The Worth of a Dandelion

We find new surprises every day, in our new home!
As I was walking the dogs this morning, I spotted a flash of bright yellow in the yard. I couldn’t believe my eyes ...a  dandelion! I hadn’t seen one for a long long time. I loved dandelions as a child. I was much older before I knew that they were despised and considered weeds. I always thought they were beautiful, a lawn full of loveliness to pick and smell! I loved their faint fragrance. A lot of people may not notice it, but I always thought it was fresh and smelled like springtime! I used to pick handfuls of them and present them to my mother as a surprise!
So this morning, as I plucked it from the ground, I brought it up to my nose to see if my experience would be the same as it was when I was little. I was not disappointed!  The light scent and feathery petals brought me back 50 years, and made me smile.
I began thinking of how we were kind of similar to those dandelions. Many times in life, we may come across those who despise us and think we are not anything better than a weed.  But God sees us differently than the world sees us. He looks at us and sees beauty. He appreciates all of our minute details, and takes delight in us. We are like a fresh fragrance to his nostrils. He created us to love us! And unlike the dandelion, whose main purpose might be to be a bouquet in a tiny child’s hand, we were made with a purpose. To love God and to accept His unfailing love for us.
As we are about to celebrate Christianity’s most holy weekend, let’s focus on accepting our Heavenly Father’s free gift of mercy, forgiveness and eternal life. Being thankful to Jesus Christ, Who thought we were worthy enough to suffer and die for.
Happy Easter!

Seeking Thankfulness

As I'm sitting here in the wee morning hours of Thanksgiving, I am thinking of how different this holiday is going to be.  Usually we have a houseful of people.  Normally, I would be up at this time, and instead of typing, I would be preparing a turkey and a ham, with all of the trimmings.  This year, we were blessed to be invited to Steve's nephew's home for the special day.  Recovery has been very slow going after the surgery, and there was no way I would be able to perform my usual duties.  How grateful we are for sweet nephews!
As thankful as I am, it still feels extremely strange not to be "doing" this morning.  I enjoy the craziness and excitement of the day.  If I let myself, I could shift my focus on that, and wail and lament about what I'm NOT doing this Thanksgiving, instead of what I AM doing today.
That can be a daily battle, when you think of it.
We can get so caught up in the disappointments and struggles of our daily lives that we lose sight of  the good aspects of our situations.  It's not always easy to see.  Sometimes we have to hunt and search for the positive. It might just be a tiny thread of positivity, but it is there.
I've had to do some searching, lately, myself. 
As I've been healing from the surgery, things were going nicely, and then BOOM, dizziness, low grade fever, night sweats, and nausea. My body began to let me know it didn't appreciate having the stent in it, placed there during surgery.  A stent is a piece of coated wire, that extends from the kidney through the ureter and into the bladder.  It is used to keep the "passageway" open.  This is the fourth stent I've had...with the same symptoms occurring.  This doesn't happen with everyone, but for some reason, my body just rebels against those things!  Once they take it out...the symptoms disappear.  In this case it is necessary to keep it in place for six weeks, to give my newly repaired ureter a support to heal around.  (One more week to go!)
I've had to look for the good aspects of this situation.  When I start to get bogged down in sickness and self pity, I have to search for the positive .  This is not going to last forever.  I only have __ weeks left. The stent is a good thing, and is helping me heal.  I can use this time to focus on God's Love for me, and get closer to Him. 
Do I FEEL like finding the good every day?  To be honest, no!  But I do it anyway.  Because Satan would like nothing better than for me to have a grumbling, negative spirit.  Grumbling, negative spirits don't look to God for the answer.  They just focus on the situation.  When you're only looking at your difficult circumstances, you're not looking at God.  We have to seek the Divine Aspect out...and then keep our eyes fixed on it.
Jesus told us what to do.
Matthew 7:7  "Seek and you will find"  and Matthew 6:33  "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." 
When you have to seek for something, it's not readily visible.
Sometimes God is not right in front of our eyes.  Sometimes it is like a scavenger hunt...we have to do some investigating to find Him in our circumstances..  He is the Good.  He is the Positive.  He is the Helpful.  And+ once we find Him, we find the reason to be thankful in all things.

1 Thessalonians 5:18  "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

The Scalpel's Reflection

I am now two weeks post op.  In my previous post, To God Be the Glory, I spoke about the possible outcomes of the operation.  I've given myself a little time to 'defog' my brain, and now  here is the updated story!
I was accompanied by my husband Steve and my brother, Karl, the morning of the surgery.  I was so glad to be able to see the surgeon before they gave me any 'happy juice'.  I wanted to be able to clearheadedly ask if I may pray with him.  How blessed I was to find out that he was very open and willing to do so.  Afterward, I think I surprised him when I started reassuring him that he was going to do fine. He looked at Steve and said this was a first time a patient was making HIM feel better about what was to happen! I told him that no matter what happened, God was the ultimate One in charge.  He agreed.
Upon studying the situation before beginning, the doctor discovered that he did not need to make an open incision around my side from the ribs to the abdomen, as previously thought.  He made an approximate 11 1/2 inch vertical cut down the middle of my stomach.  He told Steve that at first glance, he was amazed at how good everything looked inside.  Apart from some organs being misplaced, due to the pressure from my massively enlarged kidney, everything was not nearly as deformed as thought.  He was able to perform the first option, of cutting out the 5-6 inch bad section of ureter and reattach the two ends.  There was no need to use any of my intestines to make a new ureter.  No need to stretch my bladder to compensate for the missing tube. A simple 'cut and paste' if you will. 
He capped off my nephrostomy tube, inserted a stent and attached a catheter for about 4 days.  My surgery was on Tuesday morning, and I was home by Saturday evening, urinating on my own, with no artificial help.
As for healing, I am slowly feeling better, day by day.  Today, I get my staples removed, and possibly my nephrostomy tube, also.  That will enhance my healing process very rapidly, I'm sure!  I've had numerous abdominal surgeries, similar to this, in the past.  But they were over 20 years ago.  I can tell there is a difference at the age of 55!! I'm definitely taking it easy, and letting myself heal properly.
As I anticipated, God was right in the middle of that six hour surgery, and He was Glorified.  His Mercy and His Goodness shone through.  His Glory was reflected in the gleam of the surgeon's scalpel.

To God Be The Glory

The time is almost here.  In less than 36 hours I'll be in surgery.  People have asked me if I'm ready.  I have to say, "YES!"  I'm ready to get the operation over with; I'm ready to begin the healing process; I'm ready to feel myself again.

At my last visit to the surgeon, we had a talk about the possible risks.  There are quite a few, as in any surgery, but he doesn't expect any major problems.  He reassured me that he wouldn't put me through all of this if he didn't think he could help me. He said that he knew he was the one who would be able to help me.  I told him that  I knew he was the one, without a doubt.  I truly believe God brought me to him, and that he is the one that He chose to bring me healing.  The doctor then told me of three possible ways the surgery could go.  He said he hoped to do the two less extreme options for the reconstruction.  He didn't think they would work, but he didn't know until he opened me up.  If they didn't, then he would have to use part of my small intestine to repair the obstruction.

Last week I was watching a program, and the teacher was talking about the scene in the Gospel of John, in which Jesus was on His way to see His friend Lazarus, who was dying.
Jesus was told that Lazarus' sisters, Martha and Mary, had asked for Him to come because their brother was so sick.  The disciples were surprised because Jesus had decided to stay around for a couple of more days, instead of going to them.  They didn't understand because Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters.  They were very good friends.  Why wasn't He going right away?  The only thing He said to them was that Lazarus' sickness wasn't going to be his death...but that the Son of God would be glorified.  What did that mean?
By the time they arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days.  Martha and Mary were devastated.  They were inconsolable.  Jesus was so moved, He wept.  But then He did a strange thing.  He went to the tomb where Lazarus was and told them to move the stone. They couldn't have heard Him right.  The smell would be horrific!  But they did as He asked. And then Jesus did something even stranger.
He spoke to the open tomb.
"LAZARUS!  COME FORTH!'
And you know what?
He did.
Lazarus came walking out of the tomb, still wrapped in the burial clothes.
The people were overwhelmed.  How could this be?  Jesus raised him from the dead!  Surely this was no mere man.  He had mentioned the words 'Son of God'.  Could it be?  Many people believed in Jesus, after that.

The disciples didn't understand why Jesus waited.  They thought He loved them.  That isn't love to see them suffer like that!  Isn't that how we are sometimes?  We don't understand why God does what He does.  Why do I have to wait?  I want it now!  We wonder and tell Him, "If you really loved me, You would ___"  We don't realize that in the waiting, we learn patience.  We learn to trust Him when we have nowhere else to turn.  We weep and cry, and reluctantly we roll away the stone.  Even though we're sure there's disaster behind it...we roll it anyway.  And there we find the Glory of God.  Why?  So that the Son of God will be glorified.

In the past two years or so, I have asked, "Why" and "When" countless times.  All paths have led to this destination.  This surgeon.  What is the outcome?  Only My Heavenly Father knows; but I do know this.  He will be Glorified.  He already has, actually.  For I know without a doubt that He loves me and that this is part of His Plan for my life.  There will be pain involved, but ultimately it will lead to my healing.  God may show Himself with surgery option one or two...or even its the third, more difficult one.  Either way, He is saving my life.  

To God be the Glory.


John 11:4   "And Jesus said, "This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified in it."

Lessons from His Calendar

I should have known better.  Didn't my mom try to teach me not to ask why...just do as I'm told?  I guess sometimes it takes awhile to learn some lessons.  That lesson, and the one about God not needing my help in planning my life.
When I met Dr. Wiegand in July, one of the first things I told him was that I wanted to have my kidney surgery right away, because I had a new grandbaby due in October, and I wanted to be well enough to go up and be there for the birth.  He understood, and took that into consideration.
Because of the intense pain I'd been having, he ordered a nephrostomy tube to be placed through my back, into my kidney.  It was held in place by a single stitch.  This was to let my kidney rest, until the surgery could take place.   Despite the use of "happy juice", when they put the tube in, I'm not going to lie...it hurt.  A lot.  The pain afterward was pretty bad for about 10 days.  Then the tummy pain subsided, but I had another nagging pain.  I had to be very careful how I moved, because if the tube moved a certain way it felt like I was getting stabbed.  As a result, I've been pretty much homebound ever since.
At every doctor visit, I would remind him of the upcoming birth...and he would order another test.
"Really?" I would think after every postponement of the surgery.  The time was clicking away!  I had to get this done and over with!!   I knew the doctor knew what he was doing, but the birth date was getting closer and closer!
He ordered another test for the 9th of Sept. I thought that there was still a chance to travel, if he did the surgery right afterward.  I would be recuperating, but I'd tough it out.  I saw him after the procedure, and he gave me the news that I needed one more final test.  I just lost it.  I cried, knowing that going up for the birth was out of the question.  The doctor patted my hand and said, "Don't you want to be around for your grandchildren, without having to do dialysis?"  I knew he was right, but still was heartbroken.
Two days later Shannon told me that she had to have a C Section and that the baby was going to be born early. We found out later that it was scheduled for the 2nd of October.  My test was for the 30th of Sept.  Maybe this was the answer!  All this time, we thought the surgery was supposed to be first, but it was the birth!   Only one little issue...sitting for that long, with that painful tube.  But I thought, "I don't care, I'll ignore it!  I'm GOING!"
The thirtieth comes around and they're prepping me for the test.  They casually say, "Oh, your tube has been in since July?  They'll go ahead and replace it while they're doing the test."  I was dumbfounded.  The only thing I could think of was all of that pain that I'd had when they inserted it.  ANOTHER one?  NO!!!!  I had to ride for hours in a car the next day!!!  I tried to reason with them, but they insisted that it had to be replaced because of potential infection. 
I was so upset, thinking of all of the "what ifs".  Then I caught myself and tried to calm down and quietly had a "conversation" with God.
"Really?  I know You know better, but a new tube?  This is not good!!  I'm giving the situation to You, but I don't  want to.  I know You know what I have to do tomorrow, so I'm going to trust You!"
But I was still upset.
They asked me if I wanted sedation, and I told them no.  I had to see the surgeon afterward, and I didn't want to hang around longer than I  had to.  Did you know that I was stubborn?
The doctor began to remove the tube and I felt him clip that stitch.  Something felt funny.  They then replaced the tube.  IT DIDN'T HURT AT ALL!!!!!  The doctor said that he was going to do a different kind of thing and not put another stitch in.  I then had to roll over on my back for the test.  I was amazed...no pain.  After the test I was moving all around...no pain!  I then knew why I had to have the tube replaced.  So that I could travel comfortably! I could sit and stand without that stitch stabbing me!
I can just picture God shaking His Head at me when I was having that "conversation" with Him.  He was probably wanting to say, "Yada, yada, yada...Will you just be quiet and let Me do this?!!!"
As we were driving up to Pensacola, I got a phone call from the hospital.  My surgery date was scheduled.  All of that needless worry and concern...for nothing.  God had it on His Calendar the whole time.  He knew, when I didn't know, that all would be ok.
And this?  

THIS for all of the delays.  So that I could be there for the birth of this beautiful little miracle. God is my loving Father that wants to bless me with things that I desire.
So am I nervous about the surgery?  No, I can honestly say I'm not.  I am concerned, of course, but not worried.  God has this, just like He always does.  He is forever faithful.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 (ESV) He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.                

Devotion

I'm sitting here in my recliner with a fuzzy four legged furball nestled next to my legs. That is HIS spot. As soon as I sit in the chair, he is right at my feet, looking up expectantly at me. I can read his mind and comply by raising the foot rest, so he can assume his position at my feet. Marley is so devoted. His little fur sister is the exact same way with Steve. Always at his feet, or on his lap.

I was holding Marley earlier, like a baby (don't judge) and I looked down at his little face. He had such a loving expression. I told Steve, that if we think about it, we are those dogs' world. They wake up so happy to see us, and to greet us. They depend on us to take care of them without hesitation. They communicate if they think we need to fulfill a need of theirs and do whatever they can to make us happy. They act as if we have been gone forever if we leave them for 10 minutes, and they stay by our side until they fall asleep at night. The next day is a repeat of yesterday, and they don't mind a bit.

We can learn a lot from those sweet puppies. They are the picture of true devotion. How devoted am I in my relationship with Christ? Do I wake up, eager to spend time with Him and sit at His Feet? Or do I put my agenda for the day ahead of Him? Do I depend on His Provision for my daily needs, or do I worry and fret about tomorrow? Do I talk to Him about my concerns and do my best to make Him happy with my daily choices? And do I stay as close to Him as I can during my day, until I fall asleep at night?

God is waiting. Waiting to hold us like a little child and to look deeply into our eyes, and marvel at the love we have for Him. God wants to be our whole world. Have you shown Him devotion today?

Deuteronomy 6:5

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Unexpected Comings and Goings

   

Even though I think of myself as a pretty flexible person, I tend to plan my life around a calendar. This or that is happening this week; later on this month I have to do this thing; in a few months I can look forward to this event happening; my husband will be retiring in a few years… You get the picture. Like I said, I'm pretty flexible. If plans get changed, I don't tend to get bent out of shape. But in the course of three weeks, I learned just how little control I have over the course of circumstances in my life.

On April 19^th, we received the news that my brother John, who lived in SC, passed away suddenly due to a sudden and tragic accident. He had no idea that when he woke up that morning, that this was going to be his last day on earth. Thankfully, he was prepared. He had given his life over to Jesus and he knew where he was going when that time came. But for those of us who loved him, we wrestled with “What if….” You can never know for certain how long a loved one will be with you.

Almost three weeks later, we were again faced with an unprepared 'exit' of sorts. My son and daughter in love were getting ready for the birth of their second child, a son. According to the doctors, he was due to arrive right before his sister's first birthday in June. On May 1^st, Sherry's water broke, and by 10:30 that evening, they knew it was time for him to be born. Coming in at 4 lbs 14 oz, Aiden was a perfect, tiny little baby boy. When his parents woke up that morning, they had no idea they would be looking at the face of their son that night. Thankfully, they were prepared. They had all of the essential items they would need for his arrival, when that time came. That being said, we couldn't help but wonder, “What if....” You can never know for certain when a baby will arrive.

Timing. God's Perfect Timing. Although we don't know when events will occur, God does.

Thousands of years ago, God's people waited for their Messiah. They didn't know when he would come, but they waited and hoped…and prayed. Many, many years later, a tiny baby boy was born in the middle of a small and unassuming town. No one anticipated that the birth of this child Jesus, would make a difference in anyone's life. But God knew.

Thirty three years later, that now grown Jesus was walking up a hill, dragging a beam. He was then crucified and died on a cross. No one anticipated that the death of this man would make a difference in anyone's life. But God knew.

Three days later, three women went to a tomb to prepare his body for burial. They didn't anticipate that He would no longer be there, and was in fact, alive. They didn't know that this one event would forever change history and the course of countless people's lives. But God knew.

God was not surprised when that baby was born in a Bethlehem stall. It was His time.

God was not surprised when Jesus was crucified, died and arose from the dead. It was His time.

God was not surprised when my brother died that night. It was his time.

God was not surprised when little Aiden was born a month before he was anticipated. It was his time.

Although we may never understand the 'why' of certain events, we can find comfort in the fact that God does have it all under control, and He is waiting to comfort us in our grief. He is waiting to calm us when unforeseen circumstances occur. And He is waiting to celebrate with us when we receive unexpected gifts. God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.

The Weeds

I was pulling the weeds out from around our birdbath the other day.  It was a long overdue job that needed to be done, and usually not one of the chores I 'jump' to do!

As I was pulling the unwanted growth out from around the roses, I noticed how easily they came out.  The roots on them were small and spindly.  It didn't take much of a pull to break them away from among the sturdy plants.  

This process made me think of the scripture verse in Matthew 13:18-23, about the sower and the seeds.  

"Hear then the parable of the sower. "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; read more.yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."

The roses were like the seeds sown in good soil.  They had a firm hold and their roots were long.  It would take a lot of effort to pull them from the soil.  The weeds, however, were another story.  They were like the seeds sown on the rocky places.  They broke free easily, as they had weak roots.

What kind of Christian are you?  Are you like a strong rose...or a weak weed?  When hard times come around are you easily plucked from your faith...or do you remain firmly planted in the Word? Treat the roots of your faith, by meditating on Holy Scripture. Water the soil with prayer, and soon your fruit will be blooming as beautiful as a rose.

Wasting Time

It's Wednesday...Hump day.  We get over this hump and only two more days until Friday!!  How often do you hear, "Monday...ugh!" "Is it Friday, yet?"

We wish our weeks (years) away, looking forward to the weekend, as if today is of no importance.  After all, only Saturday and Sunday count, right?  That may not be exactly correct.

James 4:14 tells us, "The reality is you have no idea where your life will take you tomorrow.  You are like a mist that appears one moment and then vanishes another."  We can't dismiss today, and look forward to the weekend, when we never know what the next day...or the next moment will bring.

David tells us in Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." THIS is the day.  Rejoice in TODAY.  Don't wait for a day that may never arrive!  Search for opportunities to find joy in every day of the week.  You may discover a treasure that is much more special than any weekend could offer!

John 3:16

For God    ~    the Almighty Creator of the Universe

so loved    ~    Adored, Cherished, Treasured

the world    ~    us, sinners, His unfaithful creation

that he gave    ~    turned over, relinquished, dispensed

His only Son,    ~    His Child, His Beloved, Jesus

so that everyone   ~  all, no exceptions, any person

who believes in Him    ~    knows, trusts, has faith in 

shall not perish    ~    die, be destroyed, end

but have    ~    accept, acquire, gain

everlasting   ~    eternal, forever, undying

               ~    LIFE.    ~    

Burning Arrows

Burning arrows.  They are shot at us from all sides.  We face them every day. 

They come in the form of whispers of doubt in our heads:

"You're not good enough!" "You are stupid!"  "WHY did you do that?!"  "Everything is YOUR fault!"

Flaming darts that invade our hearts.  "No one loves you."  "You're worthless." "You are all alone."

Scorching coals that smolder in our very souls.   "Because of that one bad choice, your life is now over...You might as well end it all."

How can we protect ourselves from those weapons of deceit?  God knew we would be bombarded with those searing missiles.  He gave us protection against them...a whole suit of armor.

A belt of truth to wear, that lets us know that those whispers are nothing but lies.  They are deceitful daggers that attempt to make us doubt our worth and God's Love.

We have a breastplate of righteousness to wear, to protect our hearts.  We protect our hearts with the 'right' things to do and say...the things that God wants us to do.

We possess a shield of faith that we use to extinguish all of this searing ammunition.  Faith that we have a God that is in control, and that He loves us beyond measure.

We are given shoes of peace to wear.  They come in handy when situations arise in which we are tempted to walk down a violent and quarrelsome path.

We can accept a helmet of salvation to protect our minds against those feelings of hopelessness.  For when we accept the salvation of Christ, we know that we are loved so much, He chose to die for us.  We know that we have a forever home with Christ in heaven, one day.  If you have any questions about this, please click here.

Most importantly, we have a sword.  A sword of the spirit...which is the Word of God.  But there is a responsibility with this piece of equipment.  It must be continually used and nurtured.  We must know as much of the Word as we can, to protect our heads from the constant whispering arrows shot at it.

Finally, we must not forget to pray.  Continually keep in contact with your Spiritual Commander!  He will give you the constant power you will need to defeat the enemy.

So get ready to face the day.  Put on that armor...and know that you will be victorious!!

Ephesians 6: 11-18 (GNV)   "11 Put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks. 12 For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age. 13 So put on God's armor now! Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy's attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.

14 So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, 15 and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace. 16 At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. 17 And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you. 18 Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God's people."

  

The Master Plumber

The other day we had to work on a plumbing problem at my mother in law's home.  The kitchen sink has had an extremely slow drain for years.  Over the years, we have tried all sorts of solutions, but nothing worked, including calling a plumber.  He mumbled something about small pipes, and gave us a bill.  The drain seemed to get slower and slower.

So, Steve went up on the roof with a plumber's snake and a water hose to try and clean out the plumbing pipe..  It only resulted in both kitchen sinks being filled with black, horrible smelling water.  He tried to think of what to do.  Then he remembered that there might be a clean out valve buried by the front of the house somewhere. After digging up part of the flower bed, he found it.  It looked as if it had never been touched.  The cap was rusted tight.  He steadily worked on it, until after about a half an hour, he finally got it to move.  When the cap was removed, he saw a muddy looking plug.  After prying it out, there was a rush of greasy black water.  To make a long story short, It took him hours to get all of the accumulated gunk out from the pipes.  Fifty years of sludge.  He had to use 3 different plumber's snakes to do it.  Finally the last one went up about 45 feet under the house, and whoosh!  The sink drained perfectly!!

We guessed that in all of the time that his mom lived there, even though she was an extremely meticulous housekeeper, residue had built up in the pipes.  It didn't happen right away.  It built up slowly over time.

Isn't that like us?  We let little things come into our lives, through our eyes, and ears, and our actions.  We may think we're living a clean life..  It slowly begins to build up, without us noticing it.  Then we may be aware that things aren't the same. We start to feel as if something is missing..What do we do?  We could try all sorts of solutions...drinking, drugs, relationships, or a quest for money....but that doesn't work.  We just seem to get more filled with...gunk.  It can seem hopeless.  But there is a solution!

It is a Master Plumber.  Jesus came to get rid of our filthiness. With one call, He can be our Clean Out Valve, instantly releasing us from all of the black gunk that has built up in our lives.  By His death on the cross, He is able to make our pipes--our lives-- 'whiter than snow'.  And the best thing...it is free!  You don't have to pay a thing!

If your life is filled with a grimy mess, the answer is in a simple, heartfelt prayer, like this:   "Jesus, I am sorry for all of my sins.  I want You to come into my life and clean me from all of my bad choices.  I want You to be Lord of my life."

Maybe you are already a Christian, and your spiritual life seems to have slowed down a little...or a lot.  The Master Plumber is there to remove any blockages you may have...He's only a call away!!

Covered

It's hard to turn on the news today without getting nervous...or downright scared.  Between all the wars, and threats of wars...financial uncertainties, and violence everywhere you turn, it makes you want to close your eyes and hide in a corner.

During these uncertain moments, I love to think of Psalm 91..It has been one of my favorite Bible references for many, many years.  Here it is:  Which verse speaks to YOU?

Psalm 91

1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.

    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
    though ten thousand are dying around you,
    these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
    and see how the wicked are punished.

9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
    if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
    no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
    to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
    you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!

14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

So even though there are trials all around us, we are protected. Our Heavenly Father tells us to open our tightly closed eyes and see...He's got us covered.

Kisses from God

Have you ever experienced an unexpected answer to a problem, without you even voicing the problem out loud?  I've experienced this many times, but one particular "kiss from God" comes to mind. 

When our kids were younger, we went through a couple of tough spells, financially. It was getting close to Christmas, and my husband and I were wondering what we were going to do.  We didn't say anything to anyone, but secretly tried to figure out how we were going to pull this off.

One Sunday, a week or so before Christmas, our pastor came up to my husband and slipped an envelope in his pocket.  He said that someone had wanted to give it to us, and he was just making a delivery.  It was enough to let our four children have a nice Christmas.  We never found out who our benefactor was. A few days later, a knock came to our door, and a very special couple said that they wondered if our two little boys would like to have a train set that their boys had outgrown. The kids were thrilled!  I'll never forget that feeling of awe and wonder.  How did they know??  We hadn't said a word  But God knew.

 How amazing is that?  On second thought, why should we be surprised?  Psalm 44:21 tells us: 

"would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?"

God knows each of our hearts.  He knows the innermost secrets that we hold.  The most awesome thing is, the Creator of the Universe, the great I AM, actually cares about every aspect of our lives.  He cares and provides answers to the problems we face.  He will place people that we need at exactly the right time. He does this because He loves us and wants good things for those who love Him.  Psalm 139 is full of the proof of how much God cares for us:

New Life Version (NLV)
 O Lord, You have looked through me and have known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You look over my path and my lying down. You know all my ways very well. 4 Even before I speak a word, O Lord, You know it all.5 You have closed me in from behind and in front. And You have laid Your hand upon me. 6 All You know is too great for me. It is too much for me to understand.7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I run away from where You are? 8 If I go up to heaven, You are there! If I make my bed in the place of the dead, You are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning or live in the farthest part of the sea, 10 even there Your hand will lead me and Your right hand will hold me. 11 If I say, “For sure the darkness will cover me and the light around me will be night,” 12 even the darkness is not dark to You. And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to You.13 For You made the parts inside me. You put me together inside my mother. 14 I will give thanks to You, for the greatness of the way I was made brings fear. Your works are great and my soul knows it very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret and put together with care in the deep part of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me before I was put together. And all the days of my life were written in Your book before any of them came to be.

This doesn't mean that we won't go through more 'tough times', but when we do, our "kisses from God" help us to remember that God is never far away.

The Shadows

When I was little, I was very afraid of the dark.  I was sure something was lurking there, ready to devour me.  I knew it was there, and at times I was sure it moved!  I called out to my mom, and she would come in there and reassure me that all was well.  She turned on the light, and I could see that nothing was truly there.  I didn't have to be afraid of what was in the night.

 But there are those who live in the dark.  They dwell in their own personal shadows during the daytime, as well as the night.  They can't seem to get out of it, no matter how hard they try.  They wonder if life is worth it.  They live on the brink of the shadows of death.  But in this case...it is not imaginary.  It is very real.

To begin with, I would encourage anyone who is feeling this way to please talk with someone, a doctor perhaps.  Many times it is a chemical issue...something you cannot control on your own.  Please do this.  It can make a world of difference.

How do you get to the shadows?  In many cases, it can be the experiences of life that overwhelm us and make us feel unloved or worthless.  It seems we get hit from the left and right, and we get pushed further and further down a hole.  A very dark and deep hole that is filled with shadows. Soon, the thought of a light is the blackness is almost impossible to imagine.

But the Light is there.  His name is Jesus.  Luke 1:79 tells us that He came "to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."  God knew that His children would at times sit in darkness, and dwell in the shadow of death.  They would tend to go there, and they needed Someone to guide their feet into the way of peace for their souls.

”Psalm 34: 17-20 tells us, "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.  When we cry out, God hears us.  

He is near to those who have broken hearts and who's spirits are crushed.  Not just broken spirits...but crushed spirits.  For those who have had the world stomp on their spirits over and over...broken beyond recognition.  God is there for them, to save them.  He is a Lifeline in the Sea of Afflictions.

So if you are a resident of the shadows, know that God DOES see you.  You are not alone.  He loves you enough to send Jesus to shine His Light in the room, and show you that it is all right.  You don't have to be afraid of the night.  He is there for you.

The Breeze

Do you ever feel like a crumb in the middle of a picnic full of ants?  Oh...make that a crumb covered in sugar?

Today's verse is Psalm 55:18  "He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me."

The Bible scholars differ on how this verse can be interpreted, so I'l stick with the side of the fence that touched my spirit.

Even though we constantly fight those doggone ants...they still keep coming.  Relentless, aren't they?  They come from all sides to get a piece of you.  You are brave and confident and fight as best you can (for a crumb), but it seems impossible to survive.  Then all of a sudden a strong wind comes along and begins to blow the ants away.  The invaders are gone...no longer a threat.

Yes, I know it's a strange analogy, but it's how I roll!

We fight ants every day.  Sometimes they come in the form of sugar ants: little things like battling pride and self.  Other times they are in the appearance of fire ants: financial difficulties or family issues.  Then others are the big carpenter or wood ants: cancer or a devastating loss of a loved one.

 But take heart.  The psalm shows us the PROMISE that God gives us.  He HAS DELIVERED my soul IN PEACE.  God has not forgotten us.  He WILL deliver us.  And peace is possible...even though we may not feel it at the moment.

And don't forget the last part: for there were many with me.  Now this is the part where the scholars differ.  It could mean there are many against me...which we know to be true...or I like to look at it from the other side of the fence...there are many who are with me.  Fellow Christians who are praying for me and standing with me before the Throne of the Father.  Their prayers are the wind blowing those ants away from their food source.  Their prayers are the Breath of God blowing the enemy away.

So keep fighting.  There is a breeze starting to form.

The Reason

I was making hubby's breakfast this morning, and packing his lunch. As I was putting the peanut butter on the bread, I began thinking about the beginning of a new work week.  The routine sandwich making was rote.  I smiled to myself as I imagined what other women would think of my breakfast and lunch making tasks.  I could just hear it.

     "Are you serious?  He's a grown man!  He can make his own breakfast and lunch!!"
     "You are spoiling him!"
     "This is not the 1950's!! Get with the times, girl!"
     "He MAKES you do that??!

Just for the record:  I am serious...Yes, he can make his own lunch...Maybe I am spoiling him, but he spoils me right back...I am aware that the year is 2013...and no, he doesn't make me...I WANT to!!  

Disclaimer:  Now in NO way am I saying that women who don't make their husband's lunch are bad wives!!!  LOL!  This is just what I choose to do!  This is one way that I show him how much I love him. Other women have to find their way of showing affection.  What's important is the motive behind the actions.

My motive is not manipulation.  If I make his lunch, he'd better do THIS for me.  It is not out of obligation, for that would be nothing more than a warped form of slavery.  My motive is not to be put in the running for the "Wife of the Year" award!  My motive is love.  It is a way to show him thanks for getting up every day at 5:30 am and working hard in the hot sun all day, to provide for us. Motive is the key behind everything.

What drives you to do the things you do?  What is the force driving you and your actions towards others?  If it is manipulation, or obligation, or attention seeking, or boredom...you may want to rethink things.  

! Corinthians 13: 1=8

1 I may speak in different languages, whether human or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love.

4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth.7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.

8 Love will never end.

A New Attitude

"You'd better change your attitude!!"  How often did we say that to our kids? (Or had it said to US!)
What kind of attitude should we have?  How should we 'be'?
We find our answer in the Word.  Matthew 5 tells us...by way of something we call the Beatitudes.

"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to Him, 2and He began to teach them, saying:

3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

I'm not going to go through each one...but note the very first one "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."  That was not just a random choice for first place.  I'm sure Jesus didn't have all of the beatitudes in a hat and pick one to see which one got to be first in line!

You have to be poor in spirit, in order to be able to have the other 'attitudes'.  You have to be able to give up your 'will' or surrender your life to Christ, in order to be truly merciful or pure in heart.
"Give up my will?  Why would I want to do that??", you may ask.
Ah...there is a second part to that first beatitude. "Theirs is the kingdom of God"! The kingdom of God begins in your heart, the moment you surrender your life to Him.  You slowly begin to see things differently than you used to...the way God sees them. The  relationship with the Father begins.  Through prayer and the Word, He begins to change you until one day you notice that the other "attitudes" are YOUR attitudes.

And it all began with a poor and humble spirit.

What to Wear?

What to wear? What to wear?  What clothes should I put on today?  I think I'll look in the Bible.  WAIT!!  Before you click off of this crazy woman's page, hear me out!! :)

Colossians 3 tells us:
"12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Clothe yourselves.  We are to 'put on' compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, like we would a shirt, or a pair of pants.  They are to cover us.  Cover our 'self'.  Even though our 'self'ish nature is still underneath, we must choose to cover that with godly virtues.  And as verse 14 states, we must bind or cover all of these things with the cloak of love.  Love holds all of these characteristics together, perfectly.  Because if we didn't have love, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness or patience wouldn't mean a thing.

So if you're trying to decide what to wear today...pick up your Bible!

The Mighty Oak

We have a huge oak tree in our front yard.  About 50 years ago, the woman that lived there, planted the tree as a young sapling when her son went off to Vietnam.  The tree grew and grew, and every year produces thousands of little acorns.  We find little sprouts growing everywhere.  Of course we have to pull them before they get too big. We've even found them on the roof!  Who wants an oak tree growing above their bedroom ceiling?

There is an old phrase, " Mighty oaks from little acorns grow."  It is meant to express how great things can come from small beginnings.  I think there could be a flip side to that adage.  While oak trees aren't bad in and of themselves...growing on a rooftop might be a huge problem!

The little tiny acorns of sin in our lives can become huge oaks before you know it.  In the beginning, it doesn't seem like a big deal.  A young person sees a cell phone that they think they will never be able to own...they can't stop thinking about it...then, they begin to think they deserve to have it.  It's not fair that that kid can have one and they can't.  It becomes an obsession they believe they can't live without...soon they are sitting in a jail cell for theft.  A mighty oak of a police record is now on their rooftop.  It didn't start out that way...but it never does.  They all start out as tiny acorns.  The acorn of pride turns into the oak of bitterness, the acorn of jealousy turns into the oaks of theft or greed, and the acorn of irritation can grow into an oak of hatred or worse.

It's easier to grab a sprouting acorn while it is still small.  Once the roots start to take hold, it makes it more difficult to get rid of it.  Because, then it begins to invade other areas of our life and before you know it, it has taken over.

Ask God to give you the power of His Holy Spirit to yank the unwanted sprouts out.  He will help you nurture the good growth of kindness and self control, and help the fruits of the Spirit flourish in the garden of your life.