Where have I been?

I looked at the blog, and noticed I hadn't posted in a while . . .

Life happens like that sometimes.

I actually have a new address, for those who are interested

www.pleaforgrace.com

You can find me there, and hopefully I will be able to post regularly again soon.

Thanks to all who read. I pray you are blessed and challenged by God's Word.

Back to Psalm 119

Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.

(Psalm 119:41-48 ESV)

I am so blessed when I pray through a psalm. These are the very words of God, and He truly knows me, and what is best. He promised salvation to me, because of His steadfast love; why should I let some taunts and criticism defeat me? I can trust His word to be true, and trust that His rules are right. There is joy and confidence in following God's way, because I am following the way of a heavenly Father-Creator, who has my best at heart, and can be absolutely depended upon. I do so love Him!

The Sounds of Praise

Praise the Lord, all nations!

Extol Him, all peoples!

For great is His steadfast love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord!

(Psalm 117 ESV)

We are back from our big trip -- tired, happy to be in our own bed, but relishing the many displays of God's amazing creation.

I've been memorizing this psalm. As I "muse" I imagine what it will sound like, what it will look like, when all nations and all peoples truly do praise and extol (really praise) the true, one and only Lord of the universe. What a glorious sound that will be!

Then my thoughts go toward the reason for all this praise. . .His love, His steadfast, never-ending, never-changing-His-mind love. . .is great toward us. Not meager. Not just enough to get by. Great. Huge. Never changing. Never ending.

And, if the love isn't enough, His faithfulness, His absolutely-positively-will-always-keep-His-word-ness, endures forever. Never failing. Never 'less than'. Never diluted. Never stopping. Always faithful. Always the same.

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!

Fabulous 50 and Fall Foliage

Yesterday was the big birthday -- I am now officially 50 years young! My husband and I are celebrating by taking a road trip through the forests of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, culminating in a focused few days in Yellowstone Park and the Grand Tetons. We are armed with binoculars and digital camera, and ready to scope, spot and shoot as much wildlife as God lets us witness. I completely love this brand of hunting :)

I love the Fall season -- the air is crisp, the trees are beautiful shades of gold, red, and just a touch of green. The rivers are running cold, the mountains have just a dusting of snow, and the animals are busy preparing for the winter months. And, 28 years ago, my husband and I celebrated our wedding day; this truly is a special season for me.

Truly the heavens do declare the glory of God, and the skies truly do show forth His handiwork; I love being allowed to witness the Master Designer's masterpiece!

The Mighty One

The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth

from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth.
Our God comes; He does not keep silence;

before Him is a devouring fire, around Him a mighty tempest.

He calls to the heavens above and to the earth,

that He may judge His people:

"Gather to Me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!"

The heavens declare His righteousness, for God himself is judge!

Selah

(Psalm 50:1-5 ESV)

I've been reading through the psalms; the attempt is to read at least one every morning. Recently I read Psalm 50, but I couldn't get past the first two verses. I was stopped dead in my tracks with these words:

The Mighty One ( the all-powerful, all-'everything' God)

God (Elohim, the Creator, the Sustainer of the entire earth)

the LORD (Yahweh, the Covenant-keeping God, the God who has committed to relationship with His people

speaks (converses with, relates to)

and summons (a specific call to a specific people expecting a specific answer)

the earth (the planet and its inhabitants)

from the rising of the sun to its setting (all the time, continually, day after day)

Can you imagine?! This God, Yahweh, the Creator, the All-Sufficient One who needs nothing, wants to speak to me! He wants a relationship with me! This God is terrifying, and majestic, and awesome, and He chose me!

He loves me.

He saved me.

She's home!

Yes, my daughter is "home" from Kyrghystan!

As I think about "home" and what that looks like. . .not the physical house or the town, but the safety; the comfort; the warm acceptance; the joy. . .maybe all this "waiting time" and the intermittent unrest; the physical pain and the struggle with discontent;

maybe it's because I'm not "home" yet . . .

". . .and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:6b NIV)

I read of another casualty in our country's war on terror. This young man (29) was an Army Ranger; Christian college graduate; son; boyfriend; friend; brother.

I didn't ever have the pleasure of meeting this young man who sacrificed his life for our country, but my heart is still heavy. Maybe it's because I have a daughter in Kyrghystan, far from her home and her husband and her family; maybe because I have a "like a son to me" in Southern Iraq right now; maybe because I have friends who are also mommies waiting for their sons (and daughters) who are deployed, far away and out of the reach of our hands and our hugs.

My quiet times with God recently have been steeped in the Psalms. Here are a few snippets that the Holy Spirit reminded me of while I was quietly grieving. . .

". . .I trust in You, O Lord; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hands. . ."

Psalm 31:14, 15 NIV

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."

Psalm 31:24 NIV

"take heart" means to let your heart take courage, "buck up, warrior!"

"For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all He does."

Psalm 33:4 NIV

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from His dwelling place He watches all who live on earth -- He who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do.

No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.

But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.

May Your unfailing love rest upon us O Lord, even as we put our hope in You."

Psalm 33:13-22 NIV

My God sees; my God knows; my God loves; my God acts; He truly is my help and my shield, and, yes, my heart can rejoice (even if there are still tears)

Singing and Praying

As I was drying my hair this morning, and thinking about this morning's service, and praying, and just musing. . .I found myself humming the tune to this old hymn that I used to sing as a lullaby to my children. To be honest, I often "sing" it to myself at night, to quiet my heart and mind, and say good night to my heavenly Father. . .

"Jesus Is All the World To Me" by Will L. Thompson, was written in 1904, just five years before he died. His inspiration for this hymn was a portion of
Colossians 3:11 ". . .but Christ is all, and in all."


Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all;
He is my strength from day to day, without Him I would fall.
When I am sad, to Him I go, no other one can cheer me so;
When I am sad, He makes me glad, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore;
I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them over and o’er.
He sends the sunshine and the rain, He sends the harvest’s golden grain;
Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be;
O how could I this Friend deny, when He’s so true to me?
Following Him I know I’m right, He watches o’er me day and night;
Following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.

Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better Friend;
I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when life’s fleeting days shall end.
Beautiful life with such a Friend, beautiful life that has no end;
Eternal life, eternal joy, He’s my Friend.

Maybe it is my age (33 days until the big 5-0), but I still love the hymns. I sang them to my children as lullabies. I started with "Jesus Loves (You) Me" and moved on to this one, and added "He Leadeth Me" and "Blessed Assurance." I sing them to God in my prayer time; I sing them while working or "pooper-scooping" or just sitting and watching the birds in my backyard.

Long ago I learned that you will always think about something. If you don't plan what to think in the "waiting times" or "mindless activity times" your mind will usually drift to discontent or anger or envy or loneliness or some other negative emotion. By renewing my mind with God's Word (including songs that lift up His Word and His Character) I can save myself much heartache.

Will you (and I) start and end our days with a song in our hearts? That's my challenge to myself.

By the way, though I can no longer sing on this earth, I've got eternity to sing as much as I want to.

Waiting

I thought, especially after the past four years, that I was so much better at waiting. I thought I had learned patience (what was I thinking!!?), but found, even this morning, that I needed to repent of my impatience, my frustration at God's timing when it doesn't match mine.

My pain level is still high; my body is still full of inflammation. This flare has lasted longer than usual (and my "usual" is usually not the norm). My breathing and my "vocal system" have not healed as I had hoped and thought; I am back in the "waiting with no easy or quick answers" and I wasn't expecting to feel so resistant.

I'm thinking of a statement Beth Moore made in her series on "Who Will you Trust?" (by the way, I highly recommend it; you can order it from www.lifetoday.org) and, yes, it's a paraphrase, but you get the idea. "Lord, after all You and I have been through together, are we gonna go through this again???!!!"

And He says . . . Yes, my baby girl, we are. But remember, I'm going through this with you, because I promised I will never leave you nor forsake you. . .

Sigh of relinquishment. . .

I heard this poem read this morning. May you learn to "wait" with a Precious, Loving Heavenly Father who truly has our best interest at heart.



The Wait Poem

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said,"Wait."

"Wait? You say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!"
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

My future and all to which I relate,
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to Wait?"
I'm needing a 'yes,' a go-ahead sign.
Or even a 'no,' to which I'll resign.

You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply.

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting . . . for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
And He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me,
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

You'd never experience the fullness of love,
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask,
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

You'd never know should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But oh, the loss if I lost what I'm doing in you.

So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see,
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still "WAIT".

--Russell Kelfer

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You." (Psalm 33:20-22 NIV)

The Last Word on Ants (I hope)

Lest you grow weary of my "ant saga" (as opposed to Aunt Sadie) my plan is that this will be the last meditation and musing on said insect subject. . .

Yesterday I entered the kitchen with a dear friend to get coffee, only to be greeted by yet another group (insert marauding horde, if you will) of the little creatures, coming from seemingly nowhere. My friend is so faithful; she joined me in trying to discern from where they were coming! We soon discovered that they are, in fact, coming from an inside wall, so there must be a colony under the house. That means my annihilation tactic must change from "instant kill" to "take back to the colony and die there. . ."

We got our coffee and sat down to laugh together at what God has taught us through these "little interruptions" in our lives (she has battled lice) and how we can "take" the big stuff with little faith or trust problems, but ants and lice? Not so much. How humbling; thank You, God, for bringing in ants to show me how I really do struggle with Your control and sovereignty over my life. I want that icky part out of me!

Then I remembered two email stories I had received from dear missionary friends of mine; my Asia-living friend has been battling with roaches in her domicile, and they have had the nerve to hide underneath the toilet seat! Picture her wildly smashing the toilet bowl and floor with a toilet brush, and you get the idea. She told me, "I had to surrender to God the right to privacy in the bathroom. . ." The next day my dear South America-living friend wrote me. "After 26 years in Brazil, we finally have a snake story!" Suffice it to say, it involved a rather large anaconda in a small boat, stunned but not dead, dead monkeys on a stick for travel, said snake "waking up" and snake blood all over my friend's leg. . .you can imagine.

I sent the "snake story" to the roach battler; she responded with "thank you, Father, for roaches!" I read the snake and roach stories to the lice battler, who promptly decided that lice weren't nearly as bad as holding dead monkeys while avoiding an anaconda in an unsteady boat in probably pirahna and alligator-infested water! And I counseled myself, "self, odorous house ants are harmless; they don't live in my hair or anyone else's; they have not yet discovered my toilet seat; they aren't 12 feet long with the ability to eat me at will. What in the world am I complaining about??!!"

"I can do all things through Him [Christ] who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13 ESV)

Even continue on in my quest to rid my house of ants.

Even learn to allow God to interrupt my life with whatever He chooses.

Ants -- the continuing saga

This little devotional arrived in my "inbox" this morning. . .you can get it each weekday by going to http://www.seekinghim.com/ .



Circumstances and Excuses

“I was never an impatient person—until I had these twins!”
Nancy Leigh DeMoss: We’re all tempted to think that we’re the way we are because of the situation we’re in. We feel that if our circumstances were different, we would be different: more patient, more loving, easier to live with.

If our circumstances make us what we are, then we’re all victims. We aren’t responsible. We can’t help the way we are.

But here’s the truth Our circumstances don’t make us what we are. They just reveal what we are. The exasperated mother had always been an impatient person. She just didn’t realize it until God brought new circumstances into her life. He wanted to show her what she was really like so He could change her.


The circumstances of life can be really hard, but they’re no excuse for sin. Ask God to show you what you’re really like, so He can change you.
With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Wow! How many ways can I say "ouch!" I read this devotional just after putting my breakfast dishes in the dishwasher. . .and once again encountering ANTS! Ants, merrily walking through the boric acid I placed in said dishwasher, which was supposed to help them die and help the others in their colony to die. . .



I prayed, "Lord, I know that ants are self-starters, persevering, not lazy, etc.; but they are also annoying, intrusive, interrupting and yucky!"



And back to Nancy's insight: I don't like the interruption that ants bring. I don't like that they didn't ask my permission, or consider whether or not I wanted to deal with ants at that time.



Hmmmm. . .how does that correspond with being a bondslave? How does that jive with God's sovereignty (even over ants, God help me) and accepting His appointments for my day (which is really His day, not mine and He can do with it what He wishes to do).



So, time to repent for being selfish with "my" time (which isn't really mine, and I keep typing that because I need the reminder).



Have I adopted a "live and let live" attitude toward the odorous house ant? Absolutely not! I still ran the dishwasher on hot cycle, sani-rinse, and heat dry. However, the accompanying frustration and rage boiling must stop. I can calmly continue to irradicate the pests, but acknowledge and accept that this is God's appointment for His day, and I can do this for His glory and His purposes.



Thank you, precious Father, for loving me enough to show me where I resist Your "interruptions." Help me to relinquish "my" days to You, and believe to the core that each day is a gift from You, and not mine to own or possess selfishly. Give me a grateful, generous heart that seeks only to please You. I so want all that I am, and all that You have given me, to be a display of Your glory and grace in this world. I love You so much!



P.S. While you are at the Seeking Him website, prayerfully consider joining Nancy and me and a host of others as we journey through "Seeking Him" beginning September 10. It's a 12-week journey on personal revival that has truly changed the way I pray, the way I look at life, and the way I interact with others. If you say, "yes, Bev, but we did that 2 years ago. . ." this will be my 3rd time at least, and I'm excited to see what God will show me that I can change, remove and rebuild to be a cleaner, more effective vessel for His glory. I plan to have at least a weekly "let's talk about this" space, either on this blog or linked to it. We will be "virtual and online" but I think it will be great! Be sure to order the book in August, so you will be ready to go in September. I sure do appreciate y'all!

A bondslave's schedule, Part 2

It has been a tough week, not only physically, but emotionally as well. If you don't live in Oregon, this may not be an issue for you . . . however, I'm sure your part of the country (or world) has a similar problem --

My "problem" is ANTS! In particular, the odorous house ant, which, I believe, is much too polite a term for this hardy, persistent, pest. Did you know that these creatures can live for YEARS??!! We have had professional extermination; any and all ant traps/sprays/dusts; too many home remedies to possibly count; and yes, I do clean my countertops, and, no, I don't leave food out for them to eat! Tod and I found today that there is at least one colony living in one of our interior walls (the joys of owning an older home). Time to go to the farm store for some more boric acid and start dusting again . . .

I mentioned to Tod this morning, as I was killing ants and vinegar-spraying counters before I could even make my morning coffee (maybe that's a reason for the frustration), "do you think I have to learn to thank God for ants before they will go away?" Tod (who hasn't yet had his morning coffee either), "Bev, I think they are just ants." However, the thought has stuck with me today. . .

Why do ants irritate me so? There is an actual rage that rises instantly in me; I must admit there is a perverse pleasure in killing them. I don't have that reaction with the occasional spider, or moth, or fly, or even the wasps who insist on using the roof of the deck as a high-rise apartment. I did have a similar attitude toward the roaches in Georgia, and the fire ants in Arizona. . . but back to my question.

Ants are mentioned in Scripture only two times:

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. (Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV)

Four things on earth are small, but they are exceedingly wise: the ants are a people not strong, yet they provide their food in the summer. . . (Proverbs 30:24-25 ESV)

I am supposed to gain wisdom by watching ANTS???!!!

Do they irritate me so because I'm not "doing" as I used to be, and so I fight with the thought that I may be a "sluggard?" Thankfully, and this has been long coming, I have settled this with God; He schedules my day, and some of those days are spent not "doing" much at all, but that makes me no less His bondslave.

Ants prepare and plan ahead. They are self-starters; they don't need always to be told what to do. They don't need someone managing them, and dictating their every move. They see what needs to be done, and they do it. I really don't think ants argue over who is going to pick up that particular crumb, or which bit of grease is whose "job." Good reminder when I'm cleaning the kitchen or picking up the living room and encounter items that "I" didn't put there . . .

So, am I still irritated by ants? Not so much (but I will still buy boric acid at the next opportunity). I am thankful that God reminded me (through these tiny, persistent creatures) that He gives me each day of my life. It truly is my God-given responsibility to use each day as He wants it used. It's a good question to ask each morning -- Dear Father, how do you want me to spend Your day?

A Bondslave's Schedule

Even typing in the title of this post made me smile at the irony. . .a bondslave had no "schedule" other than to be at the "beck and call" of the master. For a bondslave to make his/her own plans was a true exercise in futility; the master's plans were the important plans. The master's schedule was the schedule followed. The bondslave's job was to conform to the master's will.

This "inflamation" from the last post has lasted longer than I "planned," which is part of the reason for the length of time between posts. It's summer -- there are things to do, places to go, and such -- but an "outing" for me seems to be nothing more than a sitting session on my deck where I can watch the happenings of my backyard . . .

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he has mercy upon us.

(Psalm 123:1,2 ESV)

This slower-paced time has not been wasted. Since I'm unable to make any kind of schedule (because I may have to cancel or change plans on a moment's notice) I have been available for a chat, or to listen to someone who needs a sympathetic ear. I have had more uninterrupted time to think and meditate my way through Psalm 119, as well as some other books in the New Testament. I've been able to "catch up" on some of the books that I have been going to read "someday. . ." Writing prayers (and praying for more extended periods), studying, thinking, enjoying the wonder of nature in my suburban backyard, and actually spending this time not feeling guilty because I'm NOT _________! Praise God that He has gotten through this thick skull that my days are not MY days, but HIS; my schedule is HIS to plan; I am truly at HIS disposal -- and if that means doing lots of "nothing," then that's what I will be content to do, until HIS plans for me change. . .

Oh, He has such mercy on me! May I never stop being amazed and grateful that I have the privilege of being His bondservant!

Having a Bad Day?

I visited my doctor and my dentist this week. The short-version diagnosis is that "Bev, you are inflamed everywhere; you are even running a fever!" "Bev, your gums are inflamed, and the nerve endings are sensitive." The prescription is to rest a bit more, take life more slowly, and wait it out until this "flare" passes.

Was there temptation to feel sorry for myself? You bet there was, and is still. However, a reading of Philippians 3 and 4, and choosing to rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS is a godly cure for the blues. Actually, this "slower" week has given me more opportunity to read, to think, to pray, to sit still and enjoy God's majesty. I even witnessed three hummingbirds taking a shower in our backyard sprinkler!

Another "cure" for the blues is to notice others who are worse off than you are. If you go to this link on FoxNews, you will read a story of someone who had a VERY bad day http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289313,00.html

On a more serious note, if you ever visit www.persecution.com and read the stories of the persecuted church TODAY, you will find yourself ashamed (as I often have) of being anything but immensely grateful for the easy life we enjoy in America.

Lord, make us faithful to rejoice always in Your Goodness. Give us the passion to intercede for our persecuted brothers and sisters. Help us to look outside of ourselves, and concentrate on loving You and being Your servant.

Religion or Gospel?

There are things I absolutely love about living in the 21st century. One of them is the wealth of information that is so easily accessible. I found this post today on the Acts 29 Network. Thank you, Mark Driscoll (pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle) for speaking words in a way that expresses my heart.

The Difference between Religion and the Gospel
By Pastor Mark Driscoll

Religion says, if I obey, God will love me. Gospel says, because God loves me, I can obey.
Religion has good people & bad people. Gospel has only repentant and unrepentant people.
Religion values a birth family. Gospel values a new birth.
Religion depends on what I do. Gospel depends on what Jesus has done.
Religion claims that sanctification justifies me. Gospel claims that justification enables sanctification.
Religion has the goal to get from God. Gospel has the goal to get God.
Religion sees hardships as punishment for sin. Gospel sees hardship as sanctified affliction.
Religion is about me. Gospel is about Jesus.
Religion believes appearing as a good person is the key. Gospel believes that being honest is the key.
Religion has an uncertainty of standing before God. Gospel has certainty based upon Jesus' work.
Religion sees Jesus as the means. Gospel sees Jesus as the end.
Religion ends in pride or despair. Gospel ends in humble joy.

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. . ."

(1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV)

I want Jesus! He is the end; He is the complete joy and fulfillment of my life!

Is He yours?

I Wonder . . .

I found this interesting article on Emilie Barnes' website, "More Hours In My Day." I have a small Bible that stays in my purse, and I LOVE having the privilege of reading God's Word during my "waiting" times (Dr. office, while Tod runs in for a quick errand, etc.) It's amazing how productive and blessed those "snatches of time" can be. It's also a great remedy for the "impatience bug" that can so easily set in when you have to wait. . .



The Cell Phone vs. The Bible


Wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we spent an hour or more using it every day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we traveled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?

This is something to make you go....@Hmmm....where is my Bible?@ Oh, and a few more things -- Unlike our cell phones:
The Plan fits all.
Unlimited usage.
No roaming charges.
No weak signals
We don't ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because
Jesus already paid the bill!

Just something to think about!
"HELP ME, LORD, TO SEE YOUR BEAUTY ALL AROUND ME. MAY MY GRATITUDE SPILL OVER FROM A CUP FULL OF THANKS TO YOU."

Many thanks to Emilie Barnes and her website. Please visit it at : http://www.morehours.bizland.com/MHIMD/

Fragrant Offering

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us

as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

(Ephesians 5:1,2 NIV)

I love birds. Just ask my husband and/or my grown children, who have been "regaled" with my observations of the bird behavior in my backyard, or in the pond next to the pharmacy drive-thru, or anywhere I happen to notice them. When I was a girl in California, we had mockingbirds as regular visitors to our yard. They loved to torment my white cat, Daisy Mae, by flying low and pecking her sunburnt ears. However, one afternoon I went outside and found my cat with the usual bloody ears, but surrounded by mockingbird feathers. I'm sure she was smiling, and the birds didn't bother her anymore . . .but back to my point.

Besides the cat vs. mockingbird match, my brother and I found that we could "teach" the mockingbird to whistle. These birds are fantastic mimics, and have even made a "meow" sound that sounds almost real! We were so proud of ouselves the summer we "taught" the mockingbird to "wolf whistle." All we had to do was to make the same sound over and over often enough. Eventually, we would hear the same sound called back to us. Patience and time, and the birds natural ability to mimic what he heard would take over (and yes, this all happened in the 20th century -- I'm not that old)

How can we possibly be imitators (or mimics) of God? We can't, without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We can't, without immersing ourselves in God's Word, so that we know what He is like; what His desires are; what pleases Him. We can't, without the "sold out" commitment to live our lives by God's values, and not our own; to become God's servant, and not our own master.

Why should we choose to be an imitator of God? Why should living a life of love be our motive? Because we are dearly loved children; because Jesus offered his very life in our place. So few words; so much emotion; so great lengths that God reached to have relationship with man.

The phrase "fragrant offering" especially struck me. What kind of life is my offering to God? Is it the fragrant scent of sacrificial love, generosity, trust in my Heavenly Father who loves me so completely and has my good and my best in His plan?

Or, is my "offering" the smelly, disgusting pile of bitterness, self-righteousness, unforgiveness, selfishness and greed?

What are you offering? Is it fragrant, like a fine perfume or incense; or is it "fragrant" like the resident skunk who has decided to frequent my backyard. . .?

Jesus or Emily Post?

I'm most probably treading on thin ice here, but this topic is something that my mind has struggled with for quite a while.

Maybe it's intensified during this season (graduations, weddings, bridal and baby showers) but I recently spoke with (yet again) a person who is "struggling" with the "rudeness" of this young generation. This person had not received an appropriate "thank you note" in an appropriate time frame after being presented with a gift.

Ok, settle down and hear me out :) I am the last person to promote a spirit of entitlement; I'm the first to encourage (with passion) an attitude of gratitude. However, this latest incident caused me to think: this dear person's anger, disappointment, hurt, was due to an unmet expectation. Was the expectation a biblical one, or a cultural one, based on American tradition?

In Jesus' day, and in the days of the early church, what was the standard and principle of giving? Jesus told His disciples that "You received without paying; give without pay." (Matthew 10:8 ESV)
Jesus is referring to what they have received from God, and they should give in that spirit; it's not just about money, but time, talents, possessions. How many "thank you cards" have you written out and "sent" to God for all the blessings He has so graciously bestowed? Yes, that is an absurd statement! God doesn't expect us to give "thank you notes," and there is no amount of thanks we could ever give to God to repay what He has done. We show our gratitude by living our lives His way, by His Word, under His authority.

“When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” (Luke 14:12-14 ESV)
This parable actually brings up another infraction of rules of etiquette. Have you ever invited someone to your home for a meal, and then waited for the reciprocal invitation? Have you felt "slighted" or "taken advantage of" when it didn't come, or didn't come within an appropriate amount of time? What is behind your motivation to be hospitable? My heart breaks when I hear, even in jest, "yes, I'm going to ______(shower/wedding/recital/etc.) because I want to make sure people come and bring gifts when it's my turn. . ." How self-seeking is that?!

"Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God." (Philippians 4:16 -18 ESV)

Paul is thanking the Philippian church for their generous gift to him (see, I'm not supporting ingratitude!!), but notice: he wasn't "expecting" a gift, he was appreciative of it; he rejoiced that they gave because they were showing their gratitude to God for Paul's ministry, not because Paul "deserved" the gift. Paul definitely gave God the credit for supplying his needs, and noted that, at times, God used people as His instruments.

"The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (1 Peter 4:7-11 ESV)

Above all . . .the overarching, predominant motive should be love. Love that does not expect return; love that does not keep a record of wrongs suffered; love that is patient, kind, not rude or self-seeking (see 1 Corinthians 13 for the more detailed description). I am aware that the "gift" in this passage refers to spiritual gifts, rather than gift-wrapped presents, but the principle still holds. My motive for serving or teaching Sunday School or Awana or nursery or baking cookies or ANY act of service that I may offer should never be what I will receive in return. The church is NOT a co-op, where we "deposit" so many hours in order to "receive" a certain amount of hours back! Notice Who supplies the strength to give -- it's God. Who supplies any finances to buy the gift to give -- it's God. Who supplies the air you breathe in order to make the cookies or clean the room or teach the children -- it's God! "We" don't actually give anything that is ours to give; God is the ultimate Giver, the true and ultimate Supplier. Do we remember that?

When I receive gifts (of time, money or things) I try to show my appreciation appropriately. That may mean I send a card; it may be a phone call, or email, or a sincere hug. If there is a chance that you will be offended by my means of showing my appreciation, please don't let me put you in a position to stumble or be offended. I would rather receive nothing from you than cause you hurt by not meeting your expectations.

For those who receive any gifts (time, money or things) from me, I do not "expect" repayment; I'm giving because of what God has done for me, not because of what you have done for me. If you have a need, my motivation for meeting that need is because my Lord told me that when I give to you, I'm really giving to Him. If you choose to send a card or give a hug or make a phone call, I will rejoice with you in what our Gracious God has supplied!
(by the way, I looked up "gift giving" etiquette on Miss Emily's website, and "thank you notes" are not necessary if you open the gift in front of the giver, and extend a warm appreciation. So, why are we still burdening mommies-to-be when they have smiled and torn paper and thanked us already a dozen times??)

As I've been reminded often in our current sermon series, "We are Better Together." Let's really take Jesus' words to heart, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35 ESV)

I want Jesus and His Word to be my standard for living.

R & R

Today I awoke, tired, not looking forward to another day of high-level pain. Praise was difficult; concentration was tough. I sat at the computer, Bible in front of me, and sighed. "Oh, Father, please strengthen me by Your Word; just wash over me with Your sufficiency and grace."

The ESV Bible online has an audio tool. I typed in "Psalm 23 - 34" in the "search" box, and clicked "listen." By the middle of Psalm 25 I was crying a bit; before Psalm 30 I was in awe; the only reason I stopped at Psalm 34 was that it was time to leave to visit someone in the hospital.

God washed over me with His majesty, His unfailing love, His forgiveness and His grace. My soul was strengthened; my mind was renewed. Praise was easier; concentration was easier; compassion was possible and even desirable. My Lord is so faithful!

All soldiers need some rest and recreation (R&R). Even soldiers of the King of the Universe.

Philippians 3 and "Doggy Doo-dy"

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. . ." (Philippians 3:8-10 ESV)

I was meditating on this passage while doing my daily "doggy doo-dy." I say daily, because I have 2 good-sized dogs ( 1 black Labrador and 1 retriever-Chow mix) and want to be a good neighbor. . .

Anyway, I spend that time each day talking to the Lord, and we have some rather interesting conversations. Why would this passage, in particular, come to mind during this particular job? Take the word "rubbish" in the above passage -- the Greek word is more closely translated "dung or refuse" than just the polite gum wrappers or popcicle sticks or used tissues we may toss in the garbage bin. The very "doggy doo-doo" that I deal with daily (as in, where to dispose of it; how to eradicate the smell; how to keep it off my shoes!) is the same "rubbish" that Paul claims his pedigree as a Jew, his standing as a Pharisee, his ability to keep rules and regulations, his passion for causes -- is in comparison to knowing Christ.

Friends, "doggy doo-doo" is disgusting! I don't much like cleaning toilets, but at least the waste flushes away. As mommies we all endured dirty diapers. I have NO trouble disposing of such in the waste bin. There is no temptation to store it, to hang on to it, to wish I could keep it. And yet Paul said that ANYTHING that hindered him from an intimate relationship with Christ -- ANYTHING -- he considered "doo-doo rubbish" to be eradicated from his life.

And, here came the interesting conversation. . .what keeps me from "knowing Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and. . .share His sufferings. . .?" If my computer time (and TV time) is more important to me than my time with the Lord, what are my actions saying? Am I choosing to store away or keep safe the rubbish that I should be willing to disgard without longing after it, or thinking, "wow, I really sacrificed here!" Can you even imagine for a moment, as you throw away that dirty diaper or that pile on the lawn, thinking, "oh, I sure wish I didn't have to give this up; it's really hard!"

What about my house? job? children? garden? shopping? hobbies? car? geographic location? achievements? popularity? (you can insert your "things" here ________) If anything is coming between me and knowing my Lord better (and by that I mean, not just saying the words, but do my actions and attitudes demonstrate that they are more important to me than my relationship with God) am I willing to repent and adjust my life to restore the correct priorities, or do I want to cling to that "pile" and make it smell better and find some way to keep it around, flies and all?

Let's get rid of the "doo-doo!" It stinks, it draws disease-infested flies, and it's nothing but rubbish! Knowing Christ, gaining Christ, is so much better. . .