A Mess in His Hand

Have you ever seen the mess under your table after a full day of kid occupation and demolition? Gathering under your table are portions of pancake and bits of bacon from breakfast; glints of goldfish and hunks of ham from lunch; scattered salmon and messy mashed potatoes from dinner, and don’t even get me started on the ever accumulating pesky pieces of play dough, fragments of forgotten toys and determined debris from the yard.

You look at the mess under your table and become overwhelmed. “I just cleaned all this mess yesterday!” you think. Then, your mind begins its spiral into a dismal recount all of the housekeeping you do every second of the day – cooking, organizing, cleaning messes, picking up toys, changing diapers, doing laundry and that’s just the stuff you do at home!

I remember on one particular evening I finally cracked! I was so upset about the mess in the kitchen. It felt as though I looked away for one second and a tornado pointed its tricky finger down from ceiling, stirring the contents of my kitchen and brought it back up before I could see it. My mind started fuming, and I took a nose dive into my own pity party.

I angrily got the broom and started sweeping under the table. I filled my mind with all the little and seemingly insignificant things I do all day long. I questioned my purpose and the meaning of life, which at the time felt like was all about cleaning. I had no peace or joy, and I forgot all of the blessings God pours on me each day.

About one minute later my floor was clean (all that complaining for something that was so easy to do)! I walked over to the trashcan to dump out that day’s destruction, and I noticed how little the mess looked in the dustpan. I stared at the gathered garbage and laughed. I could hold all of it on the palm of my hand.

How could such a little mess cause me so much grief?

That’s when God gave me an important image. I know it sounds cliché, but I imagined all of my life’s problems in the palm of His hand, and they seemed small.

Everything is small compared to the power and love of God. If we give our lives over to Him, we are protected for eternity. Nothing can snatch us out of His hands. Though the messes of life – busyness, illness, divorce and death – surround us; we know that our Heavenly Father is holding them all in His mighty hand. He doesn’t promise that our lives will be easy; He simple promises that we will be able to persevere (James 1.12).

What messes are you dealing with today?

Do you trust that God holds them in His hand?

Will you determine your mind not to worry about situations that are out of your control? Let us praise God that we will be spending eternity in heaven with Him!


"Father, please help us to have faith that You truly have the whole world (including our messes) in Your mighty hands. Amen!"

“I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them
out of my hand” (John 10.28 NIV).

Swirly Life

Life gets pretty swirly sometimes, doesn't it? For me, more often then not, I find myself feeling like the person in the infamous painting, "The Scream"; feeling that myself and my life are bending in too many directions - things swirling around me, confusing, chaotic.

This is similar to what we in the education field call, "a sensory overload day"; too much going on too quickly with not enough resolution to those things swirling around us, and not enough resources, time, money, etc, to process what is coming at us, fast enough. Children react to sensory overloads in a way that we adults, more often then not, do not; they holler, scream, push things and people away, cry, retreat, or even sometimes, seek out even more of the behavior that is making them upset in the first place.

How does it feel for you when life gets swirly?

On any given day, we have a thousand things going on in our own lives, as well as within the world around us. We have jobs to go to, houses to clean, kids to shuttle here and there, meals to prepare, financial woes, health issues, aging parents, husbands stressing us out, ministries to run, and the list goes on and on.

Yet, because we are Christians, we are expected to "keep it all together" so that we can present this image of "perfection" to the world, that we have been made completely (note the word "completely") perfect by the fact that we put our faith in Jesus Christ. Yet while it is true that, "All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21), we have to remember what we are saved from: sin, hell, eternal damnation. Is there a promise anywhere in scripture that ensures us that because of our faith we will no longer have stressful days? That troubles won't come? That something magical will happen and poof all our troubles away when they occur? No!

In fact, there are more scriptures that state just the opposite - they promise that trials will come and that people will fail you and that you will face days, or even an entire lifetime of sensory overload. Not the best marketing campaign to pitch to a nonbeliever, is it? I know when I came to faith in Christ, I thought that He would magically make all of my troubles disappear (I think I was looking for a "fairy godmother" character, and not a redeeming Christ!), but they never did.

The promise Christ give us is this; "Come to Me, all who are heavy laden [stressed, burnt out, throwing temper tantrums, feeling like they are in sensory overload] and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28).

How many of us want to rest?

How many of you feel like you have a hiking pack strapped to your backs full of stress that has your knees buckling, your limbs shaking, tears and sweat pouring down your face...you feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually weak - or even completely spent?

Good - you know why that's good - because that means you're not broken in two to the point where you can't go on - you're not dead, in the ground, crushed by the weight of the world. However, there is something you can do with that pack on your back - you can let it make your legs collapse, resulting in you falling to your knees where you will cry, "Abba, Father!", and the promise of help from the Lord will come. God doesn't break promises for anyone - anyone, and that means you! Let the Lord take that pack off your back as you read this Psalm:

"I lift my eyes up to the hills -
where does my help come
from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He
will not let your foot slip -
He who watches over you will not
slumber,
indeed He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor
sleep.
The Lord watches over you -
the Lord is your shade at your right
hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord
will keep you from all harm -
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will
watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."

- Psalm 121

How awesome of a promise is that?

How awesome to know that when everyone and everything around you is crumbling, Jesus Christ, God, the Maker of the universe, will come to your personal rescue because He loves you and cares for you personally. That's pretty amazing if you ask me!

So next time (or even right now!) when life around you gets swirly and you feel like you're being bent in too many directions, scream...but scream on your knees, in a voice of honest desire for the Lord's rescue - and my friends, be patient, our God is faithful, He is mighty to save! So scream...scream to the Lord...on your knees, He will rescue you, He alone will give you guidance, peace, wisdom and strength to endure, eventually lifting your chin, then taking your hand, lifting you up, helping you to stand tall again - ready to face the world head on as a light of His promise of redemption unto all the world! Amen!

"Do you not know?
Have you not heart?
The Lord is the
everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow
tired or weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength
to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired
and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the
Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like
eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be
faint."

- Isaiah 40:28-31

Why Am I Being Persecuted When I Did the Right Thing?

If this title resonates with you, I can imagine that you’ve been frustrated with doing what was right and sticking to your convictions only to have people condemn you for it.

Good news, you are in good company! Bad news, sometimes a lion’s den is the reward for the good decisions that we make.

Daniel, chose to honor the Lord and he was thrown into a den of hungry lions. Jealous men set up a plan to get rid of him by using his love and respect for God against him.

Daniel 6:13-14
Then they said to the king, "Daniel, who is one of the exiles
from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the decree you put in
writing. He still prays three times a day."
v.16 So the king gave the order,
and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions' den.
NIV

Have you ever been there? You stood for what was right only to have it fly back in your face and be punished for it? At this point, I start to feel defeated and wondering why God allows such things to happen.

But as we read on in the story we see exactly what God has up His proverbial sleeve!

Daniel 6:19-24
19 At the first light of dawn, the king got up and
hurried to the lions' den.

20 When he came near the den, he called
to Daniel in an anguished voice, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your
God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?"

21 Daniel answered, "O king, live forever!

22 My God
sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me,
because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before
you, O king."

23 The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift
Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was
found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

NOW who gets the glory??? That’s right- GOD!

If the story had ended with Daniel being set free, Daniel would have been the focus and hero of the story, but the way God let it all go down, He gets the glory!

Sometimes God allows us to walk through things so that He is the One who shines the brightest, and of course that is what we want. We desire to see God lifted up and magnified in our lives but sometimes we get discouraged with the situations He uses to do that. We need to remember that “it’s all about Him- not us.”

Look what happened to those jealous men:

Daniel 6:24
At the king's command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought
in and thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. And
before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed
all their bones.
NIV

The bottom line with God is that we do reap what we sow. We may not see all the reaping on this earth in our lifetime…but God is not mocked.

However, when our heart is set on Him and His glory, we will not rejoice in the punishment of others, in fact I believe we need to pray for the mercy of God to pour out on the lives of those who persecuted us.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time
we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
NIV

Keep doing the right thing and don’t worry about who is watching, God sees it all!

Distracted

“Hey, how are you?” The silence shattered and heads once entranced in magazines looked up and towards the culprit. “I’m still in the doctor’s office waiting,” she explained in a loud talking-on-a-cell-phone kind of voice. “I’m going to meet y’all for lunch in an hour or so,” we all listened to the conversation. We couldn’t help it. I paused in my book, staring at the words in front of me waiting for the lady beside me to politely end her call. That’s what you do in small waiting rooms – either send the call to voice mail or quietly answer and explain how you’ll call back later. It didn’t happen.

The waiting room as a whole listened as this woman helped her friend find her way to a specific destination. The loud talking woman wasn’t content to give directions and cut the caller loose. “I’ll just stay on the phone with you until you find it,” she told her friend. A collective sigh came from the waiting room.

Determined to block this woman out, I concentrated on the words in front of me. I called them out in my head one by one, then started over and read the sentence again. It was hard to glean any meaning from the print in my lap. It didn’t matter my book was interesting. I could not concentrate on anything but the loud talker and her conversation. I was distracted.

Satan works the same way. When God is speaking, Satan tries to drown Him out. We may be trying to read God’s Word while the devil jumps up and down shouting, or perhaps we are desperately trying to concentrate on that still small voice within us. Instead of hearing how you are chosen and part of a bigger plan, you are forced to listen to the hiss of the evil one as he spews – You aren’t good enough. You’ll never amount to anything. What does God care about you? Do you really think He has the time for one as insignificant as yourself?

Our Savior’s greatest enemy will do all he can to keep you from listening to the words of your Father. He doesn’t want you to know the truth. If he can just wave his hands high enough, jump fast enough, or talk loud enough, maybe you won’t know the truth – The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever. (Psalm 138:8 NIV)

You know when I was able to finish reading my book? When I got up and left the waiting room. My name was called, and I was able to move away. Christ is calling your name, too. Get up and walk away from the lies you are being told. Then concentrate on the Living God and what He is trying to tell you. You are loved. You are chosen. I have a plan for you. Believe it!

Visit Carol at sheep to the right!

Why Does God Test Us if He Already Knows the Answers?

“I think I’m going to fail,” my son mumbled about his upcoming standardized test at school. “You can’t fail,” I explained. “It’s just a test to let the teacher know where you stand. She needs to know your level, so she can plan for the third grade.”

I recalled my years of training to become a teacher. I knew the importance of testing, but I also knew how nervous it could make the children. I tried to encourage my son to do his best, so that he could let the teacher know what things he mastered and where he needed help.

The conversation led me to think of some of the tests in my life lately. If God already knows everything, I wondered, then why does He test us at all? He knows the outcome before it even happens. I spent some time in prayer and in God’s Word looking for the answers. I’d love to share with you what I found.

1. The one who learns from the test is you.

While our children are tested for the benefit of the teacher, we are tested for our own benefit. When we go through trials, it brings us to a place where we learn more about ourselves.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Genesis 22:1-2 NIV

God used this test to teach Abraham that he truly could depend on Him to provide. Abraham was willing to give his long-awaited child back to God, and God instead provided a ram for the sacrifice.

Often we don’t know how much our faith can be stretched until it’s tested.

2. Testing is a catalyst that brings us to change.

When we are riding the fence of faith, God can use a test to push us to the other side. We become who God wants us to be only through the trials of the test.

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. Exodus 16:4 NIV

The Israelites weren’t completely dependent on God at this point. They knew He was powerful and He was the God of Moses, but it wasn’t until they were tested that they learned to fully depend on Him. God wanted His people to trust Him to meet their needs daily. Through the test, their relationship with Him changed from one of distance to one of intimacy. He became their personal God.

3. Testing makes us stronger.

To discuss this, I must talk about heating steel. The hardness of steel is created by the degree at which it is heated and cooled. When it has been heated to cherry hot and then plunged into freezing water (Ever been in a test that felt like this?), the steel becomes stronger. Steel that has been slowly heated and slowly cooled is much softer.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV

Paul had this one figured out. He tells us, “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.” (2 Cor. 11:24-26 NIV) And I would venture to say Paul had one strong faith.

God already knows the answers, but more importantly He knows the person you are going to become. So next time you find yourself in the midst of a trial, stop and remember God is just bringing you to become the person He created you to be. And in that, find peace.

Visit Carol at sheep to the right!

Great Cloud of Witnesses

This spring I developed a condition that someone I know recently called "adult onset athlete." I had to chuckle when she said it. It fit perfectly. You see, I've never been athletic. But the end of February I got it in my head that I was going to learn to run. Me, who hates to sweat and could never run very far without getting a stitch in my side. Me, who always came in last in elementary school races.

The local running club has a beginning running group called "Catch the Wave." For 10 weeks you meet once a week for an informational meeting and then a run. I heard about it a bit late. By the time I joined, people were running 6 minutes and walking 2 and then repeating the pattern. While I couldn't manage that, I made myself keep going.

The class culminated with the Lake Run. It's a 4.37 mile race. Having joined late and not being in the greatest shape, I was quickly left behind by the pack. But I kept going, sometimes running and sometimes walking. If you've never run 4.37 miles, it is longer than it sounds! At one point, a person on a bike whizzed by. I joked that he needed a wagon so he could give me a ride.

Races are interesting things. There were lots of people watching at the beginning. But as we headed into the loop, we only came across a few small groups of people.

While I wasn't at the very end, by the time I was going into the last half mile, I was discouraged. I was too slow to keep up with the fast people but a bit quicker than the handful of people behind me. So, I had done most of the race alone. My thoughts went something like this: "What are you doing? Are you crazy? You can't run." And my pace got slower.

About that time, I turned a corner and a crowd began to emerge. People were watching. I had been in a walking stint and then began to run again. As I ran up the hill, Marge (one of the Catch the Wave leaders) ran down to meet me. "You can do it! Just a bit farther." She ran beside me and then, with a sudden burst of energy, I sprinted to the finish line.

It has had me reflecting on the importance of that crowd. It was so much easier to stay motivated when people were there. As the author of Hebrews writes,

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great crowd of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)

We are all in a race. And that race is well over 4.37 miles. Like me in the places where the crowds were sparse, it is easy to get discouraged and want to walk or even just plain stop. It's at these times that we need to realize that all those who came before us are watching and cheering. We need to focus on the finish and not on the difficulties in getting there.

We all so need to look at those around us. Will we be like Marge and run with those who are struggling? Will we say, "Just a little farther. You are doing great!" Those words of encouragement can be the difference between someone continuing to move forward and someone dropping from the race.

What is the race like for you right now?

Are you continuing to run or have you dropped out?

Who can you encourage to continue to run in the Christian life?

I have continued to run. It's harder at times not having the Catch the Wave group, so I've joined the Lake Run Club. Every Thursday they meet back out at the Lake to run the 4.37 miles. Two weeks ago, I got discouraged again at the fact that I had been so promptly left behind. People who started after me were passing me. I turned around to go back. A group on the way out asked if I had finished. I said that I was calling it in for the day. They encouraged me to get back on the path and someone opted to run my pace. So, I finished the 4.37 miles and came back again this past week. Never underestimate the encouragement you can give another.

God's Work In Progress,

I'd love for you to visit my personal blog:

Commitment

Mother's Day luncheon at my home I sat in amazement watching all of my 13 kids serving me and honoring me as their mom! Whether my kids came to me through natural birth or adoption their love and commitment was still the same!

The story of Ruth reminded me of my home that weekend! Ruth's statement of commitment in Ruth 1:16 & 17 says, "But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me."

The commitment was really towards the God of Naomi but He used Naomi to be the mother, mentor, and the earthly vessel in Ruth's life! Ruth willingly gave up her earthly family, her heritage, and her name to become Naomi's daughter! Ruth left her pagan homeland on her own initiative, despite the protest of her mother in law, in order to come under the wings of God. Ruth offered herself first to Naomi and ultimately to God.

Ruth had no attachments or loyalties to Naomi, per say, but she did so love the God she loved! This is what bonded these two women together! God's word says that Ruth clung to Naomi! That means that nothing could come between them!

A foundation of purposeful love and the outworking of devoted deeds set Ruth's commitment apart from verbal cliches and the whim of momentary emotions.

Ruth's story remains even today! My family is living proof of such a heart warming story! As I was watching my sons and daughters on that beautiful day two weeks ago I realized that the circumstances, events and situations were not that much different than those of Ruth's! They left the gods of their biological parents, wealth, comfort, cars, religion and all for a missionary calling that could only come from Jesus Christ!

My kids willingly accepted an unsettled future and bound themselves to the God we serve! They made a commitment to Jesus Christ and that is what was very obvious on Mother's day! Thinking on that day brings such a joy on my face knowing that my kids who so much served me and sacrificed of themselves to honor me on that special day had an uncompromising commitment to my Savior Jesus Christ! That makes me the wealthiest mom in the world!

Matthew 16:24-27 "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man will come in the glory of His Father with His angles, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Close and Personal:

1. Who are you committed to?

2. Do you let others, situations, or circumstances dictate your commitment to your Savior?

3. What have you left behind to serve your Savior wholeheartedly?

Dear Father,

Thank you so much for letting us read the story of Ruth! Knowing that we would need to read it over and over again to realize that to live fully for you is not always the most comfortable or accepted by others! May we remember that you gave your home in Glory to come down to live in this wretched world! Thank you Father for your sacrifice and your love and kindness to us!

In Him,

The Amazing Race

I'm usually not a Reality TV kind of girl. The hype and drama are just too much for me and the reality is less than real. There is one exception, a show which features an amazing race.

In case you haven't seen the show, the contestants work in teams and go through a series of challenges while traveling all over the world. The goal of each leg of the race is to be the first team to arrive at the pit stop. The ultimate goal is to be the first team at the final destination. The prize? A million dollars!

The race features challenges called road blocks. Most of the tasks involve physical and mental endurance. Many of them involve less than appetizing food.

I don't know about you, but I've faced some challenges in my life. Some have felt like road blocks. I've never had to eat an ostrich egg or a plate of squid, but life has thrown challenges at me which were difficult to endure. Perseverance and endurance are not my strengths. (I'll be honest here. P.E. brought down my GPA.)

As a believer in Christ, I know the One who gives me strength.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 3: 14

The spiritual walk is a race, but not one where there is just one winner. At the end of this race, every person who has accepted Jesus will win the ultimate prize- eternal life with Him.

Our endurance does not come from will power or sports drinks. It comes from Christ alone. As the author and finisher of my faith, He picks me up off the pavement when I want to give up.

"...And let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12: 1-2

There is a challenger out there- Satan. He creeps around like a contestant with the worst sportsmanship, trying to trip us up. His prize is our discouragement, our pain, our unbelief. Satan loves it when we want to quit but he can never win.

Keep racing toward the finish line, believer. Keep your eyes on the cross. Keep your focus on the miracle of His resurrection.

Keep the faith in this race and don't quit! Christ has already won the victory!

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to let me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." 2 Timothy 4: 7-8

Reflection:

1. Consider your time in God's Word as your pit stop. Refuel and Recharge.

2. Do you feel like you're running this marathon alone? Partner with another believer. Encourage one another.


Running the race with you,

Join Melanie at her personal blogspot, "This Ain't New York."

Do you run?

Do you run? I have NEVER run in my life. I have walked, including power walking for years. In college I worked out in the gym daily, doing aerobics, step aerobics, stair steppers, treadmills, and various weights- both "free" weights and machines.

But, I have never RUN.

It's not that I didn't WANT to run. I have always envied runners when I see them. I longed to be able to run with long strides, sweating, arms flowing. And, it seems that runners perform the activity with such ease!

I have always had a "vision" of me running and a dream of someday running in a marathon. But, every time I tried to run, I would take a few strides, my legs would start burning, and I would just quit.

I had a mindset that I couldn't do it. I used excuses like, "My body type just doesn't fit with running." I kept telling myself that I couldn't DO IT. That all changed about a week ago when my friend challenged me to add running to my workout routine. She came with me and we began the run side by side.

After about two minutes, I told her I just couldn't run any longer. I began to slow down. She told me, "Don't stop! Keep going! You can do it!"

And....I could!

Every time I began to slow down, she would encourage me to continue. She wouldn't let me give up. She would not allow me to tell myself that it was impossible.

We ran around a track. We ran against the wind. We ran uphill. And, I found I COULD do it!

Do you have an "I can't do it!" mentality with anything in your spiritual life?

Have you made excuses, told yourself it is impossible, thought your situation is hopeless?

God is telling you, just like my friend, "You can do it! Don't quit! It IS possible!"

With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

I have to tell you, two days later I was SORE. My muscles ached.

The same is true when we "run" spiritually. Our spiritual muscles will be sore. But, I found that the next time I ran it was EASIER. And, it felt great! The more we "work out" our spiritual muscles, it will get easier and it will FEEL GREAT!

My friend encouraged me and really helped me to continue to push myself. Again, the same is true spiritually. When we have an authentic friendship built upon the foundation of Christ, we can encourage one another...."spurring one another on" in our faith walks. (Hebrews 10:25)

....let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

Running takes perseverance. But, spiritual "running" also takes perseverance. We must not get discouraged when we hit obtacles, but stay steadfast with our eyes on Him. And, like that track where I began my first run- hills, curves, and all- our spiritual track will have curves and hills, and the wind blowing against us. But, we can have a confident peace because the race "is marked out for us." God has created the "track." And, He is running with us side by side.

Thank You, Lord, that I don't have to give up when running my race. I can trust in You. I can lean on You. Thank You that You encourage me. Thank You, Lord, that when my hope is in You, I will run and NOT grow weary. Help me, Lord, to run this race with perseverance with my eyes set on You. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Questions to Ponder:

1. What are areas of your life where you are "running" spiritually- areas that seem impossible for you to overcome. What are some excuses you have used for not overcoming? What does Romans 8:37-39 say about this?

2. Do you have a SPIRITUAL "running partner"? Do you have someone who can encourage you in your relationship with Christ? If not, write a prayer asking God to bring someone.

Please visit me at my personal blog:

So you had a bad day?

We've all had one of those days... you wake up just not yourself exactly. You drop the milk while making the cereal, can't find your shirt, and so on. I had one of those days recently. I wasn't sure why I woke up feeling out of sorts, but knew there was something not right. It's these days that someone can say something that on any other day would not mean anything but on certain days it means more. On this particular day I tried to keep a positive attitude. That was until making dinner... opening cans of veggies to make a big pot of vegetable stew. One wrong move and my pinkie almost met an imminent death with a freshly opened lid. I am happy to report that I saved the finger, barely, but that was the last straw on a downhill spiral of mishaps.

Sometimes life can just seem like too much. There are just too many obiligations, too many pulls from too many directions. You want to stand up and scream, "ENOUGH, I'VE HAD ENOUGH."

It's these days in particular that seem to erupt with bad thoughts and memories of the past. Flashbacks of bad times in your life roll through like a fast forwarding movie. Driving down the road I remember walking through a snack bar in a hospital in Dallas during the months following our daughter Isabelle's near drowning accident. I hadn't been back to that place in so long (in my mind). It's funny how your brain turns on you so quickly.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. II Corinthians 2:5

Even when the days seems gray (and lonely) it's necessary to hold your thoughts captive. I know from experience that jumping on that negative train of thought can become a run away train filled with more negativity and sadness.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

I love that God gives us direction in every area of life. I also love that His advice is not only perfect, it is also very practical. Taking time to realize how much there is to be thankful for and thanking God for those things can instantly bring you out of a negative frame of mind. Prayer, lifting your thoughts and needs straight up to God is also a very practical way of relieving a burden that is on your heavy heart.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye
do. I Thessalonians 5:11

Having faithful Christian friends or family to talk to can also help to lighten your load.

What do you do when you have those kinds of days?

I know that my first desire is to crawl back in bed, pull the covers over my head, and wait for the day to work itself out. Unfortunately that is not a practical solution with the responsibilities of a family. I'm so thankful that God has given me paths to follow to get through both good and bad days.

Thank you heavenly Father for loving and proctecting us, thank you for
being our rock and strength and shield through the good days and through the
bad. Thank you for giving us practical ways to deal with life when the
days seem to be hard and thank you for never giving us more than we can deal
with. You are an awesome God and I thank you for loving us everyday.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Mentoring Growth Spurt

I've been mentoring a particular young lady for a little over a year now. We've had some great talks over the last sixteen months and have hopefully grown together as mentor/mentee. My responses to her are always based upon God's Word laced with my experiences in life. I always end our times together with my please call me if you need me phrase.

She rarely would call for help. I'd get texts and calls just to say hi but nothing too intimate. Then it happened.

She called me crying.

We hit a mentoring growth spurt, if you will. While I was sad that she was in tears, I found myself smiling that we'd finally made this breakthrough. Because while she's a strong gal in the Lord, she's still in need of guidance.

I write this to tell you that things take time. Rebuilding trust takes time. Finding faithful friends takes time. Developing a healthy marriage takes time. Allowing God to mold you into the person He wants you to be takes time.

I don't want you to give up. Neither does Paul.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14

Where does God want you to press on in your life? Do it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Showers of Stress

“Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master's Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.”
James 5:7-8

I was blessed recently as I read the book of James. James 5:7-8 seemed to wash over my heart as I reflected on it and on the life God has entrusted to me. The phrase "patiently letting the rain do its work" seemed to jump out at me. Often times we can see the storms in life as things that God uses to push us to His loving arms (if we "patiently let them"), and certainly they do, however, the word used here in this verse is "rain". I thought of the song by Mercy Me, Jesus Bring the Rain, and began to contemplate the term rain. Rain comes with storms, for sure, however, it also comes with simple showers. Showers can be aggravating (especially if you are parked outside and have to go somewhere with a decent hairdo ~ha!) or they can be refreshing on a hot summer day. I thought of the song, Showers of Blessings, and how blessed I truly am. I have received showers of blessings, but I have also experienced in recent days the showers of "rain". Oh, not "storms", like most of us would think of. I haven't lost a child, gone through a divorce, or hit a financial crisis. I have, however, felt the "showers" that come from people hurting you or taking advantage of you, unexpected hurdles that cost time and money, parenting challenges, and life decisions that just weigh heavy on your heart and mind. These are what I call "showers of stress", if you will. None of these things are "storms" or even "big problems" in the big picture of life, but they are often times annoying and energy zapping things that Satan can use to suck the life out of us.
These verses reminded me that God desires to use even these "smaller showers" in our lives to remind us of just how dependant we are on Him.

We truly need Him for everything! We cannot let the showers "soak" us and weigh us down. We have to "patiently let the rain (whether a storm or a shower) do its slow and SURE work", by staying covered in the Word each day. I want to allow even the "showers of stress" that sometimes fall around us (OK, they daily fall most of the time), I want them to do their work in my heart and life. I want to become more and more like Jesus!

Just like the earlier verse in James 1:21, which reads, "In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life." I am far more blessed than I deserve and I deeply desire for God to cultivate a garden in my life that will bring glory to Him and enrich the lives of others, as well!


Lord, thank you for being our Gardener and for tending to every detail of our lives in order to make us a beautiful display of your Glory. Enable me to see the showers of stress as reminders of how completely dependant I am on You! Enable me to be patient and to allow them to do the work you desire them to do in my life. Speak to me as I am in Your Word each day and enable me to remain steady and faithful to you. Thank you for the showers of blessings that you always intermingle with the stress to remind me of your sweet presence! You are so good, all the time!



You can read more from Tammy at Steps In Our Journey

Why Your "Lifesong" Pleases God

When I was seven, my parents bought a brand new piano for me, before I ever had a lesson. Buying a new piano rather than a starter seems rashly optimistic, doesn’t it, knowing how fickle kids are. But my parents really wanted a piano player in the family, exhibiting a fervor usually reserved for offspring becoming doctors and lawyers. I can’t explain their unity and intrepidness in this goal, but when I was born, the last child and only girl, the first thing my father said was, “Now we have our piano player.” And there I am with a toy piano at the left, two years old, being prepped for my inevitable destiny. Yes, they were serious about this piano-playing stuff.

After three years of lessons, we all agreed that I was probably done.

Even though I wasn’t very good, you should’ve heard my folks go on about how they loved to hear me play. No matter how many times I bungled notes, they commented about how they enjoyed my music.

I remember thinking, “What is wrong with them? Can’t they hear the mistakes? I’ll never be good at this. I can’t even get through a song without messing up, and yet they act like I’m headed for the Lawrence Welk Show! I wonder if they’re fibbing when they say they like to hear me play. I wonder if they’re just being nice because they think they have to.”

Presently, that piano sits in my living room, where every morning before school, my last child, a 15 year-old girl, plays a repertoire of popular ballads that she has learned from the Internet, which, I might add, is a lot cheaper than the approximately three years of lessons that she received when she was younger.

Here’s the thing. I love to hear her play. She misses notes, plays half-songs, tinkers with chords, uses the pedals wildly—she’s all over the map, so to speak. And yet, her music brings me indescribable joy. I literally get a warm “Christmasy” feeling while she plays, a sense of peace, contentment and pride.

My husband and I were analyzing why we’re so touched by her playing. We decided the joy comes from observing her releasing something which desires to be expressed, that creative spark that we’ve all heard about which reflects our Father’s creativity. I can feel her heart in her music. I’m also proud of her ability to teach herself, to set goals and meet them. I’m proud of her musicality that most certainly did not come from me.

To sum it up, I love her music because I love my child; her songs are part of who she is. Notice that perfection is not even a remote consideration in my appreciation. I’m wild about that girl. Thus, I’m wild about her music.

It’s funny how when I was the young pianist, all I could hear were my mistakes, but my parents heard the music above the flaws. Now I do the same thing with my daughter.

We created beings know our frailties all too well. We regularly bungle the gifts our Father has given us. Sometimes we start and do not finish; sometimes we get a little crazy and miss the mark.

For instance, you may feel that you have not excelled at parenting lately. You may feel that your house is a mess, that you are scattered between home, church and work obligations. You may think the last object lesson you taught was a flop. You may have lost your patience with an extended family member in spite of your sincere desire to love her. You may have put on weight in spite of being a mediocre cook. The list could go on and on.

You only notice your flaws, while your Father, who is wild about you, hears the music of your life--and it brings him indescribable joy.

Missing the mark does not surprise Him. Perfection is not even a remote consideration in his love for you. He is delighting in you even now as you sit soaking up these words.

So how do we respond to this kind of love?

I’m reminded of Casting Crowns’ lyrics:

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

Whatever you do today, “sing” with all your heart for the One who loves your music and delights in you, and don't let inner accusations and missteps drag you down. Your soul longs to express itself to its Creator, and He longs to hear music that is uniquely you!

Scriptures about soul-songs:

Psalm 108: My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul.

Luke 1:46: And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord”.

Psalm 42:8: By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.



Please visit Linda Crow at her personal blog:

Scrubbing the Grime

Nobody likes cleaning the bathroom and if you have a glass shower door, nothing seems to attract and accumulate soap scum worse than glass.

We have a glass shower door and we learned fast that if care isn't taken to keep ahead of keeping it wiped down, eventually the door clouds up and nothing is visible.

For all I know sometimes, there could be a shoe hungry puppy on the other side enjoying a meal out of my favorite pair of sandals and all I see is this moving dark blob.

It takes a lot of elbow grease, a sandblaster and luck to get built up soap scum up. I'm not even going to even discuss the little areas that a regular rag can't reach. There are times, I think it's just easier to buy a brand new door but it doesn't work like that. It takes time and dedication and sometimes, reluctant, willingness to just grab a rag and start scrubbing.

I've thought about just hooking up a power wash and wonder why bother, it's going to get dirty again, but the reason is in the choice.

I can either live with it and close my eyes and just try to make out those hazy images or get my cleaning supplies and clean it. Cleaning always wins out. In a sense, making that choice to have an active and daily relationship with Jesus Christ serves the same idea.

We can allow all the sin and ugliness of the world build up in us and do nothing about it, but eventually the dirt and the grime begins to build up and we began to wear down.

It's hard to feel bright and cheery when a simple wash rag isn't enough to get all the dirt off. However, we can make the choice to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and part of that is keeping up "house" and allowing our Heavenly Father to provide a means to help us work toward a better life.

I find that as long as I actually take the time to use either a wet rag or cleaner, the shower door will remain clear.This is a good thing as well, because after all, you never know when you might end up in an Alfred Hitchcock movie and a clear glass shower door is handy. Well that and a baseball bat.

God seeks to cleanse us from the build-up of sin and impurity in our lives but it doesn't mean that we will become completely perfect. Even the shower door, as much as I clean it, will not be as clean as it was before we bought the house, however we have a better basis to work off of.

John 17:16-19 (NIV)-They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify^[ them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

We all have some type of grime that seems to weigh us down and block our view. Although we are "reborn" when we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, when we look in the mirrors, we are still the same person we were before we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Our hair, our bodies, our lives, our bills, everything is still there.

Wake up tomorrow and the trouble of the worlds is still be there. We will still say the wrong things or do the wrong things. Bills have to be paid and he sink will still clog.If you have a new puppy like me, he will still have no clue that carpet isn't grass, however there is hope in Jesus Christ.

When we take the time to read God's word, to reflect on His word and to study, it's like maintaining a daily "cleansing routine". We're not always going to get it right and God doesn't expect us to be perfect but He wants us to not give up on having a personal relationship with Him and part of that is allowing Him to live in and through us. The only person who is perfect is Jesus Christ.

I was reading where sanctification was described as having the experience of getting a bath and in a way that makes sense.

After you take a bath and your hands get dirty, you don't go and take another bath (unless you're a clean freak or just love baths that much), but instead we turn on the water, wash our hands with soap and go on with the day. We do the same as "maturing Christians".

We're not always going to get it right and we will slip up and make mistakes, however through the Holy Spirit, we will continually be empowered to get up, and step by step work toward maturing as a believer and as a child of Christ.

Jesus Christ already did the hard work of scrubbing and getting rid of all the dirt and the grime and it's up to us to do our part to just work on maintaining ourselves.

*Whew* It was a relief to finally get the shower door clean but it took an hour and half of steadily working on the door, lots of scrubbing, cleaning, spraying, scrubbing some more, and finally wiping dry with a towel, but the finish product was great.

When you stop and think about it....reading the Bible is almost like it's God's "soap" to keep us clean. It takes time and a lot of work.

Occasional we read a scripture here and there to "wash our hands" but when we need a good bathing, that's where just really reading His word, rejuvenates us, refocus us and it helps provide us with a much needed spiritual cleansing. How often after reading His word does one feel cluttered and dirty? Never.

Our Heavenly Father knows we are imperfect and we will sometimes get a smudge here and there.

So He was prepared.

He gave us ,His word to keep us going forward so when we will fall and get dirty, which we all do, that's when the Holy Spirit comes in. The dirt gets wiped off, we get a , "Good try, don't' give up, keep going" a pat on the back and sent on our way forward.

The shower door was squeaky clean. It was so clear that the poor puppy didn't realize that there was glass between him and I until he ran smack into it. Like me, he could now see through the other side of the door even though he couldn't reach me, he knew I was there like we know God is there.

Taking the time to read His word is having a clear way to know God through His word. If anything, it helps provide a clear passage to hope that is laying on the other side, or in the case of the puppy: A good view of the person on the other though he can't get to me.

*Sigh* Which reminds me. Does anyone has puppy-tongue resistant glass cleaner for shower doors? I have some more cleaning to do. The puppy just licked what use to be a cleaned shower door.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."-1 John 1:7

Heavenly Father, I thank You for picking me up when I fall down. Like a newborn babe learning to walk, I'm not always going to get it right, I'm going to say the wrong things and do the wrong things, but You provide me with hope and a promise of a tomorrow.

There are times when I'm going to feel like I'm just covered with mud and I thank You Heavenly Father that wipe off the mud and encourage me to keep moving forward.

Lord, I pray You remind me to keep my head lifted up to You and to remember that I can't always be perfect to the world but in Your eyes, I am what You had created me to be and You never make mistakes.

Help clear my ways and keep it clear so I can see what You lay forward for me, Lord

If there are things in your life blocking your view of what God has laid before you, what ways can you take the time with God to help clear your view of the world so you can be the person God wants you to be?

What other ways through Jesus Christ can you find to help you find strength and encouragement to follow a life of freedom that Christ calls to all of us?

Join Twinkle Mom daily at her blogspot,
Sunflower Faith, where she daily journals her life.

Facing the Giants

FACING THE GIANTS

As I was recently sitting at our local dental school, waiting for my son who was having some work done, I noticed the newspaper sitting on a chair across from me. Since I had lots of time to spare, I walked over, picked it up, and began to read.

It seemed like each article I read was more dreary then the one before. Before I knew it I was meditating on the terrible condition and plight of our world.

· Gas prices continue to rise
· The war in Iraq and Afghanistan
· The failing economy
· College tuition's rising
· The upcoming election
· And of course all the hideous crime stories sandwiched in-between.

OK, I suddenly began to feel like the Israelites might have felt as they stood on the edge of the promise land. I was not seeing the blessings God, but only the GIANTS that were everywhere! I began to sympathize with the Israelites because I could see how all the bad things they were facing, and the things they saw must have overwhelmed their faith to possess the land.

Now if the world conditions all around me were not bad enough, I thought about my own personal giants. For me it’s the giant of fear and unbelief. God instructed the Israelites to simply explore the land. He already knew what was out there and what they would be facing. However, He wanted them to pass the test of “trust and believe”. Simple enough you would think, BUT…

In James 1:2 the Bible says:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

One thing I learned early on in my Christian walk was that when God is up to something really great in our lives it usually begins with difficulties. Somewhere in the midst of impossibilities and problems God is there waiting for us to take those first steps of faith. He will guide us through these times of testing, but it takes courage to make that first step.

James Buckham wrote:


“Trials, temptations, disappointments — all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fiber of a character, but strengthen it.”

I don’t think any of us wants to take 40 years of wandering around in circles of unbelief and fear. I want to experience God’s greatness and His ultimate purpose for my life. I find whenever I measure the obstacles and challenges against God’s awesome provision, the scale always tips in His direction. Once my focus is back on the greatness of God, I begin seeing those giants just as they really are – grasshoppers.

God is always calling us out of our comfort zone and challenging us to go further and deeper than we would in the natural. So today I want to ask you, “Who do you want to be like, one of the two spies who saw how GIANT their God was, or like the other ten who only saw the giants?”

As I finished reading the paper I asked myself, “Whose report will you believe?” I determined that I would put my trust in God’s promises in spite of the obstacles. And like James the apostle wrote, I set my goal to become “mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Joshua and Caleb took a risk that day as they proclaimed before all the people that they should go over and possess the land. If they could see the victory, so can we! Let’s take our stand, forget the naysayers, and set out to cross that Jordan River. It is a good land, flowing with milk and honey.

Thoughts to ponder:


Have you ever faced a time when you felt the odds were against you and hope was hard to find?

Have you came along side of someone and helped them find something positive in the difficulties they were facing?

Lord I pray for my sisters reading this now. If anyone is in a tough place, where hope seems so unattainable that you would allow them to see how much bigger you are then the circumstances they are facing. Remind them of your faithfulness and your great love for them. Give them eyes to see beyond the giants they face today and courage to keep believing. In Jesus name, amen.

Join Susan daily at her personal blog,

The Game of Life

The Game of Life

My husband is a sore loser. Wait. That’s not fair. Let me rephrase that. In college, my husband was a sore loser, at least in Monopoly. One rainy Saturday afternoon, we played Monopoly in the game room of his dorm. As the game progressed, it was apparent I would reign victorious. One roll of the dice landed my not-yet husband on one of my properties with very steep rent. Instead of bowing out gracefully, my normally even-tempered man flipped the Monopoly board sending pieces flying. My man on the horse and his racecar danced amidst the colorful bills as they fluttered to the floor. “Whoops,” he offered, “I guess we won’t know who won.”

Have you ever flipped a Monopoly board? One of my good friends tried flipping her board this week. Except it wasn’t the game of Monopoly, it was the game of Life. She didn’t think she could finish the game and tried to quit before it was over. It breaks my heart to think of the pain one must suffer to choose to quit instead.

Many out there know the kind of pain my friend has endured. You’ve been there. Perhaps you’ve thought about flipping your game board. I don’t know a be-all end-all formula to ensure always winning the game. Sometimes, I’m just hanging on through the next round. I do know a be-all end-all God who will make sure we have what it takes to carry us through.

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. 
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:3-4 NIV

As a little girl, I sometimes played Monopoly with my brother and cousins. Being the baby, I didn’t always understand the rules. Usually I was the first one out of the game. I’d go bankrupt. But sometimes, my older cousin would have compassion and work a deal to offer me some of his money. Just when I thought the game was over, I was back in again. He rescued me.

God will rescue us when we think the game over. When losing is all we see, He will carry and sustain us. Does it look like you’re going bankrupt? Don't think you'll make it around the board again? God will save you!

O God, thank you for carrying me. Please rescue my friend. Gather the pieces of her soul into your hands and breathe new life into her. Lord, uphold and sustain all those hurting souls who read these words. You know every eye that will read and every heart that has broken. Begin the healing process. Give us strength to continue playing Lord when it appears that we won’t make it through the next round. Thank you, God for loving me. Amen.

Come visit me at sheep to the right!

(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.