Affairs of the Heart

We are thrilled to have Jocelyn Green, the author of 'Faith Deployed' pouring for us today!

Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.
Proverbs 4:23

A woman in our Coast Guard unit had been corresponding with her old boyfriend for months, unbeknownst to her husband, emailing and instant messaging late into the night. She was convinced she would be happier if she filed for divorce, hoped for the best for her children, and returned to the arms of the one she did not marry.

While the geographical distance prevented her from having a physical relationship with this man, she was clearly in an emotional affair. Perhaps she thought that emailing couldn’t hurt anything. But the more she shared of her heart with him, the more her desires bent toward being with him as a permanent solution to her loneliness and dissatisfaction in her own marriage.

The fact that it is common makes it no less tragic. Each one of us is vulnerable to the same situation. Those of us who would “never have an affair” might just be feeling lonely enough to mention it to a sympathetic man. If he offers us the male attention we are craving, if he makes us feel special, how can our hearts not want to go back for more? While not every emotional affair ends up in a physical affair, you can bet that every physical affair once began as an emotional affair.

Matthew 5:27-28 MSG says, “You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks [or thoughts] you think nobody notices—they are also corrupt.”

It’s inevitable that you will notice attractive men—and that isn’t sinful. It would be sinful if we allow that attraction to spur us on to develop an emotional attachment to that man. Here are some questions Shannon Ethridge suggests we ask ourselves to evaluate whether we, as married women, are in dangerous territory:

· Do you think of this man often (several times each day) even though he is not around?

· Do you select your daily attire based on whether you will see this person?

· Do you go out of your way to run into him, hoping he’ll notice you?

· Do you wonder if he feels any attraction toward you?

One way to play it safe and help guard our hearts is to guard our mouths. Flirting, complimenting, complaining, confessing, and inappropriate counseling and praying are all ways of communicating that could lead to a deeper relationship—in other words, avoid them!

If you find yourself struggling to reserve your heart’s affections for your husband, seek out a trusted friend to serve as an accountability partner to you. You are less likely to stumble if you know you’ll have to report it. “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

Ask

Do I fantasize about what it would be like to be with a different man?

When those thoughts cross my mind, what can I do to starve those desires?

Pray

Lord,
Help me guard my heart, especially when my husband is away. I know that Satan would love nothing more than to undermine my marriage and watch it fall apart. Alert me when my thoughts drift into inappropriate territory. Help me take every thought captive to Jesus Christ.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Jocelyn Green is an award-winning freelance writer and author of Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives (www.faithdeployed.com), from which this devotional was reposted with permission from Moody Publishers. She is also the co-author of Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq & Afghanistan. She and her husband Rob live with their two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

The Aroma of Christ

We are thrilled to have Kristin Shockley pouring today!

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15)

“I want to be like you, Mama.” She says this as I loop her apron strings into a bow around her waist. She fingers my apron and beams. “Now we look alike.” She turns to look up at me with the clear blue eyes like her Daddy’s. Minus her rounded nose and flowing hair, she looks far more like her Daddy than me, but our matching red apple aprons and this rare time alone in the kitchen is enough for her.

Sometimes I think I should be more like her, she whose every move is exacted slowly, carefully. Carefully, she chooses a dress from her closet. Carefully, she folds her nightgown and returns it to its place. Carefully, she brushes each tooth. Carefully, she glides her pencil across the page of her alphabet book. Carefully, she folds the napkins into triangles for meals. She is never in hurry, but she never hesitates to stand up for truth! Me? I scurry through my days but freeze amidst confrontation.


“Mama, when I grow up, I want to take care of my babies like you do.” She licks a bit of sugar off her fingertip and smiles at the baby brother who crawled in from the living room and is at her feet clanging pots out of the cabinet.


I have a lot to learn from her, she who holds her doll in one arm while she pours chocolate chips into the dough. She hums and mixes and rocks her darling. Somehow my grumbles that it is harder this way—harder to stir and hold a needy baby—have gone unnoticed by my girl who wishes to be just like me.


We glimpse a flash of red outside the window. “Mama, when I grow up, can I be a bird watcher and a mama?” I assure her that even mamas are not too busy to notice God’s creation. “Good,” she says. “Because I really want to be a mama, but I like to watch birds, too.”


What a balm she is to my soul, this little one so devoted to her dream to be like me. And so devoted to the idea that motherhood is a calling worth striving for.


Brian ambles into kitchen to steal a warm cookie and a kiss. “I caught you!” she teases, wagging her finger and squeezing in between us “When I get married, I’m going to leave you and live with my husband,” she says, a mixture of warning and sadness in her voice.

I hug her, willing her to stay with me a few years longer. And until then, I live to be the aroma of Christ.

“Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come…and for this we labor and strive.” (1 Timothy 4:8, 10)

Kristin has been married to Brian, her best friend, confidant, and inspiration, for eight years and has four children who are continually teaching her in the little moments. You can visit her at http://from-my-life.blogspot.com.

image courtesy of M. Harper

Just Breathe

Someone shared with me once that she does not have time to nurture friendships. Because she does not see that as a priority, I don't really have much interaction with her.

I know another lady who is a "self proclaimed" loner! The times that I have spent with her she has mentioned to me several times that she doesn't really need friends. Because of the way that both of these women view friendships, our relationship does not go very deep.

I have another friend who is very busy home schooling 4 children and is busy with activities and church-but she is a wonderful example of what it means to nurture friendships. I can remember one day she called me on her cell phone while she was standing in line at a department store, just to see how I was and to let me know she was thinking of me. We didn't talk for long. Neither of us really had the time. But she was just touching base...she was nurturing.

Relationships need to be nurtured.

I have heard people say, and I have probably said it myself, that I "just don't have time" to have a "quiet time". When we say that, we are saying that we don't have time to nurture our relationship with God. In the back of our minds we know that God will always be there if we have a need. We talk ABOUT Him. We may "wave hello" occasionally. But how much do we do to NURTURE our relationship with Him? Nurturing our relationship with God should not be reduced to something we do for 15 minutes each day, and check off our list. (I don't know of many friendships that would grow deeper if they were approached that way!) It should be a part of who we are!

When I think about walking with God, I think about how our relationship with God can become as natural as breathing! This is how I picture walking....breathing...with God. Nurturing our relationship. (It is what I STRIVE TO DO. It is not something I have mastered!)

BREATHE IN...

I wake up. I say, "good morning, Lord." I thank Him for a good nights rest. I sit up and prop myself up on my pillows, and open my Bible. I read and pray through whatever I am reading. I get up and check my e-mail. Any prayer requests? I pray. I help get breakfast, we thank the Lord for the food. I get on the treadmill or walk outside. I pray through my prayer list or for whatever comes to mind. I listen to praise and worship music. I lift it up to the Lord, and worship Him.

BREATHE OUT...

I take a shower and get dressed. When I look in the mirror I ask, "Lord, is this outfit okay? Does it honor You? Is it modest?" I straighten up the house, and do my chores. While doing whatever I do in the morning, I have a conversation with God...I pray...I help my kids with school, or through whatever is bothering them...I pray for wisdom. I thank Him. I decide to not eat lunch....I decide to fast...in order to pray that I would "hunger for God"....to focus on Him.

BREATHE IN...

In the afternoon if I am running errands and I turn on some worshipful music. I listen for a God's message in the music. I sing really loud, and worship God. I pray for those I come in contact with. I pray that God would open my eyes to needs. If someone comes over and we are talking or I am able to serve, I try to remember that I am serving God...not the person..."as much as you have done unto the least of these..you've done it unto me!!!


BREATHE OUT...

I make meals for my family and whoever happens to be at my house. I pray to be flexible, to be aware of God's schedule and not mine! I ask God to make me sensitive to His voice that I would speak when I should speak and know when not to speak! I ask for Him to give me the words to say to whoever I am with. I listen...I serve. I hug. I seek to encourage. I laugh. I ask for forgiveness when I ignore His prompting! I thank Him for guiding me!



BREATHE IN...

We sit down to relax for the evening. Me. My family. Whoever is here...and God! I turn to God and ask, "Is this TV show okay?" "Should we do something else with our time?" I go to the computer and I ask, "What do you want me to write on my blog, Lord?" I thank Him.




BREATHE OUT...

I get ready for bed. I thank the Lord for another day. I crawl under the covers. I pick up whatever book I'm reading, or the Bible, I seek the Lord. I learn. I pray. I say goodnight to my family. I thank the Lord for them. I turn out the lights.

This is what I want my day to look like! A day of breathing and walking with God. Of nurturing our relationship. Of making time.

"Father, Please cause me to LOOK FOR all the ways I can breathe with YOU, and never be too busy to nurture the most important relationship in MY life!"

(Gina has begun writing again after taking a few months off. She has some fresh, new perspective after going through some very dark times. She would love it if you stopped by for a chat and some coffee! You can find her at her personal blog: Chats With An Old Lady.)

Temporary Tissue Paper

“God would never choose for us safety at the cost of significance.”

–Erwin Rapahel McManus

I am mesmerized by tissue paper. I seek it out at every party store, stock it up in my pantry, fluff it up in every present I give and fold it up tight when I receive it.

I am, at times, more impressed with the tissue paper of a gift than the gift itself.

Isn’t there just something about polka dots, pink and paper so sheer you can see the world through it?

I think, in life, I’m mesmerized by tissue paper as well.

I get so caught up in the wrapping of this place — this earth — this one shot, that I often overlook the deeper, lasting gifts given to me completely.

I see a house with a white picket fence.

I see an office with an actual address.

I see a convertible with my hair blowing wildly in the wind.

And I neglect to look deeper.

Because again, there is just something about the polka dots, pink and paper so sheer it tints my world to a brighter hue.

I say, “I want to be like Christ. I want to know Him.”

And most of the time, that’s a tissue paper statement. It looks good, adds flair, is polka dot and pink.
It’s a Christian wrapping. A gift bag we present – perhaps with good intention, but with lacking conviction.

“I want to be like Christ.”

A dangerous declaration.

It means nails in hand, betrayal in full, hunger for 40 days, temptation that aims to take, the weight of sin, the pull of the crowd, the ache for silence, the sickness of a wayward world. It means suffering in righteousness and patience in affliction. It means the testing of faith, hidden glory, the taking up of a daily cross.

“I want to be like Christ. I want to know Him.”

A gift.

Hidden underneath the tissue paper of this life.

I want to be one who looks past the polka dots and pink. Who means it when she says, “I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.” Philippians 3:10-11

I want to live dangerously.

Not worried about tearing up the paper this present is wrapped in.

I want to forfeit my hold on the temporal so I can fully embrace the eternal.

I want to live dangerously.

How about you?



***
Kristen Schiffman is the founder of Exemplify Magazine. She welcomes you to check it out today!

"Pass The Cranberry Sauce" is Not a Relationship

Is there a specific person in your life whom you find very difficult to love?

To be completely transparent, I admit that I have one or two … or three … people who are difficult for me to love.

One of these provides me with a daily exercise in self-restraint and the forgiveness of small offenses. It’s the thorn in the side syndrome.

And the other person I see only at Christmastime, which provides a year’s worth of awkwardness to be dragged out into the middle of the room like a big ‘ol poorly-wrapped gift.

Obviously, my relationship with the first person precipitates a daily working-out with God the miscellany of offenses I have collected in the last 24 hours. Sometimes I think He relishes the myriad of chances I offer Him to grow my character.

After all, He knows the roots of my sin concerning this relationship and points me directly to why I’m offended. The kicker? It’s really not about the other person at all; it’s about my flaws and my responses to him/her.

Imagine that—I’m responsible for my frustration—not the other guy!

The second relationship would seem to require very little spiritual working out on my part because I don’t have to deal with that conflict very often, just once a year, which appeases family and maintains holiday largesse.

If only it were that easy.

I know my God too well to know that he is OK with that kind of passive resistance. He’s all about unity. (See John 17 for exhaustive proof of that assertion.)

Let me be clear that other than having clashing personalities and a history of conflict with the family, there is no reason to avoid this person, e.g., no physical abuse, etc.

But for years, “out of sight, out of mind,” has been my motto concerning this relative.

Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t look at our sins past and present and say, “Oh well, out of sight, out of mind—I’ll just focus on this stellar spirit over here and ignore the problem child.”

So I’ve come to believe that it’s not acceptable to merely engage this person once a year to say, “Pass the cranberry sauce.” I'm pretty sure that exchange doesn't qualify as a relationship.

In fact, I’m pretty sure the Godly thing to do is to move toward this person instead of away.

In 2 Corinthians 2, Paul addresses the way believers should respond to one who has wronged them: “I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.”

Sometimes forgiveness and love involve actively seeking to reconcile when it’s the last thing we want to do naturally.

In that same passage, Paul explains that when he has forgiven others, he has done so “that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

I am not unaware of them, either. And in my case, complacency and avoidance just might be major components in the Devil’s scheme to separate my relative and me.

So it looks like it’s time to make a phone call, just to catch up and reconnect—move toward restoring relationship. And no matter how my call is received, I will know that I am attempting to follow Ephesians 5:1-2: “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

The Holy Spirit always moves us to reconciliation and living a life of grace-filled love.

For reflection:

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:12-13).

Questions:

1. Are you able to see conflict as a scheme of the Devil whose goal is to thwart Jesus’ prayer in John 17?
2. What is the most challenging part of forgiving someone?
3. What are the results of holding grudges, keeping score and avoiding someone on our spiritual and physical selves?
4. What results are possible if we move toward reconciliation even if the other person is not receptive?


Please visit Linda Crow at her personal blog:

First Love

Well, do you remember?

I’m not sure whom I should count as my first love because there are a couple of contenders, the first being the pastor’s little boy when I was in kindergarten. Smitten? I liked him so much that I talked a mile a minute around him, and my only memory of him now is his telling me, “You talk so fast I can’t understand you.”

The other candidate for my first-love memory is my high school sweetheart. I thought I would marry him someday, but it turned out that we each married other people one day apart in our hometown. Years later, I met up with him again, and he confessed to being a terrible husband--a serial adulterer--and I was stunned. I have never stopped thanking God for sparing me the fate of being his wife.

Still, in my heart of hearts, I know there is a deeper first love than all of these. Maybe you’re guessing it’s my dad, but even before my earthly father reportedly danced a jig on the day I was born, my heavenly Father loved me. In fact 1 John 4:19 says, “We love him because he first loved us.” God loved me before I was capable of returning love.

I believe that Jesus is God’s clearest expression of his love for us, and it is Jesus who is my shining knight on a white horse, my savior, and in essence, my first love.

But I didn’t always feel that way. For a time, the focus of my existence and devotion was to my boyfriend (now husband). Through some hard lessons, the Lord showed me that although my husband is a good man, he is not a “god-man.” That is, he cannot be, nor was he intended to be, my all-in-all, go-to source for having all of my needs met. That is not who God created him to be, nor is it any husband’s role.

But we lose sight of our first love sometimes, and we seek affirmation and significance in other people or things. Then, of course, we feel dejected, misunderstood, under-appreciated and resentful.

Ironically, that kind of emotional pain is often what it takes to help us remember that as great as earthly love is, there’s no comparison to the sacrificial, faithful love of Christ, and that’s the way it should be.

Jesus always understands me, now matter how fast I talk to him! He is faithful even when I am prone to wander: “If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who he is" (2 Timothy 2:13). May I never take his faithful love for granted; may I never allow my devotion to my “First Love” grow cold as the Ephesians had in Revelation 2:4-5.

I have a lot to be thankful for on this Valentine’s Day. I’ve been married 23 years to a wonderful man who helps clean house, plunges toilets, occasionally bathes my little dog and brings me coffee every morning, which is no small favor, since I imagine that experience is like sticking your arm through the cage bars of a grizzled old lioness who has morning breath.

Yes, he’s a keeper.

My husband is a gift from the Lord, the very best earthly gift I could have received. But more importantly, I treasure the Giver of the gift, and that keeps the “Valentine’s Day” earthly kind of love in perspective. In other words, my First Love deserves first place in my heart.

I hope that you recognize your “First Love” today and spend a few intimate moments with him.

Questions:

1. What valuable lessons have you learned through earthly love relationships?
2. If you wrote a love letter to God today, what would it say?
3. Are you in danger of allowing your love for Jesus to grow cold, as the Ephesians did? If so, what could you do today to remember and re-focus your love?




Please visit Linda Crow at her personal blog:

Ignoring the Serpent

I wish I didn't relate so much to Eve. You know, the one who messed it up for the rest of us? I wish I could say I was different from her.

Genesis 3. Eve is hanging out in the garden one day. She's alone. Maybe she was okay with solitude for a little while, but, she's a female. And we females like to talk.

She's looking at that tree, the one God said not to eat. You know she wanted to discuss that. Adam is nowhere around, and the serpent seizes his moment. He slithers up, and makes some conversation. The bible doesn't say so, but I wouldn't be surprised if her complimented her hair first. (If she hadn't been naked, he might have told her her shoes were cute.)

Eve is probably happy to have someone to chat to about this very interesting and forbidden tree. She's a woman, and women are by nature, relational. Some of us seek out friendships with many, some with a few, but I have never met a woman who didn't long for a best friend. Eve is an easy target.

The serpent didn't try this trick with Adam - because if Adam was like my husband, he was not on this constant quest to connect to others that I am (hello, I blog.) No, Satan went for the woman. And they connected. Genesis 3:6 says that Eve was seeking wisdom, a noble pursuit. She was just looking for it in all the wrong places.

Well, we know what happened next. The serpent was not a good friend. He was giving her some advice, but not the kind she needed to hear. His counsel led her straight to destruction, and we are all still suffering because of her lack of discernment.

How often do we have an Eve moment?

When I am having an "issue", especially an issue with another female in my life, my initial response is to turn to my girlfriends for guidance and support.

The danger is that whenever we women get together to discuss a conflict, no matter what our levels of spiritual maturity, the conversation is very, very prone to go south. It is our sin nature to be vindictive. Throw some emotion into it, some past baggage on either side, and a dash of PMS, and the conversation can go from spiritual to worldly in no time flat.

This isn't to say that we should not seek the advice of godly women. I believe that good girlfriends and mentors are a gift from the Lord, and I have been blessed many times by their counsel. Often they will tell me wonderful, wise advice. But - not always. They are sinners just like me, after all.

How can I discern if their advice is godly, as opposed to worldly?

Scripture, scripture, scripture.
Any advice we receive must be in line with God's word. And, fortunately for us, God dispenses plenty of advice regarding conflict resolution.

Here is a scenario. You believe you have been wronged by a friend, or a family member. Feelings are hurt, egos are bruised. What to do?

The world says:

• Vent. Let it all out. Tell your friends exactly how you have been wronged. Give a play by play of what she did.

Scripture says:

• I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. Psalm 142:1-2
• If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. James 1:26
  

The line between venting and gossiping is as thin as a hair, and crossing that line happens without even realizing it. It feels good to vent. It feels better to pray. I am learning to vent to God, instead of to my husband, my friends or my mother. And you know what I'm learning? God is an awesome listener.

The world says:

• You don't deserve to be treated this way. You need to stand up for your rights. Confront her and tell her off.

Scripture says:

• "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Matthew 7:3-5
• It is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. Proverbs 3:20

There are very specific rules for confronting another with their sin in Matthew 18. It must be done from a standpoint of love and humility from remembering our sins for which Christ died; with the goal of reconciliation, not with the intent to "stand up for your rights" and certainly not to tell them off.

The world says:

• Be passive aggressive. Don't confront her outright, just "forget" to call her back or keep her informed. Make subtle little tacky comments, to her and about her. Harbor resentment.

Scripture says:

• So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you. Matthew 7:12
• Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

The world says:

• Ignore her. Give her the silent treatment.

Scripture says:

• Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Romans 12:17-18

The world says:

• Get her back. Make her sorry she messed with you.

Scripture says:

• Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:19-21
• Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Philippians 3:2

The world says:

• You are such a victim. Poor you. It's awful how you are being treated when you did nothing wrong.
  

Scripture says:

• Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. I Timothy 1:15-16
• Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
  

The world says:

• What was done to you is just unforgivable.
  

Scripture says:

• Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
• "If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." Luke 17:3-4
• Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. I Peter 4:8
  

I'm not saying the godly way is easier.

The Eve in us wants to get down on our bellies and slither around the feet of the one who has hurt us, whispering insults and sinking our fangs into her ankles.

Trust me, I know.

But we are more than Eve. For we have the spirit of Christ in us, and Christ has overcome the world and all its so-called wisdom. And we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:15-17

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He Loves Me! He Loves Me!

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called you by name. You’re Mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end – Because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you:…That’s how much you mean to Me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you. Isaiah 43:2-4

Have you ever sat thinking about the one you love and, perhaps while you were dating, wondering if they really loved you? We’ve all seen it before. The young girl holding the beautiful flower, plucking one petal at a time, saying, “he loves me, he loves me not”.

As I read these verses in Isaiah chapter forty-three, I found myself reflecting on the reality of God’s love for me. Besides John 3:16, which clearly tells us how much Jesus loves us, these verses are screaming of His deep love for us. Word after word, it says to my heart, “He loves me, He loves me, He loves me”. Read over it again. It says, “He is our personal God, our Savior”. He paid a huge price for us. Why would He do that, we might ask. His word unmistakably replies, “that’s how much we mean to Him”. “That’s how much He loves us!”

Do you remember the song Jesus, Loves Me? Most of us probably learned this as a child and could still sing it today. For most of us, it’s probably been a long time since we found ourselves singing this sweet melody, but I am grateful for the reality that we can never outgrow the love of Jesus. If anything, this precious song that we learned as a child should be even more meaningful to our hearts as adults, as we grow in the understanding of the incredible depth of His love for us. Take a moment to sing this song, and allow God to whisper to your heart through each phrase, “I love you, I love you, I love you”!

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
For the Bible tells me so!

Lord, thank you that you love us. Thank you that you not only tell us in your Word, but you have shown us with your life that you deeply love us. Help me to be mindful of your love and may I experience the breadth, test its length, plumb the depths, and rise to the heights of your love for me (Eph. 3:19). Thank you that nothing can separate me from your love.

In Him


You can read more from Tammy by visiting her at Steps In Our Journey

Discipline Drives out Distraction

The Internet Cafe

welcomes

Laura from My Quotidian Mysteries

I've been especially moved by the recent teaching we've enjoyed as our Anglican church, situated in the Muslim Middle East, has begun the observation of Lent, the forty-day period of penitential solemnity that leads up to Easter. Like a bowl of corn flakes, and with the help of Father Bill, I'm tasting Lent again for the first time with his recent meditations.

Now, hearing the word “Lent” may invoke images of self-flagellation and self-conscious piety, or simply a long time live without chocolate. I’ve often approached the season by trying to come up with something to "give up." Then, like my New Years' Resolutions, I move through the 40-day period in fits and starts of my self-imposed piety.

Fr. Bill challenged that kind of twisted Lenten thinking when our church gathered last week for the Ash Wednesday service. In his sermon, he acknowledged that a lot of the efforts we go to for Lent can easily distract from the point of the season:

"Rather than focus on the things you 'should' give up for Lent, use this time in the church year to add a discipline or habit,” he said. "If there's one thing I want you to take away from this sermon, it's that discipline drives out distraction. And the whole point of Lent is to focus our attention on God's costly love for us in the sacrifice of Christ for our sins. It’s not to focus on what we have done for God in our disciplines, but to use disciplines to focus on what God has done for us in Christ."

It’s tempting to avoid the pitfalls of spiritual disciplines by abandoning them altogether. While Jesus warns us to “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them” (Matt 6:1, ESV), he doesn’t say, “So just forget about spiritual disciplines altogether.”

Nope. Jesus says, “You’ve missed the point of spiritual disciplines if they become their own end, if you’re just putting on a show of righteousness for the attention of others, or if it’s for your own sense of self-righteousness.”

Even as he warns about the pitfalls, Jesus tells us to practice spiritual disciplines: “When you fast…,” (Matt 6:16). Hunger from fasting is a powerful way to focus the mind and heart for prayer and meditation on God’s love for us in the costly sacrifice of his son, Jesus Christ.

Engaging in spiritual disciplines doesn’t make us more worthy of this love; it makes us slow down to encounter it.

The Lord doesn’t want your pious efforts per se. He wants your heart. He wants to strip away the distractions that dull our loving communion with him. Any sin in our lives will most certainly sever that loving communion with him. But sometimes even the busyness and activity of church can dull our communion with the Lord.

Sometimes, our self-conscious efforts at trying to “please God” can utterly distract us from the truth that, in Christ, we are forgiven. We are saved, cleansed, and healed. God has done this work, with no help from us. He just wants us to slow down enough to let that loving truth sink into our sin-sick, and maybe self-righteous-sick, soul.

Just as I am without one, but that they blood was shed for me, and that thought bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Dig Deeper: Take time today to read through a chunk of Scripture, asking the Holy Spirit to slow down and focus your mind, guide your reading, and open the eyes of your heart to encounter God’s great love for you. I’d recommend some traditional Lenten readings: Joel 2:1-17; 2 Corinthians 5:20-6:10; and/or Matthew 6:1-21. If you'd like to explore more about classical spiritual disciplines, I'd recommend this book for further reading.

Solving the World's Problems...and Some of Mine

I find myself doing the most ridicules things. Just like this morning. I woke just after 5:00 a.m. and lay there in my soft cocoon of clean sheets, soft comforter and cozy pillow and I tried to solve the world's problems before I got up....well maybe not the world's...but mine felt like the problems of the world...AND THEN I was so depressed all I wanted to do was burrow deeper into the bed....but then...I crawled out from under and decided it'd be best if God handled it today!

Ever have one of those days? When the stress of life gets too much? That's what happens with me. I battle in my mind over the issues that are pressing in on me when----if I'd just stop and think----I don't need to! I allow heaviness to overtake my heart, and then I'm a mess for days and by the time I finally realize that the place I need to be is at the feet of the Father...I am crumpled in a heap. I need to be wearing Mary's shoes. Not Martha's.



But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42 NIV

Mary's feet led her to the Lord. Martha's feet led her to the kitchen sink. Back and forth from the stove to the table to the sink to the fridge to the sink to the table to the cupboard to the table to the sink to the stove ..... get the picture? Now, I am not saying that there wasn't a "need to feed". There was. There is.

But can you picture Sister Mary with me? Sweating bullets because she can't find the serving platter that matches----biting her tongue almost off because of the anger she is feeling toward Mary, until she finally "voices" it just a bit....pulling out the best linen napkins for the "company", only to find one is missing! She was out of control. Just like me. Maybe even just like you sometimes?



I know my mother gets that way when a special deal is about to take place at her house. I come by it honest. You will find me days before guests are to arrive cleaning baseboards in the bathroom for crying out loud! AND in the hall...and just in case someone looks "behind" the doors...yep---I clean there too. I am not a neat freak....until we have company. Then I totally freak out. (There---I have let my guard down and showed you the "weird me".)

As a matter of fact, on Christmas Eve we were having my whole family at my house....and there I was just a couple of hours before, finally getting around to the bathroom (saved it for last on purpose) and I was cleaning the tub and tub walls as if we were serving food in it! That is a bit much! When it was all said and done I was too pooped to party! I was exhausted and ---AND---on top of that---I messed my back up again!

So, you see, me and Sister Martha have much in common. It's not that we don't love the Lord. We do ---with all our hearts, souls, minds and spirits! But we are excessive in some areas that really don't count as much. They have no "heavenly value". They will not "grow us" spiritually. Well, one point in my favor, I DO LISTEN to praise and worship music while I work. I do talk to the Lord as I'm busy. Sister Martha may have too. I'll ask if I remember when we get to heaven.

I had a discussion with my daughter just this week about her priorities. (Like I'm such a pro at prioritizing things!) God first---then family. She had her "love life" reversed. Love God first----with all your heart-soul-mind-strength---if He is the "Leader" in the marriage then it will work. If He's not, then---hmmm, well, that is something I'm not willing to try. When we love God first---then He can show us how to love that "sometimes" unlovable spouse. The unsaved spouse. The one that puts his wants-desires-activities ahead of everything else. But only with God's help can that be done. (My opinion for what it's worth!)

What am I saying in all this jumble of words? We can't solve the world's problems. Without God---I cannot solve mine. With God in charge---loving Him first....heading straight for the throne first---instead of trying my own way----we can find the peace we need in the midst of the problems of life. That is hard.

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7


I am thankful that I can have the "peace" I need....anytime....anywhere.


Now, before you try and solve the world's problems....make sure you have on the "right shoes" (as in Mary's shoes).


In Him,


Angie

I am "somebody" to Him

I have this quote by Carol Kent neatly tucked away along with scriptures that speak to me about my significance in Christ and His unconditional love for me.

Our deepest passion for significance is finally satisfied when we realize He is all we need and we are "somebody" to Him.

I have struggled with feeling significant most of my life. I know that in part it stems from growing up in a home that unknowingly teased me as the only girl and sent me a subtle message that boys had more value. I was the oldest and not the biological daughter of my father, which only solidified my thoughts even more. It took many years as a Christian to know beyond any doubt that I was personally important to God, and that He loved me unconditionally, and that my life could bring glory to Him.

Psalm 139 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are reminded that God created our inmost being and knit us together in our mother’s womb. We’re told that our frame was not hidden from God when we were formed in the secret place and that His eyes saw our unformed body. The psalmist also states that all of the days that God ordained for us were written in His book before we were even born. I don’t know how one could say “SIGNIFICANT!” any better than this?


So why do I question my worth? Why do feelings of insignificance sometime cloud everything the Bible says about me? Why do I sometimes let one person destroy my sense of belonging? Why do I struggle with what other people think of me? Why is all this so important? Because what we believe about ourselves often determines how we will live. (And also can completely distort our view of God, but that is a post for another day)

If we believe and live out lies, we will end up in bondage. It doesn't matter how much affirmation we receive from others, one negative criticism or just a little dose of rejection and we are devastated because we have let others determine our worth.


The need to feel accepted began in the Garden. God created man to have fellowship with Himself. From the beginning relationships were to bring us joy, completeness, acceptance, and significance. But Satan is a great liar! Not only was Adam and Eve’s relationship with God ruined by his lies, every one of us face the same doubts as a result of sin.


The list of those who doubted their own significance in scripture would include names like Moses, Joshua (Joshua 1:9), and David (2 Samuel 7:18-19). Moses responded to the Lord in Exodus 3:11 with the words, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

The enemy is still a liar today. And if I believe those lies and allow the disappointment from others, failures, unfulfilled expectations, thoughts of worthlessness and inadequacy determine my significance, than I become incapable of seeing who God is and how valuable I am to Him. The TRUTH is I am valuable to God. (I suggest reading through and meditating on Psalms 139:1-18) No bells and whistles, No need to try and impress Him, No need to show Him my list of accomplishments, No need to try and look good. God Himself finds me significant and has demonstrated His love through the cross. It is God who loved me first. When God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on a cross for your sins and mine, our worth was determined once and for all.



“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10

Father, Thank you for loving me with an unconditional love that is not based on anything that I could do or who I am, but solely on who you are. Thank you for giving Your Son to be the propitiation for my sins.
Help me to renew my mind with the Word of God and replace the lies with the truth, God loves me and I have significance in Him. Amen.

In Him...Chris



Chris can also be found at her personal blog Come to the Table

The Strong Woman

If you’ve ever been to the circus or seen strength exhibitions on TV you may have seen what the world perceives as the “strongest man or woman”. I hate to break it to them….but my mother is the strongest woman in the world. How do I know? Well, even though she has never been in any “worldly contest”… she lived the life of strength in Christ before my sisters and brother. I am the oldest of four---so I should know.

I watched as she faced each trial holding tightly to the hand of God. Sickness of a child, betrayal, financial problems, single parenthood, her own physical problems that came as a result of the trials of life, and many other adversities that I, as her child was never privy to. She protected us from her difficulties. But, since I was the oldest, there were a few things I knew, saw or learned. Through each and every trial….she never turned loose of the hand that held her so tightly….but ever so gently. She is the one that taught me, “Pray about everything”. And I do.


This is a little "side trail".....
Several years ago, I gave my mother a gift that I believe she treasures to this day. No matter how amateurish it may look, with its glued in pictures, glued on bindings and computer printout pages, she loved it. I gave her a book of my memories of her mother, who had gone to be with Jesus several years earlier, but was missed greatly by all of us.

As I worked on this gift project, I went to my mothers' sisters for help. They gave me old pictures to copy. They told me stories of life that surrounded each photo. Every picture had a memory. Throughout this little book, I told of all the details I remembered as I grew up, being a privileged grandchild, and being able to stay with "Mamo and Papa" for long visits in the summer. My claim to privilege is due to the fact that we lived about 350 miles from my grandparents and were able to spend lengthy visits with them on each school break.

A few of my memories were, wagon rides behind Papa’s tractor through the watermelon fields. Mamo would take small watermelons for my sister, Wanda and myself and carve a face on it with a nail, giving us a “melon baby” to play with for the day. I remember helping Mamo wash clothes in her wringer washer on the back porch, later watching crisp sheets snap in the breeze. The gathering of the eggs, watching Papa milk the cows in the early morning and late evening, were also among the sweet memories. Watching Mamo churn butter, make cakes, biscuits, and all sorts of good eatin’ that you would always find at her table was a delight to this young child's soul. They grew their own vegetables, made their own jams and jellies, slaughtered their own hogs (yuk), and so many other things, we’d be here all day if I continued. But through every detail of their lives, they held tightly to God.

Prayer was serious business. They had no TV when I was young, actually, even later on when Papa convinced Mamo that they “needed” one to watch the news, I never remember visiting and finding the TV on. They were always busy with the activities of life.

When staying with them, I woke early to the smell of breakfast cooking and if I woke late, I woke to the sounds of the chairs being pushed back on the linoleum floor, so that they could get on their knees. The early morning sounds of their daily conversation with the Father. On their knees. EVERYDAY. This was their daily exercise. (This was where my mother's strength began to form.) It showed up in their lives. It showed up in their children.

After supper, each night they would retire to the living room and read in their Bibles, or Sunday School lesson, or The Pentecostal Evangel. When the time came, they got down on their knees and talked to God. EVERYNIGHT. This was an honor and privilege for me. Although at the time, being a young girl, I may not have realized the “strength” of the moment---but I can tell you today, I know. I know where my mother’s strength came from. Her godly training. By a godly mother. A strong mother.

I Timothy 1:5-7 "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." This passage of scripture always reminds me of my mother and grandmother. My mother's name is not Eunice....but my grandmother's name was Lois. I always claimed this verse to be "about them". I believe whatever strength I have today, began from the kneeling position at Mamo's couch. By her side. Even as a young child of 5 or 6....it is the memories of those times that have encouraged me. Watching and hearing my own mother in her prayer times....strength builders. Having my own prayer time and bible reading....strength builders. (End of side trail....)

The memories that I shared in mother's little book that were so sweet to me, brought back memories of “hard times” as mother remembered growing up. She remembered the sweet things as well, but it was through the hard times in her growing years, that she began to gain strength for the next phase of her life.

To be physically strong it requires some action on our part. We can’t just buy exercise equipment and expect to have that “fit body”….believe me….it doesn’t work (tried it). We have to eat properly and actually "use" the equipment! Whether we walk, run, hike or do aerobics, we need to circulate the blood---get the heart rate up. We must be diligent.

In order to have the spiritually fit life, there also are steps we take. We can’t just buy the Bible and expect it to “jump in us”….We must drink in His Word. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" (1 Peter 2:2)

We must be persistent. Romans 2:7 says: "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life". The amplified Bible says “patient persistence”. And we must exercise our faith.

"Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is much more important, for it promises a reward in both this life and the next". 1 Timothy 4:8 NLT

In my early teenage years, when my dad was no longer an active figure in our home---my mother's plate of duties began to expand; she stepped up to that plate and became what was necessary. This required more time with the Lord. Through that time, she gained more strength---as she spent more time on her knees and more time in His Word. This was her spiritual exercise. This was necessary for her spiritual growth.

A not-so-brief synopsis of my mother: She was our cook, our teacher, our personal seamstress (she made almost everything we wore), our chauffeur, our doctor, our personal decorator, our cheerleader, our prayer warrior, our friend and confidante, our comforter--when our childlike heart was broken, a trail blazer--never afraid to attempt what seemed impossible (firmly believes nothing is impossible with God), our peacemaker--for anytime you have children...you have fusses and quarrels, and on the rare occasions when there was just a bit of extra money, she was our banker. She enabled us to “learn to earn” our spending money. Most of all, she was our strength.

She was strong (still is), but only through and by the grace of God. Through Him, her weakness was made strong. We all want to be strong. Physically and spiritually. We don’t necessarily want to do what it takes, or endure what we must for that strength.

I remember many years ago when I worked at the high school, I lead a small class for anyone that wanted to spend 30 minutes after school walking and exercising. Every other day we did one or the other. We walked the track at school or we worked out to an exercise video in the gym. It was tough. The first 2 weeks I thought I needed a fork lift to help me off the toilet! One of the teachers that had joined in complained of the same thing. Reaching our goal took effort. It took daily perseverance. But those of us that kept at it, achieved our goal. (Don’t ask me what happened since I am NOT in the shape I was then---I’ll whoop out my pictures of my grand kids!)

Today, I have a different goal. I want spiritual strength. I have to realize there will be trials and difficulties ahead. But I want with all my heart to become the woman God intends for me to be. A strong woman in Christ. A genuine faith filled, Holy Ghost empowered woman!

1Peter 1:7 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

As 2008 begins to dawn, let us all endeavor to reach for the spiritual strength that God desires to have in each of us. Let us lift our "spiritual weights" while we are lifting our physical ones. Every January, I set a goal for myself....same one....every year. More exercise, better health, better eating habits. But this year, I am adding one. I want to be spiritually strong. We can achieve both. Together...and don't forget to "encourage one another". Be sure and visit Darlene's "Live Well" site for great encouragement and ideas on a healthier, stronger you!

In Him,





Angie


May each of you be blessed with the Spirit of Heaven at Christmas....as you Worship the Reason....for our blessed season. Jesus!

God's Love Language

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”
Deuteronomy 6:5

Have you ever read the book entitled, The Five Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman? It is a very insightful book and helpful in building healthy relationships. Dr. Chapman lists several ways in which we communicate love to those closest to us. There is physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation, gifts, and quality time. Each plays a significant role in every relationship we have, but he shares how we all have one or two particular languages that speak love the loudest to us.

I often use this to evaluate how I am expressing love to those around me in order to ensure that I am communicating love to them in the most effective way possible. We all desire for our relationships to be rich and refreshing, and we know that in order for this to happen it takes diligence and dedication. It isn’t something that just naturally happens, but rather it requires that we be intentional in cultivating these kind of relationships.

Have you ever stopped to evaluate your relationship with God? Not just where you stand with Him, but how you love Him, and more specifically, how you communicate that love to Him. I cannot help but think that even Jesus has a favorite love language. Don’t get me wrong, just as in my own marriage, every love language is valuable, however, the reality is that we each have a particular love language that, when expressed, it shouts loud and clear, “I love you!” I believe we express love for God when we serve Him, when we sing praises to Him, and when we give our gifts and offerings to Him, but I cannot help but think that His primary love language is quality time.

Think about the story with me of Mary and Martha. You remember the account in Luke chapter 10 when Jesus is being hosted in their home. Martha is serving Him, preparing a luscious meal for her Lord. Mary, on the other hand, is simply sitting at His feet, giving Him her undivided attention. Jesus didn’t reprimand Martha for serving. He knew she loved Him and was attempting to express that love through her service, but what He did do was clearly express that which He felt was best. I am sure he enjoyed lunch that day and I can’t help but think that he expressed gratitude later for the meal. However, what brought Him the most joy and expressed love to His heart the most? What did He say was most valuable? Take the time to check it out for yourself. You will find it was the quality undistracted time that Mary offered Him at His feet.

What about you? Are you busy serving at the expense of just sitting at His feet? Are we stuck in the whirlwind of acts of service, that are fueled by a deep desire to express love to our Savior, and all the while He is quietly whispering to our spirits, “I just want some time with you”? Are we offering Him our talents and our treasures materially, but withholding the time He so passionately seeks with us?

He is God and He knows our hearts, but as we express our love to the One who is Love, let’s take the time today to make the necessary adjustments in our schedule that we might meet with Him. Give Him that which He most enjoys. Speak His love language, if you will. Sit at His feet, hear His heart through His word, and then, out of an overflow of that precious time, we will find ourselves speaking the other love languages clearly and they will be heard by the world around us as our life exclaims, “I love the Lord”!

Lord, enable me today to speak Your love language. Help me to remember that it is TIME that you desire most from me and that all the other love languages will come as a natural overflow of that. I deeply love you, Jesus, and want to communicate that love to you in the way that speaks it loudest to Your heart! Thank you for the story in your word that displays clearly that which you most desire from me.

In Him ~
Tammy…

You can read more from Tammy at Steps in Our Journey

Flag Football of Life

Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.
Acts 20:1

Have you been to a little kid’s flag football game? Have you seen, or heard, the moms on the sidelines? I’m referring to the particular mom with her face painted in support of her son’s team, loosing her mind as she cheers for them. Whether he’s playing like a pro or making fumbles and loosing flags, she is shouting encouragement at the top of her lungs for her “baby” and the boys on his team. Well, minus the face painting, although that may be just around the corner, that crazy hollering Mom is me. One of my favorite responsibilities as a mother is being a cheerleader, if you will, for each of my children. This year my son started playing flag football. On Saturdays during the season, we would load up the family, the cooler, and the chairs to go and cheer our hearts out for the little Rams. Win or loose, I was there cheering them on!

I’ve never been to a game and heard a mom scolding or tearing down her son when he lost a flag or fumbled the ball. This is probably a good thing, because I would loose my mind over that! It isn’t the norm to hear a parent yelling at their son things like, “What are you thinking” or “Good job, you looser”. On the contrary, moms are usually throwing encouragement onto the field the entire game with comments like, “Great try”, “You can do it”, or “You’ll get the next one, buddy”.

Life can sometimes be like a flag football game. We can often times be running down the field, in the middle of a great play, only to have Satan snatch our flag. It could be many different flags, like that of joy, peace, or purpose. We can feel discouraged and defeated and have the tendency to throw in the towel. We’ve all had those times and the most encouraging thing we can hear from the sidelines is the cheers from other believers. Just that little "verbal nudge" to get up and try again can be all that’s needed to keep us from throwing in the towel and giving up.

There are always people around us on the field of life who have lost a flag. It isn’t our job as a fellow follower of Christ, to say things like, “What were you thinking” or “I cannot believe you just did that”. We are called to “encourage one another and build each other up”. (1 Thess. 5:11) We need to be the cheerleaders in the lives of those around us.

This verse in Acts says, “Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, Paul gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope”. This is the kind of “teammate” I desire to be. As I am traveling through this journey of life, I want to give constant encouragement to others, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope. No matter what they do or how hard they fall, I want to be a person that takes the time to lift them up and invigorates them to “get back in the game”!

I am confident that you have this same desire. Let’s be intentional this week as we are in this, sometimes hard, game of life, to uplift those that are down and encourage those that have had a flag snatched by the enemy. Let’s run down the field of life together, remembering we are on the same team and the score is already been determined. Oh, and just for the record, we win!

Lord, help me this week to be a person that builds others up. Help me to be used by you to instill fresh hope in those that are down. Help me to be a cheerleader for those running alongside me for Your glory and help my voice to be louder than the jeers that may be coming from those that are trying to discourage and tear us down.

In Him~
Tammy…

You can read more from Tammy at Steps in Our Journey

Refuge

When Michael and I built our deck this summer, we picked up a pergola to sit on top of it. If you don’t know what a pergola is, basically it is four pillars that hold up a row of beams, and acts as a type of roof. It doesn’t keep out the rain or the sun, but it’s a great system for growing vines that will eventually hang over our heads. I love it.

It’s been standing all summer without a problem, so I figured that all was good—until last Saturday that is. When I walked in the kitchen, I heard an unrecognizable sound booming from the back yard.

“The per—pergola!!!” I screamed to Michael, who I’m so thankful was sitting in the living room, rather than putting in a day at work. “The pergola!” It was all I could think to say as I saw this enormous structure leaning outside on our dining table.

Within seconds, Michael, our neighbor, and I were hoisting the pillars all back in place. It was windy, but we had seen far worse winds over the summer. I have no idea why the pergola decided to come down on this particular day, and then threaten to come down over and over again as I witnessed it sway in the wind.

Immediately Michael shot out the door en route to the lumberyard. He had put off fastening it to the deck since he didn’t have the required screws, but now we had no choice. It had to be fastened. My nine-year-old daughter, Maddy and I were left to hold the pillars, just to ensure it didn’t come down again.

It’s been a very long time since I felt my heart beating as fast as it was. Every time a gust of wind shook the structure I feared it would come down once again. My legs were shaking as were my arms, but I stood there holding the pillar as best that I could. Then I did what I always do in situations like this—I called my dad. One of the kids brought the cordless phone to the pillar, and with shaky hands I dialed his number.

It’s nice that my parents live close by, especially when toilets are overflowing, ovens catch on fire, or pergolas are swaying in the wind. Dad was there within ten minutes, sitting on a chair propped up against a pillar while I leaned on a table propped up against another. Dad is always calm in a storm. Always. There’s just something about that man that doesn’t sway him when tragedy hits, even in those moments when it hits real hard. I can always rely on him to calm my nerves and to guide Michael and I through difficult times. It’s a gift I suppose, that not only reminds me that I’m safe because he’s there, but also the fact that most of all that I’m safe in this world because I have a heavenly Father who I can find refuge in through every storm of my life.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.” ~ Psalm 46:1-3

In time, those vines with grow, adding shade to our yard, and protection from the sun. I look forward to those days--abiding in the vine, as I fellowship in the cool of the day, with my Lord.

Climbing to Companionship

Matthew 5:1
When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions.

Do you ever wonder why the activity of God can draw a crowd, but the call from Him to be committed, draws only a few? People are ready to get in on the blessings, the buzz that often surrounds His activity, but only a few follow Him on the uphill climb to companionship.
Companionship is defined as the state of being with someone. This communicates more than simply a mental knowledge or even fond feeling toward. One is not considered a companion if there is no consistent fellowship and time spent together. It is during this time of intimate fellowship that companions share their heart with one another.
It takes work to follow Christ. It is often times a steep hill and can feel like a hard and strenuous journey, but only those that make the climb with Him, are blessed with the quiet place where He sits with you, teaches you, and becomes your dearest companion. God desires to share His heart with us, but it takes commitment and work on our part to follow Him to that quiet place that is conducive for Him to do so.
Are you taking the time each day to climb to that quiet spot? Are you putting forth the effort and energy to get up early enough to sit with Him and hear what is on His heart? Are you a part of the crowd that is watching from the lower plains of life? If so, what is it that is keeping you from making the journey up the hillside to be with Him? Is it the lack of discipline to make the time? Or perhaps it is simply being unwilling to give up a little sleep and rise early enough to meet with Him before the rush of your day begins.
Whatever it takes, start today with that first uphill step towards that quiet place with Jesus. Find renewed strength through His companionship and enjoy the new perspective and joy that comes from being up on the hillside with the Lord.

Lord, give me the discipline necessary to make the climb today to meet with you. Draw me to the quiet place where you are waiting to share your heart with me. Give me ears to hear and the will to climb as high as you lead me today, no matter what the journey requires of me.

Tammy...

You can read more from Tammy by visiting Steps in our Journey

The perfect parent...

"Oh, my goodness! How many times have I told you to pick up your towel off of the floor??" My frustration shows as I grab the towel and hang it on the bathroom rack.

"And, Colin? You've gotta flush!"

My sigh is loud. I wouldn't want anyone to miss it. I quickly move from room to room trying desperately to create some semblance of order. The baby is actually happy in the bouncy seat for the time being. I am well aware that it will most likely be a very short time.

I sort the laundry and head into each child's room.

"Maddy, why haven't you put away your clothes? I asked you to do that three times earlier. You need to do something the first time I ask you! Put them away now please, neatly, and bring down your basket when you're done."

I lift the baby from his seat, get a burp and feel warm stuff running down my back. After a quick check to make sure none got on the floor, I trot downstairs, barely remembering by the time I reach the bottom to wipe off my shirt.

"Someone didn't clear their place from lunch!" I call upstairs to whomever is listening. Probably no one, I think to myself. I sigh again, put the baby on a blanket, and rub my temples.

Why, Lord, can't they remember the things I ask? Why can't they do things the first time? I repeat myself over and over and yet I might as well be talking to the pot rack.

I know how you feel, God answers.

You do?

Yes. Remember last week when I told you to hold your tongue? How many times have I said that to you?

Oh, now you're making this about me? No fair.

Or what about the times I've asked you to not be so sensitive? That's a tough one for you.

You're taking the wind out of my sails now, God. I know I'm not perfect.

I'm only asking you to guide them gently. Shepherd them as I do you. They will learn more by your example than your stern words.

You're the perfect parent, God. Just be with me and teach me...

That's all I wanted to hear. You got it.



"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." Prov. 16:3



Come visit me at my blog home, Fruit in Season.

He is Near!

I don’t have anything witty or cleaver to share with you today. You will find nothing profound or insightful in the story I am about to tell. Well, perhaps or perhaps not. Let God lead your heart.

This is a cornball story describing an ordinary day, a gal and her dog, and her amazing God. You may roll your eyes when you find out what I am talking about. Hang with me. The ending is good.

_____

Every morning I go for a walk-and-talk with Jesus. I usually take along my dog, Peanut. He is a mutt, Chihuahua-Daschund mix. We head out the door, peanut wearing his red leash, I am in shorts, and carrying a plastic bag. Dog walkers know what we use this for. *grin*

We walk a route in the common areas of our neighborhood. It is a wide loop with beautiful pathways with terrific landscaping. I find myself praising God most mornings as I take in the beauty of nature.

Thursday morning, as we started walking our loop, little Peanut decides it is time. He, ahem, hunches and does his thing. I reach into my pocket; the plastic grocery bag is gone. Rest assured I am a responsible pet owner. I don’t want to leave the evidence lying about.

Along our path there are several doggie boxes containing plastic bags for this kind of an accident. I can pick one up and scoop the doo-doo on the way home.

The entire time I am walking, I am praying about writing a post for today. I have made five attempts to write something and I have deleted them all. I am more than a little anxious. I pray, asking the Lord for the words. I talk to Him about my writers block for 30 minutes. Walking and talking. I completely forget to check the doggie boxes for bags.

I turn the final corner of the walk and remember the dog mess is ahead. I realize I do not have a bag in my hand and there is not a dog box in sight. So, I utter these words, “Lord, could You provide a plastic bag within the next 50 feet.”

I keep walking.

I see something ahead in the grass.

Could it be?

I walk about 20 feet and there on the grass next to the sidewalk is an Albertson’s shopping bag. I hesitate. I reach down and pick it up carefully. It is wet and covered with freshly mowed grass but I shake it out and find it is clean, whole and exactly what I need.

I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or shout, “Hallelujah! It’s a miracle.” I start thanking God. I could almost feel Him standing next to me. He whispered in my ear, “I am closer than you think.”

Peanut and I begin walking again. I am still in shock or awe or something. I use the Albertson’s bag and exercise my pet-owner responsibility. I scoop the poop. We walk it to the can in the park and start home.

I continued praying about what just took place as we walked down our street toward home. I felt God prompting me. I said something like this, “Lord, I can’t write about dog poop.”

“Lynn, you asked me for the words.”

“Yes Lord, and what a story it is.”

“Don’t forget what you learned today.”

“I won’t Lord”

I am closer than you think.
I am near.
I listen, I hear.
No need to fear.
I am near.
–Sincerely, The Lord



By the way, I found my dropped bag a few doors away from my house as I was walking home. God set up this amazing encounter the minute I began to pray.

Please visit me at: Spiritually Unequal Marriage.

Be Sweet

I want to be sweet.

Down here in the south, that's a good thing. "Oh, she's so sweet!" "Well, aren't you just the sweetest thing!" "Wasn't that a sweet song?" "Just look at that sweet baby!" "Okay kids, be sweet!" Sweetness carries with it a connotation of being desirable, doesn't it?

I've been reading through my Old Testament, spending some time in Ruth. One of my first impressions of her is that she was sweet. Even in her unspeakable grief following the loss of her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law, she was loyal to her mother-in-law. As I read the account of her resolve to stay with Naomi, her sweet spirit flows off of the page.

"But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." (Ruth 1:16) This must have been such a comfort to Naomi, who was already in a strange land due to famine, and had lost those closest to her- her husband and children. What unspeakable grief she must have been experiencing! This could've been such a time of great isolation for her, but sweet Ruth "clung to her." (Ruth 1:14)

And Naomi needed a "sweetener." Her life was so marked with grief that she gave herself a new name, "Bitter." The word for it in the Hebrew was "Mara," and that's what she was asking those in her hometown to call her upon her return. She came home with a new identity- bitterness. "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me," she had said. (Ruth 1:20) But sweet Ruth was by her side, and I believe it was to have a great effect on Naomi.

The Old Testament records another time when something "Mara" needed a sweetener. Exodus 15 records that after the people had crossed the Red Sea into the wilderness, they went three days without anything to drink. When they finally came upon the welcomed sight of water, "they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter; therefore it was named Marah." They grumbled, and cried out to the Lord, who showed Moses a tree branch that he threw into the water, "and the waters became sweet." (Ex. 15:25) What the people needed was not available until God acted. This time, He chose to act through a branch.

As I read and reflected on the instance at the waters of Marah with Naomi in mind, I realized that He sent a "branch" into her bitterness as well- Ruth. Sweet Ruth married Boaz, and gave birth to Obed. "Then the women said to Naomi, 'Blessed is the Lord who had not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel. May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.' " (Ruth 4:14)

The child of whom they spoke was Obed, the father of Jesse, grandfather of David. Ruth was King David's great-grandmother! And the "Branch" (Isaiah 11:1) which was to come, Jesus, would offer sweet salvation to those of us stuck in our bitter sin. He can trace His earthly familial roots to sweet Ruth. I believe she had "branch-like" qualities. She sweetened the waters of Naomi's bitterness, and was to begin the family line that would eventually lead to the "root and branch of Jesse."

Is there someone you know who could use a sweetener today? Do you know someone who is embittered by life's circumstances or is in a bitter struggle with sin? Could you be that branch for them? If you are in Christ, you are a part of the Branch, the True Vine. Could He use you to sweeten the waters in someone's life? Maybe, like Ruth, He could use you to "cling to" someone... to not abandon them in their grief. Ruth certainly had her own reasons to grieve, but she allowed God to use her to sweeten someone else's time of pain. I'd like to follow her example, how about you? I want to be sweet!



I'd love for you to visit my personal blog (where I try to always be sweet!) One Day More .