12.01.2025
11.24.2025
Be a Noah
The story of Noah in the Bible is a fascinating one. Here's a man that is in an extremely evil world trying to obey God. He has a wife, 3 sons, their wives, and they are just going about their daily lives. Along comes God telling him to build a big boat. What?? Why?? At this time in the world, they had never experienced rain; they would think he was crazy saying water was going to fall from the sky! The world had gotten bad...and when I say bad...it was an evil like we have yet to see in our modern times. God knew something had to be done, and He saw the heart of Noah and could trust him to listen, obey, and follow His instructions.
Build a boat, God said, and Noah immediately responded with, Yes, I will do it! But, with building that boat came a lot of questions from others. What was Noah doing? Why was he doing this? They mocked him and didn't believe him when he explained why he was doing it. Despite all the judgment, belittling, and disbelief from others, Noah and his family moved forward. They built the boat and began to wait. The animals came, the rains fell, and God shut the door. Noah and his family were faithful despite the persecution! He built this boat while watching those he loved reject God and His teaching. Genesis 6:22 says, "Noah did everything just as God commanded him." Wow! If you read all of Genesis 6, you will see the specific details that God laid out for Noah. He was a righteous man who listened and followed God! It doesn't say, "Well...Noah thought about it and decided it wasn't a good fit for him and his family." No...it says...Noah did EVERYTHING that God commanded him."
What is God calling you to do today? It's probably not to build a big boat, but maybe it's as simple as praying more, helping your neighbor, or telling your family about Jesus, even if they make fun of you and are in disbelief.
Be a Noah! You may be doing things that don't make sense, but God knows what He needs and what He wants you to do to fulfill that. Be a Noah! People will think you are weird; you're building a boat, but you've never seen rain! Be a Noah! People are watching you; they want to know why you are doing the things you are doing! Know that it's hard in the waiting. While Noah built this boat, God was still waiting for lives to turn around. The work was hard, the people unkind, and Noah had to be frustrated while still trying to be patient. He was waiting on God, relying completely on God's direction and the strength to complete the task God had for him, no matter how long it took. Has God ever asked you to do something that is WAY outside of your comfort zone? Did you say yes, or did you say, "Lord, use someone else!" Did you build the boat, and now you're waiting for rain? Or…maybe you are too scared to pick up that first piece of wood and are afraid of what others will say. Do you think Noah wanted to build a boat? He had a wife and 3 sons, and you would think the last thing on his mind would be to build something that would take him decades to build! But he allowed God to use him, and the second God asked him to, he said, "I'll do it!" Whatever God is asking you to do, know that God already has the tools, the wood, and the materials ready for you. He knows your strengths and weaknesses and is ready to use you just as you are. If God is stirring your heart today and asks you to build that boat...say yes! God has you and can and will use you to fulfill his purpose! Don't just stand around with your umbrella and hope that rain doesn't fall! Get out that hammer, grab those nails and build that boat! When God asks...say Yes! Be a Noah!
11.16.2019
Thankful For Our Scars!
When we think of Thanksgiving, we think of family gatherings and lots of food. We take the time to think about all the things we are thankful for. Many families gather around a table filled with turkey and all the fixings and express their gratefulness for the things they hold dear.
We are always thankful for the good things, the blessings. We express thankfulness for our family, our health, and any wealth that God may have provided for us in the past year. But, we never thank God for the trials, the many things that He has taught us, or the scars that have taken place during those low moments in our year.
When I was thinking about what to say today, I was going to make a list of all things we should be grateful for and try to remember to help others out this holiday season. That is a great message, but God slowly revealed a different side to the meaning of being thankful. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, God’s word says, “ Be thankful in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” The key word here is ALL. It’s easy to be thankful for ALL those amazing blessings, but it sure is hard to be thankful for ALL those learning experiences that leave those scars.
Have you ever been through something and you feel alone, and then out of nowhere you find out someone understands? I had that happen last month. A parent was going through something, and I shared that I had been through the same thing. Their eyes instantly filled with tears as they thanked me for sharing and reminding them that they are not alone. It may not be ideal to go through these trials in life, but the scars they leave can be reminders of where we have been, they can be lessons learned, joy in reminding us that we are no longer in that place, and we may even become thankful for the scars that God gave us so that we maybe can understand what others are going through or cause gratitude at what God saved us from.
My last story is a personal one for me. When my boys were little, we were busy doing “life”. Things were going well, my husband had a great job, my boys were healthy, I was thankful, but the company my husband worked for announced that right before Thanksgiving they would be laying off 300 people. My husband was one of those 300 people. Eventually the company closed down. I remember standing in my kitchen, shocked at what I was hearing. Right before the holidays, my husband lost his job and I remember just looking at my boys and trying not to panic. I remember thinking, “God’s got this. We will be ok. Hopefully it won’t be long and he will have something quickly take its place.” Well, when you have 300 people ALL looking for jobs at the same time, let’s just say the market doesn’t run in your favor! We spent 3 years in part-time jobs just trying to survive! The struggle was real. I remember at the end of the 3 years, I finally just broke down on my bathroom floor in tears. I felt frustrated, mentally exhausted, and that God had left us at times. Let’s say my faith had left me for a moment. My husband had put out so many resumes that I used to joke that we could make wallpaper out of the rejection letters! Then one day, the call came! A full-time job! I cannot even begin to tell you how thankful I was. I still remember every moment of the day that he lost his job and the day he received a job. I can tell you where I was standing, what was said, the amount of joy we had when the call came. 3 years of scars, and in that moment, God reminded us that it will all be ok. I learned a lot from those scars. God constantly reminds me to trust Him through it all. He reminds me that I am not in control, and He reminds me to be thankful in any job that I hold and I hold this one dear to my heart. I am thankful for my scars, for it showed me how to rely on God in all circumstances.
So, when we think about all the amazing things that God has blessed us with this month, let’s take a moment to remember those things He saved us from and be thankful for those scars!
We are always thankful for the good things, the blessings. We express thankfulness for our family, our health, and any wealth that God may have provided for us in the past year. But, we never thank God for the trials, the many things that He has taught us, or the scars that have taken place during those low moments in our year.
When I was thinking about what to say today, I was going to make a list of all things we should be grateful for and try to remember to help others out this holiday season. That is a great message, but God slowly revealed a different side to the meaning of being thankful. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, God’s word says, “ Be thankful in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” The key word here is ALL. It’s easy to be thankful for ALL those amazing blessings, but it sure is hard to be thankful for ALL those learning experiences that leave those scars.
Have you ever been through something and you feel alone, and then out of nowhere you find out someone understands? I had that happen last month. A parent was going through something, and I shared that I had been through the same thing. Their eyes instantly filled with tears as they thanked me for sharing and reminding them that they are not alone. It may not be ideal to go through these trials in life, but the scars they leave can be reminders of where we have been, they can be lessons learned, joy in reminding us that we are no longer in that place, and we may even become thankful for the scars that God gave us so that we maybe can understand what others are going through or cause gratitude at what God saved us from.
My last story is a personal one for me. When my boys were little, we were busy doing “life”. Things were going well, my husband had a great job, my boys were healthy, I was thankful, but the company my husband worked for announced that right before Thanksgiving they would be laying off 300 people. My husband was one of those 300 people. Eventually the company closed down. I remember standing in my kitchen, shocked at what I was hearing. Right before the holidays, my husband lost his job and I remember just looking at my boys and trying not to panic. I remember thinking, “God’s got this. We will be ok. Hopefully it won’t be long and he will have something quickly take its place.” Well, when you have 300 people ALL looking for jobs at the same time, let’s just say the market doesn’t run in your favor! We spent 3 years in part-time jobs just trying to survive! The struggle was real. I remember at the end of the 3 years, I finally just broke down on my bathroom floor in tears. I felt frustrated, mentally exhausted, and that God had left us at times. Let’s say my faith had left me for a moment. My husband had put out so many resumes that I used to joke that we could make wallpaper out of the rejection letters! Then one day, the call came! A full-time job! I cannot even begin to tell you how thankful I was. I still remember every moment of the day that he lost his job and the day he received a job. I can tell you where I was standing, what was said, the amount of joy we had when the call came. 3 years of scars, and in that moment, God reminded us that it will all be ok. I learned a lot from those scars. God constantly reminds me to trust Him through it all. He reminds me that I am not in control, and He reminds me to be thankful in any job that I hold and I hold this one dear to my heart. I am thankful for my scars, for it showed me how to rely on God in all circumstances.
So, when we think about all the amazing things that God has blessed us with this month, let’s take a moment to remember those things He saved us from and be thankful for those scars!
9.16.2019
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom
Have you ever had those moments when the Holy Spirit whispers in your ear to do something, but you don't want to do it? It's like God wants to put you in the most awkward positions to get you do what He has asked of you. As a Christian, I try hard to allow the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. He is definitely no man made GPS, for He is accurate 100% of the time. He knows the entire situations of not just me, but my surroundings. As a human, I gauge things according to my feelings, my situations, and follow accordingly, but God wants us to view things from others perspectives, not just our own.
On the flip side...have you ever felt alone. I mean...alone, yet you are surrounded by people? Even if the people truly care about you, you can face this loneliness that only you understand. Maybe you are the type of person who doesn't know how to reach out to others. It takes alot of courage to open your mouth and speak those few words, "Please help me." It makes you feel vulnerable, exposed, and you feel like once you say them, people will view you differently and in the end you feel even more alone.
I was recently in a restaurant with people I know well. Despite knowing them well, I knew that one person in particular struggles with anxiety and depression. This person represents the loneliness that one can feel in a crowded room. This person is overwhelmed by crowds, struggling with her own personal needs, and consumed by what the week had brought before her. Despite surrounded by an entire room of people, some of whom love her, you can tell she always feels alone. At times she blurts out how she feels and at other times she pushes her feelings deep, deep down.
Sensing how her week had been going, I began to ask questions and figured out some of the issues that plagued her this past week. The Holy Spirit nudged me to pray with her. Pray with her? That's the easy part, but praying with her in a crowded restaurant, surrounded by people looking, awkwardly asking if I could pray for her, and wondering her reaction was the hard part! As we were leaving, I walked over, put my arm around her and asked if I could pray for her. She said, yes, and I quietly pulled her aside, prayed for her, left a scripture that God had for her, and we went our separate ways. For me, despite it being awkward, it was something I knew that God wanted me to do. I put aside my feelings, put aside her feelings, and put God's wants first. Sure, it was probably extremely awkward for her as well. Yet, I know that sometimes when people can't physically speak and ask for help, that God sees their heart, hears their cries, and knows what's best for them.
I am not a hero. I am nobody. I am just a person that God placed there to speak His life into another. He orchestrates our lives, places us in situations, and stretches us to further His work. What is the Holy Spirit nudging you to do today? Will it completely pull you out of your comfort zone? Will it create awkward moments? Will you refuse? If I had refused, I could not have ministered to a hurting person at a time when she needed God most. I want to encourage you all today to listen to what God is telling you. That little nudge in your spirit...that's the Holy Spirit, asking you to be there for another...asking you to step outside of your comfort zone to comfort another, giving them freedom. The verse for you today is "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17.
On the flip side...have you ever felt alone. I mean...alone, yet you are surrounded by people? Even if the people truly care about you, you can face this loneliness that only you understand. Maybe you are the type of person who doesn't know how to reach out to others. It takes alot of courage to open your mouth and speak those few words, "Please help me." It makes you feel vulnerable, exposed, and you feel like once you say them, people will view you differently and in the end you feel even more alone.
I was recently in a restaurant with people I know well. Despite knowing them well, I knew that one person in particular struggles with anxiety and depression. This person represents the loneliness that one can feel in a crowded room. This person is overwhelmed by crowds, struggling with her own personal needs, and consumed by what the week had brought before her. Despite surrounded by an entire room of people, some of whom love her, you can tell she always feels alone. At times she blurts out how she feels and at other times she pushes her feelings deep, deep down.
Sensing how her week had been going, I began to ask questions and figured out some of the issues that plagued her this past week. The Holy Spirit nudged me to pray with her. Pray with her? That's the easy part, but praying with her in a crowded restaurant, surrounded by people looking, awkwardly asking if I could pray for her, and wondering her reaction was the hard part! As we were leaving, I walked over, put my arm around her and asked if I could pray for her. She said, yes, and I quietly pulled her aside, prayed for her, left a scripture that God had for her, and we went our separate ways. For me, despite it being awkward, it was something I knew that God wanted me to do. I put aside my feelings, put aside her feelings, and put God's wants first. Sure, it was probably extremely awkward for her as well. Yet, I know that sometimes when people can't physically speak and ask for help, that God sees their heart, hears their cries, and knows what's best for them.
I am not a hero. I am nobody. I am just a person that God placed there to speak His life into another. He orchestrates our lives, places us in situations, and stretches us to further His work. What is the Holy Spirit nudging you to do today? Will it completely pull you out of your comfort zone? Will it create awkward moments? Will you refuse? If I had refused, I could not have ministered to a hurting person at a time when she needed God most. I want to encourage you all today to listen to what God is telling you. That little nudge in your spirit...that's the Holy Spirit, asking you to be there for another...asking you to step outside of your comfort zone to comfort another, giving them freedom. The verse for you today is "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17.
12.03.2017
Where Are Your Steps Taking You?
What is your purpose in life? Why did God put you on this earth at this specific time? Why are you at the job you are at? What path are you suppose to take in the future? These are all great questions that God has answers to! Unfortunately, He doesn't always lay it out in front of us in a daily map! Wouldn't that be nice!
Many of us live life in a monotonous fashion. We get up way too early for our taste and fumble our way in the dark to find that ever so hidden light switch. We drag ourselves with eyes clenched over to the coffee machine, where we beg for a cup to brew quickly and go through the tedious motions of getting ready for our day. We get to our job and force our way through each boring task, waiting for that final "bell" to ring. We then drive home, plop ourselves in front of the tv, and finally fall asleep. We awake, yet again, as we begrudgingly start the next day all over again. This humdrum life we live becomes meaningless and overall depressing!
What is God's purpose for us? What are we missing in our average day to day? Many of us think that to be called by God we have to be a missionary, out in the trenches, fighting to survive to tell others about Christ. But, if we are all missionaries, where are the doctors to take care of us if we are sick? Well, then we have to be pastors, standing in front of the pulpit to be used by God! Nope! If we were all pastors, who would fight those fires when your crazy cooking gets out of hand? God has called us to be the light right where He has placed us. He hasn't called us all to be missionaries overseas, but He might be calling you to pray for the person in that cubicle next to you and invite them to church. He may not have called you to be a pastor, but He may be asking you to help a needy family during the holiday season.
If life has become a daily chore for you, I encourage to stop and look around you this holiday season. What is your purpose for being at your job? I am not talking about the importance of your job from an earthly standpoint; I am talking about the spiritual reason that God has placed you where you are each day? Who do you see? Really look into the eyes of that Starbucks barista handing you that coffee each morning. Why did God put them in front of you that day? Why did you drive by that accident on the way to work? Was it because of your strong CPR skills? No, take a moment to pray for the people involved and remember them throughout the day. Who knows where they will eternally be that day.
I charge you to open your eyes daily. Truly take a moment to really look at each person that crosses your path, listen carefully to those people on the phone that you may be helping pay their bill, or observe the co-worker that might be struggling that day. What can you do for them? If nothing physically, then may we always remember to pray for those around us, for God has a purpose for you and for them. God does not make mistakes and has ordered your steps and theirs. Where are your steps taking you today?
Psalm 90: 10& 12 "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away...So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Many of us live life in a monotonous fashion. We get up way too early for our taste and fumble our way in the dark to find that ever so hidden light switch. We drag ourselves with eyes clenched over to the coffee machine, where we beg for a cup to brew quickly and go through the tedious motions of getting ready for our day. We get to our job and force our way through each boring task, waiting for that final "bell" to ring. We then drive home, plop ourselves in front of the tv, and finally fall asleep. We awake, yet again, as we begrudgingly start the next day all over again. This humdrum life we live becomes meaningless and overall depressing!
What is God's purpose for us? What are we missing in our average day to day? Many of us think that to be called by God we have to be a missionary, out in the trenches, fighting to survive to tell others about Christ. But, if we are all missionaries, where are the doctors to take care of us if we are sick? Well, then we have to be pastors, standing in front of the pulpit to be used by God! Nope! If we were all pastors, who would fight those fires when your crazy cooking gets out of hand? God has called us to be the light right where He has placed us. He hasn't called us all to be missionaries overseas, but He might be calling you to pray for the person in that cubicle next to you and invite them to church. He may not have called you to be a pastor, but He may be asking you to help a needy family during the holiday season.
If life has become a daily chore for you, I encourage to stop and look around you this holiday season. What is your purpose for being at your job? I am not talking about the importance of your job from an earthly standpoint; I am talking about the spiritual reason that God has placed you where you are each day? Who do you see? Really look into the eyes of that Starbucks barista handing you that coffee each morning. Why did God put them in front of you that day? Why did you drive by that accident on the way to work? Was it because of your strong CPR skills? No, take a moment to pray for the people involved and remember them throughout the day. Who knows where they will eternally be that day.
I charge you to open your eyes daily. Truly take a moment to really look at each person that crosses your path, listen carefully to those people on the phone that you may be helping pay their bill, or observe the co-worker that might be struggling that day. What can you do for them? If nothing physically, then may we always remember to pray for those around us, for God has a purpose for you and for them. God does not make mistakes and has ordered your steps and theirs. Where are your steps taking you today?
Psalm 90: 10& 12 "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away...So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
3.10.2017
Find Your Passion!
Have you ever noticed when others or yourself are working out of obligation instead of passion, and the fire for what they are doing is just...out? Whether it be your job, church, family, or other obligations, even if the person is great at what they do, and people can find them irreplaceable, it is not where their joy is...their spark for it is....dead. God has been showing me, as I watch others, the difference between being great at something out of obligation and being great at something with a passion! Those are two totally different things! One is like going through the motions and the other is going above and beyond with a smile on your face, joy in your heart and a spring in your step! What are your passions? Are you going through the motions because you are great at what you do? Are you enduring and just passing the days? ...Or are you striving for that passion that only God gives through His calling?
If you find yourself complaining more about what you are doing than finding actual joy in it, then it is time to reevaluate! This is not to say that you won't have bad days and times where you second guess your choice...we all have those days and shouldn't run on emotion. But....if you feel like you are just going through the motions, then I encourage you today to pick up that pen and write a poem, paint a picture, jump out of that plane, run with the bulls, and tomorrow, play in the snow...all with a smile on your face and joy in your heart! Find the passion that God has stirred in you and begin to pursue it!
"Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
If you find yourself complaining more about what you are doing than finding actual joy in it, then it is time to reevaluate! This is not to say that you won't have bad days and times where you second guess your choice...we all have those days and shouldn't run on emotion. But....if you feel like you are just going through the motions, then I encourage you today to pick up that pen and write a poem, paint a picture, jump out of that plane, run with the bulls, and tomorrow, play in the snow...all with a smile on your face and joy in your heart! Find the passion that God has stirred in you and begin to pursue it!
"Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
8.31.2016
Release Your Inner David!
Last night while I was sleeping, I began to dream. I felt this presence come over me. It held me down, shut my lips, and would not allow me to move. As I was laying there, motionless, the only thing that I could whisper was, "Jesus". I began to whisper it over and over. I was slowly able to say it louder and louder, until my lips were loosened, and I was able to say, "In the name of Jesus!" I suddenly awoke! My heart was pounding out of my chest! I snuggled close to my husband, as if he could protect me from this nightmare. I laid in silence, heart pounding, for what felt like an eternity. Everytime I felt that my heart was about to slow down, it began to pound once again. My heart finally settled down, and I felt a peace come over me. God said to me, "Release your inner David." Release my inner David? What does that even mean. I slowly got up the courage to grab my Bible, leave my little, safe cocoon, and go onto the couch to figure out what God was trying to tell me.
Most people have heard of the story of David and Goliath. Even if you don't crack the Bible often, you have heard of that story as a child. It takes place in 1 Samuel 17. In this story you have war. The fight is between the Israelites and Philistines. In the story it talks about a Giant named, Goliath. The Bible states that Goliath was 9 ft 4" tall! Wow! It says his helmet was made of bronze, and his armor weighed 125 lbs! The army of the Philistines stood behind their giant. He went each day to the front of the line and screamed, "Send one of your 'men' to fight me!"
Now, in this story, we know of a young shepherd boy. He was, just a boy. He helped his father and older brothers tend their sheep. While some of his brothers went off to fight, his father sent him to take them food and to check-up on them. David took the food, and while at the front of the battle line, he watched as this giant of a man came out and said his speech once again. "Send one of your 'men' to fight me!" David, although just a boy, wanted to know what was going to be done about this giant that mocked God and their army. It says that David said to Saul, "Don't let anyone be discouraged, I, your servant will go and fight this Philistine! 1 Samuel 17:32. Can you imagine what Saul is thinking right now? He has an army of all these strong men that run and hide at the sight of this giant, and this boy comes to him, ready to step up to the plate and take him head on! It says that Saul replied, "You can't go against this Philistine and fight him, you're only a boy! (Vs 33). After David convinced Saul that he was right for this job, Saul tried to give him armor. This armor was way too heavy, for he was only a boy! He told Saul that he could not wear it for he was not used to it. He took it off and as we all know, found those smooth stones. A weapon he was used to. He was familiar with it, because God had already trained him how to use it effectively in his life.
Now, little David was ready to face this giant. He had his large, strong army...er...scared army behind him. He has his amazing armor...um...his slingshot and rock, while Goliath had a confident army, and armor that probably weighed as much as David alone! David did not let those thoughts stop him! He knew that God was with him. In the Bible it says that Goliath began to go towards David. At that moment, David ran to meet him! Not only did David go out there with no army behind him and no armor, he ran to his enemy! It says he took that one smooth stone, and you know the rest! Yep, right between the eyes! Down goes that 9 ft 4 inch giant! One stone!
Now, what does that story have to do with me? With us? I am but a small person. I am human, weak, and at times feel ill-equipped. We have mountains that we face, dragons to conquer, and giants to kill. But....we are just a boy inside. We feel at times these giants are too much for us. We run, we hide, we look for others to fight for us. We look at the armor of the enemy and think about how strong they must be as we sit and hold this little, tiny rock in our hands. We forget at times that we have the greatest weapon...God! The Bible says, "If God is for us, who can be against us!"
Last night, I awoke from a dream where I was held down, mouth muzzled, not allowed to move! The one thing I could do? Say the name of Jesus! It started out as a whisper, and grew, and grew! I awoke! Fear overcame me! God took over and encouraged me to find my "Inner David"....my confidence...my calling!
What giants are you facing today? Do you feel overwhelmed, inadequate, ill-equipped, and like you are just a small boy that is powerless against such an obstacle? Release your inner David today. Do you think David had fear? Do you think that his heart was pounding out of his chest while he ran to his enemy? I do! I feel, though, he ran with confidence! He knew that God had prepared him for this moment...not with swords, bows, guns, grenades, but with a sling and a stone, that had been used to protect his family's sheep. What is your weapon? What has God given you to defeat those giants in your life? Use what is uniquely yours, given to you by God! Take hold of that sling, be confident, run up to that giant, and release your inner David!
Most people have heard of the story of David and Goliath. Even if you don't crack the Bible often, you have heard of that story as a child. It takes place in 1 Samuel 17. In this story you have war. The fight is between the Israelites and Philistines. In the story it talks about a Giant named, Goliath. The Bible states that Goliath was 9 ft 4" tall! Wow! It says his helmet was made of bronze, and his armor weighed 125 lbs! The army of the Philistines stood behind their giant. He went each day to the front of the line and screamed, "Send one of your 'men' to fight me!"
Now, in this story, we know of a young shepherd boy. He was, just a boy. He helped his father and older brothers tend their sheep. While some of his brothers went off to fight, his father sent him to take them food and to check-up on them. David took the food, and while at the front of the battle line, he watched as this giant of a man came out and said his speech once again. "Send one of your 'men' to fight me!" David, although just a boy, wanted to know what was going to be done about this giant that mocked God and their army. It says that David said to Saul, "Don't let anyone be discouraged, I, your servant will go and fight this Philistine! 1 Samuel 17:32. Can you imagine what Saul is thinking right now? He has an army of all these strong men that run and hide at the sight of this giant, and this boy comes to him, ready to step up to the plate and take him head on! It says that Saul replied, "You can't go against this Philistine and fight him, you're only a boy! (Vs 33). After David convinced Saul that he was right for this job, Saul tried to give him armor. This armor was way too heavy, for he was only a boy! He told Saul that he could not wear it for he was not used to it. He took it off and as we all know, found those smooth stones. A weapon he was used to. He was familiar with it, because God had already trained him how to use it effectively in his life.
Now, little David was ready to face this giant. He had his large, strong army...er...scared army behind him. He has his amazing armor...um...his slingshot and rock, while Goliath had a confident army, and armor that probably weighed as much as David alone! David did not let those thoughts stop him! He knew that God was with him. In the Bible it says that Goliath began to go towards David. At that moment, David ran to meet him! Not only did David go out there with no army behind him and no armor, he ran to his enemy! It says he took that one smooth stone, and you know the rest! Yep, right between the eyes! Down goes that 9 ft 4 inch giant! One stone!
Now, what does that story have to do with me? With us? I am but a small person. I am human, weak, and at times feel ill-equipped. We have mountains that we face, dragons to conquer, and giants to kill. But....we are just a boy inside. We feel at times these giants are too much for us. We run, we hide, we look for others to fight for us. We look at the armor of the enemy and think about how strong they must be as we sit and hold this little, tiny rock in our hands. We forget at times that we have the greatest weapon...God! The Bible says, "If God is for us, who can be against us!"
Last night, I awoke from a dream where I was held down, mouth muzzled, not allowed to move! The one thing I could do? Say the name of Jesus! It started out as a whisper, and grew, and grew! I awoke! Fear overcame me! God took over and encouraged me to find my "Inner David"....my confidence...my calling!
What giants are you facing today? Do you feel overwhelmed, inadequate, ill-equipped, and like you are just a small boy that is powerless against such an obstacle? Release your inner David today. Do you think David had fear? Do you think that his heart was pounding out of his chest while he ran to his enemy? I do! I feel, though, he ran with confidence! He knew that God had prepared him for this moment...not with swords, bows, guns, grenades, but with a sling and a stone, that had been used to protect his family's sheep. What is your weapon? What has God given you to defeat those giants in your life? Use what is uniquely yours, given to you by God! Take hold of that sling, be confident, run up to that giant, and release your inner David!
2.09.2016
Touched by an Angel
Many of you may have heard, read, or seen the book or movie, "90 Minutes in Heaven." This story is about a preacher who was hit by a truck on a highway, died, went to Heaven, and returned back to earth to tell us of his journey. It is a very powerful story that God used to give us a glimpse of Heaven, to show us that it is real, and to remind us to keep the faith! My story is not about a horrible tragedy; I was never in harm nor was I dying, but my story is just as real.
Do you ever struggle with fear? When you were young, did you jump under the covers during a thunderstorm, cry for your mother when that thunder clapped, or run to the closet at the first blast of wind? For me, one of my greatest fears was a thunderstorm. I always envisioned a tornado destroying the house, taking me up in it, or that the lightning would strike me. (I suppose I had seen Dorothy in her flying house too many times!) During those moments, I would be completely consumed by fear. I would cry uncontrollably and run to the closet for safety, hide under the covers, or run to my mom!
I grew-up in a 4 story home. You had the attic, which was cool to me, filled with trinkets from the past, the upstairs, the downstairs, and the creepy basement...hey, I was little! Since the time I was born, I shared a room downstairs with my brother while my parents had their bedroom next door to us. I was always near someone while I slept. I felt safe and secure. As I got a little older, my parents decided we needed our own rooms and moved us upstairs. I had this nice, big room filled with my toys and stuffed animals. Along with this wonderful room came windows...lots of windows. We lived on a farm, and from where my room was, you could see fields and farm equipment for a mile. The view was amazing, until it was night when it was completely dark or there was a thunderstorm. Most nights, if I was afraid, I would either run downstairs to jump into bed with my mom or I would sneak into my brother's room for safety. One night I awoke to flashes of light. A storm was upon us! Lighting the night sky was constant flickers of light, loud crashes, and whistling winds. I jumped out of my bed, terrified! I remember thinking that I was a big girl now, I shouldn't bother my parents or brother, and that I needed to be brave. But, the problem was, I didn't know how! I ran to the upstairs hallway and silently began to cry. In the hallway was a picture that had been hanging there since I could remember. It is a very famous picture of two children about to cross a bridge as an angel stood near to protect them. I stared and stared at that picture as I silently cried and cried, afraid of the noises and lights that the storm was producing. I walked back into my room that was lined with windows. Everywhere I turned I saw the storm that was terrorizing my thoughts. After standing there crying, feeling like my feet were frozen in fright, I jumped into bed and pulled the covers over my head. I do not remember falling asleep, but I must have, as the next memory I have was being awoken by a different light. This light was beautiful; it glowed. My eyes opened as I looked to my left and saw an angel sitting beside me on my bed. Unable to speak or move the rest of my body, I remember feeling startled, yet calm. In a voice so clear, the angel said, "Do not be afraid, God is with you." As quickly as he had appeared, he had gone. In what seemed like an instant, it was morning. I awoke and immediately knew what had miraculously occurred. I rushed downstairs quickly to tell my mother. Unlike the story of the man afraid to tell others, in fear that he would appear crazy, I knew that my parents would believe me. I had seen an angel. God had sent me my guardian angel! I did not hesitate to share the news.
To this day, I can remember it like it was yesterday. I remember the room, where he sat, his voice, and the exact words. I apply it to my life, and tell the story to my children to let them know that God is real. I was not dying, I was in no real harm, but God cared enough about me, a little child, that he took time to comfort me and let me know that it will be alright...He is with me; He is always with me. I carry this story with me always. He is not just with me during the thunderstorms; He is with me when I feel afraid in any situation of my life, no matter how big or small.
Are you afraid today? Have you let the storms of life consume you with fear? God is with you; there is no need to be afraid.
Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Do you ever struggle with fear? When you were young, did you jump under the covers during a thunderstorm, cry for your mother when that thunder clapped, or run to the closet at the first blast of wind? For me, one of my greatest fears was a thunderstorm. I always envisioned a tornado destroying the house, taking me up in it, or that the lightning would strike me. (I suppose I had seen Dorothy in her flying house too many times!) During those moments, I would be completely consumed by fear. I would cry uncontrollably and run to the closet for safety, hide under the covers, or run to my mom!
I grew-up in a 4 story home. You had the attic, which was cool to me, filled with trinkets from the past, the upstairs, the downstairs, and the creepy basement...hey, I was little! Since the time I was born, I shared a room downstairs with my brother while my parents had their bedroom next door to us. I was always near someone while I slept. I felt safe and secure. As I got a little older, my parents decided we needed our own rooms and moved us upstairs. I had this nice, big room filled with my toys and stuffed animals. Along with this wonderful room came windows...lots of windows. We lived on a farm, and from where my room was, you could see fields and farm equipment for a mile. The view was amazing, until it was night when it was completely dark or there was a thunderstorm. Most nights, if I was afraid, I would either run downstairs to jump into bed with my mom or I would sneak into my brother's room for safety. One night I awoke to flashes of light. A storm was upon us! Lighting the night sky was constant flickers of light, loud crashes, and whistling winds. I jumped out of my bed, terrified! I remember thinking that I was a big girl now, I shouldn't bother my parents or brother, and that I needed to be brave. But, the problem was, I didn't know how! I ran to the upstairs hallway and silently began to cry. In the hallway was a picture that had been hanging there since I could remember. It is a very famous picture of two children about to cross a bridge as an angel stood near to protect them. I stared and stared at that picture as I silently cried and cried, afraid of the noises and lights that the storm was producing. I walked back into my room that was lined with windows. Everywhere I turned I saw the storm that was terrorizing my thoughts. After standing there crying, feeling like my feet were frozen in fright, I jumped into bed and pulled the covers over my head. I do not remember falling asleep, but I must have, as the next memory I have was being awoken by a different light. This light was beautiful; it glowed. My eyes opened as I looked to my left and saw an angel sitting beside me on my bed. Unable to speak or move the rest of my body, I remember feeling startled, yet calm. In a voice so clear, the angel said, "Do not be afraid, God is with you." As quickly as he had appeared, he had gone. In what seemed like an instant, it was morning. I awoke and immediately knew what had miraculously occurred. I rushed downstairs quickly to tell my mother. Unlike the story of the man afraid to tell others, in fear that he would appear crazy, I knew that my parents would believe me. I had seen an angel. God had sent me my guardian angel! I did not hesitate to share the news.
To this day, I can remember it like it was yesterday. I remember the room, where he sat, his voice, and the exact words. I apply it to my life, and tell the story to my children to let them know that God is real. I was not dying, I was in no real harm, but God cared enough about me, a little child, that he took time to comfort me and let me know that it will be alright...He is with me; He is always with me. I carry this story with me always. He is not just with me during the thunderstorms; He is with me when I feel afraid in any situation of my life, no matter how big or small.
Are you afraid today? Have you let the storms of life consume you with fear? God is with you; there is no need to be afraid.
Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
8.27.2015
Seek Him First!
My boys are busy, often running around in a hurry! In the chaos, they often misplace things. I try to remind my boys that if you lose something, the first thing you need to do is pray about it! So many times they look and look for things missing, and the second we pray, God reveals it to us! Today, my oldest son lost his keys to his car at the local gaming center. He looked, and looked, and then called me in a panic. I drove over there, huddled the boys together in the parking lot, and we prayed! We walked in, and I said to him, "Did you check the garbage?" Sure enough, it was there! He threw it away with candy wrappers he had in his pocket! We were in there a total of 30 seconds before he found it!
It is amazing to think that God cares about our smallest of needs, but reminds us that we need to look to Him first! How many times do we try to do things in our strength? How many times are we too independent to pray? As Christians, the first thing on our minds should be to cry out to God for our needs, and yet we continue to fight our own fight. I am thankful that God reminds us to seek Him first, to run to Him in our time of need, and to know that even when we foolishly try every other path, He is waiting there for us to come back to Him for the answers.
My son lost something important to him. He searched and searched on his own, leaving himself feeling distraught and frustrated. Not finding what he desired, he calls for me, hoping that I can rescue him from his plight. How many times do we turn to each other first for wisdom, instead of running to God for help? May we truly learn to lean on God, put Him first in all our circumstances, and allow Him to be in control of every part of our life! May we always, "Seek Him First".
Luke 12:31 "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
It is amazing to think that God cares about our smallest of needs, but reminds us that we need to look to Him first! How many times do we try to do things in our strength? How many times are we too independent to pray? As Christians, the first thing on our minds should be to cry out to God for our needs, and yet we continue to fight our own fight. I am thankful that God reminds us to seek Him first, to run to Him in our time of need, and to know that even when we foolishly try every other path, He is waiting there for us to come back to Him for the answers.
My son lost something important to him. He searched and searched on his own, leaving himself feeling distraught and frustrated. Not finding what he desired, he calls for me, hoping that I can rescue him from his plight. How many times do we turn to each other first for wisdom, instead of running to God for help? May we truly learn to lean on God, put Him first in all our circumstances, and allow Him to be in control of every part of our life! May we always, "Seek Him First".
Luke 12:31 "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
4.13.2015
Bloom Where You are Planted
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Bloom where you are planted?" Yesterday, some of our sweet youth performed a human video. As they were performing it, a flood of emotions filled me. You know those moments where God reveals? Well, this was one of them for me. As I sat there, God reminded me of what an amazing opportunity I have as a youth leader. Each one of those beautiful youth that were moving on stage to that music are mine. Mine in the sense that God had entrusted them to me to help teach and nurture. I know each one of those youth personally. I know their likes and dislikes, their friends; I see their smiles, feel their hugs when they greet me, and know their struggles. Some are friends with my boys, others are on my worship team, and yet others I have in my small group at times. I get the privilege of seeing them each week, talk to them, pray with them, rejoice with them in their journeys, and minister to them in their moments of trials. I have had parents encourage me and thank me for pouring into their children. In that moment of clarity, God reminded me how He has blessed me with this amazing ministry. It is uniquely made for me at this moment in time.
Being a homeschool mom, I can keep myself very busy. I have the daily stresses of teaching my children, along with the constant need to keep them socialized. While doing this, sometimes it means running from place to place to place. Being a youth leader takes time. It is not a quick go and come home type of thing. There's weekly gatherings, weekend game nights, prayer nights, monthly meetings, etc. There's cupcakes to bake, and music to make. There's schedules to write, and don't forget the most important, nightly prayers to say. Being a youth leader that wants to make a difference, takes work. I have to admit that it sometimes makes me tired. I have to drag myself some days there, after having a long day with school. But, when I get there, I am greeted with smiles; excited students ready to learn music. Bright eyes staring at me, waiting to touch those instruments and begin to practice a new song. In those moments, God fills me back up with joy. He reminds me of the lives I touch weekly. I am not some great and mighty theologian. I am not best friends with Ken Ham, or have the following of Billy Graham, yet I am no less of a person in God's eyes. I fill a role that only a few have been chosen to do at this time.
What is your role in the life of your church? Maybe you love people and feel called to be a greeter. Perhaps you love children and feel led to help with kids church. Or, maybe your time only allows you to help once in awhile with offering. Whatever you do, it is important in the eyes of God. Grow in the areas that God has for you. Even though you are exhausted at times or feel like you barely have a moment left, dig a little deeper and see where God can take you. Whatever your calling, allow God to show you how to make the most of it, and bloom where you are planted!
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Being a homeschool mom, I can keep myself very busy. I have the daily stresses of teaching my children, along with the constant need to keep them socialized. While doing this, sometimes it means running from place to place to place. Being a youth leader takes time. It is not a quick go and come home type of thing. There's weekly gatherings, weekend game nights, prayer nights, monthly meetings, etc. There's cupcakes to bake, and music to make. There's schedules to write, and don't forget the most important, nightly prayers to say. Being a youth leader that wants to make a difference, takes work. I have to admit that it sometimes makes me tired. I have to drag myself some days there, after having a long day with school. But, when I get there, I am greeted with smiles; excited students ready to learn music. Bright eyes staring at me, waiting to touch those instruments and begin to practice a new song. In those moments, God fills me back up with joy. He reminds me of the lives I touch weekly. I am not some great and mighty theologian. I am not best friends with Ken Ham, or have the following of Billy Graham, yet I am no less of a person in God's eyes. I fill a role that only a few have been chosen to do at this time.
What is your role in the life of your church? Maybe you love people and feel called to be a greeter. Perhaps you love children and feel led to help with kids church. Or, maybe your time only allows you to help once in awhile with offering. Whatever you do, it is important in the eyes of God. Grow in the areas that God has for you. Even though you are exhausted at times or feel like you barely have a moment left, dig a little deeper and see where God can take you. Whatever your calling, allow God to show you how to make the most of it, and bloom where you are planted!
Jeremiah 17:7-8 "“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
2.28.2014
Keep Moving Forward!
Recently my husband was in the hospital. At that moment it was scary, because things were unknown. While in the hospital, he had some tests done with no questions answered. Once he left, we began our search for, "why". He began to go to a specialist and then began to take more tests. As each test is taken, and no answers are given, we eventually became discouraged. Yet, we need to find a reason, so that we can try to do our best to prevent it from happening again...so we keep moving forward!
I recently talked with someone who was struggling with an addiction. Try as they might, they could not get a hold on it. They became discouraged and at times just wanted to give up and cave in, since they were sinners, and well, they couldn't help themselves any longer. I told them to keep moving towards God. Each step taken is one step closer to victory. Sure, there are steps back in life, and we all experience them, but if we take two steps forward, and one step back, we are still one step closer!
I gave them an example for this. When a person is addicted to chocolate, and never exercise, their addiction grows...along with their waistline! If a person begins to take a step forward by going on a treadmill, or going to the gym, they will begin to move forward in their goals. If they cave and slam a bunch of chocolate down and give up, they have just taken several steps back and are no longer moving forward. But, if they realize what they have just done, jump back on the treadmill and try again, they begin to align their goals, moving forward yet again.
It is easy to find time for the things of this world. If you had a choice between chocolate or exercise, which would you choose? Unless you are obsessed with fitness, you would choose chocolate. But, is that good for us? Sin is easy; it's comfortable. If you have a choice between going to church or watching that football game; watching your favorite t.v. show or spending extra time reading God's word; Reading your favorite novel or donating extra time to help out at your church, which would you choose? Sometimes it takes discipline to set yourself aside and put God first. If you have picked up that chocolate, neglected your Bible, stopped donating your time, you are not moving forward and will find yourself in a place you may not want or expect yourself to be! Let's remember that it is not always easy to put away our addictions, that is why they have that name! But, through Christ, and dying to ourselves daily, we can begin to take those steps toward Christ and away from the things that destroy us! If you find yourself in the midst of your sin, it is never too late to take those steps. Pick up your Bible, drop to your knees in prayer, put down the chocolate...and keep moving forward!
1 Chronicles 16:11 "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."
I recently talked with someone who was struggling with an addiction. Try as they might, they could not get a hold on it. They became discouraged and at times just wanted to give up and cave in, since they were sinners, and well, they couldn't help themselves any longer. I told them to keep moving towards God. Each step taken is one step closer to victory. Sure, there are steps back in life, and we all experience them, but if we take two steps forward, and one step back, we are still one step closer!
I gave them an example for this. When a person is addicted to chocolate, and never exercise, their addiction grows...along with their waistline! If a person begins to take a step forward by going on a treadmill, or going to the gym, they will begin to move forward in their goals. If they cave and slam a bunch of chocolate down and give up, they have just taken several steps back and are no longer moving forward. But, if they realize what they have just done, jump back on the treadmill and try again, they begin to align their goals, moving forward yet again.
It is easy to find time for the things of this world. If you had a choice between chocolate or exercise, which would you choose? Unless you are obsessed with fitness, you would choose chocolate. But, is that good for us? Sin is easy; it's comfortable. If you have a choice between going to church or watching that football game; watching your favorite t.v. show or spending extra time reading God's word; Reading your favorite novel or donating extra time to help out at your church, which would you choose? Sometimes it takes discipline to set yourself aside and put God first. If you have picked up that chocolate, neglected your Bible, stopped donating your time, you are not moving forward and will find yourself in a place you may not want or expect yourself to be! Let's remember that it is not always easy to put away our addictions, that is why they have that name! But, through Christ, and dying to ourselves daily, we can begin to take those steps toward Christ and away from the things that destroy us! If you find yourself in the midst of your sin, it is never too late to take those steps. Pick up your Bible, drop to your knees in prayer, put down the chocolate...and keep moving forward!
1 Chronicles 16:11 "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."
10.13.2013
The Heart!
I always find it interesting when people begin to talk about sin. Many times, they don't just want to find out what is right and wrong, they want to find out how much they can get away with! Is one sin greater than the other? Does God really forgive me? Am I truly sorry? All these questions come down to the heart. Deep down, what are you motives? If you are truly sorry, then you will feel compelled to turn from that sin and do your best not to repeat it. You will have this longing in your heart to make things right. In Psalm 119:11, it says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." What does this tell us? It says that to know right from wrong, we must read God's word, find out what it truly says and means, and then follow it with our whole heart. Many people feel that if they do their best, they are truly good, and therefore a good person. God says that none of us are truly good, for we are all sinners. The problem with not knowing what God's word says is that we will just go around thinking that we are doing good, but not truly knowing what is good, therefore, being good according to our own standards, not God's.
Have you ever told a half truth? You omit part of the truth, and make it sound like it is the whole story. Half truth is just another word for a lie. Why is that? Because in your heart you are being deceiving. You know it and God knows it. A person tends to push this feeling into a corner and continue on. You try to tell yourself that you did tell the truth, even though you know the outcome would have been different if you had told the truth. The whole matter comes down to the heart. We are all born in sin, and we are all sinners. Our heart can never be fully pure while here on this earth. At the same time, we are created by God; He has a purpose for us. If we are truly His children, and have truly been saved by Him, the desires of your heart begin to grow closer to Him, desiring to be more like Him. When a person begins to pray, read the Bible, their heart changes. It no longer becomes a game of how to get away with a sin, or how far to stretch something to make it appear you are in the right, you begin to desire to do the right thing. You begin to remember that you are just as imperfect as the waiter having a bad day, or the driver who cut you off, who was maybe on their way to the hospital, or even the pastor who might say the wrong thing at the wrong time, not realizing that was the one thing that would offend you personally.
We all need to examine our own heart. Where is your heart at today? Is it hard, quick to judge, ready to react, and trying to get ahead any way it can, or is soft, quick to forgive, understanding of others imperfections, and desiring to be more like Christ. Take a moment to ask for forgiveness for the deceit that is in your heart, the impatience that consumes you, and ask God to fill your heart with Joy, to do your best to be honest in all you do, and to love those around you unconditionally. For God loves you...just the way you are...imperfections and all!
8.07.2013
Weeds
This summer I decided to try my hand at gardening. I grew up on a farm, but never learned how to garden. Let's just say this has been quite an experience for me. My garden is small, and it is surrounded by many others who have decided to garden as well. Our plots are marked by a mere piece of twine that is tied to a post. Each gardener has chosen to plant different things, and they each have their own unique style of planting and tending their garden. For example, the person next to me has apparently never touched it, and others have tended theirs each day. How can you tell? Weeds!
To say I am great at gardening would be a lie. I check on my garden once or twice a week and pull out the weeds that I feel are making the greatest threat to my plants. I went out a week ago to check on my slowly growing watermelon plant. I had to plant it twice, since the first set of seeds refused to grow. I carefully examined my beautiful plant to find about 6 baby watermelons growing. There weren't many weeds, and they were looking lovely! I waited a week and went back to check it to find weeds galore! A nasty vine, that although has beautiful flowers and appears harmless, is completely wrapping itself around my watermelon leaves. I slowly, and carefully began to pull this winding vine. As I began to remove the weeds, I noticed that my once large looking watermelon plant was about the third of the size! The weeds had grown so fast and taken over, that I now only had 4 baby watermelons. What looked so grand and beautiful, had been overcome by destruction in merely a week!
I began to think about the weeds that consume our life. We are like plants in the fact that we grow if we are watered and taken care of, but can shrivel and die when the weeds of this life take over. I looked at my beautiful watermelon only a week ago! Within a short week, it went from overflowing with beauty to having a false sense of life. Sure, the weeds look beautiful, they have these cute little flowers, and they appear to make the plant look like it is flourishing. But, when you get closer and begin to pull it away, you realize it has wrapped itself around the healthy plant and is slowly killing it.
What are the weeds in your life? What is tearing you down and wrapping itself around you to the point where you don't even realize it is killing the healthy parts of you? Have you read your Bible each day, or taken those moments to pray? Within a week my plant was overcome with weeds. If each day I had taken the time to check on my plants, I could have quickly removed the weeds before they took over. The slight pull to remove it would have been easy. Once left, the weeds become so entwined, and the roots so deep, that it becomes harder and harder to remove.
Let us be reminded to tend to our personal gardens daily. Reading God's word and praying is God's way of feeding us and tending to us. We become strong, and when those weeds of life try to wind their way around us and overtake us, God carefully removes those roots before they become so deep that it affects our spiritual growth. Be open to let God work in you and remove those hindrances in your life...those nasty, winding, weeds!
To say I am great at gardening would be a lie. I check on my garden once or twice a week and pull out the weeds that I feel are making the greatest threat to my plants. I went out a week ago to check on my slowly growing watermelon plant. I had to plant it twice, since the first set of seeds refused to grow. I carefully examined my beautiful plant to find about 6 baby watermelons growing. There weren't many weeds, and they were looking lovely! I waited a week and went back to check it to find weeds galore! A nasty vine, that although has beautiful flowers and appears harmless, is completely wrapping itself around my watermelon leaves. I slowly, and carefully began to pull this winding vine. As I began to remove the weeds, I noticed that my once large looking watermelon plant was about the third of the size! The weeds had grown so fast and taken over, that I now only had 4 baby watermelons. What looked so grand and beautiful, had been overcome by destruction in merely a week!
I began to think about the weeds that consume our life. We are like plants in the fact that we grow if we are watered and taken care of, but can shrivel and die when the weeds of this life take over. I looked at my beautiful watermelon only a week ago! Within a short week, it went from overflowing with beauty to having a false sense of life. Sure, the weeds look beautiful, they have these cute little flowers, and they appear to make the plant look like it is flourishing. But, when you get closer and begin to pull it away, you realize it has wrapped itself around the healthy plant and is slowly killing it.
What are the weeds in your life? What is tearing you down and wrapping itself around you to the point where you don't even realize it is killing the healthy parts of you? Have you read your Bible each day, or taken those moments to pray? Within a week my plant was overcome with weeds. If each day I had taken the time to check on my plants, I could have quickly removed the weeds before they took over. The slight pull to remove it would have been easy. Once left, the weeds become so entwined, and the roots so deep, that it becomes harder and harder to remove.
Let us be reminded to tend to our personal gardens daily. Reading God's word and praying is God's way of feeding us and tending to us. We become strong, and when those weeds of life try to wind their way around us and overtake us, God carefully removes those roots before they become so deep that it affects our spiritual growth. Be open to let God work in you and remove those hindrances in your life...those nasty, winding, weeds!
4.18.2013
Love Your Neighbor!
I was recently spending time with my boys, when we began to hear screaming coming from the neighbors yard. My son looked out to see our neighbor in tears and distress. Not sure what to do, I began getting ready to go over there. Before I could step out the door, I received a call from them. In a tearful quiver, she apologized for screaming so loud and told me that her father had passed away. In anguish she was screaming in prayer for the father she had lost. Her first instinct following her meltdown was to call me! She knew that I cared, and she knew that I would be there for her. I let her cry and prayed with her as she went off to continue her emotional journey to the funeral home.
What caused her to call me? I am but a neighbor, a person that just happens to live across the street. I am not family, I have no relation, and yet I was the one she called. The answer is that I have worked hard to develop a relationship with her. I have worked with her, taken care of her child, baked goodies for her, and spent time just hanging out at their fire pit, roasting marshmallows. We have gone far beyond the normal neighbor relationship of smiling at a each other as you happen to leave for work at the same time, or the polite wave as you drive by them daily.
Our family has personally developed relationships with each of the neighbors that surround us. We know their names, where they work, what religion they are, and what they like to do for fun. They invite us to birthdays and have each spent time at our home. I have baked countless goodies for them, and exchanged Christmas cards. We watch each others homes when on vacation, and we have each others numbers in our phone.
So, why did the woman across the street call me in her time of need? It wasn't because we were just neighbors, we had become friends. In Mark 12:29-31, the teachers of the law asked Jesus what the most important commandment was. His response: “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” Not only are we told to love our neighbor, it is the 2nd greatest commandment!
Let us remember to take the time to get to know the people around us. Instead of giving the usual quick smile and then running to your car for work, say, "Hi" and take a moment to get to know them. Bake them something, mow their lawn, rake their leaves, or grab the lawn chairs and just sit outside and roast some marshmallows. It doesn't have to be a fancy, drawn out plan; it just needs to come from the heart. Remind yourself of how you like to be treated, cared for, and apply that same courtesy to those around you. Take a little time today to Love Your Neighbor!
What caused her to call me? I am but a neighbor, a person that just happens to live across the street. I am not family, I have no relation, and yet I was the one she called. The answer is that I have worked hard to develop a relationship with her. I have worked with her, taken care of her child, baked goodies for her, and spent time just hanging out at their fire pit, roasting marshmallows. We have gone far beyond the normal neighbor relationship of smiling at a each other as you happen to leave for work at the same time, or the polite wave as you drive by them daily.
Our family has personally developed relationships with each of the neighbors that surround us. We know their names, where they work, what religion they are, and what they like to do for fun. They invite us to birthdays and have each spent time at our home. I have baked countless goodies for them, and exchanged Christmas cards. We watch each others homes when on vacation, and we have each others numbers in our phone.
So, why did the woman across the street call me in her time of need? It wasn't because we were just neighbors, we had become friends. In Mark 12:29-31, the teachers of the law asked Jesus what the most important commandment was. His response: “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” Not only are we told to love our neighbor, it is the 2nd greatest commandment!
Let us remember to take the time to get to know the people around us. Instead of giving the usual quick smile and then running to your car for work, say, "Hi" and take a moment to get to know them. Bake them something, mow their lawn, rake their leaves, or grab the lawn chairs and just sit outside and roast some marshmallows. It doesn't have to be a fancy, drawn out plan; it just needs to come from the heart. Remind yourself of how you like to be treated, cared for, and apply that same courtesy to those around you. Take a little time today to Love Your Neighbor!
4.08.2013
Joy in the Small Things
We recently received a call that a church was in desperate need of a drummer. Their current drummer had a family emergency and would be unable to play that Sunday. A couple of members of the church worked with my husband and knew that we had a son who played drums. They contacted us, in hope that our son would be free to help them out. He willingly accepted and eagerly went to help them in their time of need. As we walked into the church, it was just a small chapel that actually was held in a funeral home. There were about 30 members in this small room, and yet you could tell that each one was happy to be there.
Now, our son is only 14. He has played drums since he was 7, but he is still very young. He played with them, and the joy that overcome the group was amazing. They instantly fell in love with him, begging him to come back soon. When the worship team had finished playing their last song, the woman at the piano jumped up instantly, ran over to my son, and grabbed him in a tight embrace. Joy covered her face as she confessed from the platform, "You are such an inspiration!." The bass player stopped everyone to say how you can learn drums, but some things can't be learned, and our son just "had it". The man beamed from ear to ear as he had proclaimed this statement.
As I watched all this take place, of course I was proud of my son, but the thing I saw most was the amazing joy that this group of people felt. They were so happy to have someone play drums with them, that they didn't care he was only a teen. They didn't sit with their list of rules of who could play and who qualified for what; they had a need, and this person willing came to help them. They didn't have much, and were so grateful for just a little bit of help. The hug that lady gave my son, was full of so much heart and gratitude that you could see and "feel" that it came straight from her soul. Later the sermon was on rules and how we as people have a long list of rules that everyone has to follow. We create all these laws that no one can ever match up to. We put barriers between us and forget the love. This little church reminded me of why I love ministry. I love those small churches, that start out with all heart. I love those who just want to give all that they have, without all the rules attached to it. They give with free abandonment; they love unconditionally.
It is easy to get caught up in the numbers, the rules, the laws, and the little unimportant details. Let us remember the joy we had when we were young and started something new. When you had nothing, and yet felt you had everything. When we were full of joy at the tiniest gesture of help and love, for we knew that God had an amazing journey ahead of us! He still does! Have you life? Have you breath? Don't stop dreaming of God's plans for you and may you find joy in the little things along the way!
Now, our son is only 14. He has played drums since he was 7, but he is still very young. He played with them, and the joy that overcome the group was amazing. They instantly fell in love with him, begging him to come back soon. When the worship team had finished playing their last song, the woman at the piano jumped up instantly, ran over to my son, and grabbed him in a tight embrace. Joy covered her face as she confessed from the platform, "You are such an inspiration!." The bass player stopped everyone to say how you can learn drums, but some things can't be learned, and our son just "had it". The man beamed from ear to ear as he had proclaimed this statement.
As I watched all this take place, of course I was proud of my son, but the thing I saw most was the amazing joy that this group of people felt. They were so happy to have someone play drums with them, that they didn't care he was only a teen. They didn't sit with their list of rules of who could play and who qualified for what; they had a need, and this person willing came to help them. They didn't have much, and were so grateful for just a little bit of help. The hug that lady gave my son, was full of so much heart and gratitude that you could see and "feel" that it came straight from her soul. Later the sermon was on rules and how we as people have a long list of rules that everyone has to follow. We create all these laws that no one can ever match up to. We put barriers between us and forget the love. This little church reminded me of why I love ministry. I love those small churches, that start out with all heart. I love those who just want to give all that they have, without all the rules attached to it. They give with free abandonment; they love unconditionally.
It is easy to get caught up in the numbers, the rules, the laws, and the little unimportant details. Let us remember the joy we had when we were young and started something new. When you had nothing, and yet felt you had everything. When we were full of joy at the tiniest gesture of help and love, for we knew that God had an amazing journey ahead of us! He still does! Have you life? Have you breath? Don't stop dreaming of God's plans for you and may you find joy in the little things along the way!
1.10.2013
Wives, Love Your Husbands!
Ah the joys of marriage! When a girl gets married, she spends a long time dreaming about it. Most girls dress up and have pretend weddings as children, and as they grow, they continue to envision their special day! The difference between the reality and a dream can sometimes be overwhelming for those young brides. They have seen all the romantic movies, read all those fancy romance novels, and they begin to have a false sense of what their marriage is going to be like.
When a woman first meets that amazing someone, they begin to notice only the special things that their man is doing for them and ignore everything else. They accept their flaws, and love their differences....for "opposites attract"...right? Everything is exciting and new and their significant other gets them to try new things and experience life from their point of view. At first, we as women go along with this; we accept them just as their are. As time goes on though, we begin to notice patterns of things, and how those quirks and differences start to bother us. We get frustrated when the things we had seen in books or saw in the movies is not what is occurring in our own relationships. We have allowed these things to give us a false sense of what true love really is.
One of the things I dislike most about those romance movies, is that the guy is suppose to read our minds! He is suppose to have the most amazing memory, know every single detail about us, know how we are feeling at any given moment, and act upon it accordingly. This is not reality. There might be a time when I am feeling blue, but I may say I'm fine. My husband says something in a tone that I take the wrong way, and I begin to get angry, yet he has no clue what he just said. When these things occur, we need to stop and think about what happened and why we are taking these things the wrong way. Each woman does not like it when a man uses the "time of the month" card, but it is a factor in how we feel. As women, we need to take a moment and find out why things offend us. Were our hormones going crazy? Did we miss breakfast? Is work becoming too stressful?
When the negative thoughts about our spouse begin to crawl in, and his imperfections shine through, we need to take a moment to step back and remember that we are just as imperfect. A guy does not have the ability to read our thoughts, know how we feel at each moment of the day, and cannot possible be "Mr. Romance" 24/7. He will not have the same emotions, and most guys have no desire to talk about them. God made him the "head of the home", and with that is built in a desire to provide. His job can become stressful at times, and he may feel overwhelmed. The desire to provide can take its toll. When my children were little and I stayed at home, there were days when my husband walked in and I handed the kids over without a word and went to have some moments of sanity. We need to remember that they need that too! Give them time to unwind at home, let them know they have a safe haven to run to. When my husband comes home, we all run to the door to hug him and let him know we are all glad that he is home, and how thankful we are that he works to help provide for us. Happiness begins in the small things. Love isn't always fireworks, but it's a foot massage, or making their favorite meal. It's the little things that matter. Let us remember to let our husbands be who they are and love them for how God made them!
When a woman first meets that amazing someone, they begin to notice only the special things that their man is doing for them and ignore everything else. They accept their flaws, and love their differences....for "opposites attract"...right? Everything is exciting and new and their significant other gets them to try new things and experience life from their point of view. At first, we as women go along with this; we accept them just as their are. As time goes on though, we begin to notice patterns of things, and how those quirks and differences start to bother us. We get frustrated when the things we had seen in books or saw in the movies is not what is occurring in our own relationships. We have allowed these things to give us a false sense of what true love really is.
One of the things I dislike most about those romance movies, is that the guy is suppose to read our minds! He is suppose to have the most amazing memory, know every single detail about us, know how we are feeling at any given moment, and act upon it accordingly. This is not reality. There might be a time when I am feeling blue, but I may say I'm fine. My husband says something in a tone that I take the wrong way, and I begin to get angry, yet he has no clue what he just said. When these things occur, we need to stop and think about what happened and why we are taking these things the wrong way. Each woman does not like it when a man uses the "time of the month" card, but it is a factor in how we feel. As women, we need to take a moment and find out why things offend us. Were our hormones going crazy? Did we miss breakfast? Is work becoming too stressful?
When the negative thoughts about our spouse begin to crawl in, and his imperfections shine through, we need to take a moment to step back and remember that we are just as imperfect. A guy does not have the ability to read our thoughts, know how we feel at each moment of the day, and cannot possible be "Mr. Romance" 24/7. He will not have the same emotions, and most guys have no desire to talk about them. God made him the "head of the home", and with that is built in a desire to provide. His job can become stressful at times, and he may feel overwhelmed. The desire to provide can take its toll. When my children were little and I stayed at home, there were days when my husband walked in and I handed the kids over without a word and went to have some moments of sanity. We need to remember that they need that too! Give them time to unwind at home, let them know they have a safe haven to run to. When my husband comes home, we all run to the door to hug him and let him know we are all glad that he is home, and how thankful we are that he works to help provide for us. Happiness begins in the small things. Love isn't always fireworks, but it's a foot massage, or making their favorite meal. It's the little things that matter. Let us remember to let our husbands be who they are and love them for how God made them!
12.04.2012
Husbands, Love Your Wives!
I remember back to when my husband and I were first married. Even though we had dated for two years, I remember it being hard to learn how to work together as one unit. The hard part was learning how to combine our separate lives. We each had our own set of friends, things we liked to do apart from each other, and it was tough to find a trusting middle ground. On one hand, guys love to hang out together and my husband is a night owl. He knows how to stay up late and enjoys a good video game. I, on the other hand, am an early to bed, early to rise kind of person. The two did not mix at first as I had the expectations of us falling asleep at the same time...like in all those movies I had seen!
As those first few months unfolded, I remember feeling so frustrated. We knew we loved each other, we felt like we had really spent a lot of time knowing each other before marriage, and yet, there were so many things I felt like I still didn't know. As we began to communicate and work together, we were able to come to a middle ground. My husband knew that he could no longer stay out late with the guys playing video games until 2am, and he would make sure to come home at a decent hour. Sure, we eventually figured out we would never fall asleep at the same time, but he would make an effort to pray with me before I went to sleep, creating that bond. His sacrifice and love showed me that I could trust him completely, for he didn't wander out late at night, or leave me alone without knowing where he was. I felt secure, which is one of the greatest things a husband can do for his wife. It is one way to show his love.
As the years went on and we began to have kids, our lives once again changed. Any extra time with our friends faded away as the all consuming stages of babyhood took over. I was a stay at home mom, where I spent the days staring into the eyes of my beautiful children, spending all those precious moments together, hearing them scream for 2 hours straight, wondering when I was going to get sleep, and forgetting what day it was. During those priceless and exhausting moments, I remember times when my husband would walk in the door. and I would hand him our child and go off to have a moment of peace. Even though he had just worked a long and exhausting shift, he would without complaint, take our child and give me rest. In those moments, he showed me how much he would sacrifice for me. He showed me love.
Now that our boys are getting older, we have new stresses that arrive. The biggest stress would have to be money. Not only do we have college looming near, we have to feed the hungry boys that have hollow legs. They, as all good teens, will want to drive soon and have a car, and they also need clothes constantly, since they seem to think they need to outgrow each article before they can wear them out. There are times when we stop and wonder how others make it and sometimes think that maybe we should both work. In those moments, we have learned to trust God. My husband feels that being home with our boys, teaching and training them is one of the most important jobs that we have as parents. Without hesitation he has encouraged me to stay at home, despite the grocery and clothes bill doubling. He is constantly supportive of putting our family first, and in that way, he shows me love.
No matter what situation you find yourself in today, I encourage you to build that trust with your spouse. Husbands, show your wives you care. You don't have to buy her a big expensive house or the latest car; a husband who supports and care for his wife no matter what is worth more than gold. It helps her to not only trust you completely, but makes her feel secure in herself as a wife and mother. Taking a moment to pray with her, removing the screaming child from her grasp to give her rest, and allowing her to fulfill the role she has as a mother, is priceless. She is God's gift to you, and her security rests in your hands.
1 Peter 3:7
"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
As those first few months unfolded, I remember feeling so frustrated. We knew we loved each other, we felt like we had really spent a lot of time knowing each other before marriage, and yet, there were so many things I felt like I still didn't know. As we began to communicate and work together, we were able to come to a middle ground. My husband knew that he could no longer stay out late with the guys playing video games until 2am, and he would make sure to come home at a decent hour. Sure, we eventually figured out we would never fall asleep at the same time, but he would make an effort to pray with me before I went to sleep, creating that bond. His sacrifice and love showed me that I could trust him completely, for he didn't wander out late at night, or leave me alone without knowing where he was. I felt secure, which is one of the greatest things a husband can do for his wife. It is one way to show his love.
As the years went on and we began to have kids, our lives once again changed. Any extra time with our friends faded away as the all consuming stages of babyhood took over. I was a stay at home mom, where I spent the days staring into the eyes of my beautiful children, spending all those precious moments together, hearing them scream for 2 hours straight, wondering when I was going to get sleep, and forgetting what day it was. During those priceless and exhausting moments, I remember times when my husband would walk in the door. and I would hand him our child and go off to have a moment of peace. Even though he had just worked a long and exhausting shift, he would without complaint, take our child and give me rest. In those moments, he showed me how much he would sacrifice for me. He showed me love.
Now that our boys are getting older, we have new stresses that arrive. The biggest stress would have to be money. Not only do we have college looming near, we have to feed the hungry boys that have hollow legs. They, as all good teens, will want to drive soon and have a car, and they also need clothes constantly, since they seem to think they need to outgrow each article before they can wear them out. There are times when we stop and wonder how others make it and sometimes think that maybe we should both work. In those moments, we have learned to trust God. My husband feels that being home with our boys, teaching and training them is one of the most important jobs that we have as parents. Without hesitation he has encouraged me to stay at home, despite the grocery and clothes bill doubling. He is constantly supportive of putting our family first, and in that way, he shows me love.
No matter what situation you find yourself in today, I encourage you to build that trust with your spouse. Husbands, show your wives you care. You don't have to buy her a big expensive house or the latest car; a husband who supports and care for his wife no matter what is worth more than gold. It helps her to not only trust you completely, but makes her feel secure in herself as a wife and mother. Taking a moment to pray with her, removing the screaming child from her grasp to give her rest, and allowing her to fulfill the role she has as a mother, is priceless. She is God's gift to you, and her security rests in your hands.
1 Peter 3:7
"Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
11.30.2012
Distractions!
Have you ever been praying and in the middle of your prayers you stop and suddenly remember a list of things you need to do later? Or...you are singing along to a church worship song, and your mind wanders as you begin realizing how hungry you are and how a cheeseburger sure sounds good! Lastly, you are tired, your kids have been sick and kept you up all night, and at the end of the service you have literally been "Sleep sitting"! As the sermon goes on, you realize that you heard absolutely nothing of what was just said to you! Distractions! Lack of Focus! We have all been there!
Lately God has been sharing with me about having a "true" heart. These things I wrote about are your basic distractions that the average person goes through occasionally. But, what if these things become a pattern and you begin to realize that as you are worshiping, you are not focused on God, and you are constantly distracted by the world around you.
I recently spoke to the Middle School youth on having a true heart of worship. Anyone can stand up and sing a song, raise their hands in praise and prayer, and go through the motions. Anyone can sit through a sermon, have their Bible rest on their lap, and not hear one word that was spoken. If while we are singing our songs, we aren't praising God with our heart, then the words are pointless. We can sit through every sermon, but if we aren't truly listening and desiring to learn how to apply what is said to our lives, we have gained nothing. Singing songs with just our lips and listening only with our ears will never help us develop a true relationship with God. God desires a heart that is thankful and full of praise.
We have all had those moments of distraction, but let it not become a pattern in our lives. As we sing a song of praise, let us sing with a heart that is focused on God and all the wonderful things He has done for us. When we pray, let us set aside our to do list and give God our undivided attention. When we hear a sermon, let us put aside our weekly distractions, our tiredness, and hunger pains, to try hard to focus on the truth that is being shared. Let our hearts and lives not become so distracted that we no longer have time or a desire to focus on the one thing that matters most!
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Lately God has been sharing with me about having a "true" heart. These things I wrote about are your basic distractions that the average person goes through occasionally. But, what if these things become a pattern and you begin to realize that as you are worshiping, you are not focused on God, and you are constantly distracted by the world around you.
I recently spoke to the Middle School youth on having a true heart of worship. Anyone can stand up and sing a song, raise their hands in praise and prayer, and go through the motions. Anyone can sit through a sermon, have their Bible rest on their lap, and not hear one word that was spoken. If while we are singing our songs, we aren't praising God with our heart, then the words are pointless. We can sit through every sermon, but if we aren't truly listening and desiring to learn how to apply what is said to our lives, we have gained nothing. Singing songs with just our lips and listening only with our ears will never help us develop a true relationship with God. God desires a heart that is thankful and full of praise.
We have all had those moments of distraction, but let it not become a pattern in our lives. As we sing a song of praise, let us sing with a heart that is focused on God and all the wonderful things He has done for us. When we pray, let us set aside our to do list and give God our undivided attention. When we hear a sermon, let us put aside our weekly distractions, our tiredness, and hunger pains, to try hard to focus on the truth that is being shared. Let our hearts and lives not become so distracted that we no longer have time or a desire to focus on the one thing that matters most!
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
10.15.2012
Being Satisfied
When my boys were young, my husband and I lived in a small, two bedroom apartment. The extent of our outside was a tiny bit of dirt that lie right in front of our living room window. I remember them opening the windows up, and driving their toy cars on that little patch of ground as if it was the best thing in the world! In those moments, I would pray that God would give us a bigger place to live. I felt bad having to raise my busy boys in such a tiny, confined space. I told God that if He gave me a bigger home, I would use it to invite people over and use it as a ministry.
After living in the apartments for a couple of years, God finally opened the door. A friend of ours was selling their place so that they could upgrade theirs. Living on one income, it was the perfect place for the boys to run. It had over 2100 square feet of space, their own bedroom, and even an office for my husband. We snatched it up and have lived there ever since.
The downside to our place is our lack of outside space; there's not much land to run free on, and we are surrounded by houses. As the boys got older, the house became more crowded, and the little legs that would sprint across the entire house at full speed, would start making the trip in shorter times. We didn't have much of a back yard for them to run freely in, and our home has no basement. We began to second guess our choice as we became dissatisfied with the things we didn't have, losing track of all the blessings that were right before us.
God gave us a home with lots of space, individual rooms for the boys, cheap enough that I could stay at home full time, and has two large living rooms so that I can keep that promise I made to God. I always say that my house may not be a mansion, but it is filled with love. Next to someone with a apartment, or without a place to stay, we are beyond wealthy. We must not get distracted with the things of this world, that we don't realize the amazing blessings that lay right before us. We don't have two fancy vehicles with heated seats and tvs, but we do have two older vehicles that are paid off in full and get us to wherever we need to be.
Let us remember to see all the amazing things that God has blessed us with and not dwell on the things we don't have. Money never made anyone a better person, and is just extra stuff that we can never take with us to heaven. It is good to work hard, but it is not good to work only to be dissatisfied and continue to only want more. Take a moment to thank God for that run down car that gets you to work, a creaky floor that has had lots of life run on it, and a home that may not be a mansion, but is filled with lots of love.
Matthew 6:19-20
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
After living in the apartments for a couple of years, God finally opened the door. A friend of ours was selling their place so that they could upgrade theirs. Living on one income, it was the perfect place for the boys to run. It had over 2100 square feet of space, their own bedroom, and even an office for my husband. We snatched it up and have lived there ever since.
The downside to our place is our lack of outside space; there's not much land to run free on, and we are surrounded by houses. As the boys got older, the house became more crowded, and the little legs that would sprint across the entire house at full speed, would start making the trip in shorter times. We didn't have much of a back yard for them to run freely in, and our home has no basement. We began to second guess our choice as we became dissatisfied with the things we didn't have, losing track of all the blessings that were right before us.
God gave us a home with lots of space, individual rooms for the boys, cheap enough that I could stay at home full time, and has two large living rooms so that I can keep that promise I made to God. I always say that my house may not be a mansion, but it is filled with love. Next to someone with a apartment, or without a place to stay, we are beyond wealthy. We must not get distracted with the things of this world, that we don't realize the amazing blessings that lay right before us. We don't have two fancy vehicles with heated seats and tvs, but we do have two older vehicles that are paid off in full and get us to wherever we need to be.
Let us remember to see all the amazing things that God has blessed us with and not dwell on the things we don't have. Money never made anyone a better person, and is just extra stuff that we can never take with us to heaven. It is good to work hard, but it is not good to work only to be dissatisfied and continue to only want more. Take a moment to thank God for that run down car that gets you to work, a creaky floor that has had lots of life run on it, and a home that may not be a mansion, but is filled with lots of love.
Matthew 6:19-20
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
9.18.2012
A Father to the Fatherless
I recently watched a show called "Intervention". This show followed drug addicts throughout their day, documenting the pain and turmoil that not only the addict feels, but the emotional heartbreak of the family that surrounds them. As I began to watch the different story lines of these addicts, I saw a pattern form. In each tragic story, the father was absent from their life. For some of them their father never wanted anything to do with them. In others, the father was at one time their hero, and in hard times abandoned them. In each scenario, you could feel the pain that was caused by rejection of the one person that was suppose to care for them the most. Some of these children, abused by others, and ignored by their parents, were once little children with beautiful smiles, a hope for life, and an innocence that was ripped from them. In each of these stories, their life changed once they hit middle school. The reality of life hit them, and since they had no father to run into the arms of, they began searching for something to fill the void. They found people that would "accept" them for who they were. They felt like they were closer to the drugs and to those friends than they were to their own fractured family.
The family unit is fading fast. We no longer have two parents raising children, we have a growing majority of split homes, multiple divorces, and kids left in the balance. How do we repair the damage of those whose father's have abandoned them, the ones who have been abused, or those that feel like there's just no hope? The reality is that there will always be those parents in this world of sin, and there will always be those kids that are left to pick up the pieces.
I recently read a book called, "One Home at a Time" by Dennis Rainey. In this book he talks about the declining family unit and its effect on America. He begins by telling a story of a couple who were on the verge of a divorce. Both the husband and the wife had been through many things in their life, and neither knew how to truly love each other. As they were about to sign the divorce papers, they agreed to go to a marriage conference. Reluctantly they went and God began to speak to them. Their life was not instantly changed, but they decided to "try". Though they didn't know how to pray, they threw some words out to God, in hopes that He was out there somewhere. The road wasn't easy, they both continued to fight, and in the midst would stop and pray. As each day went by, they found they were starting to feel love once again for each other, and their child saw the amazing difference that God was making in their family.
In the Bible it says that God is a "Father to the fatherless". He is the one we turn to in the time of trouble. How do we help those who feel they have no hope? How do we reach those millions of children, teens, and adults who have been abused and abandoned by their own father? We pray! In 2 Corinthians 7:14, the Bible says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Our nation is in a crisis, and the ship is sinking fast. We may feel like things look hopeless, and how can you as one person change anything. It begins with prayer! If you are a person who has been abandoned by their father, or you're a single mom, trying to be a mom and a dad to your children, don't give up hope! He is the Father to the fatherless, He is the one that when all others fail, we can run into His arms. He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is the one that we pray to when the road is long and all hope is gone.
The family unit is fading fast. We no longer have two parents raising children, we have a growing majority of split homes, multiple divorces, and kids left in the balance. How do we repair the damage of those whose father's have abandoned them, the ones who have been abused, or those that feel like there's just no hope? The reality is that there will always be those parents in this world of sin, and there will always be those kids that are left to pick up the pieces.
I recently read a book called, "One Home at a Time" by Dennis Rainey. In this book he talks about the declining family unit and its effect on America. He begins by telling a story of a couple who were on the verge of a divorce. Both the husband and the wife had been through many things in their life, and neither knew how to truly love each other. As they were about to sign the divorce papers, they agreed to go to a marriage conference. Reluctantly they went and God began to speak to them. Their life was not instantly changed, but they decided to "try". Though they didn't know how to pray, they threw some words out to God, in hopes that He was out there somewhere. The road wasn't easy, they both continued to fight, and in the midst would stop and pray. As each day went by, they found they were starting to feel love once again for each other, and their child saw the amazing difference that God was making in their family.
In the Bible it says that God is a "Father to the fatherless". He is the one we turn to in the time of trouble. How do we help those who feel they have no hope? How do we reach those millions of children, teens, and adults who have been abused and abandoned by their own father? We pray! In 2 Corinthians 7:14, the Bible says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Our nation is in a crisis, and the ship is sinking fast. We may feel like things look hopeless, and how can you as one person change anything. It begins with prayer! If you are a person who has been abandoned by their father, or you're a single mom, trying to be a mom and a dad to your children, don't give up hope! He is the Father to the fatherless, He is the one that when all others fail, we can run into His arms. He will never leave us nor forsake us, and He is the one that we pray to when the road is long and all hope is gone.
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