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed. (Ps
139:16 NLT)

What a blessing to know that I serve a God who is able to handle everything. Nothing throws Him. He continues to be the Great I AM even when I struggle to figure out what’s going on. He is the Rock on which I stand.

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He
only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly
shaken. (Ps 62:1-2 ESV)

God alone is my Rock, my Redeemer, my Fortress and my Salvation.
In a few weeks, when my baby girl drives off alone for the very first time in that pretty red Jeep, I know that God will be the Rock on which I stand. I know that He has a will for my life and for hers. I know that He is in control and I will trust in Him.

So, as I step out of the role of driver of children, I’ll look back at these years with great joy – well, most of it was joyful. There were those days when nothing seemed to go right and no one could get out of the door on time, least of all me. I’m looking forward to where the Lord is leading me. I’ll remember far away and close by; because God may just have the very thing my heart desires right down the road – just like that pretty red Jeep.

Where is the Lord leading you? Are you in a season of change for your life?
Maybe children are heading off to school next year or off to college. Are you’re considering a job move or another career related decision is on the horizon?

Where ever the Lord has you today, look to Him for wisdom and discernment for where you are heading tomorrow.

May God give you great joy and peace in the journey you are traveling.


In Him,

Come by and visit my blog, Joy Filled Living

One More Gift

The ornaments still hang on the tree, the star still blinks on top and the lights still twinkle. The decorations still cover the house and the food is in the refrigerator just waiting on the next hungry soul.

But some things are different, festively wrapped presents of all shapes and sizes no longer crowd under the tree and the stockings are missing from their spot on the mantle.

The one thing that strikes me the most is the lack of excitement in the air. The energy is gone. Christmas is over.

The weeks leading up to Christmas day seem to be never ending. Either you’re working too hard and have too much to get done or you’re waiting until Santa shows up with the latest, greatest hot new toy. Either way, Christmas is a long time coming.

It seems like Christmas morning takes forever to arrive and then it’s gone before you can blink – just that fast. One moment you’re giddy with excitement and then it’s gone and you’re in a heap of wrapping paper, bows, and empty boxes.

Each December 25th we celebrate the birth of Christ’s birth.. One day out of the 365 days we have each year. We set aside this one day to focus on His amazing birth and what that birth meant to all. What are doing with the other 364 days each year? Christ’s birth was just the beginning for us and all mankind.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

He came to earth for us. He was and is full of grace and truth – that bears repeating, Grace and truth. Today He is grace and truth. Today and forevermore. The excitement of His life, death and resurrection continues.

And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16

Grace upon grace – mounds of grace, like pretty wrapped presents under a Christmas tree. Grace is a gift, but so unlike those that sit under my Christmas tree every year.

Grace is God’s unmerited favor. I don’t deserve it and I can’t earn it. Ephesians 2:8 & 9 says ”For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Scripture spells this one out – “it’s not your own doing” and “not a result of works.” Grace is the “gift of God.” An amazing gift that is poured out on us through faith. God knows His children -- we want to work for this so we can be the 'best' or the 'first' or the 'something.' But the Lord says this is His gift to us.

Now that’s excitement that doesn’t end on December 26th.

This gift from God, this gift of saving grace through faith in Christ Jesus – this grace upon grace. In this grace we are blessed by God as he pours out the grace on us. As you clean up the wrapping paper and pack away the ornaments, consider just one more gift– the gift of His grace.

Do you believe in His grace?
Has this grace saved you, transformed you and filled you with His joy and peace?
Are you walking by His grace?

Today begin to enjoy this gift of God.

Read John 1: 1-18 and consider this gift from God.

Soak in the words as you read of the Christ and of John the Baptist, who called Jesus the One. He is the ONE! The One who came to save us! He is the One who triumphed over the grave!

He is Emmanuel -- God with us.

Thank God for this gift of grace and live in this grace – every day.

For it’s in this grace that you will find the joy, peace and hope that only comes from a life in Christ.God’s grace is amazing.

Keep the excitement alive all 365 days in this coming year.


In Him,

Love Connection

Where’s Mary?

That was the question of the day. I’d planned a party and failed to show up. Not on purpose, just by the circumstances.

The party was for friends I’d yet to meet face to face. Women from all over who’d come together for this brief time in New Orleans. We were all in town to attend the same Christian conference and one of the women, a local, decided that it would be a great idea to plan a lunch. I immediately raised my virtual hand to help out. I talked about the gathering, encouraged others to attend, and actively publicized the lunch gathering to all who would listen. I was so excited to get to meet these virtual sisters face to face. The time of the luncheon came and I couldn’t make it.

I was so sad and a little red-faced. Who helps plan the party and then doesn’t show up?

Apparently, I do.

This wasn’t like the obligatory family gathering that is happening across this great country tomorrow. The traditional Thanksgiving gathering. This was just a bunch of women; most had never met in person. We were connected through the Internet. Some were bloggers and others were readers, but all had a love for the Lord. We came together in New Orleans for a Bible study. Who knew what the Lord had in store for us!

When I consider the abandon with which we worshipped, I’m stunned. When I consider the outpouring of love and joy, I’m awestruck. When I think about the scriptures studied and the revelations for so many, I'm amazed. And when I remember the testimonies of these brave women, I’m humbled. I’m so blessed that the Lord allowed me to walk this path with these women, these warriors in Christ.

A life that is changed. A life renewed. A heart restored.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life and have it more abundantly.”
This is the abundant life that I saw begin for so many in New Orleans. Abundant life that began with hearts wiling to accept the grace of God’s love.

We started off our week a little hesitant with each other, but we got to know each other quickly (this is really true for those who DID show up for the lunch event). Over the course of the week, these relationships were made stronger, friendships began, and promises to stay in touch were whispered in our goodbyes and through our tears. We longed to stay connected to each other and to Christ our Lord. But it’s not the goodbyes where we found our strength; it was in powerful relationships with Christ. It was in transformed relationships with Christ. We connected with each other through our love of Christ.

You don’t have to travel to New Orleans to find this transformation. It’s right here, right now. It’s in the powerful love of Jesus. Do you love Him?
Not with a lukewarm-take-it-or-leave-it kind of love, but with a breathtaking, consuming, passionate love? The kind of love that just threatens to overwhelm you.

We love because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

Even in our unlovable state, He loved us.

but God showed His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died
for us. Romans 5:8

Do you love Him? If not, it’s yours for the asking.
Read the scripture below:

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything
according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever
we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15

Pray and ask God to fill you with a passionate love for Him.
Do it everyday.
Every hour if you need to. Will it happen immediately? I don’t know. It didn’t work that way for me. I had to commit to loving Him and believing Him. Believing that I was worthy of His love was the hardest part for me. But I am, because He died for me.

Trust Him, trust His Word. And pray for this love relationship daily. Oh, my dear Sister in Christ, the freedom that comes when you put Christ first in your life.

When you choose to love Him passionately!

The joy. The power. The hope. All of this is yours, in Christ. This is your love connection!


In Him,

Finding your Way

I am a slightly directionally challenged, which is just a fancy way of saying I get lost – a lot.

I’ve been known to get lost in my own neighborhood – and it’s not that big. I was thrilled when Mapquest finally seem to work in rural America, since I live in rural America. I usually do okay finding a place with Mapquest, it’s the return trip that gets me every time.

I mentioned that I got lost coming home from speaking at church and I was on a mission to get a GPS. My friend, Kim graciously offered me the use of her GPS (global positioning system) to see if I liked using one. “Try it out,” she said. So after a short lesson on the ins and outs of this model GPS, I was ready to go. I typed in my home address and away we went.

I love this little talking, screen flashing device! I put in the address and it tells me how many miles we have to travel and what time we are due to arrive. About half a mile from a turn, G (that’s my nickname for her) announces “turn left in one half mile.” She continues this announcing until we’ve made our turn. And if I miss a turn, G tells me how to get back on track. Best of all, there’s a moving map of where we’re headed. I can pan out and get a big picture look at where I’m going – it’s just lines and a path, but I can tell that’s the way we’ll travel.

I think I have found the perfect solution for my Christian walk!

Lord, what about a GPS for my life?

That would be so helpful. I could get those step by step directions on which path to take, which way to travel. I would know immediately when I made a wrong turn and I would get directions back on the path. Lord, just think how much more effective I will be if I stay on the right path and in your will all the time.

Just imagine when you pick up the phone to accept that job offer and your FPS (Faith Positioning System) announces “uncharted turn, please hang up phone and wait for call from XYZ company.” Wouldn’t that be wonderful? No more wrong steps or bad decisions. It’s all right there for you in the FPS – every step you need to take.

And then God just spoke to my spirit, I’ve given you this FPS it’s called the Holy Spirit. John 14:26 came to mind:

"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

There it is – my FPS who will teach me all things and remind me of everything Jesus said.
The Holy Spirit is there to keep my feet on the path and to remind me when I step outside God’s will.

So if I have a Faith Position System, why does it seem like there are days I don’t know whether to go right or left? I don’t know whether I should speed up or slow down? Is my FPS broken? Maybe I need to upgrade.

I thought about the GPS I have on loan. It only works when I turn it on. If I don't turn it on, it's dark and silent. It has to have a source of power to work. When I turn it off, I cut off its’ power source. Like the GPS in my car, if I don’t turn on my FPS it doesn’t do me much good.

To turn on my FPS, I have to trust in the Lord and look to Him for my direction and guidance. He is my power source. He gives me the strength to walk this path He’s prepared for me. I don't know what's ahead, but He does. I don't know if the next turn is a right, a left or a U-turn, but He does. I've got an idea of where I'm going because my Lord is showing me the way He will have me go. I’m not walking this path alone – He is with me.

So, I’ll keep the GPS in my car and the FPS in my heart. One will keep me from driving in circles through strange neighborhoods and the other will keep me from wandering around in life. I don’t want to wander; I want to get right to the heart of serving the Lord.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will guide your path.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Where is your FPS today?

Are you tapped into your power source?

Do you trust God to take you around the next corner and into the next adventure? If not, now is the time to start trusting Him, he has a path for each of us and you don’t want to miss a minute of what He has in store for you.

Trust Him!

In Him,

Best Laid Plans & Shifting Sand

What is that adage about best laid plans?

Something about going awry?

I was a bit confused on just what awry means and I wanted to be sure before I slapped it up on a blog. So I did what any good writer does, I right clicked on the word to get a list of synonyms (and yes, I do own a thesaurus and I even own a synonym finder book). Here’s what I found:

skewed
askew
crooked
off beam
out of kilter
twisted
off-center

Awry also means: muddled, and amiss

So, that’s my world – awry and all those other adjectives. I think muddled, twisted, and out of kilter describe me the best. So, that’s me today – muddled, twisted and out of kilter.

Last week, I was much more together. It seems that I just get to the place where I think I have a slight grip on what’s happening in my world, and then something shifts. Sometimes these shifts feel like a major earthquake and other times they are more like standing at the ocean’s edge as the sand moves under my feet. Today has been more of an ocean’s edge day – not a serious shift, but one that’s thrown me off balance.

I’ve plotted everything out for the next six months and this isn’t in my plan. This doesn’t work for me, Lord. I can’t do this. I don’t have this on my calendar. Find someone else. I don’t want to do this. I want to cry and stomp my feet like a petulant child.

I look at my calendar and consider the next months, I start to panic. I feel as if I’m crumbling under the load – so I’m taking a step back and, I will do, as a dear, sweet friend recently told me “take a breath.”

In that breath I realized that I’m so fast to make plans and lay them out for God to bless. Okay, Lord, here’s the deal—we’re going to do this and then we’ll go there and do that. (Notice how I say we? I’m always good to include the Lord in my plans.)

Today, He caught my attention and, once again, made me see that He’s in control and it’s only through Him that I get through each day. I don’t function in this world because I’m so together – in fact, without Christ I couldn’t make it a day without just falling flat on my face. I don’t operate out of my strength, but only through His.

Pride is stepping in the way. I want to be in control. I want to write my schedule and plot my days. I realized that it’s not about calendars or schedules. It’s about the God I serve. I serve the God who created our universe; the God who breathed life into man; the God who moves mountains, delivers people from captivity and the God who sent His own Son to die for me. This is my God – this God of might and wonder. I serve a wondrous God who’s called me into His service and given me a task. He will equip me for the work He’s laid before me. His grace is all I need.

My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.

2 Corinthians 12:9

I don’t know why the plans have changed. I don’t understand all the Lord is doing. I don’t know why the sand has shifted --- but He does. This I do know -- that I find my joy, my strength and my purpose in my life in Him. The sand may have shifted, but I’m standing on the Rock. He is my rock and my salvation. It’ in Him that I trust.

Today, I am claiming this verse—

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

I chose to overflow with HOPE by His power! So, even though the sand has shifted and I’m struggling with this new path, I’m trusting in God. He’s faithful and has brought me this far, I trust that He will handle the rest of this journey.

Have you had a change in your life?
Are you struggling with something that needs change?
Today, right now, call on God for His strength and His power in your life. Stand firmly on the Rock that is your Salvation.

In Him,

Sandpaper Touch

There’s a renovation project going on in my office building. For the past few weeks, I’ve navigated through a variety of construction crews doing everything from demolition to window installation. Today the carpenters were on the job. I don’t know what their specific project was, but I know they were sanding. I heard the high power sanders and saw the remnants of their efforts covering all the workspace outside.


I thought about the sanding process. I like to refinish furniture and I know sanding is an essential step to creating a smooth finish. First, all the old finish has to be removed and then you take sandpaper to the bare wood. A mountain of dust later, your piece will look smooth and ready, but it may not be. This is where the touch test comes in. Run your fingers across the bare, sanded wood and feel for any imperfection. Do you feel any ridges, bumps or dents? What you can’t see, you can feel.

This process is a picture of what the Lord is doing in my life. He’s touched my life and found the flaws that others don’t see. He looks beyond what is noticeable to the eye and finds the places that need work. The Lord knows my heart and while my outward appearance may look fine to others, He needed to get rid of some of the bumps and ridges in my spirit. I didn’t like it and I still don’t like it. It’s painful. I’ve walked away from this sandpaper process – more than once. But I’m back now, because I know to move forward with Him and His plans for me, I have to allow Him to refine me.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

You are His workmanship. We are His workmanship.
The Lord continues His work on me. He’s sanding my spirit and with each pass little bits of the old me are falling away – bits of pride, envy, jealousy and anger are turning to dust in His hands. He’s sanding away my desire to be in control of every situation. He’s sanding away my need to succeed and replacing it with a deep desire to serve Him. The feeling is raw and painful as the old is scrubbed away and the new revealed.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Ps 51:10

That's what I want -- a steadfast spirit. A spirit fully committed to serving the Lord. A spirit wholly sold out to God. A spirit that won't waver at adversity or at controversy. I know that sanding is a step in this process, I don't know where He will lead me next, but I just know that I will go. I will follow Him and I will serve Him. It won't always be easy and it won't always be fun, but it will always be filled with the peace and the joy of serving Him. A joy that surpasses all understanding.

Where are you today?
Is there something in your life that the Lord needs to sand down?
Are you struggling with a past hurt?
Are you like me and want to be in control of everything?
Are you dealing with feelings of loss or rejection?

Let Him renew your spirit within you. You are His workmanship – His masterpiece. He created you and He will renew you. Ask God to show you what past struggles are troubling you and let Him begin His mighty work in you.

My Hope

I hope I get that job. I hope we win. I hope this is right. I hope … hope.

This morning I sat down with my coffee in one hand and my Bible in the other and opened to the book of John. It’s been a whirlwind of a week. I had a book deadline on Friday and I was scrambling to make some last minute changes. I just wasn’t happy with how the book was working. Something was just off. At 3:47pm an email pops into my box from my editor titled Manuscript. I was terrified to open it. Oh, no she wants it right now. What do I do? I can’t send this to her – it’s awful. It’s drivel, it’s worse than drivel, it’s really icky drivel. Lord help…..

So I did what any good writer would do – I ignored the email. That lasted about three minutes and then curiosity got the best of me. If she says send it NOW, I will and I’ll tell her the truth. I’m not going to blow this.

I open the email – it reads:

Heading out of town and won’t be back until Monday. So if you want to take
the weekend to look over the manuscript, feel free. I won’t look at it
until next week.

I couldn’t even respond. I was so grateful that the Lord had heard me and He knew just what I needed – a break. He knew that I was over-thinking this whole thing I was forgetting where it all came from. I was so caught up in the process of writing, that I forgot why I was writing. After doing the happy dance around the room and flopping onto the couch for a moment of rest. I emailed my thanks – all professional like. I really just wanted to write some ooey- gooey, groveling email telling her how she saved my very life and my writing career .. . I decided that was probably not a great idea and I'd just stick with the simple for now.

This morning I flipped to the book of Romans:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that
you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

This is what is missing – hope. I was so intent on getting this book finished that I’d forgotten why I was doing it. I wasn’t writing it to see my name on the cover or to call myself an author. I wasn’t writing to get rich (which is really good, because I’m not), I write because He called me to it. I wrote this book because He put it in my heart. I write for His glory, not mine. I needed to remember that – I needed to remember that He is my hope – my expectation of good. That in this hope I will find the joy and peace that have been missing these last few weeks.

I don’t know what the Lord has called you to at this time in your life. Maybe he’s call you to be an at-home Mom – I was blessed with that calling for a season. Maybe He’s called you to be a working Mom or He’s called you into full time ministry. He calls each of us to a different walk – an individual walk that starts with a relationship with Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will guide your path. Proverbs 3:5-6

• Are you trusting God? Not just with your words, but with your heart?
• Are you trusting Him in lead you or are you making your own way?
• Are you walking in Hope -- in an expectation of good?

I challenge you to examine your walk with the Lord. Ask Him to show you the way. Follow Him -- He will take you to amazing places.

(Sort of) Sold out to God

The internet Cafe wants to Welcome Mary Snyder!! We are blessed to have her as part of our devotional team!

(Sort of) Sold out to God

Sort of sold out to God – sounds strange doesn’t it? How can you be sort of
sold out? It’s like being “sort of” dead – you either are or you're not. So much of
my life I've been “sort of “ sold out to God – not all the way, just
sort of. Not completely, just sort of. Last Sunday night I led a Bible study and we contrasted the life of Judas with the life of Mary of Bethany – how powerful.

Using the scripture below (along with Mark 14:6-9) we looked at these two very different
people who lived and walked with Jesus while He was on earth.

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. " He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

John 12:3-7 (NIV)

– Mary loved Jesus and gave to him with all that she had. She didn’t worry what others thought, she was completely focused on Him.

--Judas walked with Jesus for three years and he never truly knew the Lord. He focused on his own selfish motives.

Look at the difference in these two people – one was right there with Jesus daily, but Judas was more concerned with money than with His Lord. Mary was with Jesus on a few occasions, but she loved Him deeply without holding anything back.

Judas didn’t see Mary’s heart; he only saw the money being poured out. Judas wasn’t interested in helping the poor; he wanted the money to line his own pockets. Judas had an agenda.

Mary took her alabaster jar of perfume – possibly the most valuable item she owned – and poured it over her Lord. She then took her hair down and wiped His feet. She didn’t care what those around her thought, she just wanted to serve Jesus. Mary had a heart for the Lord.

Judas had an agenda. Mary loved the Lord with all that she had.

That’s what I want to do – love the Lord with pure abandon. Be completely selfless and totally dependent on Him. I want to worship Him and not worry what other people think about me. I want to let my hair fall down and I want to fall at His feet in worship. I want to be completely sold out to Him.

I’m turning my back on the “sort of’” lifestyle. I don’t want to be “sort of” anything. Starting today I will strive to be completely “sold out” to God.

Mary Snyder

Mary is a slightly frazzled, but always optimistic dreamer who loves the Lord and lives life to the fullest. She's married to Vaughn, who she calls her prince, and they have two incredible daughters: one almost driving age and the other just married. This recent marriage has added a much adored son-in-law to the family.

It was many years ago that the Lord called May into His service, but she admits that she wasn't the most willing participate. Struggling to find her own way and still please the Lord, Mary realized. He is the joy and apart from Him we are nothing. Once this realization hit, Mary jumped on board in this adventure of life with the Lord and it's been non-stop since.

Over mighty peaks and through some valleys, Mary has clung to the Lord and His grace. The lessons He has taught her along the way have become the basis for a book and a speaking ministry. By God's amazing grace, Girlfriends, God, and Grace: Finding and Building Friendships Based on Christ's Love -- will be released in the Spring of 2009 by Thomas Nelson publishing.

Girlfriends are a big part of Mary's life and her ministry. Mary's that friend that is fun to have around but is always losing things... like the plane tickets. Of course, she still wonders why anyone would let her hold the plane tickets. Her girlfriends still love her and let her come along on regular adventures.

Mary serves on the Womens Ministry team in her church and also teaches Bible study. You can visit her at www.MaryRSnyder.com.