Who Wins?

When I look at my Boston Terrier puppy and Yellow Lab, I think often of Spike and Chester. Many of you are not old enough to remember Spike and Chester. Spike was the big, jock, somewhat dull bulldog and Chester was the hyper, really smart dog. Chester would jump around constantly asking Spike, "What're we going to do today, Spike, huh, huh?"

My Boston Terrier is the same way. He is perfectly calm and will just lay there while you pet him. That is, until my Lab enters the room. Then he is jumping and nipping trying to make the Lab wrestle with him. Funny thing. Just like in Spike and Chester, he eventually gets my Lab to do exactly what he wants her to do even though she knows they will both receive correction for wrestling in the house.

This time of year, I am like that. Like Spike, I am determined that this year will be different and I keep the real meaning of Christmas before me all through the season. But, like Chester, the commercialism of Christmas is jumping at me and nipping me as I try to walk the right path to Christmas. It jumps at me twenty-four hours, seven days a week. Buy this, watch that, can't do without this, get ready for the parties that so typify this season.

Sooner or later, just like Spike and my Lab, I stray from what I know is right and follow the smaller dog (idea) of Christmas. After all, all the commercial trappings of Christmas tends to make for a very shallow holiday. Only in the Biblical message of Christmas do we find anything that will sustain us for the rest of the year. Jesus told us, "I am the Way; and the Truth; and the Life...."

So, to keep me focused, here is the traditional Christmas story from Luke 2:

"Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinus was governor of Syria. And all were proceeding to register for the census to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was with child. And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them;and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for YOU a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'" (emphasis mine)

I know there is more to the story but that last sentence is the real reason for the season. That God sent to you and to me, a "Savior that is Christ the Lord" . Without Him there would be no meaning to Christmas.

I am going to try to blog about all the people involved in the birth of our Lord between now and Christmas. Each person played an important role in fulfilling the prophecies of the Messiah.

Now if I can just stay focused what is right and ignore that little dog of commercialism that is jumping in my face and nipping me trying to get me to ignore the real reason for the season.

What Season Is It?

I have spent most of this morning switching out closets from summer clothes to fall/winter clothes. The summer clothes went into the cedar closet and the winter clothes (including Christmas clothes) moved to the other closet.

Everytime I move clothes, I totally forget how HEAVY the clothes are...especially the summer clothes. It really takes a lot of work to get everything sorted out.

You know, it takes a lot of work to move from one season to another in our own lives. The Bible tells us about the different seasons of our life, both chronologically and emotionally.

We start out as children. It's my belief that some never leave that season...at least emotionally. *"When I was a child, I used to talk like a child and see things as a child does, and think like a child; but now that I have become an adult, I have finished with all childish ways." ( I Corinthians 13: 11) Boy, do I know some people that are childish and refuse to grow up. Now understand, there is a difference between childISH and childLIKE. We are never to give up that childLIKE wonder, obedience and awe when we read about, talk about, or talk to God.

But you can see in that verse that we are not to remain spiritual children. In Hebrews the writer tells us, "On this subject we have many things to say, they are difficult to explain because you have grown so slow at understanding. Indeed, when you should by this time have become masters, you need someone to teach you all over again the elements of the principles of God's sayings; you have gone back to needing milk, and not solid food. Truly, no one who is still living on milk can digest the doctrine of saving justice, being still a baby. Solid food is for adults with minds trained by practice to distinguish between good and bad." (12-14). The writer us that we should be growing spiritually and not constantly going back to learn the basics of grace, fellowship, and obedience. We are supposed to leave that "season" behind and continue growning in the likeness of Christ.

There are also emotional seasons. Anyone who has grieved a death can tell you that there are stages of grief like shock, anger, and acceptance (there are more but I don't remember them). Solomon wrote of our "seasons" in Ecclesiastes 3, "There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven: A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted. A time for killing, a time for healing; a time for knocking down, a time for building. A time for tears, a time for laughter; a time for mourning, a time for dancing. A time for throwing stones away, a time for gathering them; a time for embracing, a time to refain from embracing. A time for searching; a time for losing; a time for keeping, a time for discarding. A time for tearing, a time for sewing; a time for keeping silent, a time for speaking. A time for loving, a time for hating; a time for war, a time for peace. What do people gain from the efforts they make? I contemplate the task that God gives humaity to labor at. All that he does is apt for its time; but although he has given us an awareness of the passage of time, we can grasp neither the beginning nor the end of what God does." (v.1-11)

The seasons of the year mark the passage of time. We women switch out our clothes from one season to another. There are also emotional and spiritual markers for the passage of time that those that call themselves Christians use to make sure they are maturing in Christ.

We are placed here to grow into the likeness of Christ. Both of my closets have double mirrored doors, so I see a lot more of myself than I would like to as I switch my clothes to match the season. Look into the mirror and if we don't see the likeness of Christ, then make plans to do whatever is necessary to mature in Christ.

*all scripture quotes are from "The New Jerusalem Bible."

Where Will The Money Come From?

My husband and I got married in 1976. When we got home from the service, I had a receptionist job and he got a job with the National Cemetery (there was only one in Memphis then) and we weren't rich but we got by. Then I got pregnant with my second son and I quit my job because Phil had a good job and could support us.

My second son was born in 1980 and Phil lost his job several months later. I went back to work at Zayre's Department store and Phil got a job at the VA Hospital as a nursing assistant and we were able to earn enough money to qualify for a loan for a nice house in a small family subdivision. Then, because of the unreasonable hours and the never-ending pressure to be 100% right on the hand-counted inventory 100% of the time, I quit my job with Zayre's and once again became a full-time mom.

Phil's income alone was not really enough to support us both right then (he later moved up at the VA and I was able to go to school) and money was waaaaaay past tight. In fact, every meal we ate was surrounded with water to make it go farther. We were barely able to keep shoes and school clothes on my 5-year-old! Every expenditure, including all doctor's visits, became a nightmare of "What will we do without?" and "How will we possibly pay this?" The not-so-easy payment plan became our stock and trade.

We attended a little church that was in our neighborhood during this time and loved the people that were there. We didn't want anyone to know how badly off we were financially, so we kept "our business" to ourselves. We even donated half of everything we had in the pantry to a drive for a young couple at the church who were in financial trouble in order to keep our secret. You know, pride is a funny thing. We would rather choke than let anyone- parents, family, friends, church family- we were in desperate need of help.

We were miserable with worry during these times. We would pray and pray and pray and were beginning to wonder if God was even listening. We needed clothes and nourishing food for our children and still God was silent.

Then, one Saturday night, while I was cleaning up after yet another night of soup for supper, I began to cry out to God, "God, if you are really listening, please, please, give us five dollars so that I can serve my children just ONE meal that doesn't have water around it." As I continued to cry and wash dishes, I was totally unaware that my husband was sitting in the den praying for the exact same five dollars as he watched our boys playing so I could clean up.

We got dressed and went to church as usual that Sunday totally unaware of the miracle that was about to happen. After the service, one of the older saints, a true prayer warrior, came up to me and handed me five dollars. I tried to refuse it, mostly out of pride. I will never forget what she told me, "Honey, God told me last night to give this to you and I try to never disobey God. If you don't take this, you will be stealing my blessing." I had never heard of stealing a blessing before, but she was so insistent that I joyfully took the money knowing it was the answer to my prayer.

What I didn't know was that outside God was still answering prayers. As my husband hustled the boys to the car to go home, one of the deacons called out to him saying he wanted to talk to him a minute. The deacon went to shake Phil's hand and in his palm was money. He had handed it to him that way so as not to embarrass him in front of everyone. Phil tried to turn it down, but the deacon told him, "Boy, God told me to give this to you, now take it." So Phil took it keeping it in his palm until he got to the car.

I jumped into the car said excitedly, "Phil, you will never guess what just happened. I prayed last night for five dollars and LOOK!" I exposed the five dollar bill in the palm of my hand.

I started to tell him "the rest of the story" when he interrupted teary-eyed, "Susan, I prayed the same prayer last night." He opened his hand and there lay ANOTHER five dollar bill.

For a moment all we could do was stare at one another, eyes brimming with tears, in silent gratitude to a God who cared enough, not only to answer our prayers, but to answer them exactly as we had prayed.

We rejoiced all the way to the grocery store. We bought a chicken, roast beef, vegetables, ground beef, spaghetti, and tomato sauce, as well as milk, bread, and butter. (ten dollars went a lot farther back then). Our children got not one, but a week's worth of filling meals WITHOUT water surrounding the meat (well, maybe a little for the pot roast)! And every meal we thanked God for what He had provided.

I didn't learn learn my two life verses until long after this miracle had restored my faith in a God who not only listens, but cares. The first verse is found in the twenty-ninth chapter of the book of Jeremiah,*"'Yes, I know what plans I have in mind for you,' Yahweh declares, 'plans for peace, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. When you call to Me and come and pray to Me, I shall listen to you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; when you search wholeheartedly for Me, I shall let you find Me,' Yahweh declares. 'I shall restore your fortunes and gather you in from all the nations and wherever I have driven you, 'Yahweh declares. 'I shall bring you back to the place from which I exiled you." (Jeremiah 29: 11-14) It is my belief that stopping at verse 11 keeps us from getting the full dose of encouragement available in these verses. God is telling the Israelites in Babylon that He knows exactly where they are, how they are doing and He cares and will bring them out of it. That is one of the lessons that God taught me through this situation.

The second verse was the benediction every Sunday in another church to which we belonged. Paul writes to the church in Ephesus, "Glory be to Him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to Him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever." (20-21) God owns the cattle on a thousand hills and is willing to sell the whole herd to fulfill your needs. He can do more for us than we can wrap our little brains around. All we have to do is trust WHOLEHEARTEDLY in Him.

When things are desperate and you feel there is no way out, look to a loving Father who wants nothing more than to instruct and help His children. During our dark times, God taught us the difference between what we NEED and what we WANT. Keeping up with our friends was not only impossible, but also not cracked up to what we thought it should have been.

God also taught us a lesson on prayer and faith. God ALWAYS hears your prayers even when we feel like He's not listening. Remember what a pastor once told us, "God is never late. God is never early. God is always right on time."

Be the Church

I went to my newest grandson's baby dedication this Sunday at Whitten Memorial Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. I knew it was going to be an emotional service because I had already seen the Powerpoint presentation of Tommy and Kathy's testimony. But I NEVER expected what happened in that service.

The pastor gets up and announces that today we (the members of Whitten) were going to BE the church. Well, my ears perked up and he certainly had my attention.

Right after that announcement, there was the baptism of a new believer. Okay, score one for the pastor because in speaking to the church in Ephesus Paul tells them to *"lead a life worthy of the vocation to which you were called. With all humility and gentleness, and patience, support each other in love. Take care to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, over all, through all and within all." (1b-6)

Next in the service was the testimony of the sweetest older woman. She testified to how God changed her and her husband from grudging givers to cheerful givers. Okay preacher. That is one more way of being the church. In fact, Paul writes to the church in Corinth, "Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7).

So now there has been one testimony to the church. As the third point to the pastor's sermon, my son and his wife presented a Powerpoint testimony of how God sustained them through two miscarriages and the death of Kathy's father before God blessed them with Max. Both my son and his wife and that sweet lady have given testimony to the church just like John writes, "If we accept the testimony of human witnesses, God's testimony is greater, for this is God's testimony which He gave about His Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has this testimony within him..." (I John 5: 9-10b)

Then there was the Max's dedication. It was a lovely ceremony where the family professes to know Christ and to help raise Max in the knowledge of Christ. THEN, the church promises to do all they can do to help in that task. Paul again addresses the church in their responsibility, "to knit together God's holy people for the work of service to build up the Body of Christ, until we all reach unity in faith and knowledge of the Son of God and form the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12b-13)

As happens in all churches, then they took up the offering. Yes, that also is being the church. Paul continues in II Corinthians 9: 12-13, "For the help provided by this contribution not only satisfies the needs of God's holy people, but also overflows into widespread thanksgiving to God; because when you have proved your quality by this help, they will give glory to God for the obedience which you show in professing the gospel of Christ, as well as for the generosity of your fellowship towards them and towards all."

Finally the pastor sent the people out into the world to be a witness for Christ, "Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes to the end of time." (Matthew 28: 19-20).

Now that the church had BEEN the church, to borrow from the title of the pastor's sermon, the church left the building. Godspeed Whitten Memorial Church!

*all scripture quotes from "The New Jerusalem Bible"

The Faith of a Child

The Faith of a Child

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know” Jeremiah 33:3 (NKJV)


When my oldest son was five, we had a Golden retriever/Brittany spaniel mix called simply "Bob" because he was the only one in the litter that had the body of a golden retriever but the stump of a tail that belongs to the Brittany spaniel. Because of his size, he became our oldest son's dog. My oldest boy loved that dog with all his heart. Bob was HIS dog.


We kept Bob in a dog run in the backyard. Since he was obviously a bird dog, we kept the gate to the run locked. Well, one night the gate was left unlocked and someone stole Bob. We were devastated.

One Sunday night, after two weeks of driving and walking the whole subdivision looking for Bob, I was putting my son to bed. We said our prayers and he turned that sweet face full of hope toward me and told me, "Mommy, I prayed and God is going to bring Bob home." My mother's heart broke as I tried to explain to a five-year-old that sometimes God doesn't answer our prayers the way we want Him to. But he was determined, "No mommy, God told me that He would bring Bob home." After several minutes of argument, I just told him, "Well, we'll see". The odds of him coming back were slim and none.

My husband and I decided that night to quit searching for Bob and calling the animal shelter because we had lost all hope of seeing Bob again and we didn't want to encourage what we believed to be false hope in our son. But every day when we would get home from work/school, my son would run to the backyard looking for Bob in the still empty dog run and thanking God in his nightly prayers for bringing his dog home.

For three days my heart broke for my young son and the disappointment that was most surely coming. I would try to lessen the disappointment I knew was coming by telling him over and over that sometimes God's answer to our prayers is not one we like. And every night my five-year-old son would say, "Mommy, God TOLD me that He was going to bring Bob back and He ALWAYS keeps his promises."

On the third night when I put him to bed, I was a little teary-eyed during our prayers because I had no idea how I was going to explain to my faith-filled son that Bob wasn't coming back. Seeing my tears, he patted my hand and said, "It will be okay, Mommy, God told me that Bob is coming back and I believe Him." I raced out of the room in tears as my mother's heart broke for my son. I purposed in my heart that I would make my son believe that there was no possibility that Bob was coming back.


The next morning was rushed so there was no time to talk to my son. My mind was divided between work and my son as I worried about what I would say to him when we got home and he found the dog run empty again. I tried many different approaches in my head as I worked because I didn't want him to be angry with God or think he wasn't important enough for God to listen to. Yet, REALITY told me that Bob was never coming home and my son needed to deal with that reality.

As we pulled into the driveway from the back seat I hear this squeal, "Mommy, Mommy, Bob is back! Bob is back!"

Before the car even came to a complete stop, my son was out of the car and racing to the backyard. I was in shock as I rounded the corner and, sure enough, Bob was back. In fact, he was back in the dog run with the gate closed and the lock locked! My son was jumping up and down screaming, "See, mommy! See, mommy! I told you God would bring Bob back!"

I stood there with tears streaming down my face, tears of joy, relief, and shame. Shame because I, with my "mature" faith, could not believe that God could do something as simple as bring back a lost dog.

Jesus says in Mark 10:15 in the Amplified Bible, "Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive and accept and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child [does] positively shall not enter it at all." Isaiah 11:6 states, "And a child shall lead them."

When I lose the faith to continue to believe as I wait for God's time, God reminds me of my five-year-old son who had the faith to believe that God cared enough about him to bring back his lost dog.

Shy or Ashamed?

To those of you who regularly read my blog, I have shown great restraint by not posting picture after picture of my new grandson. However, Max's parents had some professional pictures made and they are ADORABLE, if I do say so myself.

Just like any other proud grandparent, I am not bashful about showing off pictures of my latest grandchild. You don't even have to ask. I will ask you, "Have you seen the latest pictures of my new grandbaby?" If you say, "Yes," be prepared to sit/stand there a while. Thanks to my iPhone, I have l..o..t..s of pictures of Max to show other people. I am totally in love with Max (and Parker and Jennifer whose pictures are also on my iPhone) excited, and proud to show them off to friends and strangers alike.

We all have something we are excited about that we don't mind sharing with the world. I think of my oldest son who every time I see him is talking either about his job as an assistant principal or the U of M tigers (his favorite sports team). He loves his job and his tigers so he is not shy about talking about them to whoever, stranger or friend (must admit, I share the excitement about the tigers).

But we also have subjects that we are "shy" about sharing...family finances, family problems, our shortcomings and sins, our spiritual needs, etc. We just don't want the whole world knowing "our business." For many Christians, this list also includes sharing the gospel. We excuse ourselves from sharing our gifts or evangelizing the whole world as commanded in the Bible by saying we are "shy," I have done it for years by saying that talking to strange people is "not my thing." But that is not entirely true. I have been gifted with one of those faces that people trust immediately. I have heard life stories from waitresses, cashiers, people in line at the store, strangers I meet when I walk my dogs, etc. Yet in very few of these conversations do I ever mention God or the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Am I shy or ashamed? Jesus says that at the very least I am disobedient, "And so when they had come together, they were asking Him [Jesus], saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" He [Jesus] said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His won authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

I am to start evangelizing in my hometown (Jerusalem), my county/state (Judea), Samaria (my enemies or people I don't like) and to the even to the remotest part of the earth. We feel okay on mission trips talking to people because we know that we probably won't see them again on this side of heaven, but when it comes to the people we know and, supposedly love, we feel "shy" and don't say a word for fear they will respond, "You're a Christian? I never would have guessed!" The closer people are to us, the scarier it becomes to share our faith because we CARE what they think.

Paul was not "shy," "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'But the righteous shall live by faith.'" (emphasis mine)

When I was first saved, I told everyone I knew and talked of God frequently with those I met. I was as excited about Christ as I am now about my new grandbaby. I told everyone, friends and strangers. But somehow, I lost that enthusiasm. In Revelation 1, the church at Ephesus had the same problem, "But I have this against you that you have left your first love." However, he told the church how to regain that love, "Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at the first; or else I am coming to you and will remove you lampstand out of its place- unless you repent."

I know that I need to repent because I am keenly aware from where I had fallen and go back to the excitement that I felt when I was a newborn Christian. The same excitement I feel about all my grandchildren.

So which is it? Are we shy or ashamed?

If You Can't Say Something Nice...

Belief in God, Family and Country. That is what most of the candidates for office in these mid-term elections want the public to believe about them, whether democrat or republican. It has become almost a mantra in every positive political appearance and ad that I have seen. At least, that is what they want you to believe....

My question is this, "How can you claim to believe in God and run negative political ads?" I don't know what Bible these politicians read, but mine tells me that you cannot believe in God and run negative political ads that border on slander.

Walk with me for a moment while we look at my statement that one cannot be a Christian or a Jew and run negative political ads. All quotes will be from the New American Standard Bible and will be in context. My favorite professors told me many years ago that a text without a context is a pretext. Since that is still true today, I will be quoting in context.

The first verse that caught my eye while researching the word slander was Psalm 15: 1-3: "O LORD , who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend." This verse tells me that (1) a believer does not slander, and (2) nor does he do evil to his neighbor. Who is our neighbor? EVERYBODY whether we are running for office or not.

As I continued down the list of references, I also found Psalm 50: 16-20: "But to the wicked God says, 'What right have you to tell of My statutes, And to take My covenant in your mouth? For you hate discipline, And you cast My words behind you. When you see a thief, you are pleased with him, And you associate with adulterers. You let your mouth loose in evil, And your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; You slander your own mother's son.'"

There is a whole political discussion in just that one verse. But let's stick to the topic at hand. A believer is not suppose to let his mouth loose in evil or allow his tongue frame deceit. I don't know about other elections, but this really applies to one candidate in the 8th Congressional district race. The candidate who is running the negative ads has just published a book entitled, "God and Politics: How Can a Christian Be in Politics?" This "gentleman" has released ads accusing his opponent of breaking the law and even though this man is a lawyer, he has not fulfilled his legal duty to report him. Hmmmm...me thinks there is something amiss here. Going back to the first verse, isn't he supposed to "walk in integrity?" Is there any integrity in slamming the other candidate instead of talking about what you believe in? Gives one pause to think...especially about his book.

To balance this discussion I also searched the word "slander" in the New Testament and found these words spoken by Christ in Mark 7: 20-23: "And He was saying, 'That which proceeds out of the man is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.'" Wow! Even Jesus was against believers saying negative things about other believers! In fact, taking one part of one sentence in an entire article and making it appear to have been the emphasis of the ENTIRE article is deceitful, is it not? These candidates project evil thoughts into the minds of the voter and it is up to the voter to find out the truth. However, candidates know that the vast majority of voters will not bother to check and can be influenced by what they tell them is true. There is also a pride issue here. The one running the negative ad is trying to elevate himself above the other candidate as his ad states, "Dear Lord, I am glad that I am not like this sinner here." Sound familiar.

Even though there are many more references to slander in the Bible, let me close with Ephesians 4: 29-32: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice. And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you."

Negative campaign ads put out by believers against other believers definitely qualifies as many "unwholesome words." Further, I never saw a negative ad that EDIFIES the other candidate. In fact, the whole point of the negative ad is to destroy the reputation of the opponet. And the last verse tells us to be kind to one another. I have never seen a kind negative campaign ad.

A political analyst said on the news last night, "If a candidate spends all his time talking about the other candidate, it is because he has nothing to say about himself." I whole-heartily agree!

Hey you candidates out there! My mom taught me, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything." Wouldn't campaign season be so much more tolerable if the candidates would listen to their mothers and to God and stick to issues instead of focusing on slander and innuendo?

Not Complaining or Surrendering

After my morning devotional today I was playing solitaire until I was able to have my morning tea and wake up enough to continue my day. As I lost game after game after game, I began to complain to myself about how the cards were being dealt (Yes, I talk to my computer and you do too. You're just too ashamed to admit it!). After a few more losses, I decided I would quit complaining and just play.

As soon as that thought popped into my head, I realized something. There is a world of difference between not complaining and surrendering! In the video, Larry has decided not to complain about the hairbrush, but he never really let's go of the fact that he wants his hairbrush back. He just decides not to complain anymore. It is gone and there is nothing he can do about it.

Job felt he had a right to complain when he says, "Therefore, I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." (7:11) I must admit, if anyone has a right to complain, it was Job.

But God does not want us to complain. James tells us, "Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves be judged; behold the Judge is standing right at the door." (5:9) So I decided this morning not to complain. But that's not what God wants.

My husband likes to talk to the other drivers when he is behind the wheel. I have asked him time and again not to go off on tirades about other drivers because I am the one who has to listen to all that and I didn't do anything. Well, he stops complaining...out loud.

That is what Ido with God. Instead of surrendering I decide to "not complain" anymore about my trials and tribulations. I "man up" and in doing so, decide to be a martyr. How many times have we gone to church with our world crumbling around us and someone asks us, "How are you?" and we answer, "I'm just fine (sigh). How are you?" never allowing that brother or sister to help carry our burden?

Now if I would surrender my burden, I would "let go and let God" to use an old cliche. Whether I like what God is allowing in my life or not, I TRUST God (there's that word again, trust. Can you tell I have trust issues?) to bring me through so I just sit back for the ride while trying to learn what it is God has to teach me.

Sit back for the ride? Yes, because we all know we aren't driving. God is totally in control. And even if we were driving, we have NO control over where we are going.

Jesus taught us all we needed to know about surrender in the garden. In Matthew 26:39 we hear, "Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.'" Then He continues (after waking up the napping disciples), "He went away a second time and prayed, 'My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.'"

Jesus KNEW surrender. He didn't like what was going to happen. He knew he was about to be subject to excruciating pain, crucifixion, and bearing the sin of the whole world which would cause His Father to have to turn away from Him. For the first time in His life, Jesus would experience loneliness. But He repeats, "may Your will be done."

I do a lot of complaining and a lot of "deciding not to complain." My "favorite professor" told us that if God takes the time to say something more than once, He wants you to pay attention. Jesus' prayer of surrender is in all FOUR gospels. That's plenty for me. As of today I think I'll start listening.

Until today, I have been like the bumper sticker, "God is my co-pilot." I think starting today, I'm going to make an effort to make God my pilot and I will just go along for the ride. I won't do it perfectly, but I have to learn to surrender sometime. Better now than later because I am not promised tomorrow and I want to please my Heavenly Father.

Hidden things pt. 2

Last winter, we made Terminix crazy complaining about the mice that we simply could not get rid of. We found them everywhere..hallway, den, living room, and office. Everywhere, that is, but the kitchen.

For you faithful readers, yes, I have a cat. Problem: he thinks mice are to play with. So he would chase them into the closet in my office and them meow at the closet door. He finally learned how to get the sliding door open just enough to get stuck in the closet because one door does not have the floor bracket to keep it from swinging. I spent the winter letting the cat out of the office closet never thinking that he was chasing his mice in there.

Yesterday, I decided to clean the cabinets and stuff more steel wool in the two holes that the mice use to come in. You see, the wiring for my electric stove comes directly through the floor of one of my cabinets, as well as the hole for the plumbing that comes through the floor of the cabinet under the sink (the house came that way). It was also necessary to remove all the "evidence" of their presence in my cabinets.

As I cleaned the little-used cabinet next to the stove, I come across this furry mass in the corner of the half shelf in the top of that cabinet. Yep, I found a field mouse nest. They had apparently pulled out just enough steel wool to gain access to that cabinet and decided to set up housekeeping inside instead of under the house. I mean, after all, why have babies in the cold when you can have them in a nice, heated cabinet?

Now, personally, I HATE mice. Note I said "hate" not "fear." I am not afraid of them because they are sooooo very cute. However, I hate them because they make messes I have to clean up and they run or jump past you when you least expect it. Also they breed like...well...like mice. A female mouse can get pregnant again right after she gives birth to a litter. So if you see a mouse remember, there is probably not just "a mouse" but "many mice" running around. Otherwise you would never see one.

Just like my little mouse nest hidden in the back corner of an unused cabinet, sin can hide in a nice, warm, dark corner of our lives. We talk jokingly about our "pet vices" like they are not a serious problem.

Well, our "pet vices" are like my "pet mice". They get in the dark, unused (hardened) part of our heart and start to breed. Sin does not breed slowly. It breeds like the mice. As soon as sin gives "birth" to a litter of other "small sins", it immediately gets pregnant and not only begins to take over your life, but they also leave "messes" behind that will someday have to be cleaned up. And remember, there is never "just one" sin. Once you notice the sin, I can personally guarantee there are many, many more that the one sin has give birth to.

So before we pass judgment on those that have committed what we call "big sins" we need to take a good look at our heart. For in God's eyes, sin is sin. There are no big or little sins.

The Bible, though offers this word of encouragement to those who are believers ,"Therefore, do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of men's heart; ...AND...(wait for it)... then each man's PRAISE will come to him from God." I Corinthians 4:5 (emphasis mine)

So we don't need to let all those "little sins" run around our hearts too ashamed to confess them even to God. God already knows that they are there! He sees the hidden sins and motives of our heart...ALL OF THEM. But even though He sees all that, Jesus' blood has covered them so that when we see the Lord, we will receive praise.

Now THAT"S cool!

Now it is time for me to go get some new shelf paper and line my cabinets AGAIN. I also stuffed some more steel wool into the holes trying to keep the mice outside in the first place. Kind of like daily study of God's Word provides protection from sin entering our hearts in the first place and like mouse poison, if we do allow sin in, God's Word will kill the sin.

Well, off to WalMart. I wonder if they make shelf liner that will keep mice out?? I might want to call my Terminix man and apologize for accusing him of not doing his job in keeping the mice out too. I never realized that I was breeding the mice INSIDE the house.

Hidden Things

Part of the description of this blog talks about finding God "in everyday situations." Last week I was working one of my word search puzzles about famous lines from movies. It was particularly hard because I was looking for two words at a time, so imagine my surprise when I mark one of the last two-word phrases and find "TRY GOD" right next to the answer I marked.

I blinked; I checked it...many times. In fact, as I completed the puzzle, my eyes were continually drawn back to it. Whoever or whatever had created this puzzle had put an important message right smack dab in the middle of my word search puzzle!

Now, I don't believe in chance, so I have spent the last week talking to God about why He wanted me to know this and I think I know why. I was relying on my own ability to come up with topics for this blog and I must admit, it has been a struggle. That is why the posts have been so erratic with some weeks having three, some having one, and some having none.

There was something hidden in the word search puzzle that I needed to hear. I needed to rely on God to provide the time and the topics for this blog. I needed to surrender it to Him just like I have the Bible study we lead on Thursday nights.

God lead me to the verse Isaiah 45:3: "I will give you the treasures of darkness. And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name." God has known from when I was formed in my mother's womb, what I would do for His glory. Now you can call that predestination or foreknowledge, it all comes out the same way...GOD KNEW.

And because God also knows I am hard-headed, He place that message in that word search puzzle when I needed it most.

Remember, as my oldest son told me once, "God never says, 'OOPS! I never saw THAT one coming.'" He is never caught off guard. There is no plan B if we sin by commission or omission. Otherwise Roman 8:28-30 could not be true, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God and those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son that he might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

So when you come across a "coincidence", slow down and ask yourself, "Is God trying to tell me something? And if so, what is it?" You may like me find that God has been trying to tell you something and He chose a "coincidence" to get your attention.

Old Testament Challenge

I am sorry about the late post today. The website was having server problems and since they allow me to blog for free, who am I to complain? So I just went outside with my dogs and waited for it to come back up.

Here is today's challenge:

1. Why did Ahab not like the prophet Micaiah? I Kings 22:8

2. Who said, "I will serve thee seven years for Rachel, thy younger daughter?" Genesis 29:18

3. In Pharaoh's dream what did the seven thin cattle represent? Genesis 41:27

4. What scripture gives God's first promise of a savior? (hint: look in Genesis)

5. Ahab was king of what country? I Kings 20:3

6. How many daughters did the priest of Midian have? Exodus 2:16

7. Who said, "I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there?" I Kings 17:4

8. To what city were many of the people of Judah taken as captives? II Kings 24: 10-16

9. Who was father of all such as handle the harp and organ? Genesis 4:21

10. Was Solomon made king before or after David died? I Kings 1: 39-40

11. In what city did David first become king? II Samuel 2:11

12. What do we mean when we say that God is omnipresent?

13. What did Jacob make for Joseph? Genesis 37:3

14. How many men did God inspire to write the Bible?

15. What did God do to all the animals after the flood? Genesis 9:2

New Testament Bible Challenge

I am back and "no" the kitchen is not done. I had to have my husband steam clean our carpet so I got distracted in the den.

Now for today's Bible Challenge:

1. For what two good reasons should one be subject to the laws of his government? Romans 13:5

2. In the parable of the lost coin, how many pieces of silver did the woman have? Luke 15:8

3. Whose daughter did Jesus raise from the dead? Luke 8:41

4. Who said, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge"? Acts 7:60

5. According to 2 Corinthians 9:7, how should one give?

6. The words Calvary and Golgotha mean what? Mark 15:22

7. Who said, "Lord by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days"? John 11:39

8. Where was Paul born? Acts 22:3

9. Herod intended to keep Peter in prison until after what holy day? Acts 12:4

10. What did the power of the Lord enable Jesus to do for the Pharisees and teachers of the law?
Luke 5:17

11. Where was Paul let down from the wall in a basket? Acts 9:22-25

12. Which book sets forth the ultimate triumph of the kingdom of Christ?

13. For how long was Saul without sight? Acts 9:8-9

14. Where is the record of the resurrected Christ appearing to "Two on the Emmaus Road"?

15. What is the temple of God? I Corinthians 3:16

And that is this week's New Testament Challenge! I must admit, I learned a lot from just typing the questions. It is remarkable the references we forget as we grow older. Remember, next week we'll be back in the Old Testament. Same bat time, same bat channel (I've always wanted to say that !).

Still cleaning kitchen

Still working on cleaning the kitchen and have Bible study tonight. Hope to clean carpet in den tomorrow. See you on Monday!

Looking Up

Have you ever looked up in your house at the curtains, webs in the corner, ceiling fan blades, refrigerator (mine is full of science experiments jk) or just anything and went, "EEEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWW?"

Well, that is what happened to me this morning. As a general rule I don't do a lot of cooking, In fact I wipe dust off my ceramic top stove more than I do food. I have cornices in my kitchen so I do not see the top of my curtains. I was waiting this morning for the tea pot to boil (I know, I know. "Watched pots never boil," which I have found to be a myth). As I was waiting, leaning on the counter, I looked up. What I saw disgusted me.

I have a long-haired cat that lives in the kitchen in the summer time and there it was. Cat hair all along the top every curtain in the kitchen!

I carefully took them down and threw them into the washer. With all the windows uncovered, the sun was streaming into the normally dark kitchen and, you guessed it, I was suddenly able to see how dirty my counters. windows, floor and cabinets really were. Gross!

So today and tomorrow I will clean my kitchen from the top down starting with the cabinets. If I hadn't looked up, I would never had seen the yucky curtains because they were hidden. And if I had not taken down the yucky curtains, I would never have seen the other yucky areas of my kitchen.

Funny, isn't it, the things that pop in your mind when something like this happens. The curtains were hidden by the cornices, just like I try to hide my sin from God. Jeremiah 17:9 tells me that "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"

However, somewhere deep inside my being, I knew it had been a year since I had really cleaned the kitchen. I knew that there was hidden dirt there, but I just didn't want to deal with it right now. I was busy doing other "more important" things like teaching a Bible study, trying to start a book club, organizing a weekly potluck, playing with my grandchildren, visiting with out-of-town family, etc. I could go on and on just like anyone else. But I realized today that these were excuses I didn't want to deal with it.

Paul says in Romans 1:19, 25a: "because that which is know about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them....For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie." None of us want to deal with our sins. Especially when we let them pile up. We would rather allow them to continue to hide in the dark corners of our hearts and to deal with them "when I get around to it. Just too busy right now."

All that yuckiness was hidden in my dark kitchen. In fact, I preferred it that way. The same is true with my spiritual life. I don't want to see my sin. It hurts me when I realize that I have allowed so much to come between me and God. Confession is also painful because I have to admit to God that I blew it on so many levels and I disappointed Him. I John 1:5-6 says, "And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you that God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth." OUCH! God and John didn't pull any punches there. If I want to return to God's light, I need to confess, no matter how painful it is.

Thank goodness the story doesn't stop there. I will spend today, and probably part of tomorrow, cleaning up my kitchen and ridding myself of all the dirt. Then it will be sparkling and no longer in danger of being shut down by the health department. In that same chapter of I John in the 9th verse God tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Just like my kitchen, we can clean up our lives any time and once again be in fellowship with Him. That gives me hope and motivates me some of the time to try to keep "confessed up."

Now, it's back to my kitchen. Maybe this time I will hang only the top half of the cafe curtains. It's just too dark in there.

We Will Never Forget

What you see here is a picture that I had gotten from a friend but had never hung on my wall. The evening of Sept. 10, 2001 I went and got a frame and hung it in my hallway. I can't tell you why, it just seemed fitting with all that was going on in the world. Little did I know....

September 11, 2001 started like any other day. I got up, got ready for work, and got to work early (about 7:30) to grade some papers. I will never forget the look on the face of my first student to enter the room that day. With a look of terror I will never forget she asked me, "Mrs. Nelson, did you hear about a plane flying into the World Trade Center!? We heard it on the radio on the way to school!"

I virtually ran across the room and turned on the television. There stood the first tower burning about 3/4ths of the way up. The commentators by that time had not found out the plane was hijacked and flown directly into the building. They were saying it was an accident. My heart ached for all the people trapped above the burning plane as well as those who had been on board.

I left the television on just to keep up with what was going on and I began our morning routine. I looked up just in time to see the second plane flying into the second tower. You could hear a pin drop in my talkative sixth grade classroom. I don't know which student it was because my eyes were glued to the television, but I remember the small voice behind me asking, "Mrs. Nelson, this WAS an accident, wasn't it?" Even before the newscasters said it, I told my class, "No, these are terrorists."

We kept the TV running and tried to start our day when the announcement came that the Pentagon had been hit with more images of people running and fires burning. Then the announcement that a passenger jet had crashed in Pennsylvania.

All schoolwork stopped just in time to see the first tower fall. It was a horrifying site on many levels- the firemen that were in there trying to save others, those still in the tower, the site of the ash cloud as people ran from it to keep from smothering. the sheer cost in human life. Not long afterward, the second tower fell as all 30 of us watched in silence.

We kept the TV running until noon. Sometime during that time, one of my students came up to me and asked to speak to me in my "office" (the hall). She was a tiny little thing for a sixth grader with dark hair and dark eyes. She turned those beautiful eyes, half filled with tears, up to look at me and asked, " Mrs. Nelson, do you think anyone got out? My cousin works in the World Trade Center."

I took her in my arms and we BOTH cried as I said, "I don't know, sweetie. They say there are survivors. Do you know where he worked?"

She pulled back, tears flowing, "Somewhere near the top."

I have only done this twice in my teaching career without asking the student if they wanted to. We stood there weeping in each others' arms and I prayed, not only for her cousin, but her entire family as they wait for news, because I knew it would take a long time to sort this out.

We dried our faces and returned to the room. I finally turned off the TV because the weight of what had just happened was just getting too heavy for me or the children to bear. We went to lunch and then tried to salvage the rest of the days lessons. It wasn't long before I realized that this was not a day for lessons.

We went outside to find almost ever other upper grade out there. They too had spent the day watching what we were all realizing was a day that would find its way into the history books. As President Franklin Roosevelt said on Dec.4, 1941, "This is a day that will live in infamy."

It turned out that my student's cousin had been killed in the collapse. I knew what had happened when a week later her mother came to the door to check her out of school. It was difficult news for my class to hear. It made the whole horrific scene on 9/11 more real, more personal.

On that fateful day, I went home and turned to my Bible for comfort. The first verse I thought of was ,"Jesus wept." (John 11:35) I went into the hall and stood and stared a the picture that I had hung the night before. I had had that picture for over a year. Why did I hang it the evening of September 10th? Was God trying to tell me or prepare me for something?

I wrote earlier this week about the pastor that planned to burn 200 copies of the Qu'ran and how it, too, was wrong on so many levels. I praise God that he decided not to burn them and put so many people in danger.

However, I am afraid the fuse had been lit. Last night on the news there were more images of angry Muslims violently protesting the burning. They probably are not going to believe anyone that tells them the burning never happened. To them, it will be just another Infidel lie.

We will never forget what happened 9/11/01. I bet that, if asked, you could tell me every detail of where you were and how you found out about the events of that day,

But we also need to remember on this day and everyday that, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

Qu'ran Burning on 9/11

It is not my practice to take on the "issues of the day" in this blog. It is meant to be more of a devotional experience. However, sometimes what is going on in the world becomes so alarming that I would be remiss NOT to comment.

By now we have all heard about the Reverend Terry Jones of the Dove World Outreach Center (what a misnomer!) in Florida. We have heard all the criticism from the president to the General of NATO forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have heard from peaceful Muslim leaders how this man is backing them into a corner just like he would to Jews and Christians if he burned the Bible. We have even heard from his gun-toting congregation that plans to remain inside and "let the pastors take all the risks."

I have spent most of this morning on Fox News' discussion board talking with others about what is about to happen. Here is a summary of what is being discussed.

1. The major Biblical argument comes from Acts 19: 18-19: "Many also of those who believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of all; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver."

There is one major flaw in using this as a proof text. The people that are burning the books are the owners of the books. The some 200 copies of the Qu'ran being burned on 9/11 are NOT being burned by their owners, but by people who have now nor ever had any belief in the book they are burning, thereby making this an act of hatred instead of an act of faith.

2. They are protected by the first amendment right to free speech. That's right. They are. But I Corinthians 10:23 says: "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify." Yes, it is lawful to burn these books. However, it is not in any way edifying. Just ask General Petraeus. Because of this one pastor and his flock of 50, all the thousands of troops , American, Iraqi, and Afghans, will be placed in danger of their lives. The violent and deadly backlash from this will stretch around the world to people of all faiths that had NOTHING to do with it and disagreed with him, but could not stop him because of his freedom.

2. The Qu'ran contains the first five books of the Bible, the book of Psalms and portions of the Gospels. This man is willing to say to the world that this part of his Bible is worthless and deserves burning. II Timothy 3: 16-17, "ALL Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." If a missionary want to convert a Muslim to Christianity, he will use these parts of the Qu'ran to open a dialogue with him and gain common ground. And yet, this Florida pastor is will to burn part of the Scripture that he supposedly believes in.

3. There are going to be armed men both at the book burning as well at services.

The king of Syria had sent his army to capture Elisha. (Elisha had disclosed every military plan that the king of Syria had made to overthrow Israel.) The next morning, Elisha's servant awoke to discover that the whole Syrian army was surrounding the city where he and Elisha were. With fear, he woke up Elisha, and Elisha did see the Syrian army. But he also saw hundreds of God's angels surrounding the Syrian army (II Kings 6:14-17).

Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego: These three young men refused to give up their belief in the one true God of Israel, and were cast into a furnace of fire. However, God sent them some company--an angel of God (not Jesus!). Only their clothes that had been used to bind them were burnt in the fire. They came out of the fire without even the smell of smoke--or a singed hair! (Daniel 3:23-28).

Daniel: Daniel was faithful in his prayer life, even though the price for his faithfulness seemed sure death. He was cast into a den of lions (not just a lion's den, as some say). A heavenly visitor, an angel of God, came and shut the lions' mouths, and evidently tamed their nature, because there is more than one way a lion can kill a prophet (Daniel 6:19-22)

The Old Testament prophets did not need guns to protect them while spreading the Word of God. The angels as well as the Angel of the Lord (preincarnate Christ) protected them.

4. He believes this is God's Will. I can't say if it is or not. But , in conclusion I would like to offer up these verses of Scripture which are repeated in three out of four Gospels: "But I (Jesus) say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you...And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same....But love your enemies and do good, and lend , expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men." Luke 6:27-28; 31-33; 35.

I know this is a controversial issue and many will not agree with me (they didn't on the discussion board) but I truly believe that this minuscule band of misguided believers are about to make a false statement about Christians around the world.

My plea is with all forms of media. I beg you, please, do not give this issue any more air time. You have heard from everyone from the President, to the NATO leaders, the Secretary of State, and MANY interfaith groups about how cover this even is putting many millions, possibly billions, of innocent people in danger. Are all these possible deaths worthy this man's 15 minutes of fame. I don't think so and I hope you don't either. Shutting down the media coverage is our only way of stopping him. Please, please do not cover this mania on 9/11. I am sure there will be many more interesting stories that day. Cover those instead and ignore him!

As Natural As Breathing

We don't think much about breathing unless we are swimming, snorkeling, diving, or having a "see-who-can-hold-his-breath-the- longest" contest. God created us that way. With the automatic functions of heart beating, digestion, and breathing located in the brain stem, we are able to go about our lives and not have to remember to breath. That's a good thing for me because....now what was I going to say...oh yeah, I am starting to forget things.

However, breathing is a necessary function to maintain life. God knows the importance of breath because when He created us, "breathed the breath of life; and man became a living being." God actually breathed our first breath and He will be there for our last.

Being in the presence of God all day long should be, well, as natural as breathing. Listen to this song and let your heart enter into praise to the living God.

Sleeeping Angel

Last night I did an "unnatural" thing for me. I fell asleep in my recliner (no, that's not unusual) with all my clothes on (nope, that's not it either), and slept there all night long (bingo!). Generally when I fall asleep in the recliner at night, my husband can wake me up and I will go to bed. Last night, I was OUT!

Now he "claims" that he tried to wake me up and get me to go to bed but I told him that I would come to bed later. The ONLY reason I know he's telling me the truth is because other people have had conversations with me while I was asleep.

Apparently, I felt comfortable and safe where I was. Much like this picture of my new grandson. He is asleep either on his daddy or his mommy with no worries, no cares, no need unmet. He feel safe and secure because he trusts his mommy and daddy to take care of him.

I can hear you saying, "That's because he has no responsibilities, no bills, no job, no children, no world falling down around him, no family problems" because I have said that before myself. But that is not the reason.

The reason babies can sleep like that while in their parents' arms is TRUST- simple, complete, unwavering trust.

"Well, I trust God to take care of me!" Do we really? Or do we sit up, wide awake, and worry about finances, jobs, school, family problems, etc. Are we like Jacob (Genesis 26) and try to work out a way to insure we will have what God has already promised us? Things like peace, met needs (not wants...needs), and even peaceful sleep.

Instead of trusting God we trust in ourselves (if you want things done right you have to do them yourself) to be able to do something to make our lives work out the way WE want them to. We don't care about God's plan or trusting Him to work out His plan in our lives.

We would rather stay up and pace, right?

God tells us in Psalms that one way to gauge whether or not you REALLY trust Him is if you can sleep as peacefully as a baby in its parents' arms. That's where we are isn't it...in God's arms?

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust" (Psalms 4:8; Amplified Bible) Give it all to Him and we would all sleep better. In fact, we'd sleep like babies. We'd sleep like I slept last night without even wanting to wake up and go to my bed. I was content right there.

Next time we find ourselves pacing the floor or aimlessly watching television in the middle of the night, let's remember to use that time to take a hard look at how much we trust God. Once we get over our trust issues (I have them too), I guarantee we will all sleep like babies in the strong, safe, loving arms of our Heavenly Father.

You Can Find Anything...

I am of an age that when you needed something you did one of two things. You either went shopping or "you let your fingers do the walking through the Yellow Pages." I guess I am still that way more out of habit than anything else.

I say that to explain why I have been looking for six months "the old fashioned way" for iced teaspoons. I have been to so many stores that I was beginning to think the iced teaspoon was extinct. (For those of you who have never seen one, it is a long-handled teaspoon.)

I use this utensil to stir my Chai tea latte every morning (I make my own, thereby, the stirring). We had somehow gone down from 12 when we got married 34 years ago to only 3 (go figure) and those of you who know me know how much I HATE to wash dishes. But there I was, washing iced teaspoons over and over just to have something to stir my tea first thing in the morning.

It took a while of looking and looking, knowing they were hiding somewhere because all restaurants have them, before it hit me. "Look on the Internet, dummy. You can find anything on the Internet." So, I sat down at my trusty computer and there they were...the elusive iced teaspoon. My search over I took time to marvel at not only how many sites carried the spoons but also at how one really could find anything on the Internet.

God is the same way. He still uses a phone book but guess what?? The phone book is on the Internet! And it covers any situation you might find yourself in.


GOD'S PHONE BOOK

Numbers to call when:

You are sad, phone............................... John 14

You have sinned, phone........................... Psalm 51

You are facing danger, phone..................... Psalm 91

When people have failed you, phone............... Psalm 27

It feels as though God is far from you, phone.... Psalm 139

Your faith needs stimulation, phone.............. Hebrews 11

To get along with other people, phone............ Romans 12

You are alone and scared, phone.................. Psalm 23

You are worried, phone........................... Matthew 8:19-34

You are hurt and critical, phone................. 1 Corinthians 13

You wonder about Christianity, phone............. 2 Corinthians 5:15-18

You feel like an outcast, phone.................. Romans 8:31-39

You are seeking peace, phone..................... Matthew 11:25-30

It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone......Psalm 90

You need Christ like insurance, phone.............Romans 8:1-30

You are leaving home for a trip, phone............Psalm 121

You are praying for yourself, phone...............Psalm 87

You require courage for a task, phone............ Joshua 1

Inflation & investments hogging your thoughts, phone Mark 10:17-31

You are depressed, phone..........................Psalm 27

Your bank account is empty, phone................ Psalm 37

It looks like people are unfriendly, phone.........John 15

You are losing hope, phone........................Psalm 126

You feel the world is small compared to you, phone...Psalm 19

You want to carry fruit, phone....................John 15

Paul's secret for happiness, phone................Colossians 3:12-17

With big opportunity/discovery, phone............ Isaiah 55

ALTERNATE NUMBERS

For dealing with fear, call...................... Psalm 3:47

For security, call............................... Psalm 121:3

For assurance, call.............................. Mark 8:35

For reassurance, call............................ Psalm 145:18

ALL THESE NUMBERS MAY BE PHONED DIRECTLY.

NO OPERATOR ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.

ALL LINES TO HEAVEN ARE AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY.

I guess it really true that you can find anything on the Internet. But it is comforting that God still uses books. I don't feel so old that way.

Every scripture is God-breathed and profitable for instruction, for reproof, and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action. II Timothy 3:16 (Amplified Bible)

Bible Challenge

I love to watch "Jeopardy" every chance I get. In fact, I even have the game on my computer.

Lately I have been appalled at the contestants that cannot answer the easiest of questions on the Bible. So I have decided to make Wednesdays Bible Jeopardy day. On Wednesdays I will ask 20 questions from the Bible and the place where you can find the answers. I will alternate weeks between Old Testament and New Testament and give you the reference where the answer may be found if you don't know it.

I think this may be fun as well as educational. If I didn't own the "Bible Challenge" game (which I found cleaning out a closet), I wouldn't know the answers to many of the questions. Here are this week's questions:

1. What did Pharaoh request of the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah? Exodus 1: 15-16

2. Where was the tower of Babel? Genesis 11:2

3. How long was David king? I Kings 2:11

4. Where did the Lord tell Cyrus to build him a house? Ezra 1:2

5. Who prepared a sacrifice and then ordered twelve barrels of water poured on it? I Kings 18:31-35

6. Who wrote Ecclesiastes? In introduction to book

7. Why did Joseph's brothers come to Egypt? Genesis 41:57

8. Who said, "Treason. Treason"? 2 Chronicles 23:13

9. Who was Absalom's sister? 2 Samuel 13:1

10. What happened at Jericho when the children of Israel shouted at Joshua's command? Joshua 6:20

11. Where did Moses send 12 men to spy? Numbers 13:1

12. What symbol of power was Moses known to carry? Exodus 4:2

13. Who were Noah's sons? Genesis 9:18

14. The name of which book of the Bible is derived from one of the sons of Jacob? a book of laws

15. Was the report that the Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon true? 1 Kings 10:6

16. Where did the Lord tell Jonah to go? Jonah 1:12

17. To whom did the Lord say "Get them out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee"? Genesis 12:1

18. What is another name for the Ten Commandments? Exodus 20: 1-17

19. Nehemiah came to rebuild the walls of which city? Nehemiah 2:17

20. What was the sign of God's promise that the world would never again be destroyed by a flood? Genesis 9:15

Like Jeff Foxworthy says on "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?", "I know that's the right answer because I have it written on this card here." That is the only way I knew some of these answers.

Please take time to try to answer all 20 questions. It might be fun and we just might learn something (I know I have just typing the questions.). Who knows? You may be on "Jeopardy" sometime and the final Jeopardy category is "The Old Testament". You could win thousands of dollars. Or we may just learn a little more about God's Word. Either way it is worth the time.

The Circle of Life

Last week was truly an experience in the circle of life. The week started on Saturday with the news of the death of a sister-in-law of a friend who was elderly and prepared to go meet her Maker. Then came the news of the death of the 20 year-old grandson of one of the couples in the breakfast club in a one car accident.

But Thursday was coming.

Then came the funerals. We did not attend but both were well attended. The 20-year-old had 220 cars and we found out through the grieving process that he, too, was well prepared to go home to his Heavenly Father. One funeral was on Monday and the other was on Wednesday. We grieved with our friends and neighbors as these two believers were ushered into the presence of their Father.

But Thursday was coming.

Thursday, about 7:00 am, we received a call from our son that Kathy was in labor and Max was on his way. My husband had a Compensation and Pension exam he HAD to go to so I showered, dressed quickly, and raced to the hospital. As we all waited, I prayed that my mother (the great-grandma), who had to attend a funeral that day herself, and my husband would arrive before Max did.

God honored my prayers as my mother arrived at noon and my husband at about 12:30 pm. It seemed like Max was waiting for everyone to be there because the doctor said he would be arrive at 12:30 pm and he didn't get here until 1:04 pm. We were all full of joy when my sister-in-law arrived in the waiting room to tell us that Kathy and Max were doing fine. I am sure the moment of Max's arrival was bittersweet for most of us with the death of my brother on New Year's Eve. That's okay, Sheila, I was thinking about him too. But I am sure my brother saw him from heaven because that's what the story of the rich man and Lazarus tells me.

What rejoicing erupted as we all took turns going back and holding this precious little gift from God. God even saw to that Max was born to Godly parent that will not only raise him in the knowledge and admonition of the Lord, but also in a Bible-believing, God-fearing church.

In six days we moved from great grief to great joy. But what a ride! We went from a life well lived, to the death of a grandchild gone too soon, to the birth of a son, nephew, and grandson. All this helped me to better understand the meaning of, "A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:3).

That is what this week has been. A trip through the valley of the shadow of death to the mountain top and green pastures.

So remember, no matter how bad things get, there are good things ahead. It may not be the birth of a grandchild, but you will feel exceptionally blessed by a Father who knows how much you can bear and wants to give you good things.

Seek-A-Word Puzzles

Since the first of this year I have become TOTALLY addicted to seek-a-word or word search puzzles. They are the perfect time filler when you are waiting on something. I have done them in hospitals, in the doctor's office (instead of watching the drug channel), while my husband finishes watching something I am not interested in, and outside in my "thinking place" (I'm ADD and in order to organize my thoughts I have to be doing something else so the "back" of my mind can work it out. Go figure.).

I discovered that the puzzles were hard at first. In fact, the ones with words I am not familiar with still are. But as I spent more time working them (at least 2 a day) they became easier and easier. I began to see patterns in how they were solved, developed strategies to make them easier, and letters/word parts that made the words easier to find. For example, I look at the puzzle and find any words I readily recognize and get them first. Then I look for the really long words (face it, there are only so many ways to put them into the puzzle). Then I start at the top of the word list and work down. However, I don't necessarily stick to the order in the list. Many times I will find a word farther down the list when I find the word I was looking for.

The trick is that the more words you find and mark, the more you will be able to see without as much effort. The key is that if you're stuck, look away and then look back and a word will just miraculously appear. Sometimes you will see only part of the word and that helps you look forward or backward to find the whole word. Why, you don't even need to know how to spell to work the puzzle. The words are right there so you can find them; no spelling needed (in fact, I used to use word search puzzles to teach spelling to my classes).

Then I started thinking (I bet you saw this coming) that these puzzles have a lot in common with studying the Bible. I have the privilege of teaching a Bible study every Thursday evening at New Salem United Methodist Church at 6:30 pm (just in case you're in the neighborhood and want to drop in sometime). So I spend a lot of time on both word search puzzles and Bible study which explains why I see such a complete connection between the two.

You don't have to know how to study the Bible in order to start. Many of us are intimidated by the fact that we don't know the "right" way to study. Well, truthfully, the main thing is to start. There are many good Fill-in-the-blank Bible studies that can not only teach you the Bible but also give you a start on how to study it.

At first, the studying will be hard. That's okay. I have a 32-hour Bible major from a Christian college and I still have trouble. I make use of the "find-a-verse" websites in order to write this blog and teach the Bible study. I was raised in the 70's when, in my denomination, memorization of Scripture and the Books of the Bible was not considered necessary. In fact, I didn't learn the Books of the Bible in order until I taught Bible drill at my church several years ago.

Once you have gotten over your fear of "messing up" you start looking for verses IN CONTEXT that apply to what you need to study. The reason I emphasize "in context" is that there are far too many people taking verses or parts of verses to prove what they are saying which is leading America to believe some pretty far fetched stuff. When I was in college the first time in the 70's, one of my professors told me something I will never forget, "You can prove ANYTHING by using isolated verses of scripture or parts of verses.

As you search. you will start to see patterns of thought and related verses throughout the whole Bible. You cannot truly understand the Bible unless you take it as a whole. Example, I am teaching the story of Isaac's and Rebeka's wedding (Do you know where it is located?). It is one of the most beautiful love stories in all the Bible...on two levels. There is the physical story which is perfect for the true romantic, and then there is the spiritual level that represents the marriage of the Church to her bridegroom, Jesus (okay Bible study members, you now have a preview of the lesson. Be prepared!).

The Old Testament will many times relate to the New Testament on a spiritual level. For example, how can you know what the grace found in Jesus saved you from unless you study Deuteronomy and Leviticus? How can you see that the Bible begins in a garden and ends in a garden, taking all creation back to where it started, unless you are looking for it? So don't become so focused on one passage that you miss the connections to other passages.

Deuteronomy 4:29 says, "But from there, you will search for the LORD your God, and you will find Him when you seek Him with all your heart and all your soul." Jeremiah 29:12-14a, "You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you..." See the connection to word search puzzles. You won't find God unless you go looking for Him.

I, personally, would hate to die and have God look at me and say, "Do I know you? I remember you talking to My Son once and doing a lot of asking, but I don't remember you ever allowing Me to talk." God's preferred way to speak to us today is through the 63 books of His Word. Truly knowing God is a conversation. Sometimes we don't like what He has to say to us, but other times, He tells us how much He loves us. You will never know Him unless you are willing to start studying what I once called "the Bible puzzle."

Well, Wednesday is my day to organize what I will teach on Thursday so I need to go and organize my Word search puzzle. But I can guarantee you that after I do that, I will be working the word search puzzle at the beginning of this blog!