New Year Prayer

God grant us this year a wider view,
So we see others' faults through the eyes of You.
Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,
Neither the adult ... nor the young.
Give us patience and grace to endure
And a stronger faith so we feel secure.
Instead of remembering, help us forget
The irritations that caused us to fret.
Freely forgiving for some offense
And finding each day a rich recompense.
In offering a friendly, helping hand
And trying in all ways to understand;
That all of us whoever we are ...
Are trying to reach an unreachable star.
For the great and small ... the good and bad,
The young and old ... the sad and glad
Are asking today; Is life worth living?
The answer is only in, loving and giving.
For only Love can make man kind
And Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind.
By giving love, we can start this year
To lift the clouds of hate and fear.

author- Helen Steiner Rice

Happy New Year - 2007

Happy New Year !!!

Philippians 3:13-14 No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (NLT)

May your new year be filled with good health and spiritual fulfillment - Forgetting the past and looking forward to what God has planned for YOU! God Bless You!

REJOICE

In the beginning, God created the heavens and earth....Gen 1:1 Then... God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; Gen. 1:27 Everything was perfect....until.....

The child of God cries
out........

"If I am guilty—woe to me! Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame and drowned in my affliction." Job 10:15 But...... Along came a Savior...a baby...."wrapped in clothes, lying in a manger", Luke 2:12b ... A gift from God to mankind whom He created...and gave choice.

They made the wrong choice. A bad choice (Gen. 3). But instead of throwing his beloved creation away and starting over...because God is a God of love and mercy... He provided a way. "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29b MERRY CHRISTMAS ~~~~May the joy of the Christmas Season carry you through 2007 in all that you do and experience! In His Love, Lynn

Joyful Work

What does a picture of a nicely set table have to do with a picture of a Hurricane Katrina ravaged house? These are pictures of two projects I had been blessed to work on in the year 2006. Both projects involved working with the same friend. Last July, she and I joined others from church to gut some homes and bring the gospel to a hurting city recovering from the deadly hurricane. Last weekend, we set a Christmas table for a dinner and concert for friends at our church. Isn't it amazing the variety of things you can do for God? Another gal I met on the Katrina trip in July, went back to New Orleans in October. She enjoyed serving so much she now teaches Sunday School to 1st graders and has recently delivered Christmas trees and presents to families in Chicago's Caprini Green area. In our discussion about these projects last sunday, we noted how much more joy one receives in giving than receiving. Paul noted this in Acts 20:35 "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." We were created to serve. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." When we serve God from the heart, the focus is off of ourselves and on God and his people. Jesus, the King of Kings, said this: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45 I know of a couple who currently serve in Ghana, Africa. She is a medical doctor who gave up her practice to serve at a Christian children's center. He is an engineer and gave up his career as well. This couple did not have any children of their own, but were close to their families and had these thriving careers. They also saw and clearly understood the valueable work of God and their calling to be involved in this way. Leaving it all behind, they now serve in this lively African community. When they come home for a visit, they can't wait to return. After serving there for a few years, they were suddenly blessed with a child of their own. Something they never imagined would happen! That you can't outgive God, is such a true statement! Another young couple I know from the Katrina trip, has left their families, job, and the comfort of what they know to serve in an area they don't know, on a long term assignment in New Orleans. They also are blessed in many ways! God's blessings, visible or invisible, will overflow when you are in his will. Jesus taught us that we would be rewarded: "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42, "For the son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Matthew 16:27 Though we are rewarded, and this is a motivation tool, let us not forget this: "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in haven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hyypocrites do in the synaggues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." Matthew 6:1-4 This doesn't mean you can't talk about your service to God with others. Rather, it means not to boast about it to one another looking for praise and honor from those to whom you tell. Better to get praise and honor from God because we do his work for his glory. We will share in that glory which far outweighs man's dull "glory". So...with the year 2007 approaching, may we prayerfully consider how we will serve him wholeheartedly with joy for His glory that we may speak like Paul, "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Being Joyful

With Christmas coming, the word, "Joy" is often heard. Yet many people are joyless. Loss of a loved one, lack of employment, sickness and disease, marital problems, child problems will sap joy right out of a person. In our minds, we should have a Charles Dickens or Norman Rockwell kind of Christmas. This sets us up for disappointment. Few if any have such a Christmas because "life" gets in the way. Only actors on TV and characters in a book or figures on a painting, people not real, have such Christmas'. All hope is not lost because we can't have these fantasy Christmas'. We just need to "get real" about Christmas. For one thing, it's not about us! Christmas has Pagan roots. The church made Christmas into a Christian holiday to lure people away from Paganism and into Christianity. We use Christmas to celebrate the great gift of God, his ONLY Son, Jesus who eventually redeemed us. No gift and no Christmas celebration can every match that original day! But the gift is for us and it is everlasting. It literally is, "The Gift that Keeps on Giving!" Marie Chapian, PhD, has written a meditation book called, "His Thoughts Toward Me" (Bethany House Publishers, Minneapolis, MN, 1987). It is a small book of different topics the Christian often deals with. She takes passages of scriptures and translates them to read as though Jesus were talking to you face to face. Here is something of Joy she (inspired by God's word) has written:

THE JOYFUL PERSON "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold." (Neh. 8:10, Amp. Bible) I love you because you have chosen to live in My heart, which knows no ugliness and no sin. I love you because you are Mine; I can speak to you and you hear Me. When you lack joy, it is because you seek the experience of joy above Me. When you ache and long for just one taste of joy and feel it not, it is because you look for it in places outside your heart. I can tell you to rejoice because I AM joy. To rejoice is to drink of the essential essence of God, to be in My presence. You say, "But, Lord, You are invisible. How can I be joyful when I can't see You?" You are being garrisoned at this moment by My power through your faith. Is this not enough to make you exceedingly glad? Even though you may be distressed by trials for a little while, and suffer temptation, the genuineness of your faith becomes tested and it is more precious than perishable gold. Gold is always refined and purified by fire. And you, without having seen Me, love me. That which you cannot see brings out the greatest pleasure in all life. I constantly give, because I want your joy and gladness to be full, complete and overflowing. It is a delight for Me to tell you of the wonders in store for you when you live vitally untied to Me, when My words remain in your thoughts as permanent fixtures. You have ached for eternal joy and settled for drips of fun. how can you laugh with My holy laugh when Satan's talons are pulling you down into a sea of complaints? You know the Source of joy; now taste and see that I am good. I Peter 1:5-7; John 15:11 (Pages 86-88)

Remembering the Loaves and Fishes

After miraculously feeding the 5,000 with just five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus had the disciples collect what was left over, "They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over." Matthew 14:20

Some time ago, I was asked to serve on a Fellowship committee at a small church in the Cleveland, OH area. This was a new committee formed by the church council to create fellowship opportunities for church members. These members were requesting fellowship opportunities so they could develop Christian relationships. In one week's time, I went from being a member of this committee to somehow running the committee! Not what I had in mind! The wife of our church council president, Cheri, was on our committee and she offered much encouragement to this doubtful new council member! Our first event was simple. A hot dog picnic in the park with a softball game and some activities for the children. As news spread of the upcoming event, we heard absolutely nothing from anyone about it. I was beginning to wonder if anyone would show. Cheri relayed this to her husband who wisely said, "If no one comes, then they can't complain if they haven't developed relationships in the church." So we planned it and had two weeks of sign-ups. All you needed to do was let us know you were coming and what food item you were willing to bring, plus pay three bucks for the hot dogs. I had never planned an event before and I was nervous it would flop (pride!). About 20+ people signed up. This wasn't too bad considering the size of our church and me thinking NO ONE would attend. The day of the big event, which was on a Sunday after church, our pastor prayed for it's success. The message of the day was on the feeding of the 5,000. Always a delightful story. But how much do we ever really apply this story to our lives. And what is it REALLY about anyway? I would soon find out! One point I recall being made about this miracle was in the cleaning up part of the story. After the 5,000 people had been fed, the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. What this shows is that God's grace overflows and never runs out. This information came after the phrase, "They all ate and were satisfied..." What does this have to do with my hot dog picnic? As I said earlier, a little over 20 people had signed up. As we began to grill the hot dogs, more and more people were showing up that hadn't signed up. I began to panic! We didn't have enough hot dogs for everyone! People were bringing salads and desserts, but that wasn't helping the hot dog situation! I was getting a little angry that they hadn't signed up and now I was unprepared (more pride!). An older gentleman (who had signed up) overheard those of us grilling and said he'd run to the store and get more hot dogs. We had no money left to offer him. "No problem.", he said. He purchased hot dogs and buns. Some children came up and said all the church volleyballs were flat. This same man somehow came up with a pump for the balls and everyone was "satisfied." Cheri and her husband were nearby when it suddenly hit me. I said to them, "In all my panic....I'm suddenly remembering this morning's sermon on the feeding of the 5,000!" We acknowledged it's timeliness, which of course, God's word always is! After such a powerful message, how could I have ever doubted God would provide? Feeding 50 people hot dogs was nothing compared to feeding 5,000! Even more so, remember this: God is always bigger than our problem - "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31-32

Happy Thanksgiving

May we be thankful and grateful for all the things our Lord gives us. Even those things we wonder why we must endure. For it is written: "Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. " I Thessalonians 5:17-18 Happy Thanksgiving and may God Bless you!

Rumor: Being Good Gets You Into Heaven

RUMOR: Being good is what gets you to heaven. FACT: If that were true, none of us would ever get there! BIBLE SNOPES: The bible proves without a doubt that this rumor is just that (and one Satan would love us all to believe). What does the Creator of the universe and everything in it have to say about this? "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 . . . THEREFORE . . . "There is no one righteous, not even one!" Romans 3:10 . . . AND what's more . . . "The wages of sin is death!" Romans 6:23 No matter how hard we try, we cannot keep God's commandments. Ten rules for righteous living... no one but Jesus himself has ever been able to keep. Paul understood this problem. He taught, "I know nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing!....What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:18-19, 24 (Read the entire struggle of Paul's sin nature, and ours, in Romans 7) As for the law (Ten Commandments), check this out: "Therefore, no one will be declared righteous in his (God's) sight by observing the law; rather, through the law, we become conscious of sin." Romans 3:20. What is the way to eternal life and heaven then? Most of us know the John 3:16 verse...but let's read it and the next verses that follow, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (does this mean the whole world then is saved? Read on) WHOEVER believes in him is NOT condemned, but WHOEVER DOES NOT believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18 SO..."..if you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9. Believing (Knowing and putting one's faith in) in Jesus Christ is a choice each individual must make to be a part of God's kingdom. It is through no other name, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must saved." Acts 4:12 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 And consider this about God's grace (granting eternal life through accepting His gift of grace through the sacrifice of his Son on the cross): "...if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21. Now if anyone could say they were "good", it would have been Abraham. He was very obedient and the Lord spoke to him face to face as a man would to a friend (Exodus 33:11). Yet, God did not credit him righteous for all his good deeds. It wasn't until Abraham believed in the promises of God (that he would be the father of a nation that would channel the birth of our Redeemer, Jesus). "Abram (later renamed, Abraham) believed the Lord and he credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 (See also Romans 4 where Paul expands on this truth about Abraham and how righteousness is credited to us). Romans is a great book to study about this truth. I highly recommend everyone study it (this is my current study). This truth is CLEARLY laid out throughout the bible, not just Romans. Search the scriptures yourself and you will see. Don't trust what others say; the rumors of this world (Good people go to heaven). Read what YOUR CREATOR and the CREATOR of the UNIVERSE says about it. Click on this fun comic presentation for more info: Comic Strip: Are You a Good Person? Break the chain of this rumor now. And if you already have, pass this on to someone else who needs to know this LIFE OR DEATH truth! God bless you for choosing life! Don't forget...read the comic strip!

Picking Cherries or Choosing Truth

Most people don't have trouble believing in heaven. But bring up Hell and this will often stir up controversy. Some refuse to believe it even exists. But did you know Hell is mentioned more times in the bible than Heaven (note that Hell has many names in the bible: Hell, Hades, Lake of Fire, etc.)? The bible also has much to say about how we should live which is in stark contrast to the ways of the world. Ask anyone on the street if they believe the bible and many will say yes. But many of those same people will not believe EVERYTHING it says. They will pick out what they like (cherry picking) and reject what they don't like. If we do this, then the bible no longer is God's word. It becomes OUR word. If we say it is acceptable for people to pick and choose what they want to believe in the bible, then GOD's word becomes useless. Everyone has written their own bible. God's word needs to be accepted for everything that is written in it, or completely rejected. It needs to be accepted as written by God through those He inspired. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16. Peter taught the early church this, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.... We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.....Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." II Peter 1:16, 18, 20-21. Not wanting to know God's truth is an age old problem. The prophet Isaiah spoke God's word to an obstinate nation, "These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!'" Isaiah 30:9-11 Not much has changed! Few want to be bothered with Jesus let alone the bible. They don't want some book with a list of rules showing them what sinners they are! Can any part of the bible be trustworthy anyway? How do we know it's true? If these are questions you have, please visit this very informative web site: Investigating The Bible And...know this, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Proverbs 30:5

Going For The Kingdom!

"But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you... Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:33-34 Why I ever worry about a thing, is beyond me! Here I am, half a century old and God has always taken care of me. But I worry where I'll be 10 years from now. Who my sons might marry. Will we have enough money to retire? Will our health hold out? The list can go on and on. But Jesus reminds us that the birds of the air and the lilies of the field are well taken care of by God. Are we not much more valuable than these to Him? Oh we of little faith??!!??!! (Matthew 6:25-34) God was training the Israelites that He was their provider. They needed to be rescued - he sent a deliver, Moses who even crossed them over the Red Sea. They needed food - He provided manna. They needed water - He provided it through a rock. They sought to be free from the bond of slavery and God whisked them out. He miraculously provided for them in their doubt (stories from Exodus). Yet, they still did not believe the promised land could ever be theirs. God told Moses to send some men, one from each tribe, out to explore the land he was about to give them. They did and came back with a mixed report. They brought back grapes that were so heavy, it took two men to carry it on a pole. Pomegranates and figs were also found. Giants and powerful nations were also living in the land that far outnumbered them (this story is found in Numbers 13). Caleb said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." Numbers 13:30 Only he and Joshua had faith that God would be with them and against all human odds, would be given the promised land. The other ten spies cried out, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored." Numbers 13:31b-32a Moses and Aaron knew this would anger God who had protected and provided for them all these years. Had they no faith even after all the miraculous things God did for them? Had they not learned a thing? Moses and Aaron pleaded with the people to not rebel out of fear. Joshua said, "..do not rebel...do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Numbers 14:9. The people wanted to stone them and rebelled anyway. God said, "How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed among them?" Numbers 14:11b. Moses interceded on the people's behalf saving them from God's wrath, but they suffered the consequences of the rebellion. Their fears and worries got to the best of them and God would not allow them into the land. Anyone 20 and older would die before the nation would be ushered in. Only their children would see this miraculous promise unfold. What a great lesson. If all we see is the negative, then the negative just may come to see us! But we have this hope:
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21 And...while some trust in the things of this world, remember this: "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord Our God." Psalm 20:7 Again..."Seek first HIS kingdom...and all of these things (provisions needed for you to live in His will) will be given to you." A prayer for today: "Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." Proverbs 30:7-9

You ARE The Center of His Universe!

A while back, a friend and I were discussing the age old question, "Is there life on other planets?" I had mentioned that my father couldn't imagine that there wasn't given all the other planets in the universe. I, on the other hand, marveled at the prospect that God would make this vast universe and everything in it just for us; the lone life on one planet of many. At this point my friend said, "Well, I don't think of myself as the center of the universe." I took a bit of offense to this comment as I was not talking about "ME" but about God's love for us. Later, I thought, "But you ARE the center of HIS universe!" God created us. When we blew it in the Garden, separating us from Him, He provided a way to reunite us instead of destroying us. As early as chapter 3 in Genesis, God promises a redeemer. To the one who destroys life (Satan) he says, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15 Jesus Christ God's only son, was this promise. His death and resurrection is the price that is paid for our sin so we can be reunited with our perfect God. Sin and perfection cannot be present at the same time. So sin must be cleansed which it was at the cross of Christ. This done all out of a love we can't begin to fathom. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 I'd say this proves we ARE the center of HIS universe. What more could he do? It is the highest price of love there is. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 What a great thought to bring back to mind as much as possible, but especially when we are feeling down. We should be rejoicing always because of this truth. Dear friends, and myself included, as Paul wrote, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19

What's On Your Playlist?

Good medicine for when you are feeling down? Praise and Worship music! It also inhibits road rage, comforts fear, relieves boredom, stops temptations, and relieves stress. I enjoy walking my dog while listening to this uplifting music on my MP3 player. By the time I'm done, I feel Spirit-filled and enriched with endorphins! Even a cloudy, dreary day won't get me down after this! The bible is filled with times of music. Moses and Miriam led the Israelites into song after crossing the Red Sea. Hannah sang a prayer of praise and thanksgiving after dedicating her much longed for son, Samuel, to the Lord. And who cannot marvel at Mary's song when she visited Elizabeth and the rejoiced at the prospect of giving birth to our Redeemer! King David wrote many songs in the Psalms for every occasion. In good times and bad! Music fills our souls with inspiration. Although their is nothing wrong with good, clean secular music, I find that 99% of what I listen to is Christian music. I drive with praise music on and am amazed how irritating drivers no longer bother me. In fearful times, the songs remind me of how great our God is and it comforts me. Soothing Praise and worship songs relax me in times of stress. Don't get me wrong....reading the bible definitely does the same and more! But music is a gift from God, inspired by His Spirit. He gives us music and his word (and the music is FROM his word) to help us in our daily walk. Blessed are those with the gift of music to serve those of us who rejoice in it. What an awesome gift! I look forward to the day when I sound better than I do now (in heaven)! But for now, my playlists will be ones with the songs that God-inspired men and women have created to bless my daily walk with the Lord. "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:19-20

Finding Joy in Your Journey

The camel in this picture does not look too enthused about the long desert journey before him. He is a camel, however, and camels live in deserts. They travel well through the long, dry desert making for excellent transportation. They serve their masters well. We face many long journeys in our life that lack enthusiasm. Maybe it started out being exciting, but a few steps into it, and the journey wasn't what we had hoped it would be. Consider the Israelites in Egypt. Their deliverer, Moses, a prefigure of Christ, enters their lives of horrid slavery. He promises them deliverance. Against all odds, they are free to leave their land of slavery for a promised land of milk and honey. The journey would take between two and three weeks. No sooner did they leave with this great milk and honey prize to look forward to, when Pharaoh's army chases them with their chariots of rage. Immediately they complain to Moses: "What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians?' (note...they cried of their misery as slaves earlier) It would have been better to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Exodus 14:11-12 But God would not let them die. He is a promise keeper and he had a lot to show them in their journey. He had Moses raise his staff at the Red Sea. The waters miraculously parted and they crossed. When Pharaoh's chariots crossed after them, the Sea closed up drowning the Israelites long time enemy. This was one of many miracles the Israelites would witness. Their short journey would turn into 40 long years because of their grumbling and disobedience. Every journey has an end. So many times we want to take the short route. Instant results and gratification is what we think we want. But what would that teach us? We would become bored and want something bigger and better. We would not be mature for that bigger and better thing. I've read more than one story of a million dollar lottery winner that ended up losing old friends and running out of money not knowing how to manage it. Many sports, music and Hollywood stars with sudden fame and wealth find themselves in a state of confusion and turn to drugs or other ways of escape. The star that worked hard, endured some failures and took his or her time in their journey are the ones who coped better with success. Journeys bring obstacles and trials and we should expect them and be prepared for them. We are refined by them. God equipped the Israelites. "The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle." Exodus 13:18 They had Moses who led them and a God who blessed them beyond measure. They had many failures and lessons. The first generation was so defiant, they would not be alive by the end of the journey. Their descendants behind them would win this prize. Here is how God summed up Moses' journey in the desert: "The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast desert. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything." Deuteronomy 2:7 We worship the same God as Moses. He will treat us the same way. If you are anxious in your journey, slow down. Look around. How are you being blessed? Perhaps your journey is in a slow spot. Is God showing you something? Are you listening and being obedient? Are you stuck in your past failures? Listen to Paul's advice, "...I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12b-14 Keep praying with expectant prayers in your journey and enjoy the trip along the way! God has amazing things to show you!

Laying It All Out Before The Lord

Have you ever wondered how you were going to get through something? Maybe you received your schedule for the next semester and wondered how you'll carry such a load. Perhaps it's a project at work and you don't even know where to start. Or the medical bills keep coming in and even after insurance, your 20% is overbearing. Election Day is coming up and many of us are disappointed with the selection of candidates. Who will we vote for? Are you in a situation where you just don't know what to do? We can learn an important lesson from King Hezekiah. He was a godly king of Judah who was being taunted by the powerful king of Assyria, Sennacherib. He insulted and blasphemed God and his people. After much success in overthrowing other cities, he now threatened Hezekiah with a letter. King Hezekiah read the letter, then went to the temple and "spread it out before the Lord." He prayed, "O Lord Almighty, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.....It is true, O Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone....Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God." Isaiah 37:15-20 In Hezekiah's prayer, he first acknowledged who God is (You alone are God). Then he admitted the disturbing problem (It is true...that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples...). He sees the godlessness in the problem (for they were not gods) and finally, he presents his request (...deliver us from his hand...), but desires the request to be for God's glory (so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God). The prophet, Isaiah, sent a message to Hezekiah saying, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib....the Lord has spoken against him..." Isaiah 37:21-22a. Sennacherib was rebuked by God for his blasphemy against His people. One hundred and eighty-five men were put to death in the Assyrian camp and Sennacherib's own sons cut him down with a sword as he was worshiping an idol. What a God we have! All he desires is for us to turn to Him with our situations. He loves to show us His mighty works because He loves us. Next time something disturbing comes your way, "lay it out before the Lord!" We can do like Hezekiah and place the school schedule, tax forms, bills, voter's guide, or the disturbing front page news, before the Lord. On our knees, we can acknowledge His sovereignty, our problem, the powerlessness of man and our request for His deliverance. Pray expectantly and with right motives. God is glorified in our submission to Him and He blesses us beyond what we can imagine. As this old hymn reminds us, "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer." Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886 Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918

Forgive That Sinner Over There!

"Why should I forgive him? He's not even sorry for what he did!" Those were my words to my mother as we were discussing a family member's hurtful actions. My wise mother had told me I needed to forgive this person. I figured that if he wasn't even sorry, I didn't need to forgive him. How silly to think I should! A couple of weeks later, I attended church. The pastor was preaching one of those sermons where you realized he had a video camera secretly following you around so he could preach a sermon just for you! He talked about how often he counsels people who have a problem with another family member. They are so upset with this person, it inhibits them from going on in life. They are bitter and it's taking over their daily living. He tells them they need to forgive this person. He says most of the time he gets this response, "WHY SHOULD I FORGIVE THEM! THEY AREN'T EVEN SORRY FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE!" I'm sitting in the pew ready to say, "Amen!" I could sense that there was something wise about to be said that would require a more humble response. Sure enough....our pastor cited wisdom from God's word. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8b Talk about conviction! I will never forget this sermon. The timing was incredible. Surely the sermon was directed at me. I could almost see Jesus standing behind his servant, our pastor, looking at me as he said those words. I forgave the family member and am still forgiving him. Just as Jesus forgave me and is STILL forgiving me! This family member is either a lost soul, or one that is way off the path and needs to return. As hard as it is sometimes, I stay in contact with him waiting and praying for the day I will have the opportunity to guide him or encourage him. I pray that day will come soon! "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:13-14

Blessings: I'd count 'em, but can't count that high!

Earlier, I wrote a post on this blog entitled, "God Gives Me Good Things." No...I haven't changed my mind. I'm just reminding myself that this is so true in spite of seemingly negative things that happen. I was rejoicing that the MRI on my wrist didn't show much to be concerned about. So... I returned to my game of tennis only to have a painful, weak hand the following day. How frustrating!!! One "kind" person told me to get used to it. She didn't think such injuries every really healed. Another person gave me more hope by telling me to call the doctor and tell him I want to try occupational therapy. I did and I begin next week. I'm praying that through therapy and strengthening exercises, I can fully recover. But in the meantime, this whole ordeal reminds me of Paul's "thorn in his flesh" (See 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). The person with the not so hopeful comment could be right about not having a full recovery and I need to be prepared for that possibility. The blessings from such an experience is what is in verse 9 of that passage. Paul had asked the Lord 3 times to remove this "thorn." Jesus' response was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9. He went on to say how he would boast all the more because Christ's power now rests on him. "For when I am weak, then I am strong." v10 The person that comes to mind who exemplifies this truth is Joni Eareckson Tada . Permanently paralyzed from a diving accident as a teenager, she began a ministry that has touched the lives of thousands of people with (and even without) disabilities. Check out her ministry at this website: http://www.joniandfriends.org/ My so called "long journey to recovery" has had me in and out of a brace. When I wear the brace, people start asking questions. I tell them what happened and how frustrating the past months have been. But in the end, I tell them (as I'm reminding myself) that I am so blessed with so many other things, that if this is the worst thing that has happened to me, how dare I complain! When you begin to focus on the negative things going on with yourself, or of the things around you, try counting your blessings....if indeed, you can even count that high? We take so much for granted! "...I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing." Ezekiel 35:26b

The Destoyer of Relationships

It's inevitable. Life's going along pretty good and then someone or some people say or do something to rain on your happy day. Maybe they don't like something you do. Maybe it was something you said. You find out directly or indirectly that there is a conflict and you didn't see this coming! Naturally, feelings are hurt. Anger can set in. Maybe you want to get even somehow and hurt back. Sometimes people lash out by avoiding the person...not speaking to them. That will teach them! Step out of yourself for a moment and look at the situation from the outside in. What if YOU were the one that wasn't happy with someone and took action against the person. What if that person came to you and instead of lashing back, or ignoring you, they said, "Wow..I'm sorry. I didn't realize I had offended you. Please accept my apology." Would that not make you either sorry you had an issue over nothing, or..if it was something, be more than happy to forgive that person? Satan is in the business of destroying relationships. Especially relationships that glorify God. A marriage, a parent-child relationship, friends, neighbors, co-workers/students, etc. If the relationship is destroyed, it can no longer glorify God. When I'm tempted to let my feelings get in the way of cutting off a relationship (whether the other party is right or wrong), I think about how this is pleasing Satan and not God. I think about the purposes of life and of relationships...how I may be edifying to that person or that person is edifying to me. Do I really want to cut off my relationship with that person and let Satan be victorious? In light of eternity, what is it that really matters here? These thoughts often trivialize the whole issue when I look at the big picture. I remind myself I'm not giving Satan the victory. Unless my friend or relative chooses to cut me off, I'm in. And if I am out, then I will continue to pray for that person and treat them with respect no matter how they are treating me (and believe me...I must remind myself of this. And..it doesn't come easy). I pray I will always be this way because this is what pleases God. And this is what I get in return...peace with others, peace with God, and long, fruitful relationships. Don't let that LION devour you and your loved ones! "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him....!" I Peter 5:6-9a

When Silence Speaks/Remembering Mom Part 2

When my mother was in the hospital the week before she passed away, I was having difficulty believing God would plan this for such a faithful woman of only 67 years. She befriended many in need and shared her faith freely. This didn't make sense...allowing a Godly woman to die with so many needing her witness and encouraging words. I prayed and prayed and prayed for her to get well. I prayed for a miracle. But the cancer was rapidly taking over her body. It was becoming clear that a miracle was not going to take place. So I began to pray and ask God to make sense of this senselessness! I asked him why he was allowing such a horrible thing. I wasn't getting any answers. God seemed distant. Comfort and answers were nowhere to be found. Only silence with each prayer. After yet another prayer, I let my feelings be known to God..."What do you care! You won't even answer me!" Silence was finally broken with these words, "Trust in me with all of your heart. Don't lean on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge me and I will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 (my paraphrase). It suddenly occurred to me why God was silent. I wasn't giving him any room to speak to me. My mind was made up that God was being unfair to take my mother so soon. Furthermore, he was turning his back on the importance of her earthly ministry. This was MY UNDERSTANDING. "Trust me...I know what I'm doing." Of course! What would my earthly, depraved mind know about the just, righteous ways of God? "Trust in me... not in your earthly understanding" I clung to these verses over the next several weeks and they brought me comfort. I am thankful for God's words which speak to me in times of need. How important it is to be in God's word. His words will break the silence of loneliness. We are not alone. Read God's word daily and let him speak to you. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105

Remembering Mom

This month marks the 5th anniversary of my mother's passing. She was one of the most devout Believers of modern times that I know! Eight years earlier, my father had passed away. Even this tragedy did not shake her faith. In fact, she became even closer to the Lord clinging to the hope He promised her and all of us in the bible. That hope is that one day, we who believe in Jesus, will have eternal life with Him in heaven. No more tears, loneliness, anxiety, physical disabilities, worries, sadness, depression. All of these worldly woes have no room in God's kingdom. I miss my mother. But I know where she is and it brings me comfort. In her final days on earth, she had asked me to read a passage she treasured. One that gave her comfort in disturbing times. "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17. How beautiful is that! We have a Lord that rejoices over us in singing! I was with my mother as she left this world to be home with the Lord. When it was done, I remember the odd feeling of her being gone even though her body was still here. A nurse came in and asked if I wanted to be alone with her for a while before staff came in to take her. I declined because this just wasn't the mother I knew. The mother I know is alive! She is alive in Christ and present with him at this moment. If she could say anything to me right now about what this is like, I know what she'd say, "Ohhhhh Lynn!". "Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not be sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." II Corinthians 5:6-8"

A Cure for "Mondays"

Mondays do not seem to be a popular day with most people. Most likely because it's the beginning of a long work week, a dreaded final exam, or the fun weekend with family and friends has now passed. A bad day can arise because of something we have to face that we dread. For some, the dread could be just another day of living in misery due to their circumstances at the time. There have been days and times I have struggled to wonder why I should bother getting out of bed. The phrase, "Make the world go away", has been my first thought on such dreaded mornings. It is at that time God's voice will ring out from memorizing this verse: "This is the day that I have made! Now you go out and rejoice in it!" (My paraphrase of Psalm 118:24). When I reflect on this, I begin to have hope. If God made this day, and He wants me to rejoice in it, then there is purpose in me getting up and living life out for His glory of which He has invited me to come and share in! At best, I have made a difference in this world or in someone's life on this created day. At the worst, I simply made it through another day. Most days that fall in between...I have discovered that what I dreaded wasn't nearly as horrible as my mind had imagined it. Oh if only every day I would get up and recite that verse with great anticipation! God has such big plans for us on each and every day! "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:10-12

Lose Weight While You Sleep and Win A Million Dollars!!!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could eat and eat and eat and then burn it all off while we slept only to eat more the next day? And what about the sudden wealth of winning that multi-million dollar lottery? The trouble with all this is, if we had it, then what? Would we stop wanting more? Would the consequences of our worldly lusts matter? Would we finally be satisfied? Mick Jagger's sensational hit song, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" says it all for such desires. The spiritual hymn to remedy that song could be, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus." I love that song. It reminds me to "..fix my eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." II Corinthians 5:18 Great things came to many Godly men and women of the bible who lived out this truth. For a short synopsis of such great stories, read this: BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: Hebrews 11 This passage is also known as, The Great Hall of Faith. I've read it many times and have recently gone back to it in a bible study I'm in. Such inspiration! I hope it wets your appetite and leads you to find the stories of these faithful characters in the bible. May their stories inspire us to long for the satisfaction only Jesus can give us!

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim...In the light of His glory and grace." Refrain from, "Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus", Text and Music: Helen Howarth Lemmel (1864-1961)

Light for North Korea

The above photo is of North and South Korea at night. What an amazing contrast!

Kim Jong II has captured world attention with his nuclear test and threat of yet another one. What doesn't get attention is the underground church in this both physically and spiritually dark land. Imprisonment or execution awaits for the Christian who is caught reading a bible or singing hymns. Please pray for this little church. Pray for light to come to North Korea through this small body of Believers. Pray for their safety and spiritual growth in this dark Communist country. And as always, pray for peace. "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man." Psalm 112:4

Godly Resolution

Remember the commercial where a person raids the refrigerator for a snack, comes across something pleasing, but not very nutritious, settles for it and eats it...then upon returning it, bumps into the V8 container? They then knock themselves in the head and declare, "I could have had a V8!" This reminds me of how we sometimes handle life's foibles. The foibles end up turning into disasters when we try to handle the problem OUR way. We could have brought it to the Lord and had done it HIS way! King Jehoshaphat did it right. He was told a vast army was headed in his direction for a battle. His army didn't compare to the one that was now closing in on him. "Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord.." II Chronicles 20:3 Resolved - "firmed and fixed in purpose, determined" (Webster). He didn't START by trying to figure out how to deal with this problem on his own. He RESOLVED to inquire of the Lord. What an example! This is one of my favorite old testement stories.BibleGateway.com - Passage Lookup: II Chronicles 20:1-30; Take some time to read it and then think of some situations you might be in and follow the example of this Godly king. It is from this story and verse 15 that the song, "The Battle Belongs To The Lord" came from (see lyrics below). In the end, our King Jehoshaphat didn't even need to pick up a weapon. The people watched in amazent how God saved them. He did it right. He inquired of the Lord. He recalled his promises and faithfulness and gave God all the glory. They even began to praise God before God did anything. What trust! What an example. Read the story. Apply it. I plan to do so in a situation I currently am in. I expect great things from the One who has been faithful throughout the ages!

The Battle Belongs To The LordJamie Owens-Collins - In heavenly armor we'll enter the landThe battle belongs to the Lord No weapon that's fashioned against us shall stand The battle belongs to the Lord We sing glory and honor Power and strength to the Lord (repeat) The power of darkness comes in like a flood The battle belongs to the Lord He's raised up a standard, the power of His blood The battle belongs to the Lord When your enemy presses in hard do not fear The battle belongs to the Lord Take courage my friend, your redemption is near The battle belongs to the LordCopyright © 1984 Fairhill Music, Inc.

First Snow

Yesterday, the Chicago area had it's first and earliest snow on record. On October 12, 2006, 3/4 of an inch of snow officially landed at O'Hare International Airport! The historical event was met with mixed reviews. The children at the school where I work gave academics a back seat as they gasped in awe at the flurry fury. Some of the staff groaned and declared the word "snow" a "four letter word!" Others, such as myself, marveled at it's soft beauty. To think no two flakes are alike. If you find yourself blessed to be in a bookstore with some time (and maybe even a dollar or two), look up this book: "The Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty", by Kenneth Libbrecht & Patricia Rasmussen, Voyageur Press, October 2003. The magnified photos of individual snowflakes are breathtaking! It's hard to imagine that after viewing such unique beauty a person still believes all this detail and order to our universe "just happened" or "evolved". There is NO denying the intelligence found behind our creation. And the creation testifies to God's glory: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." (Psalm 19:1-4; cf. Psalm 97:6) Then there is this awesome fact: "He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea.... By his breath the skies become fair.... And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! How then can we understand the thunder of his power?" (Job 26:7-9, 11-14) I like the last part (in purple). I look at the snowflakes falling, the sun rising in the Eastern sky, the power of a storm, the precious face of a baby, the roar of a lion and ponder..."these are but the outer fringe of his works..." What an amazing God!

God Gives Me Good Things

This isn't really me, but maybe it could be! I'm very encouraged by today's MRI results. Outside of a small cyst inside the back of my wrist, and some minor arthritis, I am A.O.K.! No hand surgery, not even therapy. I can have surgery to remove the cyst if it becomes worse or never gets better, but many times it can shrink (may have gotten inflamed from the sprain, or even was a result of the sprain...no tellin' for sure), but because it's not too painful, we will wait and see. I have no restrictions. So...P.T.L. (praise the Lord) for good health. Did you ever dwell on something or something would get you down and then feel like God used something to give you a message? With the aches and pains that had been going on, I was starting to feel old (see previous post) and the turning 50 thing was NOT fun. Today, as I'm driving to the doctor's office for the MRI results, I had WMBI on and heard a commentary from some man I never even heard of before. It was the tail end of it, but it's all I needed to hear. He was talking about "getting older" and being bothered by it. "We were designed to get older. We have to have this body die to get our new bodies. It's all part of God's plan. So enjoy life and know this is part of the plan." These were all comments I needed to hear. And before I even knew the results of the MRI, I felt better already. No coincidence but a Godincidence. Being in prayer and then being still enough to listen to God and we just may be surprised how he gives us the desires of our hearts! One of my favorite passages: "Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord all my soul and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:1-5

Ellie Belly

This is my pup, Eleanor Roosevelt (Ellie for short). Now who could resist a face like this! We adopted her from a place called, "Strays Halfway House." She was on the loose in the Northwest suburbs. We picked her up at a PetSmart near Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL. She'll be 3 yrs. old in Jan. 2007. If you put a treat in your hand, point a finger at her like a gun and say, "BANG!", she'll roll over and play dead. This can take as long as a minute. She dies a slow death. But anything for food! I look at her and wonder who could lose a dog like this and not find her. Their loss and our gain!
"All things bright and beautiful,All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful:The Lord God made them all.", Cecil F. Alexander, 1848

Banning Birthdays

When I was younger, I remember people older than me saying, "Never get old!" I'd just smile as I certainly could not relate to that statement! Now as my joints begin to deteriorate and inhibits me from doing certain things, I find myself saying the same thing to younger people. Jumping into a new sport or activity was never a problem when I was younger. Now I pay the price (to M & M Orthopedics!) and realize the birthdays of my life have added up to ....well....I'd rather not say! I remind myself there are MANY worse things in life! So I am thankful for what I have and not dwell on what I don't have. After all...what's really happening here, is because I chose life, I'm drawing nearer to the day I'll be present with my Savior. No more birthdays to add up there (but go ahead and wish me a happy birthday when it's here anyway). "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." II Corinthians 4:16

Enjoy Sarah

When Russ and I went to California last June, we attended Saddleback Church. Remember, "40 Days of Purpose" with the Hawaiian shirt preacher? That's the church! There's something for everyone at that church! Pretty awesome. Anyway, Sarah Groves was a special guest that Sunday morning. We really liked her and bought a couple of her CDs. We listen to them constantly when we drive. If you like soft Christian contemporary music with songs that have a strong message, you'll love Sarah Groves. Watch the short video below (or not..I came back to this only to find on my computer it is not working!). And for more info on her and her music, you can go to her website: Sara Groves "My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing and make music with all my soul." Psalm 108:1

Sarah Groves - Just showed up for my own life

Extrait du Dvd de Sara Groves en Afrique Sarah Groves goes to Africa, then to Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina Relief...

Hello!

Welcome to my blog. I'm new at this and am trusting God for direction! In the meantime, my first post is just a Hello and welcome. Life is an adventure! Sometimes it's good, sometimes bad. But it all boils down to how we handle what we've been dealt with. In light of eternity, most of what has been handed to us is trivial. Key phrase: "In light of eternity". This usually downsizes my current "issues" almost immediately! It is something I have to remind myself of and am so glad that I do. Scripture for today: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18