A Good Work Ethic Doesn't Build a Good Relationship

You know, sometimes, the very thing that you don’t want to do is the very best thing for you.  For example, I don’t like to sit.  Never have.  I feel like I’m wasting my time, if I am not filling my time doing something. 

I remember when Steve and I first married, he would come in, sit on the couch and just watch me for a few minutes.  I, of course, was up running around, cleaning, cooking, and straightening things.   You know, everything that needed to be done in order for a new marriage to work well. 

Yeah, right. 

After about 5 minutes, Steve would finally say, “Hey,” and then motion for me to come sit with him.  I promise you, my heart fought me the whole way to the couch.  I knew I needed to go sit with my new husband.  I knew I needed to spend some time with him, but there was so much to do…so much else to get done before the end of the day, if I was to be the perfect wife.  Begrudgingly, I would go sit. 

And you know what?  I never regretted it. 

It’s funny.   You would think after 20 years of marriage, I would have learned something about building a relationship.  You think I would have learned how better to “sit” with the one I love.  Yet, just the other day, my husband lovingly looked at me from the corner of the couch and said, “Hey,” once again motioning for me to take a seat.  I fought the urge to say “But I have to - ,” and instead, plopped down next to him, snuggled in close and spoke with him about my day and just life in general.    

Yes, it goes against my nature.  Yes, I have to fight the feeling of THINGS needing to get done, in order to spend a few minutes of quality time with my husband, but the benefits far exceed the initial “interruption” of my daily plans.  We have a beautiful marriage and a very deep communication…which, by the way, didn’t come from a clean house, an organized kitchen, or even a well-cooked breakfast.  Instead, it came from spending time with him – fighting my urge to do things FOR him, and learning how to just be WITH him.    

You would think that bit of knowledge would transpose itself over into my spiritual walk.  However, I still have to fight my nature, when it comes to my relationship to Jesus.  There are so many things to do in a day, and only so much time.  There are meals to fix, clothes to wash, school to be done.  So much clamors for my attention, and yet, as much as it goes against what I feel, I know deep inside it is the necessary thing to sit with my Lord and spend time with Him in order to build our relationship.   

How do I know it’s the “necessary thing?”  Because in Matthew 10, Jesus tells us it is:   38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ 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!”  ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Notice that Christ didn’t condemn Martha for her work ethic.  He didn’t tell her that her service was un-needed or unappreciated.  There’s nothing wrong with doing something well and working hard at it.  He did, however, say that a good work ethic alone doesn’t build a good relationship.  

Hmmm….

What about you?  What do you choose to do when you hear Him whisper, “Hey,” and then see His hand motioning for you to come and sit for a little while?  Let me make that a little clearer.  What do you do when you see His Word, lying on your nightstand unopened?  Do you say, “I’ll do that later, AFTER I get some things done?”  Do you pass by and try to pretend It’s not there or do you grab It, plop down on the couch and sit for a while, talking to Him about your day?    

I challenge you.  Learn to sit with Him.  Work on your relationship with the Father, instead of just working for Him.  Learn to spend time with Him - talking with Him - listening to Him – reading His Word.     

I promise you…you won’t regret it. 

Jesus, thank You.   Thank You for wanting to spend time with me…for calling me to come and sit with You for a while, and then speaking when I do.  Thank You that my relationship with You can be meaningful and deep.  Thank You for loving me.  I praise You, Lord.   

The Prescription for Ultimate Healing

Let’s face it - I just simply don’t like to take medicine.  I never have.  To me, there’s just something strange about putting chemically-created, chalky, circular discs covered in a lacquered coating into my body!  But recently, I’ve become a little more tolerant of the idea.  I still don’t like it, but sometimes, I have found that you just have to bite the bullet and swallow the thing! 

Recently, my doctor prescribed a medication for my grumpy joints that caused my stomach to rebel and feel as if my food would not remain with me for very long, if you know what I mean!  I decided the side effects weren’t worth the trouble and so, I stopped taking the medication, against doctor’s orders.  It felt rather freeing at first - at least for a couple of days.  But by the end of the third night, I had decided that maybe the doctor DID know something about my joints and that the little chemically-created, chalky, circular discs covered in a lacquered coating didn’t seem so bad after all!  For me, the benefits far outweighed the side effects. 

The point is...the doctor knew what was best for me.  He knew that I needed to take the medicine, even though I told him I didn’t want to take it.  He knew that I would feel better and be able to function more efficiently in my body, if the medicine were a part of me.  It was only my sheer stubbornness that decided to take matters into my own hands and stop the meds.  After all, I knew what was best for me...or so I thought.  I wanted to do it my way - not his... 

...AND what does this have to do with Jesus? 

Well, sometimes, what He tells us to do in His Word (His Prescription) is something that we do not FEEL like doing.  Instead, we FEEL like doing things our way.  We FEEL like doing what makes us happy, not whole.  So, in our stubbornness, we don’t listen.  Instead we go our own way - doing things the way we think they should be done.  Soon enough, one of two things happens  We either crawl back to Him on our hands and knees begging for relief from our own selfish nature, OR worse yet, we blame Him for not doing what He said He would do in our lives.   Isn't that interesting?  We blame Him, even though, we are the ones who refused to take the remedy that He has prescribed! 

Okay, okay, but what in the world does that look like in real life?  What does it look like to take the medicine that the DOCTOR (in this case, GOD) prescribed? 

It looks like praying for your enemies - the ones who hate you, who despitefully use you and persecute you, who curse you - even when you feel like punching them in the mouth instead (Matt. 5:44).  You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing. 

It looks like loving other with action, not just in word or deed - even though it might take a little effort on your part to stop and help the widow lady next door get her groceries into her home - even though it might mean you have to be ready for rejection when you offer to help someone in need - even though it might mean not ever receiving thanks for something you did for someone (I John 3:18).  You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing.
 
It looks like opening your mouth and speaking with kindness and gentleness to someone who is chewing you out - literally - even though it might make you look weak to those around you - even though it might be embarrassing to your pride - even though it goes against every angry fiber rising in your being (Prov. 15:1-2).  You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing. 

It looks like choosing to be thankful to God in the midst of hurtful situations, when all you can see around you are walls collapsing and torrents of water covering you up to your neck (I Thess. 5:18).  You might not like the prescription or the effects, but remember, it’s for your healing. 
 
The list could go on and on.  There are SO many examples of “prescriptions” in Scripture, and all of them, though they might not be something that you WANT to do or like the effects of, ALL of them are for your healing. 

So, the question before us today is - are we gonna trust the DOCTOR to know what is best for us - to prescribe the perfect medication for our remedy, OR are we - in our stubbornness - going to do things our own way and toss the Prescription to the side?  I pray that we will choose the former and trust that God - even with side effects - knows what He’s doing to bring about our ultimate healing. 

Dearest Jesus,  Help me today to take my medicine like a good patient.  Help me listen to what Your Word has to say about the situations that arise in my life today and respond the way You would have me respond.  Teach me Your Word.  Sink It deep into my soul that I may be healed.  Thank You, Father, for Your healing...Your ultimate healing.   

Attitude is Everything, But It's Nothing Without Thankfulness

I've always heard that "Attitude is everything," but I've decided that "attitude" doesn't just happen.  It must be preceded by something else - especially during the hard times. 

Driving home from a football game on Saturday, I turned on the radio to let my little boy listen to some music.  We listened for a long time without him saying a word.  I actually thought he had fallen asleep.  Soon, the music ended and a radio program began.

I wish I could remember the name of the young man who was interviewed, but alas, his story will just have to remain anonymous.  This 16 year old was an incredible high school basketball player, with aspirations of "going pro." 

While chasing a basketball one day at practice, he slammed his head into the wall of the gym, trying to keep the ball in play.  When he awoke a few seconds later, he realized his life had changed forever.  He was paralyzed from the neck down. 

His dream was gone.  His parents' dreams for him were gone.  Life for the whole family changed in an instance. 

Yet, this physically active young man, who had been reduced to life in a wheelchair, had an incredible attitude towards the whole thing. 
Instead of looking ahead and pining over the things that would never be, he looked back and was grateful for the things that were.  He said that he had had 16 years of running and playing basketball - 16 years of being physically active.  Others that he had known, had not even had one day with the ability to take a step on their own.  He said he could imagine that those people would give anything, just to be able to play ONE basketball game. 

He had had 16 years.

I have to tell you.  That young man's attitude stirred something deep within me.  It's hard to get older.  It's hard when physical limitations change your life.  It's hard to let go, AND YET, instead of pining away at what could have been, I need to look at all the time (40+ years), I've had to be perfectly healthy...to be physically strong...to be able to handle any challenges that came my way. 

I Thessalonians 5:18 says, "and in all things, give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  Now, I don't think God was saying that we are supposed to be thankful for car accidents and physical limitations and other varying degrees of the results of sin here on this earth.  I, do believe however, that God is telling us in I Thessalonians, to be diligent about - and purposeful in - finding things to be thankful for IN our circumstances.  

That's not always easy.  Sometimes, beause of our emotions and physical limitations, the "thankful things" are hard to see outright, but they ARE there.  It might take some diligent searching, but it so pleases the Father for us to acknowledge that no matter how hard life here on earth is, we still believe Him to have all things in control.  Turning our attention and our tearful eyes to Him, must please His "Father's heart," as we acknowledge our trust in Him. 

Yes, attitude might, indeed, be everything - but attitude can't be anything without the blessed diligence of thanksgiving.  Let's be thankful today.  Let's diligently to search for those gifts of God in our lives.  Let's purposely choose to lift our eyes to meet His in trust...and be thankful in all things, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. 

Father, help me be thankful.  Teach me how to concentrate on the good things that You have given.  Teach me how to take my adversities and turn them into something that exalts your Name to those around me.  Thank You, Father.  Thank You. 

The Stench of Death

Have you ever smelled a rotten egg?  I have. 

As a kid, every Easter - yes, I'm talking about Easter while Thanksgiving is fast approaching - we dyed eggs.  They were gorgeous...sometimes...but more often than not, they usually ended up some form of brown, because we tried to blend too many colors! 

We always had to hide them outside, too.  That was the result of hiding them inside one year and finding one a few weeks later.  You can imagine the aroma.  

One day, as I was hiding in a bush while playing an intense game of hide-n-seek, I found another egg.  It wasn't anywhere close to Easter.  Evidently, it had been in that tree for a VERY long time, because when I touched it to remove it from the branches, the egg dissolved into a mush of yuk.  That's about the only way I can describe it.  Oh, and the smell...I won't forget that smell.  It's been at least 30 years, and my nose still scrunches automatically when I think about it.  

The weird thing was - the egg still looked pretty on the outside.  The colors were a little faded, but all in all, it looked like an Easter egg.  But the smell sent me reeling.  I no longer wanted to show my family.  I wanted to TELL them, but had no desire to show them!  The stench was just too great.  The beautiful Easter egg was rotting from the inside out. 

Spiritually speaking, I think the same thing happens with us on occasion...at least it does with me.  I'll be trucking right along in my walk with the Lord, and all of the sudden, someone or something "touches" me, and some harsh, bitter, stinky words come out of my mouth.  It usually catches me totally by surprise and sends me reeling with the stench. 

Now, I'm not talking about those semi-automatic responses to a threat of some kind.  I'm talking about a deep, thought-out harshness of words that reeks of a rotting place in my heart. 

When I hear myself and FEEL myself say something that exemplifies death, I know something is wrong with me spiritually.  Somewhere, I have buried some resentment...some bitterness...and it has festered, attempting to rot the life within.  

When that happens, I immediately ask God to show me what it is that I have harbored - what it is that I have allowed to grow in me that is not characteristic of Him.  And He gently does so.  I confess my anger and my bitterness to Him, and He in turn, washes and cleanses the rotting places from my heart.

How about you?  Have you "smelled" something rotten coming out of your mouth lately?  Has it taken you by surprise, showing you that there is something growing deep within you spiritually and it's NOT good?  My advice?  Put down the mouthwash and allow God to cleanse you.  Ask Him what the evil is that you have been harboring inside.  Ask Him to show you the depth of your bitterness and the reasons behind it.  Confess it and then allow Him to cleanse you from it! 

Have a beautiful, stench-free day!!!

I praise You, God, that You don't just leave me in my rottenness.  You don't just allow things to fester in my life unchecked.  Instead, you gently allow them to surface, so that I can confess them.  Cleanse me, Lord.  Change my heart to be more and more like Yours every minute of every day.  Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace. 

God is Our Block and Tackle

I grew up a Dallas Cowboy's fan.  But as I have gotten older and more mature, I have come to realize that professional football is good, but Selma Parks and Rec. football is better - especially when your children are involved!

Two Saturdays ago was the first game of the season for our boys.  They're on different teams, because of their age, but they are both Selma Yellow Jackets, nonetheless.  

There were many "Proud Mamma" moments that day, but one seems to replay itself in slow motion over and over in my mind.  Alex was playing on the offensive line, closest to my vision.  The quarterback snapped the ball, handed it off to the running back who immediately began his journey towards my son.  Alex played his position well and successfully blocked the first defender.  

Whoo-hoo! 

But the play wasn't over...while continuing to push off the first defender, Alex looked backed over his shoulder and saw the guy cradling the ball, headed his direction.  He turned his attention back to his opponent and noticed another defender headed his way.  Alex knew what he had to do.  Keeping his left hand on the shoulder pads of his first opponent, he reached out with his right and pushed away the second defender, keeping him from making the tackle.  This allowed the running back to come through the "lane" and drive down the field, making a touchdown.  

I was so proud of Alex.  He saw what was happening all around him and responded quickly to each threat for his team. 

After the game, I told him I thought he played "smart ball" and recounted that particular play.  I made the statement that his teammate followed his lead, and he replied (as if it were not a big deal), "That's because I told him to 'follow me.'" 

Thoughts flooded my mind at that moment.  I pictured the players in the huddle as the quarterback called THAT play...the play where the ball would be handed off to the running back, who would head down Alex's side of the field.  I pictured Alex then looking intently at his buddy and saying, "Just follow me." 

And then the thoughts changed.  

Is 43:19 came to mind, which states that God will "...do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert." 

All of the sudden, the pictures in my mind that had been strictly about football, suddenly morphed into pictures of Christ.  All of the sudden, the Spirit began flooding my mind with thoughts of Jesus and how He makes ways "when there seems to be no way," as the song so beautifully says.  I pictured Jesus looking at me intently and saying, "Follow Me," and me responding to His lead.  I pictured Him pushing obstacle after obstacle out of my way, defending me, as a big Brother would.  I thought about how He sees what's coming and protects me as I run this race called life.  I thought about how glorious it will be when one day I, too, cross that goal line and step into Glory, victorious because of my Defender.   

Tears poured down my face, as I continued to contemplate how and why God would speak to me...through a simple football game. 

You know, that running back had to trust Alex would clear his path and make a way for him to get through.  I wonder what would have happened if he had decided Alex wasn't big enough or strong enough to defend him.  I wonder if the outcome would have been different if he had stopped half-way and headed the other direction, as he saw the other defender coming.  Fortunately, he instead decided to trust Alex's instructions implicitly:  "Follow me."  

Once we trust our Father with our lives - once we trust Him with all we hold dear - once we truly believe that He will take care of us and choose to follow Him, He WILL indeed make a way in the wilderness.  Paths will open up that we never knew existed.  Our lives, though they may not be easy, will have a targeted goal, and He will be our block and tackle.  Our job is not to question His abilities.  It's to simply trust that He can...and that He will. 

I praise You, today, Father, that You will make a way.  You will overcome those things that see impossible, in order for me to be able to traverse the path that You have chosen for me.  Thank You, Father.  Thank You.  

No Wonder They Loved Him

"No wonder they loved Him,"  I thought. 

Thousands of people crowded around this Teacher.  They came with their diseases, their hurts, their "unclean spirits," and Scripture says that Jesus "healed them all."  But that wasn't why my spirit was pricked with the realization that they loved Him.  It would have been enough to do so, but that wasn't why I marveled at this One called Christ. 

You see, Jesus didn't just heal them physically.  Of course, they DID need healing.  Many of them, were "tormented" by unclean spirits.  Many of them, I am sure, had spent all of their lives trying to find a cure for their specific infirmities.  Many of them were at their wit's end.  So, the Healer simply did what He does, and He healed them. 

Yet Jesus wasn't just after physical healing for these people.  He was after something eternal - spiritual healing.  Scripture says in Matthew 23 that the Pharisees - the ones who were supposed to be directing people to the Messiah - were actually the ones keeping people from the Messiah and out of the kingdom of heaven (vs. 13).  They had become so sure and proud of THEIR teachings, that they distorted God's teachings to the detriment of the kingdom, and Jesus wanted everyone to know it.  He spoke to the people and said, "Therefore whatever they (the Pharisees) tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.  For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers" (v. 3,4).  

The teachers of the Law had become distorters of the Law, no longer wishing to help the people, but instead to judge them.  The Pharisees, as Jesus said, had in essence placed heavy weights on the people's backs - weights that made them believe they could never be "good enough" for God.   

I don't know if you've ever had someone in a position of authority tell you that you were "nothing" and "would never amount to anything," but that is what was happening in the relationship between the Israelites and the Pharisees.  The supposed holy ones were "guilting" the people into obedience, and the people were exhausted and depressed, trying to comply - trying to reach holiness. 

Can you imagine - spending your whole life trying to be "good enough?"  Sadly, I think, that statement rings true in the hearts and minds of people today, just as much as it did back then.  Pretty depressing, don't you think? 

But then Jesus...

Jesus comes on the scene and lambasts the Pharisees for their hypocritical behavior.  I'm sure the people were completely shocked.  They probably thought that Jesus would have eloquent words and letters of commendation for all the hard work of the Pharisees.  But He didn't.  Instead, He looked deep into their hearts and called them "white-washed tombs" - pretty on the outside, but full of dead men's bones.  He said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also" (v.25, 26).  How would you like to be spoken to in that manner in front of thousands of people...talk about Someone with authority calling you out. 

Then Jesus turned His attention to the others.  But this time, instead of speaking judgment over them, as the Pharisees had done so many times before, Jesus spoke life.  He spoke HOPE into their weary souls.

To those who had spent their lives, scraping for a little here and there to survive on...to those who had struggled financially and physically trying to keep their family alive...to those who had been shamed by the Pharisees and told they were in sin and fought to "attain" righteousness, Jesus says, "BLESSED ARE YOU who are poor in spirit, for yours is the kingdom of God."  All the treasures of heaven...everything would belong to those who the Pharisees had spoken judgment over.  Everything could be and would be theirs.   

And for those who were hungry and thirsty for righteousness - for those who had also been shamed into believing they would never and could never be good enough - for those whose souls were depressed and empty - to those He said, "BLESSED ARE YOU are you who hunger NOW, for you shall be filled." 

Brings a smile to my face and hope to my heart.  It truly was no wonder they loved Him. 

It's no wonder I do, too. 

Oh my Jesus, You are so precious to me...speaking life into my own soul, as you did for those who walked in the same paths You did so many years ago.  Thank You for speaking deeply into my needs today.  May I respond with praise and adoration.  I love You, my Lord.  I love You. 

I've Got This!

The doctor looked at me the other day with a smile on his face and said, "You've never been called 'stubborn' have you?"  I smiled back at him and replied, "No, of course not."

It's taken me a long time to realize that I'm the epitome of what some people might call "a little determined."  Don't get me wrong, I don't think all stubbornness (I mean, determined-ness) is a bad thing.  After all, God made me this way for a reason.  However, spiritually speaking, sometimes my stubbornness is a great hindrance to my walk with Jesus. 

You see, sometimes when I am struggling with a situation, my stubbornness takes over.  I think to myself, "I've got this.  I can handle it,"  when all the while, Christ is standing off to the side telling me I was never meant to "handle this" on my own.  I try and try and try...pulling myself up by my boot straps...determined to pull myself out of the pit, and yet, I keep falling - over and over again.  Climbing out becomes too hard, and I find myself curled up in the fetal position, frustrated with my ability to NOT "get this." 

Ever been there?  It's an ugly and yet, beautiful place to be.  Ugly, because you know that it's YOU who's put you there, and beautiful, because that's where Christ can finally reach you.  He's been there, but as long as you have your face to the wall trying to pull yourself out, you never see that He is patiently waiting for you to turn your face to Him, so He can show you another way out.

Let's picture it this way:
You are at the bottom of a brick well.  Fortunately, there are some bricks missing, almost in a stair step pattern all the way to the top.  Each hole in the wall is a perfect place for a foot rest.  You begin to notice that each of the bricks has a verse written at the bottom.  The first foot-hold you see says, "We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:37).  You read it, get excited about it, and shove your foot as hard as you can into the little crevice, ignoring the other footholds a little higher on the wall.  The next foothold says, "...for momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison" (II Cor. 4:17).  You muster strength to hold on, as you shove your other foot in deep.  From somewhere below, you hear Jesus calling, "Come to Me all ye who are weary and heavy laden" (Matt. 11:28). 

Immediately, you call to Him, "It's okay, Jesus.  I've got this.  I'm standing on Your Word.  I'll meet you at the top!"  So you trudge higher, only for your foot to slip out of the next hole.  You tumble off the wall and fall flat on your back...for the eighth time.  Finally, you crumble into a heap at the bottom of the well and look up in the Savior's face for the FIRST time.  You can see Him clearly now.  His eyes are fixed on you, and He has that beautiful gaze directed deeply into your eyes. 

The questions come:  "Why, Jesus?  Why couldn't I climb out?  I keeping falling back into this mire.  I'm standing on Your Word.  I'm quoting it to myself, as I climb.  Why isn't it working?"

Then He quietly replies: "Because You're climbing on Your own.  Your determined nature is clouding your vision.  My Word was never meant to be used apart from Me.  Come, I'll show you what I mean."  He stretches out His hand, and this time, you grasp it for fear of remaining in your present state. 

He pulls you to your feet with ease, and as you stand, you turn your back to Him and approach the wall of verses.  You look up: "Sure is a long way, and I don't want to fall again." 

Jesus, knowing your heart and your thoughts, looks at you and says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" (II Cor. 12:9). 

"Isn't that interesting," you think.  "Christ's power is perfected in my weakness, not my determination or stubborn will.  His power...His miraculous ability to help me climb out of this well...His will for My life, is made perfect when I am weak.   Hmmm...."

You start to stick your foot into the first opening that says, "We are more than conquerors who are in Christ Jesus," but then you remember He's behind you.  You turn back, surprised to see Him pointing in another direction.  "That one first," He replies.  You look over and begin to read the writing at the bottom of the crevice:  "Submit to God...Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:7, 10). 

"But this hole will be harder to reach," you argue.  "Wouldn't it make more sense to start with another Scripture first...one a little closer to the ground...one about victory and endurance in Christ?"  You look back at Jesus, and He smiles.  "Has Your way worked so far, my child?" 

Realizing He's right, you shake your head and pick up your foot a little higher, shoving it into the crevice.  As you do, you notice that the open crevice closes around your foot, giving the hole into a shoe-like fit, securing your foot on the wall. 

Again, you follow His direction, and the same thing happens.  This time the verse underneath reads, "He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber" (Ps. 121:3).  It's at this point you realize, Christ was right all along:  "This is the path to choose...the right verses to stand on to help me out of this well."   

And those other verses - those verses that talk about victory and strength and determination?  Well, they still have their place on the wall, and as you climb, you see them again.  But unlike before, this time, your foot fits perfectly as you listen to Him, and you feel the strength and assurance the verses were meant to give. 

You then begin to realize where you went wrong in the beginning of your ascent.  You got the verses all out of order.  You were trying so hard to climb the right path...without listening to the One who knows the "right path." 

I hope you don't find yourself "there" today.  Instead, I hope that you are at the top of the wall, praising the One Who led you out.  However, if you are "there," let me encourage you:  don't give up.  Get back up on the wall, and this time, listen desperately to Christ.  Listen to Him telling you where to place your feet.  Listen to His leading, step by step.  Remember to submit your strong will to Him...to what He desires for you...shrugging off your independence FROM Him and pursuing your dependence ON Him, allowing His strength to become perfected reality in your life. 

Jesus, I pray for those today who are stuck at the bottom of a well...those Believers who are tired and worn out from the struggle of trying to make it out.  I pray that You would whisper Your love to them...that You would reassure them of Your presence in the well...and that they would let go and turn to You.  I praise You, Lord, for never leaving us nor forsaking us.  I praise You that You are our Guide and our Friend.  Thank You for holding our hands and placing our feet right where they need to be.  You are truly amazing. 

The Cowbell

I found my cowbell the other day. 

I know this probably doesn't "do" much for you, but it strikes terror into the hearts of my children.  They still remember the sound of that bell clanging in their ears, as an over-excited fan jumped up and down, screaming to the top of her lungs, cheering her child on to victory. 

Alex said he could hear me from the field.  The sad thing is, I believe him.  I throw all caution and sense of calmness to the wind, when football season comes around. 

Oh, and this year - the terror has intensified.  You see, this year BOTH boys are playing football, and our daughter is playing volleyball.  Can you believe it?!  I get excited just thinking about the feel of that bell in my hand and the anticipation of that first good ring. 

My kids have already informed me that I AM NOT to ring as loudly this year.  And the volleyball coach?  Well, let's just say she is making me a line judge for the games, because the cow bell will have to remain untouched while inside the gym.  Such sadness.  I'll be a miserable line judge...having to cap my larynx and not be partial to my child, for fear of being thrown out into the parking lot. 

"Why," you might ask.  Why would I do this to my children?  Why would I put them through the sheer misery? 

Well, I really do TRY not be embarrassing.  I TRY not to be loud and hold in my excitement at the games, but it just doesn't work.  I CAN'T HELP IT!   Those are my kids and those other kids?  They aren't mine, but they might as well be, because we're all on the same team...playing for the same purpose!   

It's funny, but that's the way God is with me, too.  I don't think about it often enough, but it really is.  Scripture calls Him my Father, and because of that, I can't help but get the picture of God up in heaven with a cow bell, cheering me on when I do something that pleases Him, and then STILL cheering me on to do better, when I fumble the ball or fail to spike it over the net. 

I'm His kid.  I'm His pride and joy.  I am an heir to the throne and a sister to Christ Jesus.  What a thought...what an occasion to find joy in and think about all day long! 

Romans 8:14-15 says, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons (daughters) of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.'" 


When God chose me as His child, He didn't instill in me a spirit of fear.  Instead, I got it all.  I was adopted.  I became HIS - totally, completely HIS.  He is now my Father.  My perfect Father, who stands on the sidelines of my life, ringing His heart out literally, cheering me on, pushing me to be the best I can be, encouraging me to continue, even when I feel like giving up, strengthening me through His Spirit.  He's the best Cheerleader there ever was, and when I listen, I can hear Him above the crowds.  I can hear His loving voice, celebrating my victories and encouraging me in my defeats.  He's the best Fan I have.  He has to be.  He can't help it.  I'm His kid, and He's my Dad. 

And if you are a Believer...if you have given your life to Jesus and allowed Him to be your Lord - your Father - He's your Dad, too.  He's cheering you on.  You and I are a part of the same team, and part of the same family with a joyful, excitable, kind, gentle, encouraging, fun-filled, playful Dad on the sidelines. 

Now that's a reason to celebrate. 

Where's my cowbell...I feel like having a good ring!   

Dearest Jesus, thank You for paying the price for me that I could be adopted into the family of God.  Thank You, God, for being my heavenly Father, encouraging me, cheering for me, helping me to do what You have put me on this earth to do.  Thank You for that today.  I love You, Abba.  I love You. 

What if???

What if?  

That phrase seems to always conjure up ideas and thoughts of dreams misplaced and hopes destroyed.  As the phrase crosses our lips, we often look back over our lives with sadness and a sense that things could have been better "if."  

I think we need to take a closer look into this discouraging phrase and speak some truth into it - some life.  "What if?" is not always reminiscent of good things, gone bad.  Sometimes the "what ifs" in our lives are reminiscent of bad things, gone good. 

What in the world could that possibly mean?  I'm glad you asked. 

Take the Joseph for example.  The Bible tells us he was sold into slavery by his brothers, accused falsely by his Egyptian master's wife, and left in prison to rot for two years, while the man that he helped set free, forgot him.  

 Let's just "what if" for a moment:

What if: Joseph had never been sold into slavery by his brothers? 
Then:  He probably would have lived the rest of his life, arguing with his brothers in the land of Canaan and died along with his family, when the worldwide famine hit years later.

What if: Joseph had never been subjected to the continual advances of his new master's wife?  What if she had left him alone after he refused her the first time?   
Then:  He probably would have remained in the service of his master, never entering the king's household and becoming the most powerful person, besides Pharaoh, in all of Egypt. 

What if: Joseph had never spent any time in prison? What if he had been released, as soon as he was incarcerated?  
Then:  He probably wouldn't have been as familiar with people groups other than his own and the Egyptians.  Like it was, Joseph was surrounded by people - probably from other countries, with different languages, different cultures, different beliefs.  There were probably dignitaries from other countries there - possibly even kings - and Joseph, being in charge, probably got a world-wide education, simply from sitting with the men in the belly of a prison. 

What if:  Joseph had become bitter in the midst of his hardships, instead of keeping his eyes on what God was doing?
Then:  He would have ceased to be a usable vessel.  He wouldn't have learned what he needed to know in order to save thousands upon thousands of people from starvation.  He wouldn't have had the favor of God upon his life, so much so, that everyone around him saw that "God was with him." (Gen. 29:2) 

What if:   Joseph hadn't chosen to see past the bitterness of the plan, into its beauty? 
Then:  Life for Joseph would have become a looking back - a bitter wondering "what if" life, characterized by defeat and sadness. 

What if? 

What if God is doing something in the middle of your prison today that you can't see?  What if He's using the very people who have mistreated you, to bring you into a life of joy and fulfillment that you wouldn't have otherwise?  What if your imprisonment is the very thing that not only draws you closer to Him, but becomes the very thing that draws others to Him through you?  

What if: What Satan means for evil in your life, God means for good? (Gen. 50:20).    

What if...

God help me today to see into your plan.  Help me to look past how I "feel" at this moment and choose to learn the invaluable things You are teaching me in the midst of this journey.  Thank You for my "prison," Lord.  Thank You for the things I am learning in the midst of my time spent there.  Change my heart to reflect Your heart to those around me.  I love You, Lord.  

God Never Gives Up

Some of the greatest heartache in the world - I believe - belongs to the parent whose child is in rebellion.  I'm not just talking about a little disrespect every now and then.  I'm talking about "flat-out" rebellion, where the child despises the teachings of his/her mother and father.  That's incredibly sad for me to think about, and yet, in many parent's lives, it is a reality beyond anything I can imagine at this stage of my life. 

Maybe you have been affected by this type of "rebellion."  Maybe your children have broken your heart many, many, many times over.  If so, I pray for you right now to have wisdom in your dealings with your child.  I pray that God would grant you peace, in knowing that He cares for your child more than you will ever know, this side of heaven.  I pray that God will enable you to have an open line of communication with your child and that your relationship will be restored.  I pray that your heart would be pure before your child and before Almighty God.  I pray for your tears to cease, and your joy to be restored. 

I guess I can't help but write about this, because it's been on my mind lately.  I was never really a "rebellious" kid.  I did sow some wild oats in my day - 'nuf' said - but I really didn't lash out at my parents in disgust or disrespect.  You just didn't do that in my house.  You didn't turn away while my parents were talking with you, and you sure didn't roll your eyes when they suggested something that made your heart say, "Really?"  

I am so thankful for that teaching.  I am so thankful that they ingrained that type of behavior in us when we were younger, because now that I'm older and have kids of my own, I see the bigger picture.  I see how rebellion can hurt.  I see how a rolling of the eyes and a turning away of the face can damage the parent/child relationship.  Sadly, it is the first sign of a rebellious heart.  It's a sign that your child's heart is becoming hard...a sign a parent never wants to see. 

I have yet to experience that type of total rebellion in my own family.  Right now, I have a great relationship with my kids.  But I know Someone who has experienced it.  I know Someone who has lived life as a parent, only to be rejected, and you do, too:  God. 
 
As a parent, He wooed Israel over and over again, back into His arms...back into His safe covering for them.   You would think they would have been grateful, and yet, they weren't.  You would think that they would hang on His every word, and yet, in Jeremiah 2:27, God says that His children - His beloved - His precious sons and daughters - rebelled.  He said, they "say to a tree 'You are my father,"  and to a stone, "You gave birth to me,' for they have turned their back to Me, and not their face." 

Again in Jeremiah, you hear the very hurtful heart of God, the parent, as He makes this statement:  "And they have turned to Me the back and not the face;  Though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not listened to receive instruction" (Jer. 32:33).

As a parent, that just makes my heart hurt.  The God of creation...the God Who loves passionately and doesn't know how to do it any other way...was rejected by His children.  His teachings were scorned.  His love was rejected.  His passion for them and cries to them, fell on deaf ears.  They chose to turn their backs to Him and not their faces.  Pretty sad, huh? 

But despite the sadness and hurt of being their parent, God didn't give up on His kids.  Yes, He disciplined them, but He never gave up on them.  He could have wiped them off the face of the earth and started over again, but He didn't.  He could have left them completely alone in their misery, but He didn't.  He could have disowned and rejected them as His own, but He didn't.  Instead, God told them that after their discipline had been completed, He would "gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury and in great wrath.  I WILL bring them back to this place, and I WILL cause them to dwell safely.  They shall be MY people, and I WILL be their God, then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever; for the good of them and their children after them.  And I WILL make an everlasting covenant with them, that I WILL not turn away from doing them good; but I WILL put MY fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.  Yes, I WILL rejoice over them to do them good, and I WILL assuredly plant them in this land, WITH ALL MY HEART AND WITH ALL MY SOUL" (Jer. 32:37-41). 

He never gave up on them in their rebellion. 

He never gave up on me in my rebellion...and He doesn't give up on me today.  Praise be to His Name! 

My encouragement today is for you to not give up on your son or daughter in their rebellion.  Instead, be passionate about their discipline (designed to restore their relationship with you), but even more passionate about their restoration to God.  Pray for them continually.  Love them, even in their anger and rejection of you.  Be an example of Christ to them.  Believe that God will AND CAN change them into who He wants them to be.  After all, He says, "I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for Me?"  (Jer. 32:29).   

God wants to do a miracle in your family.  He hasn't forgotten you.  He wants to show you and others His glory, and while He works, you wait and pray...and wait and pray some more, believing that He hasn't given up on your child...just like He never gives up on you.  : )

Father God, help me be a good parent today.  Teach me how to pray for my kids...how to love them, as You love them.  Help me to know when to open my mouth and when to keep it shut.  You, Lord God, are my Creator.  You are my Sustainer.  You are my Rock and my Shelter.  Help me to hide in You today, as I wait to see Your miraculous works in my child's life.  I praise You, Jesus.  I praise You. 

Staying Out of the Belly of a Whale

Now that's different! 

I have always heard and thought that Jonah - you know, the whale guy - was disobedient to God, mainly because he was "scared" to go to Nineveh.  Well, after reading the book again, I've come to change my thoughts about our run-a-way prophet.  I'm sure fear for his own life did play a part in his detour to Tarshish, but for the most part, Jonah was just plain angry about the whole idea of preaching repentance to the Assyrians.  After all, the Assyrians...the inhabitants of Nineveh...were Jonah's arch enemies.  They had attacked his city over and over again, killing and raiding as they went.  So, you can imagine how much Jonah valued the lives of the Ninevites.

I can't say I blame him.  In his eyes, preaching repentance to the Ninevites was like throwing a life preserver to those who had made many of his own people - possibly even his family - walk the proverbial "plank." 

So when God commanded him to "Go," Jonah said, "No." 

I don't think he actually looked up at God and shook his fist while defying Him.  Instead, I think he heard God's orders, packed his bags and left, going in the opposite direction. 

Jonah wasn't interested in saving the Ninevites.  He wanted to see them suffer.  He wanted to see their city destroyed.  Wouldn't it be better for Israel, if her enemies were wiped off the face of the earth?  Jonah wanted judgement - punishment for those who had inflicted so much damage and pain.   

I know that because in Jonah chapter 4 (post-whale), when the prophet saw the repentance of the people of Nineveh, Jonah became very angry.  His prayer revealed his reasoning for not wanting to go in the first place:  "Ah, Lord was not this what I said when I was still in my country?  Therefore, I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness;  One who relents from doing harm.  Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live"  (vs.1-3). 

Before Jonah ever made plans to leave Israel, he knew what would probably happen if he preached repentance to the Ninevites.  He knew that God was "a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness;  One who relents from doing harm."  He knew God was too gracious and merciful not to give them another chance, before He exacted judgement.  He knew that God was going to spare Nineveh, so I'm assuming he banked on the fact that God would spare him, as well. 

Jonah wasn't dumb.  He knew that intentionally disobedience wasn't smart, but he probably rationalized that God, being gracious and merciful...full of lovingkindness and compassion, would be gracious and merciful to him in  his disobedience.  He figured God would let him get away with rebellion this one time - maybe...  

Maybe not. 

God IS gracious and merciful.  Yes, He is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness.  Yes, He is a God who relents from doing harm.  But did that give Jonah a reason to willfully sin against the Father and disobey His commands?  NO!  God told Jonah at the end of the book that the Ninevites didn't know their right hand from their left.  They didn't have a clue they were wallowing in sin...but Jonah KNEW better.   

I think we are just as guilty as Jonah sometimes.  God tells us something that's hard to do...something that takes us out of our comfort zone and like Jonah, we look at Him in our own way and ask Him, "Are you kidding me?  I can't forgive him for what He did.  I can't forgive her for what she said.  There's no way I'm going to even try.  They've damaged me far too much.  My heart is hard and will remain so.  I can't believe You are even asking me to do this, God."  And then we count on the fact that He is gracious and merciful.  We count on the fact that He is full of lovingkindness and compassion.  We bank on the fact that He will overlook this ONE area of rebelliousness in our lives, and we head to Tarshish.

Then, like Jonah, we find ourselves in the belly of a whale - cold, dark, hungry and clueless - wondering why God would allow this to happen.   

Oh, Beloved of God...LOVED by God...sometimes the things that God asks us to do in His Word ARE hard.  It's not easy to forgive.  It's not easy to minister grace and mercy to those who have caused you harm.  It's not easy to let go of the anger and allow God to do His work.  And it's definitely not easy to watch the results of that work - sometimes being full of grace and compassion.   Yet, God calls us to do it - to forgive - to not judge - to not hold grudges - to be more concerned about their souls and their relationship to God, than we are about our own feelings.

Forgive, today.  Tell  yourself and God that this person has your forgiveness.  They are no longer in debt to you, nor are you to them.  They are His and He can do whatever He wants with them - whether that be salvation or destruction.  Choose to repeat that to yourself - "With God's grace and because of God's lovingkindness to me, I forgive ______________."  Then, let God do His work in their lives - even if it includes you.   

Dearest Jesus, please help me today to let go of vengeance.  Please show me my hidden rebellion...the sin that is keeping me captive.  Help me choose to forgive, as you forgive...to love, as You love...to obey, as You were obedient to Your Father.  Thank You for being gracious and merciful - full of lovingkindness to me.  I love You, Lord.  I love you. 

Young Earth - Old Earth - What Does It Really Matter???

I just have to tell you this...

The other day my little six-year-old was trying to explain to me how old something was.  I can't remember the exact item in question, but I can definitely remember how he used his words to articulate the depth of his seriousness in "dating" this thing.  He began by telling me - well, here - let me just quote what he said: "Mom, it's older than you (dramatic pause)...and dad (dramatic pause)...and Grandpa (dramatic pause)...and Papa (dramatic pause)."  And then with big eyes and an intensity in his voice that made me know he was as serious as a little boy can get, he said, "Like the 90's." 

Now, everything in me wanted to laugh out loud in hysteria, but I didn't want to make light of his "dating process."  I did, eventually, tell him that I was born a little earlier than the "90's," but I didn't tell him HOW MUCH earlier.

Seth got his point across.  Whatever "it" was...it was OLD.  He just had his dates a little confused, which threw everything else into question.   

Well, yesterday, we had a Creation Scientist come speak at our church, and I wish you could have been there.  Steve Levinson had some things to say about the current way scientists date something (how they tell how old something is), as well as the problems associated with their calculations.  You see, they - along with most all the media - say that the earth is millions of years old.  Our school textbooks tell our children that.  The History Channel tells us that.  Even the PBS Channel tells us that.  It just has to be true, doesn't it?  And even if it's not true, does it really matter if it isn't? 

I used to think it wasn't a big deal.  In reality, I just never thought about it.  I accepted the old age of the earth, just like I accepted the fact that chlorophyll causes plants to turn green.  But as I've gotten older and a little more inquisitive, I've come to realize that it really does matter.  It really does matter that the earth is NOT millions of years old and that the dating process most scientists now employ is flawed.  Want to know HOW it matters?  I'm glad you've asked. 

As a Christian, who believes the Bible to be the infallible Word of God, the dating of the earth is a HUGE deal.  If what the secular scientists say is true - then, the earth is millions of years old, and plants and animals died LONG before man ever came on the scene.  How is this "old earth" theory detrimental to my faith?  Well, if you remember, the Bible says that before the Fall, there was NO death.  Death entered the world, only AFTER Adam and Eve sinned.  So, in saying that death occurred BEFORE the Fall of man, these scientists are refuting the Word of God...in essence calling it inaccurate and against science.  If that's the case - that Scripture is wrong on the timing of when death entered the world - then Scripture can be wrong about other things.  Maybe there was no resurrection...maybe the death of Jesus was all just a hoax...maybe there is no such thing as Heaven and Hell. 

Can I scream on this page through ink - NOT! 

There is NO error in Scripture.  The error is in human abilities.   

Another point in question is that if these fossils were millions of years old, then why are scientists finding soft tissues and blood cells encapsulated in T-Rex bones?  Surely, science would say that after being baked in the desert for millions of years, those things would have become fossilized themselves or disintegrated...one of the two.

Now, if you think I'm taking this way too far and am way too concerned about this issue, then think about this.  Mr. Levinson said yesterday that 85% of our youth who have grown up in church, leave church once they graduate high school and NEVER COME BACK.  THEY NEVER COME BACK.  If you are a Believer, that should alarm you. Could it be that one day, some professor somewhere told them that their ideas about the Bible account of creation was wrong...that there was error in the Word of God?   Could it be that they didn't have the knowledge to give a rebuttal, a defense for why they believed Scripture to be accurate? Could it be that they were never taught how to question science or defend what they believed to be Truth?  Could it be that sadly they accepted what they heard from their "wise elders" and tossed away their former belief system?
 
Could it be?

I hope not, but probably so.

I'm not trying to scare you about science.  I love science.  I always have.  But I am trying to get the message out - just like our friend Mr. Levinson - that we need to open our eyes to the things that secular scientists are feeding us.  We need to stop accepting things as truth that are merely speculations or theories, especially if they don't line up with the Word.  Instead we need to be able to speak intelligently about scientific things.  We need to study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (II Timothy:15).  We need to revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (I Peter 3:15).

You know, I still watch those TV channels on occasion, and I still take my kids to the museum.  But because of what I've seen in the past couple of years and because I was reminded of it again yesterday, now when we watch those programs and when we see those amazing exhibits, I will be a little more cautious and questioning.  I will make more of an intentional effort to ensure that my kids know how to explain science in light of the Truth, and that they know how to defend what they believe scientifically.   
I could go on and on all day, but I have got to get out of this chair and fix my family breakfast!  So, for those of you who are interested...for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about...or for those of you who want to know more about how to defend your faith by using science, I urge you to visit the Answers in Genesis' website: www. answersingenesis.org.  They have great videos and intriguing articles that will keep you updated and informed on the latest discoveries and news in the scientific world, as well as give you information on how this affects you and how to defend your faith in the light of what you know.  

Jesus, help me to be passionate about the things You are passionate about.  Help me distinguish between Truth and falsehood and to be smart about it.  Give me wisdom to study to show myself approved to You...to be a good student of Your Word, as well as a good defender of the faith.  Thank You, Jesus.  Thank You.   

Sometimes the Perfect Tool, Is Softer Than You Think

Being here in my Mississippi "homeplace," has brought back many, many memories.  

I remember trimming my mother's prized roses as a present for her, only to find out later that I had trimmed them at the WRONG time of year! 

I remember losing my little toenail as it drug on the hard, rocky gravel, while pedaling as fast as I could to get away from the neighbor's dog.  I probably would have been fine, if I just hadn't turned around to stick my tongue out at the mutt as I rode to victory. 

And I remember sitting in the driveway for HOURS, trying to find fossils and precious minerals in the gravel.  I would use a hammer to break rocks open, just to see what they looked like in the middle.  Surely there were precious prizes in "them there rocks," and I was determined to find them.  

This morning, that's where my memories have lingered...out in the driveway with the hammer.  In my hand, that tool was hard, heavy, and no rock was hard enough to withstand my assault.  It as the perfect tool for the job. 

Strangely enough, not once did I ever - while breaking those rocks - even think about picking one up, sticking out my tongue and trying to use that soft organ in my mouth to pry open my prizes.  For some unknown reason, that just never crossed my mind! 

However, Scripture says that the tongue is a powerful tool, even powerful enough to break bone:  "By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone"  (Proverbs 25:15).

Hmmm...a gentle tongue breaks a bone.  Now, I don't know about you, but when I first read that, it just didn't make much sense...about as much sense as me whacking away at a rock open-mouthed.  However, the more I thought about it and prayed about it, the more I realized that a gentle tongue was, in fact, the most useful tool for breaking something hard.   

In the natural world, it makes perfect sense that a harsh tongue would break something - or someone - who was hardened.  After all, in the natural world, to break something hard, you use something harder.  In contrast, within the life of the spiritual man or woman, gentleness with our tongues - not harshness or hardness - brings the results. 

A great example of this can be seen in the parent/child relationship.  For instance, if I use harsh words or biting remarks to try to correct my six year old, he doesn't "break."  Instead, he hardens.  His little face scowls and his heart attitude becomes less than amiable.  However, when I take time to let the Spirit guide my tongue, and respond to him in gentleness, he doesn't "harden."  Most of the time he "breaks" and apologetically wraps his arms around me in a gesture of a broken and contrite heart. 

The same things happens to us, too.  When someone speaks to us in anger or harshness, our instantaneous reaction is one of two things.  We either harden and fight back, or we harden and run away.  Either way, everybody loses.

So, this truth of gentle-speak is a reality...but it's not easy to practice.  We have to be intentional.  Remember, in the natural man, harder breaks harder, but in the spiritual world, gentleness breaks the bone.  So, today, when you find yourself in that compromising situation - and you will - wanting to respond harshly, but knowing you need to respond gently, take a deep breath and breathe out a prayer for gentleness.  Ask God to fill your tongue and your tone with His gentleness and watch what happens. 

Jesus, sometimes, I am so quick to speak harsh words, thinking my harshness will cause change.  Yet, You say that gentleness is what breaks the bone.  Help me lean on You today and respond in ways that are pleasing to You - with words that are pleasing to You.  I give my tongue to You today...as funny as that may sound.  You can have it.  Use it, Jesus...to bring healing and restoration in the lives of those around me.  I love You, Lord, and I thank You for Your gentleness with me.  

Swallowed Up!

Swallowed up - those words bring a couple of things to mind, like chocolate chip cookies in my possession and ducklings - yes, ducklings.  

My kids were at the pond behind our house one day, and they raced home to relay a very intriguing story.  Evidently, a duckling, who was trailing behind his brothers and sisters, disappeared underneath the water in one fail swoop of something!  After much speculation and a phone conversation with my father as to the identity of the unidentifiable monster in our pond who could swallow a duckling whole, we finally determined that the monster was no montster at all.  Evidently, a large mouth bass will, in fact, swallow a duckling if its mouth is large enough.

You would think after 43 years of life - at the time - that I would been privy to that little tidbit of trivia, but somehow, it escaped my educational training!  That poor duckling had been "swallowed up" into something else.  His life had been snuffed out...swallowed into another living thing.

So, when I read Paul's writing in I Corinthians 5:4, my mind can picture exactly what he's talking about:  "For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life."  I don't know about you, but I CRAVE that my mortality would be "swallowed up" by life.   

What in the world does that mean?  Well, I take it to mean that in my flesh - in my bodily tent - I don't necessarily want to lose myself.  I just want MORE of something that isn't me!  I want Jesus to "further clothe" me, so that my sin, my ugliness, my selfish behaviors, my stinky attitudes, my harsh words, my mortality, my "humanness" would be swallowed up in His life - in His peace, His perfection, His unselfish motives, His positiveness, His comforting words, His divinity, His perfection!  Oh, that on a daily basis, more and more of Him would show forth in me...that my mortality - my humanness  - would be gobbled up, "swallowed up" by His amazing Life. 

Thank You, Lord, that You desire that for me...even more than I desire it for myself.  I want Your life to swallow mine, so that I can show forth Your life to those around me.  Thank You, Jesus.  Swallow me up, today!  I love You, Lord.  I really, really do!