Building Your Family

As I listened to the strange bump-thump in the gutter above my head, I began to realize this was not normal.  I turned my attention to the roof of the house, only to see a bird with a straw-filled beak, disappear under the gutter cover.  It dawned on me.  A mother bird and her mate were building a beautiful nest for their precious little ones that would soon be here.

I watched for some time.  In and out they went - wrestling with branches and pine straw, desperate to prepare...to fill the area with all the things needful of small, helpless hatchlings.  

I admired their tenacity - their brilliance and handiwork.  Yet, part of me was saddened.  You see, I can see what WILL happen.  I can see the water from the storms pouring into the gutter and filling it - ripping their hard work apart, killing the little ones they were trying to protect.

They will not have planned for the water.  

Instead, their planning was focused mainly on trying to find the perfect place to build their family. But for all their hard work - their endless flittings - futility would be their harvest - futility and destruction.

Those thoughts really made me question whether or not we are doing anything different.  We plan our lives one fury-filled fit after another, trying to "provide" for our families - trying to stay afloat.  We, as a society, prize working long hours to obtain great pay, so that we can "build" our families - "care" for our young.  We plan for them to have the best of everything and never lack for anything.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong with that, yet what if the fitful "building" we are involved in, is actually the thing that ultimately destroys, instead of builds our families?  What if working that extra job for some "rainy day" cash will cost us more than we think? What if more time at the office and less time with our kids, leads to some difficulties for which our money could never prepare us?  Are we building our families or choosing to deliberately destroy them?  Do our priorities in our days dictate our desires for our family, or do our desires for our family dictate our priorities?

What if we spend all this time "building," only to find that the end of our "building" is destruction.

Matthew 7:24-27 says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  

Build your house on the Rock - on Christ - on His desires for your family - His desires for you. Search His heart in all your decisions, including the ones concerning your family.  Plan for the water, my friend, by making sure you and your plans for your family are securely seated on the Rock.  

Thank You, Father, for promising me that if I seek You, I will find You if I search for You with all my heart.  I want to know You, Lord.  I want to know Your plans for myself and for my family, so that I can walk in the Truth that You are directing my steps and going before me on this journey.  Thank You, Lord.  I love You.  

Definitely NOT Worthless Bread

I wonder sometimes if we are more like the Israelites in the Old Testament than we like to admit.

I'm considering this today in response to Numbers 21:4, 5: "Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.  And the people spoke against God and against Moses;  'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?  For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.'"

I read this and the first thing that comes to mind is "OH MY STARS!" (That's what we say in Mississippi when we are totally taken aback by shocking events.)

How could they do that?  How could the slavery-freed Israelites gripe at God about the journey on which He was personally leading them?  Even more, how could they call God's perfect provision - God's perfect food (manna) - "worthless?"  This "bread" provided all the nutrients, protein, vitamins, etc...that the people would ever need.  God even made it sweet.  He could have created it to taste like that liquid medicine pharmacists flavor, just so it continues to go down and not come back up!  But no...only the best for His kids.

So how did it come to this?  How did the Israelites go from singing God's praises one minute to criticizing His leading and His gifts the next?  

I think it may have something to do with choice.  It says the Israelites were discouraged in their souls. I can see how that could happen.  Their lives WERE difficult.  They had sand in their shoes and no place to call home.  They probably stopped focusing on where they were going and started focusing on where they were - in the desert - hot, sweaty, and feeling abandoned.

Don't we do the same thing?  God does something incredible in our lives - something that only He could do - and before you know it, we are questioning His plans and His provision.  We focus on our surroundings, not on Him.

Well today, I for one, don't want to be lumped into same category as the Old Testament-wandering Israelites.  I'd much rather be found fulling trusting of God's provision in my wilderness and thankful for His glorious-tasting manna.

Won't you join me?  

God, I am yours.  You have chosen to place me in this path, and I am thankful - thankful for Your provision and Your placement.  You know best, Father, and I surrender to Your will with gratitude and excitement.  I love You.  

Love to the End

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God; so He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around Him (John 13:1-5).”

Jesus...knowing that He was about to endure the painful torture of the cross (the most painful death the Romans ever concocted)...knowing that He would experience the betrayal of His closest friends....knowing that His body would be beaten to a pulp – literally...knowing that it was just a matter of time before the Roman guards came to lead Him away...found a nice, secluded place away from people to meditate His impending doom.

Can I just say (or write) NOT!!!

Jesus, our King, knew His end was coming, and what does John's Gospel say that He did? He didn't run away to contemplate or be concerned over what was going to happen in the near future. Instead, He did the same thing He commands us to do by example. He loved them, by serving them “to the end.”

We get so busy with our own lives, meditating on what we are going through or having to deal with at the moment, that we forget to LOVE to the end. We feel “the right” to find a place to hide away from the rest of the world. We've convinced ourselves that we need that much MORE than we do and end up treasuring those times of “get away” MORE than we should.

If you are anything like me, and hopefully you are not, you tend to draw back...to pull away when things get out of control. I want to run and find some quiet place to pull the covers over my head, sometimes giving the excuse that I simply need some time alone.

I'm not saying that time alone is necessarily a bad thing. What I am saying is that I think sometime I use it as an excuse not to push through and LOVE. Jesus pushed through. He sat at that table and heard the disciples wondering who was the greatest. He sat there, looking at each one, knowing that they would all eventually desert Him. He knew it all...their hearts...their minds...their misconceptions about Who He was. And to top it off, He knew His imminent, horrid death was approaching quickly. It was time...and yet, He didn't use that as an excuse to not love. Instead, He loved them - even to the end.

I think that's one of our problems as Believers, today. We don't love to the end. We love until it gets uncomfortable or makes us frustrated. We love until we're too busy, but not to the end. We don't put everything that God has put into us – His own presence and power - into our relationships with our family, our friends and definitely not our enemies.

If you don't belong in that description, I applaud your walk with the Lord and pray that He continues to use you mightily in the lives of those you serve. Yet, if you are like me, and find yourself lumped into the earlier paragraph, let's change. Let's decide to take our lives that were purchased with the precious, precious blood and suffering of our Savior and use them for Him.

I've always heard that the highest complement one could be paid was imitation. Let's pay Christ the highest compliment. Love...to the end.

Father, forgive me for when I don't love and don't love till the end. I desire to make You proud...to show others what a great and loving God You are. Help me do that through service for You and to You, alone. I love You, Lord.

To Complain or Not to Complain

Conviction...that's about it - sheer conviction.

Normally, I don't think of myself as a "complainer."  As a matter of fact, I have always tried to purpose in my heart, NOT to do so. However, as I sat and listened to the Word proclaimed, I was convicted of the very thing that I disdain so much.

The pastor taught on Philippians 2:14,15 - "Do everything without grumbling or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky."

I've heard these verses many times.  I've written about these verses...taught on these verses.  Even more than that, I have tried to instill them in my children with a passion - "You are a light in this world.  Act like it.  Don't grumble or complain, so as to dim your light for Christ."

Yet as I was put in an unusually unnerving position today, my first thought was a complaint.  I wish I could say that I immediately kicked that thought right out of my mind, and my heart was content and cheerful from then on.  However, that wasn't the case at all.  As a matter of fact, all I wanted to do was to get up and get out, so I could speak freely of my displeasure in the car to my husband, away from others.  It's alright to complain to your spouse, right?!?  NO.  The more I listened, the more convicted I became - the Spirit showing me my own pride and arrogance for the very verses I say I hold so dear.

So, I decided in my heart that I would not complain in the car, nor anywhere else for that matter.  Do you know how difficult that was?  Every time something was mentioned about the service, I really wanted to share my story.  It WAS true, but it wasn't edifying.  

Jesus took me to another verse, early yesterday, which probably is why these verses hit so hard today. Proverbs 10:19 says, "In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise."  Know what that means to me?  Belinda, BITE YOUR TONGUE - literally, if you have to.

And that's what I have had to do today.  Everyone thought there was something wrong, because I have been so quiet.  Little did they know - it was all I could do to STAY that way.

I wonder if you struggle with this as I have?  I wonder if there is some part of you that is even at this moment feeling remorse for words said in aggravation.  I can guarantee you - it's not gonna get any better until you deal with it.  You've gotta ask God to forgive you and help you remove that complaining spirit as far as the east is from the west.  Then, you gotta keep quiet for a while, guarding the door of your lips to make sure that nothing escapes, except that which is "helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (Eph. 4:29).

Forgive me, Lord, when my heart is so far removed from You that I focus on everyone and everything else besides You.  May my speech at all times, reflect what I say I believe and Who I say I serve.  I love You, Father.  Thank You for being patient with Your child.  

The Blood of the Lamb

I want chickens, but there's a problem.  I have been told by many owners of the productive fowl that when they stop laying, it's time for Sunday dinner.  

Now, some of you may think I am silly.  It's okay. I've already been told.  I just don't think I would be able to end the life of something that I have coddled and fed and petted and held and laughed at and kept warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  A chicken in my yard would be more like a precious pet, I'm afraid.  So, the idea of taking its life really doesn't "sit well" with me. 

Because of that, I can't imagine what the Old Testament Israelites must have had to go through in order to present a proper and useful sacrifice to the Lord.  Because sin was so vast and filthy in His sight (and still is, by the way), He required the most valuable - the most perfect specimen - be offered in place of the family's sin as a sacrifice.  

Often times, I'm sure the "sacrifice" was the most prized possession of the family.  It was their pet. The children raised it from a small little helpless creature, knowing that one day, that precious animal would have to spill it's life's blood for theirs.  

You see any other sacrifice wouldn't work.  The lamb had to be spotless, without defect - the best the family could bring.  

So, while reading I Peter 1:18-19 today, my mind got stuck there: "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect." 

The Israelites were required to bring their best as an offering to the Lord, because HE would one day, BRING HIS BEST, as an offering for them.  The God of Heaven - the God of love - would one day, take the life of His own Son, because as precious as those lambs were to the people, they were never good enough.  They weren't perfect.  God knew it.  The only perfect "Lamb" was Christ.  
So, let me encourage you to "get stuck there" today.  "Get stuck" in the idea that you no longer HAVE to bring something precious and valuable to God to appease His wrath.  You no longer HAVE to take the life of something that you love in order to just be able to stand in His sight.  

For through Jesus, HE did that for you. 

Thank You, Father, for the great gift of Your Son...really.  Forgive me when I take His death and preciousness of His gift so casually.  I thank You for Your love for me, even when I do.  Cleanse this calloused, hard heart and fill it with Your precious Spirit.  Thank You, Father, for Jesus.  

The Power of the Tongue

Finally, they were home.  The only thing left to do was to go in and take over.  

I'm speaking of the Israelite people, by the way.  They had been in slavery their whole lives, and yet now, they would finally have a land of their own...a freedom of their own.  No one and no thing - except God, Himself - would ever control them again.  No more beatings.  No more punishment through lack of food. No more torture.  Their lives would be their own, so to speak.  All they had to do was cross the Jordan and chase those who were on their property out of town. 

So, Moses sent twelve spies across the Jordan to spy out this Promised Land and to bring back samples of what was to be theirs.  The bounty they found was amazing.  It was just as God had told them.  All the spies agreed.  It was indeed a land flowing with milk and honey.  It was heaven on earth...  

BUT...  

You know, sometimes, that can be a really great contraction, boasting of great things to come. However, in this case, that three letter word meant huge trouble for the Israelites.  "But (ten of the spies said) "the people who have settled in the land are strong, and their cities are greatly fortified. We also saw the descendants of Anak (a giant).  Amalek lives throughout the Negev while the Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites live in the hill country.  The Canaanites live by the sea and on the bank of the Jordan" (Num. 13:27-29).

In other words, ten of the spies came back freaking out.  They were scared to death of the "giants" and wanted nothing to do with the warring tribes they would have to face once they crossed over. 

Did they forget who God was?  Seems like it.  

It doesn't stop there, though.  Caleb and Joshua tried to quiet the people and encourage them, but the ten retaliated: "We can’t attack those people,” the men who were with him said, “because they’re too strong compared to us.” So they put out this false report to the Israelis about the land that they had explored: “The land that we’ve explored is one that devours its inhabitants. All the people whom we observed were giants. We also saw the Nephilim, the descendants of Anak. Compared to the Nephilim, as we see things, we’re like grasshoppers, and that’s their opinion of us!" (Num. 13:31-33).

And how do you think the Israelites responded?  How did God's people who watched the Egyptian army that threatened them be swallowed up in the rushing Red Sea respond to the news of the spies?  Why, of course, they trusted their God!  They decided that He was strong enough and big enough to conquer anything and any foe that they faced...giant or not!  

NOPE.  

Instead, the WHOLE assembly - hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of people - lifted up their voices and wept.  They were in such anguish at the thought of what was to come that they decided slavery was better than God's plan.  Aaron and Moses?  Well, they should be stoned, and then we'll find a new leader...one that would lead us back to Egypt.  

Sound silly?  Of course, it does, but more than anything, it sounds convicting.  James 3:5-6 says, "in the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it boasts of great things.  Consider how small a spark sets a great forest on fire.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body.  It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire and is itself, set on fire by hell."  

Now, that's not to say the tongue does not have benefit when controlled by the Spirit.  However, when we allow the tongue to wander on its own, not minding what spews forth from it, people get hurt.  That particular generation of Israel NEVER got to see the Promised Land.  They never got to go home.  Instead, because of their disbelief, God condemned them to die in the wilderness. Their children would inherit the land, but only after dealing with being homeless for 40 years.   

And the reason...the uncontrolled, unbridled tongues of ten men.  We are talking hundreds of thousands (probably a million or more people's lives) were incredibly, detrimentally altered because of a few words.  

Now, does that put the power of our tongues in perspective? 

I hope it does for you, because it sure does for me.  I have the power of life and death wrapped up in this little tiny organ in my mouth.  May I choose today - and every day for the rest of my life - to speak words of life...to allow my speech to be directed by the One who created it.  I pray you will join me.  

Father, challenge my heart and convict me of anything that I have said that does not reflect who YOU are.  Forgive my disbelief and my disgruntled speech.  I trust You, Lord...in all things.  

Don't Turn to the Right or the Left!

Migration - it's GOT to be a God-thing!  Year after year, creatures from the tiniest of birds to the largest of mammals trek their way, fly their way, and swim their way to a specific place at a specific time for a specific purpose.   Some travel thousands and thousands of miles to arrive at a destination they may see for the first time, never even stopping to rest!  They fight through raging storms, torrential waterfalls, heavy wind and various other obstacles, only to STILL arrive at their destination on time.   

How do they do it? Well, God has placed within each of these creatures a sort of homing device called "instinct" to direct them to their appointed end.  And scientists have determined - it works really well.  I mean REALLY, REALLY well.  

This homing device isn't something man-made or even something that man can duplicate.  We can't even create a GPS system that is as accurate as the directional device implanted in the brains of these creatures.  Pretty cool, huh?  

I wish I had a homing device like that. I wish I had something that would push and drive me to my appointed end, giving me complete freedom to trust the destination will be exactly where I am supposed to be at a particular time for a particular purpose.  

Guess what?  I do!  In fact, I have THE most accurate homing device.  You do, as well, if you are a Believer.  It's the actual Creator of the homing device - the Creator of animal instinct - God, Himself, with His Word as our Guide.  

Just like He never lets a bird wonder where in the world to fly before the winter, God didn't leave us directionless. He chose to have human hands write down His Words, so that you and I would always know the direction to go and which paths to choose.  

But do we really need His Word? Can't we just pray and ask God for direction? Yes. Yes, we can. We can pray.  He actually tells us to do that - in His Word!  However, prayer is just ONE of the ways God reveals His will to us - with His Word being the main way.  Therefore, if we choose to neglect His Word, not following it intentionally and fervently, then we will miss the mark every time.  

  

To illustrate this concept, try this.  Stand at one corner of the room and focus on a specific point at the other end.  Square your body to that object, so that you will come directly into contact with that object.  Now, pivot your feet - just a little - to the right or to the left. This doesn't need to be a large adjustment.  Just an inch or so should do it.  Now, make a bee-line toward your object, but by walking in the new path you have chosen.  Did you ever reach it? See what I mean?  It only takes a little variation in your pathway to miss your directed end.  

That's why God told Joshua in Joshua 1:7, "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go."

Friend, God wants you to reach your expected end at the expected time for the expected purpose.  He wants you to focus your attention on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, not getting side-tracked to the right or to the left by bad things...or GOOD things.  We don't often think of "good things" as things that redirect our paths, but any "good thing" that takes your eyes off of Christ, even for a little bit, ends up being a bad thing.  Therefore, keep your gaze straight ahead...focused on Christ. Listen as the Spirit reveals God's pathways for you through His Word. Migrate properly through this life, holding onto the Word of God for every step.  

Jesus, help me migrate this life, by revealing Yourself to me through Your Word.  May I not turn to the right, nor to the left, but keep my eyes fixed on You, Lord.    

Salt and Fries

"You are the salt of the earth.  But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men," Matthew 5:13.

While speaking to a little girl today in the baptismal waters, my husband - the pastor - mentioned to her that as a Believer, she is the salt of the earth.  Trying to further explain, he mentioned how salt flavors everything it touches.  He added, "like your French fries."  In other words, as a Believer, that little one is to allow Christ to use her to make a difference in the lives around her.  Her life was to not only exhibit change, but to ENACT change. 

I guess my stomach was growling, because my thought processes went further with the fries.  So, you know how your French fries taste WITH salt, right?  Okay, so how do your French fries taste WITHOUT?  Pretty bland, huh?  There's not much worse than a soggy, unsalted, tasteless French fry. 

Do you get the analogy?  You and I - as Believers - are the salt of the earth, and as true Believers, we change people and things around us, just by being who Christ created us to be.  However, if we choose to lose our saltiness through allowing sin into our lives, then we will not be effective for Christ.  We will not ENACT change.  Our life is good for nothing.  Empty.  

I don't want to be unfruitful with my life.  Do you?  I didn't think so.  What do you say that you and I simply BE who we were created to be - salt - without additives, without dirt, without the gunk of sin. 

Now, who's ready for some French fries!

Thank You Father.  Help me to allow You to ENACT change in the lives of others around me through my faith in Jesus Christ.   

The "Other" Christmas Gift

"And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord'"  Luke 2:10-11.

That passage is read more this time of year than probably any other time.  However, the older I get, the more I think it should be read all throughout the year and not just at Christmas.   

You see, Luke 2:10-11 speak not just of the salvation provided by Christ through His birth, but also of another amazing gift afforded to us who live far to the right side of the timeline. 

I'll give you a hint.  What else does the angel say, apart from the actual birth announcement?  Look closely.  It's two little words at the very beginning.   

You got it, didn't you?  That's right; Fear not. 

Because Christ came in the fullness of time, we have nothing to fear.  Nothing.  No doubt.  No struggle.  No person.  No cancer.  Nothing.  Christ's birth not only brought us salvation, but it brought us "fear-less-ness." 

"But Belinda, you don't know what I'm facing.  You don't know how I am being bombarded - even now - at a time when I should be excited about Christmas.  You have no idea.  How can I NOT fear?" 

Well, you're right.  I don't know what you are facing.  I'm sure it is scary.  If it helps at all, we all have those things in our lives that grip our heart and make our blood pump so fast our head spins.  Yet, I have found that when I focus on those things, nothing gets any better.  Instead, it only gets worse. 

So in those times of fear in my own life, when I don't feel very "fear-less," I need to remember to "fear not." 

Care to join me? 

Father, help me to truly realize You are WITH me...that You will never leave me or forsake me...that nothing can touch me that doesn't come through Your hand and is in Your control.  Please replace my anxiety and fearfulness with peace and fearlessness.  In Your Name...Jesus.   

Thankful Reminders

Reminders...I like them.  The ones that come by way of sticky notes are my favorites.  Most people use their phones these days, but a good a pen and piece of paper are my ultimate choice. 

One of these "reminders" beckons me spiritually higher each morning as I enter my bathroom.  Written on a tiny strip of blue paper months ago, the color directs my eyes upward toward the top of the mirror and the Scripture, my heart upwards towards the Lord: "Give thanks in all things for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" - I Thessalonians 5:18. 

Sometimes, I'd like to NOT see it.  Know what I mean?  Sometimes, I'd rather NOT see the Words of the Lord that convict me of thanklessness and take away my justification for my sinful actions.   

Let's face it.  Sometimes it's just hard.  It's hard to give thanks when I am grumpy and angry at family members.  It's hard to give thanks, when I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders.  It's hard to give thanks, when I have so much to do in a day that I'm afraid it won't all get done. 

Sometimes it's hard...but not impossible. 

You see, when God chose to draw us to Himself through Jesus Christ, He gave us more than just the gift of exchanging our sinfulness for His righteousness.  Scripture says that "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness, (II Peter 1:3). 

In other words, we have the power to be thankful, even when we don't FEEL thankful.  For instance, when I am angry at someone, I can be thankful that God has put that person in my life to teach me.  I can be thankful that God has given me the grace to handle the situation and possibly draw the offending person and myself closer to Himself.  I can be thankful that God doesn't treat me the way I would like to treat that person, in that moment!  

See what I mean?  God, through His Spirit, supplies us with the ability to be thankful, even in seemingly thankless situations. 

So with that in mind, what is that hard circumstance that you need to be thankful for today?  God may have already brought it to mind - to mine and to yours.  So, choose thankfulness.  Figure out how to be thankful in it...and then thank Him for IT or for the outcome of IT.

God, You have told me to be thankful in all things.  Sometimes, Lord, I really don't want to.  Yet, you have said that it is Your will for me in Christ.  Therefore, I will choose thankfulness...even in this.  I praise You, Lord. 
   

Hot Wheels' Cars and Big Brown Eyes

As I watched, I begin to feel a tightness build in my throat.  Then, it happened.  The tears began to fill my eyes.  I hadn't expected to cry while watching this video, but I couldn't help it.

This Operation Christmas Child video flashed pictures of children from other countries opening their gift boxes.  The excitement and joy on their faces did this old country girl's heart good.  I was actually smiling at the faces of the children, until the face of one little boy caught my attention.

He was a normal child.  He didn't seem poor or malnourished.  He seemed content and happy.  I guess he was about the age of my youngest son, which of course, drew me in a little deeper.  

His eyes, though, told a story I will never forget.  I can't tell you the last time I saw pure astonishment in the eyes of a child.  It was precious.  His eyes were huge disks that covered most of his face. He sat there, holding one of the little toys in his shoe box, staring at it as if it were his most prized possession.  As he tilted it back and forth, his eyes became bigger and bigger.  He was truly in awe...at a Hot Wheels car.  It wasn't even one of the fancy ones with all the bells and whistles.  I don't even know if it was a true "Hot Wheels" brand.  It was one color.  It was simple.  And yet, to this little boy, it was the most valuable thing he'd ever had in his life.

I immediately began to think of the multiple Hot Wheel's vehicles my sons have had over the years and how they now are stored in a bin somewhere, remaining untouched for an untold amount of time. I thought of all the other "things" in my life that would create eyes of astonishment in the faces of so many other people.  And I began to be really convicted about "My Shoeboxes."  You know, the ones that I will be sending out to children all over the world this year.

I thought about how I needed to pray over the boxes and the items before I buy them.  I have done that before, but I will pray more specifically and intentionally now.  I will ask that God show me the exact items needing to be placed in those boxes...no matter the cost. I will pray that He uses those items - even though they are just things - to reach some child or some Mom and Dad for Jesus.  I will pray that God blesses that child's family above and beyond all that they could ever ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20).  And I will thank God that as I give...as we give as a family...that He will do something within the lives of my own children to draw them to Himself and astonish them with Himself.

I challenge you...if you have never put together a shoe box for Operation Christmas Child, make this the year that you do.  Go online to SamaritansPurse.org and watch a few of these videos yourself.  You might see my little friend with the Hot Wheel's car.

Make sure to check out the information about the box contents, as well, to assure that all your items make it into the arms of a child. Then, pray.  Pray as I have said, or pray for other things as God directs.  Whatever the case, if you are able, fill a shoe box for Jesus...and for the astonishment of a child.

Thank You, Father for allowing me this simple opportunity to give. Thank You that You delight in my gift and so does the child that will receive it.  Thank You, Father.  

Doing Good

"I wish I was rich," said my ten year old.  We were gazing at a Samaritan's Purse Christmas Gift magazine while gobbling down some freshly cooked chicken nuggets and french fries.  As I turned the pages, he asked questions.  "Why would they need chickens?"  "How much does it cost to feed the baby?"  On and on the questions continued.  I saw his little mind's wheels turning.  "I don't have any money, " he said.  To which I reminded him that he could do jobs around the house to make a few dollars.

Finally, he announced, "I wish I was rich."  Curious, I asked why.  His answer was warming.  He replied, "Because if I was rich, I could buy 30 of all those things in that magazine."

Now, as you can imagine, he wasn't saying that he would buy baby chicks, goats and food for himself.  Instead, if he were rich, he would utilize his money to supply necessities to the faces of women, men and children he saw on those pages - 30x over.

I think we all feel that way, don't we?  At least, I think we should.  As Believers, we want to help.  Sometimes, we just don't know how to do it, who to contact, or where to go.  Samaritan's Purse, I'm sure, would be THRILLED to send you a magazine, to help give you ideas and ways that you can help elsewhere in the world.

Yet, right now in Eastern NC, we need help.  Johnston County has been hit hard with flooding.  People in our cities are living desperate, moment-by-moment lives.  Many can't return to their homes because of the damage.  Others have lost everything, due to no flood insurance...and we don't need a magazine to see pictures.  All we have to do is ride around and glance out the windows of our cars. 

Because of this, I am asking for your help.  We received an e-mail from Sandy Wood of the Johnston County Emergency Services.  She asked that we get the word out to people who are affected by Hurricane Matthew.  She said many don't even know they can receive assistance through FEMA representatives right now.  The address is 912 N Brightleaf Boulevard in Smithfield, and the hours of operation are Monday - Saturday, 9am -7pm and Sunday 12-5.  Here, victims can pick up food, cleaning supplies, water and other items, and YOU can donate those items at this same address.

Another way to help is through the Baptist Men of North Carolina.  They need volunteers to assist with cleanup over the long term.  They ask that you continue to pray, go and give.  

In this ministry, mud-out and tear-out volunteers are needed in the Lumberton area, Fayetteville area, Warsaw area, Windsor Area, Red Springs, Goldsboro, Greenville, Hope Mills and Kings area.  Other locations will be open soon.  For more information, visit www.baptistsonmission.org/HurricaneMatthew and click on the "volunteer now" button. 

If you would like to make a contribution, please make your check payable to N.C. Baptist men/Baptists on Mission and designate the check to Hurricane Matthew Disaster Relief.  Mail to : NCBM, PO Box 1107, Cary, NC 27512.

In light of these opportunities, let's not just "wish" we were rich.  Let's instead, reach out as the arms and Jesus and utilize the supplies and strengths He's given us to make a difference. 

Galatians 6:9-10 says, "Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest, if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially the household of faith. 

Jesus, there are so many people with so many needs and yet, You know them.  You know what they really need and how to provide that for them.  Please use me to relieve the burdens of those around me.  May You receive the glory. 

The Meantime

In all my "free time," I am currently reading a book...which is why it has taken me approximately 2 years to get half-way through! Yet, God's timing is perfect.  He didn't want me to read past this particular section until the time was right.  And the other night, the time was right.  

I needed to hear what this author had to say about waiting.  The book is called Wednesday's Were Pretty Normal by Michael Kelley. You really should read it, if you get a chance...and even if you don't.  Make "a chance."  

Kelley's very young son had cancer.  This book is about the battle through the cancer, plus what happens in the "waiting."  At least that's what I call it.  He uses a different word: 

"Meantime."  

I think I like this better.   

As the book progresses, the reader notices that Kelley's battle isn't just with the cancer that is invading the body of his child.  It isn't just with the financial strain and emotional strain that come from switching jobs and living in and out of a hospital.  It's a record of his spiritual battle, and the beautiful things that come from his "meantime." 

One of the things that ministered to me the other night was his chapter on "Hope."  Kelley writes of needing more "hope" than just for the future health of his son.  He felt there must be hope in the "meantime."  You know, the time between disease and ultimate healing.  That's when God led him to Jeremiah 29:11-13: "'For I know the plans that I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans to give you a future and a hope.'"  

God showed Kelley that in the "meantime," there was indeed, lots of hope, for even though he was waiting, God was NOT.  Instead, God was busy...very busy.  The Creator of these once perfect, but now sin-damaged, frail bodies was in the process of weaving a tapestry of beautiful patterns and threads into something that would scream His name when it was all over.  God was active...while Kelley waited.   

Maybe that's good new for you today.  Maybe that's a good reminder, as it was for me the other night.  God isn't waiting, as you are.  He isn't sitting twiddling His thumbs while you suffer patiently.  God is busy.  He's working.  He's actively involved in your situation.  He hasn't forgotten you exist, nor has He ever taken His hand off your life.  

He's busy in your meantime, my friend...and in mine, too.  

Thank You, God, for the reminder that You aren't watching me wait.  You are busy orchestrating a beautiful plan out of my life that will bring You glory...and that's what I want...Your glory.  Thank You, Father.  Thank You.   

Simply Put: Be Holy

I heard it again this morning...be holy.   It seems those words are every where I turn.  Maybe God is trying to tell me something...hmm....

This isn't the first time He's called a people to be holy.  He called Israel to be holy from the very beginning.

God intentionally desired Israel to be different.  They were to be "set apart."  For example, Israel's government didn't even include a king. That was unheard of in Old Testament times.  Instead, God was their King, and they were to follow His reign.  He gave them judges like Gideon and Samson to protect them and take them into battle.  He gave them priests like Samuel to lead them. He gave them rules for their health - ways of living to keep bacteria and disease at bay - many of which we still use today.  He provided for their every need.  After all, that's what a good King does.

And He did so, so that Israel would be "set apart."  They would be holy.  They would be intentionally different.  Of course, because of this, the other nations would have looked at Israel and seen that their God was the one true God.  They would be amazed at how this massive group of people could not only survive, but thrive in the Middle East.

Yet, Israel wasn't satisfied with God as their King.  As a matter of fact, they chose to disregard Him completely.  They wanted someone physical...someone they could see...someone who would make them be "like all the other nations," (I Sam. 8:20).

They didn't want the holiness of God.  They wanted the comradery of man.

I don't blame them.  We do the same thing today, don't we?  We choose to be like the world around us, instead of standing up and standing out for God's holiness.  We don't want to ruffle someone's feathers by not agreeing with them.  We'd rather blend in with the rest of the crowd and NOT be seen.  We'd rather soothe their minds with apologetic phraseology, than live according to the principles found in the Word of God.

This should not be.  We, as Believers, must be so careful NOT to lose our identity with God.  We must be careful to protect His holiness with our lives, and not apologize for His Words and who He has called us to be.

I Peter 1:16 says we are to be holy as God is holy.  Imagine that...the children of God are to look like and act like, well, their Father.   And do you know why...because it stands to reason that when we emulate the Father, people are drawn to Him.  "Other nations" - our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and family members are in wonder at our lives, but not because of us.  They know that no human could handle life with such grace.  It must come from somewhere else...from someONE else...someONE they need to know.  

Father, help me to be holy.  Help me emulate Your behavior in every situation...Your love...Your compassion...Your mercy...Your Truth...so that others will KNOW that You are my King.   Thank You, Father.  Thank You.   

TAKE IT OFF!

My children tell me that when someone texts in all caps, it means they're screaming the statement. So, here's my best shot:  TAKE IT OFF!  Can you hear me?  I'm screaming...mostly at myself. If you would like to join me in screaming at yourself, go right ahead.  It might be a great idea, and here's why.  

I was quite convicted this morning as I read I Peter 2:1-2.  It says, "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all evil speaking...."  So, what does that have to do with screaming, “TAKE IT OFF?”  Well, that's what "laying aside" actually means - the "taking off" of things. In this case, the things are well, nasty things.

Picture yourself coming in from a hard day of physical labor.  Your are SO dirty that your spouse takes one look at you, grabs his/her nose in disgust and points towards the shower.  You gingerly remove the filthy garments, trying not to disturb any loose dirt or dust, hopefully keeping the grit and grime on the clothing and not on the floor.  You get cleaned up and are ready to emerge as the new and improved version of yourself.  Your spouse gives you a thumbs-up signal, and you are once again allowed to join your family.  

The next day, though, you begin to miss those clothes.  That shirt was your favorite and those pants...well, they fit so well.  Maybe the dirt magically disappeared overnight.  You return to the bathroom, collect the filth-covered garments and sneak into your room.  Little by little, you slide into the clothes.  Hmm...they don't smell THAT bad (notice the all caps...that should tell you something). They aren't THAT dirty.  So, you ignore the winces and grimaces of your family as you pass and head to work.

That's ridiculous, isn't it?  Who would be crazy enough to put those nasty, dirty, stinking, disgusting clothes back on their nice, clean frame?  Who would do that kind of a thing?!?  

I'll tell you "who."  It's anyone who isn't careful NOT to re-clothe themselves in filth.  

Peter is telling Believers to make sure that they take off those nasty "clothes" of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and evil speaking, never to put them on again. For clarification, let me give you a little definition of each.  Malice is any ungodly act with the idea in mind that you are trying to get revenge...to cause someone harm.  Deceit is anything that looks like a lie, including "little white lies." There is no such thing. It's a lie. Hypocrisy is pretending you are someone you are not, including a happy-go lucky Christian. Envy is deep-seated desire of something that belongs to someone else. Finally, evil speaking is another word for slander. It's gossip, which is just a prettier word for slander.

Now do you see why Peter is saying these things MUST GO! We must TAKE THEM OFF, if we are to look like the children of God - if we are to be holy, as He is holy. We must take them off, fighting to never pick them up again.

So, when we feel that harsh word about to erupt from our mouths, if we picture ourselves re-clothing ourselves in filth, we might be less likely to allow that word to spew forth. If when we are tempted to want what the Jones' have, we picture the look on our family's faces as we walk around wearing the disgusting clothes, just maybe we'll repent and lay the nasty things down. If when we want others to think we are someone we are not, then, maybe we should take a spiritual whiff of hypocrisy. That should do it.

Thank You, Lord that You are patient with me.  Convict me of the sins of my mouth and the depravity of my heart.  Convict, so that I might repent and take those things off, leaving them for good.  

Setting Things Aright

I looked out in dismay at the damage.  Hurricaine Hermine had wreaked a little havoc on my backyard.  I had a good-sized Dogwood branch covering my back deck, but that wasn't my main concern. No.  My main concern was my garden.

Peering out my kitchen window, I saw a large clump of vegetation where my rows used to exist.  I picked my chin up off the floor and headed out back.  It was just as I had suspected. The winds had knocked down the posts holding the tomatoes, so they were a jumbled mess.  The peppers were a mess, too.  The stalks had collapsed under the pressure of the large fruit, strong winds and heavy rains.  Most of the branches were touching the ground - too heavy to pull themselves aright.

So, I set to work, staking and gently persuading the plants back into an upright position. Now, the garden is back to normal.  All it took was a little nudge here and there, as well as a little know-how to turn it all around.  I didn't lose a thing.

However, on occasions in the past, I have lost plants after a storm. It wasn't through any real fault of my own.  It was simply because they refused to be set aright.  The stalks broke at the base, unwillingly to yield to my hand.

All through the Proverbs, Scripture talks about that very thing - "correction" - setting things aright.  It has some pretty hard and direct words for those who choose NOT to heed correction (or discipline), and yet, it has some wonderful words to encourage those who do!  For instance, Proverbs 12:1 states: "Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid." Proverbs 13:18 states:  "He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored." Let's do one more - Proverbs 15:32 states:  "He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding."

Now, based on those verses, who do you want to be - someone who listens to correction or someone who does not?  Of course, according to the Word of God, it would be foolish to say that we don't want discipline.  That would be like saying, "Sure, I want to be poor...and shameful...and stupid...and hate myself."

And yet, that's exactly how we respond to correction many times, isn't it?  We respond in anger and resentment with a "how dare you" attitude?  We choose not to thank the bearer of correction for seeing into our situation and caring enough to try and "stand aright" our behavior.  We don't even see the need for our own admonishment.  I hate to say it, but I am afraid we'd rather have a pat on the back, rather than a lift out of the dirt.

How ridiculous would it be for my pepper plants to look at me with disgust as I try to rescue them from the mud.  I'm sure it's not the most comfortable thing for them.  It stretches them and moves them in ways they are not accustomed.  However, it is the BEST thing for them.
 
So the next time someone tries to lift you or me "back up" or "correct" us, may we remember that Godly correction is not a terrible thing. It's much the opposite.  Plus, if we choose to listen to what's being said and yield to it, our lives will be blessed beyond what we deserve.

Father, correction is difficult.  I don't always like to experience it.  But Your Word tells me that Godly correction is necessary and needed.  Help me to listen to Your voice and yield to Your hand.  Amen.  

Wait on the Lord

I looked up this morning - as I do each morning - to quite a sight.  There, a relatively small, short-haired, light brown body stood, twitching fervently back and forth.  I wish you could see it.  There's not a lot of things more entertaining or more endearing to my heart.   

She - "Sugar" - sits at our back door in the morning.  She patiently and expectantly waits to catch a glimpse of someone - anyone - stirring.  At the first sighting, immediately her long legs pull her frame into the air, and her tail tosses her petite body into an almost convulsion-like behavior.  In Sugar's case, the tail truly does wag the dog. 

But the excitement doesn't end there.  Nope.  To her utter joy, Sugar is rewarded for her "waiting."  After all, how could you pass up saying "Good Morning" to someone or "some-dog" who is so excited to see you?  It's as if she cannot contain her joy at being in our presence, and we, in hers.  

That, my friends, is the same type of "waiting" that David encouraged us to do in Psalm 27.  "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." 

One way Scripture emphasizes something in the Word is by reiterating the same phrase over and over again.  Did you see something in that verse that was repeated?  Yep, "Wait on the Lord."  So, in other words, when you get tired of waiting for the Lord...wait some more!  

Oh, and it's not a drudgery to wait for Him.  It's an exciting, stirring anticipation that builds and builds until we see Him appear on the scene.  Then, the coolest thing happens.  We are rewarded by His presence, and He is THRILLED with ours.  

Beautiful, if I do say so myself.  
  
So, along with Sugar and King David, I encourage you, my sisters and brothers. Wait on the Lord.  Wait expectantly for Him.  Wait with anticipation, anxious to see what God will do. 

Wait for the Lord...again, I say...wait for the Lord.  

Thank You, Father, that You never leave me or forsake me, but rather walk along side me in this journey.  Help me to wait with expectation to see what You are going to do for me, through me, and in me.  

A Servant and Yet, A Child

He doesn't owe us a thing...not one thing.  God doesn't owe any of us...anything.  

Sounds harsh, doesn't it?  But read on...the good stuff is to come.  

The other day, while searching for verses about faith, I came across Luke 17, and what I read there, shocked me.  Verse seven begins, "Suppose one of you has a servant plowing or looking after the sheep.  Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down and eat'? Won't he rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink;  after that you may eat and drink'? Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?  So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'" 

Now I know that servant-hood or slavery is not a part of our society today - at least legally - but for the people in Christ's day, it was commonplace.  People understood what it meant to be a slave, as well as "own" a slave.  

Jesus uses this particular relationship to show His disciples what their relationship to God (and ours) actually looks like.  In reality, He is the Master.  We are His slaves.  

These verses explain that while the Master eats, the slave waits and actually serves Him.  He is not invited to dine with the Master, nor does the Master tell him "thank you" for his service in the field or his efficient service during dinner.  Why?  Is it because of a lack of gratitude on the Master's part.  No.  It's just the servant's job.  He's merely doing what he was expected to do.  As hard as it sounds, THAT is the reality of our relationship with God.  

He owes us nothing.  

He isn't required as our God to make our lives peaceful, nor happy. He's not required to do anything for us at all.  He is God.  Period. We are merely to obey what He commands and do what He expects of us. 

That hit me like a ton of bricks.  You see, I "know" that God isn't required to "bless" me, but I really don't believe it wholeheartedly. Instead, down deep, I tend to think that if I am obedient to His leading, then He MUST reward me with some sort of compensation in my life.  I should be content and happy and cheerful and able to help others and speak well and write well without run-on sentences and be blessed.  

Period.  

Yet as my Master, He isn't required to do any of those things for me...AT ALL. Instead, my relationship with Him is one of obedience without question, not expecting anything in return...not even a "thank you" or a pat on the back.  

God is my Master.  

I am His servant.  

That humbled me greatly, and at the same time, made me incredibly thankful.  Sounds kinda strange, huh?  What I mean is that I realized that everything I have, didn't come to me because I was a good servant.  Fortunately for me AND you, the Master/slave relationship isn't the only reality that exists.  There's another.  

You see, we are His servants and rightly so.  He is God.  However, we are ALSO His kids - the very apples of His eyes.  He delights in us, as Zephaniah 3:17 states, and dances over us with joy.  So the blessings that come from obedience, don't come because "I" did the right thing.  Instead, they originate because He is good, and He's my Dad...my Father.   

Yes, I am a servant...  

...and yet thankfully, because of Christ, so much more.  

I thank You, God.  I thank You for filling my life with abundant blessings, because You are who You are...not because of me or anything I have done or will ever do.  I praise You, Lord.  Praise You.

To Be or Not to Be?

I want you to think about something this week.  It's something that might just change your life, as it has mine...or at least, it's in the process of changing me.  

It's just a few words, but the Words are from the very mouth of God, Himself.  That's what makes it life-changing.  His Word alters us.  It changes us.  At least, it always should.

Proverbs 29:11 states:  "A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back."  Now, let me ask you.  How many times have you been labeled "foolish" according to this verse?  I'm afraid I've been labeled more times than I would like.

Sometimes, it's as if I can't help it.  My mouth opens and the more I rant, the more easily the words seem to flow.  Oh, and they sound SO good to my ears.  Each morsel reaching its intended target with velocity and fervency, growing more and more intense as I go.  Stressful relief happens, as the torrent continues and the feelings flow freely and fully...that is...

...until it's over. Then, my heart is heavy with my foolish behavior and my relationship, damaged with hurtful words.  The weight of my sin and the words that I have uttered in anger take away my joy and my ability to smile.  My relationship with God grows quiet and still...and not in a good way.    

One way to describe this "freely flowing landfall of feelings" is to use honey as an analogy.  Think about it.  When you first attempt to pour the sweet concoction, the thick syrup pours forth slowly.  It feels like it takes FOREVER, especially when you are waiting for it to sweeten your first cup of coffee in the morning.  Once it starts, however, it's incredibly difficult to stop.  Before you know it, your "touch of honey" has become a whole handful, and your morning cup of coffee is ruined - too sweet to even put to your lips.

What happened?  The honey "got away from you."  It became its own entity, pouring forth with its own will and going its own way.  A similar thing happens when we "vent all our feelings."  Our words become an entity of their own, pouring forth with their own will and going their own way - often much further than we ever intended them to go.

So, if you contrast the foolish behavior with that of the wise man, the fool vents all his feelings, but the wise man holds them back.  Now, holding back isn't illustrative of the quiet little mouse in the corner that never says anything.  That in NO way is characteristic of Christ.  Instead, the wise man has the same feelings as the foolish man, even with the same intensity.  Yet, the wise man doesn't let all the honey out of the jar at one time.  Instead, he purchases one of those syrup containers that cuts off the flow of syrup with the click of a finger.  You know the one I'm talking about? Yes, that's it. We just purchased one this week, as a matter of fact, for the very reason that we always get way too much honey in our morning drinks!

I digress!  No, it's not that the wise man doesn't "feel" the same as the foolish man - with the same intensity or passion.  It's just that the wise man is continually aware those feelings don't all need to pour forth from his mouth, especially when he is feeling vulnerable and a little out of control.

"To be or not to be - that is the question."  Better still...to be wise or not to be wise - that is REALLY the question.

Hmmm...how will we respond?

Oh, Jesus, help me with my words today.  Help me become wise by holding back my feelings, instead of venting them all.  Thank You for doing this in my life and changing me into Your image.  

Waiting, Not Worrying

Each morning, I walk into my backyard thinking, "Maybe this will be the day!"  As I approach the tilled ground, I peek underneath and around and over the plants covered in big, beautiful, succulent peppers.  Anyone in their right mind would be elated to see so much glorious green fruit weighing the plants down.  That is, unless they were waiting for those green globules to turn yellow or red...and that's what I'm doing...waiting.

I have been waiting for a really long time.  At least it seems that way.  Sometimes, I get impatient and just go ahead and pick a pepper that I think MIGHT be turning.  I know I need to be patient and that patience will pay off, but it sure is difficult on my mental state and my stomach!

Gardening reminds me of life.  Sometimes things don't always move along as quickly as I desire.  I must wait.  But in that waiting, I can choose to grow anxious and pick the fruit early, or be patient and wait for the sweetness of maturity.

Ps. 37:7-8 says, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him, Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.  Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.  Do not fret - it only causes harm."        

God's perspective on this issue of waiting is to do so, patiently and without worry.  After all, worry only causes harm (v. 8).

So how in the world do we "not fret" while we wait?  The answer is probably something that you and I already know, but doesn't come to us very easily.  We are to rest in the Lord - trusting He knows best.

I feel like I write that phrase a lot, and I probably do.  However, I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded of this phrase...and reminded a lot!  "Do not worry Belinda - Trust Me. Believe ME when I tell you that I have it under My care and My control, even when it looks futile.  Don't get angry at Me for being slow in your eyes or angry at anyone else, either.  Those emotions only hurt, not help.  They cause no good thing to happen.  Trust me, Belinda...I've got this."

I don't know about you, but those verses make me want to have a "hands off" policy regarding my life and my peppers.  I will trust and not worry.  I will wait and be patient, confident that God can not only handle my every day frustrations and cares, but also the color my peppers.

Thanks God.  Thanks for reminding me to trust You in all things...to rest in Your will...to not worry over what You already have in Your hands.  Thank You, Father.