Guidance

Dancing With God 

When I meditated on the word Guidance, 
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word. 

I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. 

When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music, 
and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. 

When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, 
both bodies begin to flow with the music. 

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back 
or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. 

It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully. 

The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person 
and gentle guidance and skill from the other. 

My eyes drew back to the word Guidance. 

When I saw "G": I thought of God, 
followed by "u" and "i". 
God, you, and I dance. 

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust 
that I would get guidance about my life. 
Once again, I became willing to let God lead. 

Dance together with God, trusting God to lead and to guide you 
through each season of your life. 

And I Hope You Dance Through your Life with Him.

Happy Father's Day!

                          Wishing all the dads a happy Father's Day! 
                  Let us also remember the greatest Father of all....God.
                                     And not just today, but everyday.

Just Like My Cat

I have one of the most loving cats. She was a rescue cat. She has become my shadow when I am at home. Most of the time she is content to just be near me and follow me from room to room. However, the past few days she insist on curling up in my lap. I tried moving her next to me but that wasn't good enough. She had to be on my lap. It didn't matter how many times I moved her, she was back in my lap. I finally just let her be. That seems to be where she is the most content. Whether its because she loves me or that is where she feels safe, I really don't know. But God used her to teach me.

You see, most of the time, wherever I am in the house,there she is. If I'm cooking, she's in the kitchen. If I'm showering, she's in the bathroom. If I'm sleeping, she's in the bedroom. If I'm sitting on the couch, she's in the living room. You get the idea. Wherever I am, that is where she wants to be. 

The other day, she was curled up on my lap, purring contently, when a scripture crossed my mind. Psalm 42:1 “As the deer pants and longs for water, so I pant and long for you, O God” As I sat there petting my cat, I prayed and told God I wanted to be just like her. To follow Him wherever He goes, to sit content and safe in His presence. I thought more about that first verse in Psalm 42 and it came to life for me. I want my desire for God to be as strong as that deer longing for water. To search for Him in the middle of my woods, to drink the Living Water.

Its still funny to me the things God will use to teach me. The great thing is, once He gives you that insight, His word becomes a part of you. So my prayer today is that we all become like that deer, longing and panting for our Father. For me, I want to be just like my cat.

Memorial Day

              Remembering all our families who have sacrificed for our country.

Slow Down!

The other day I ran into someone I hadn't seen in while. When she asked what had been going on I just said “Oh, you know, go to work, go home, cook, eat, watch TV, go to bed and wake up just to start the cycle over again.” She just responded that she knew what I meant.

Later that day I thought about that conversation. We live in a fast-paced world and don't take enough time to enjoy life. Think about how you spend your day. The alarm blares and we roll out of bed. Almost immediately we jump into our routines. Be it showering and ready for work, or getting the kids out of bed and ready for school. We rush out the door and head to our jobs. There, we do what we need to do, watching the clock for our cue to head home. Once there, we have dinner to cook, dishes to wash, kids to get settled, etc. before we can sit down for a little while and watch TV or read, pushing the day out of our minds. All this and it doesn't include the little emergencies that crop up. No wonder we tired and drained. There just doesn't seem to be enough time to get everything done.

The way our lives are going, we don't stop to just relax and enjoy the beauty around us. Whether it be sitting in your yard, enjoying a sunset or playing ball with your kids. When was the last time you took time to just have fun and actually enjoy the day?

Even God rested after six days of creation. So if God rested, what makes us think we don't need to. Perhaps you can get up 15 minutes earlier and drink your coffee outside, enjoying the early morning. Maybe you can make a point of spending 5 or 10 minutes of relaxing when you get home from work. Spend a few minutes talking and listening to your spouse and children.  

Whatever it is you can do to “stop and smell the roses”, do it. Why don't you take a few minutes and enjoy the beauty of nature by watching this clip.

A Mother's Love

Mother....the woman who carried you in her belly for 9 months and gave you life. Everyone has a mother, not one person is exempt. And every mother has made mistakes. Ask one. If she had it to do over again, there are things she would have handled differently. You see, motherhood does not come with a manual. A mother just does the best she can for her children. Why? Because there is a love bond that no one can match. That love develops in her inner being while her child develops within her. Granted, some women have made terrible decisions about their own lives which affect her child. But even in bad circumstances, that woman has a deep rooted love for them. Perhaps she doesn't know how to show love. Perhaps her judgment is clouded by addictions or other circumstances. Perhaps she has medical conditions that prevent her from being the ideal mother.

Its very much like our relationship with God. We are His children, He is our Father, and there is a love bond like no other. Sometimes we make bad decisions but we still love Him. There are even times we get mad at God, but the love is still there. Perhaps there are times we don't feel or act very loving towards Him, but we do. At times like that our feeling of love is clouded. The love is still there. 

With Mother's Day coming next Sunday, remember to show her your appreciation. It doesn't have to be a fancy, expensive gift or a dozen roses. It can be something as simple as making a phone call to tell her you love and appreciate her. Maybe just a ”thank you”, letting her know that you appreciate her efforts. 

Some of our mother's have passed on. But we can still celebrate her life. Perhaps cooking her favorite meal, looking at family pictures, talking about things you have done together, etc. When a mother passes, it leaves an hole in your heart. Take some time to fill that hole with loving memories. That is one of the greatest tributes we can give her.

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.”

Spring Cleaning

A couple of weeks ago I tackled spring cleaning. An entire weekend of scrubbing, washing, polishing, etc. What a job that was! Its amazing at the what you find to clean when you start looking. About half way through I was wondering why I had started this project.

The answer was simple, the weather was warming up. After months of being closed up to the cold winter, we could finally open windows and break out summer clothes. Spring, a time when trees and flowers start to bloom, and the freshness of early mornings fill the air. Time to freshen up the house, clean those baseboards, sweep out the cobwebs. 

But it is definitely work! I was not excited about the second day of cleaning. However, I had to finish. I was committed. A half cleaned house just doesn't work, I wanted the entire house to be done. At the end of that weekend, I was just glad it was over. 

Its great to come home to a clean, fresh house. Everything sparkles and shines. But maintenance is required to keep it that way. However, those weekly cleanings are a snap compared to deep cleaning. 

This got me to thinking. When we first come to God, there is a lot in our lives that need cleaning. Some of that is deep cleaning, which is not always pleasant. All that scrubbing can hurt! But when the cleansing is complete, we sparkle and shine with the love of God. But just as in our spring cleaning project, we require maintenance. God is continually working and cleaning us up. Sometimes there are areas that require more scrubbing, but sometimes we just need a dusting.

So the next time you are cleaning your house, be thankful that God has provided you a house to clean, just as He provided you a Savior.

Through the Fog

The other day I was sitting on the porch, drinking coffee and enjoying the morning. As I took in the scenery around me, I noticed the mountains were gone! I strained my eyes to at least see the mountainous outlines, but to no avail. The lush greenery of the pasture and trees were shimmering with dew as the morning sun shone on them. The birds were visible and singing, but still no mountains. I thought that if I didn't know better and someone told me there were mountains there, it would be hard to believe.

That got me to thinking about faith. The bible defines faith as “...the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb 11:1) The mountains! I couldn't see them, yet I KNEW they were there. That morning, God gave me the perfect example of faith!

As I sat and reflected, the fog slowly began to dissipate. As it lifted, I could vaguely distinguish the mountains. However, I had to really look for them. As I stayed focused on the vanishing mist, the mountains slowly began to take shape. By the time I finished my coffee, they were once again visible. 

You see, its just like that in our walk with God. We haven't seen Him, yet we KNOW He is there. If we just stay focused on what we do know, the fog will lift and we will begin to see His majestic presence around us. I thought about the times God feels a million miles away and realized its my view that is clouded. He is and always will be with me, right by my side. After all, He promised never to leave or forsake us. (Heb 13:5) 

What started out to be just another day turned into a wonderful time of receiving God's blessing. So the next time your path appears blocked or non-existent, stay focused on what you know. Don't let your circumstances cloud your vision. The fog will begin to lift and you will once again see your path. 

God's Cake

When things go wrong, as they sometimes do, we wonder why God allows it. But if you stop to think about it, those tough times somehow work to our advantage. The next time you are struggling through situations, remember God's cake.

"A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, 'Absolutely Mom, I love your cake.'

'Here, have some cooking oil,' her Mother offers.
'Yuck' says her daughter.

'How about a couple raw eggs?' 'Gross, Mom!'
'Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?'
'Mom, those are all yucky!'

To which the mother replies: 'Yes , all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake! '

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"

The Day After

Yesterday, many of us celebrated Easter. We ate chocolate rabbits, (ears first, of course), dyed hard boiled eggs, sat down to a holiday meal, etc. And let's not forget how we fretted for weeks trying to find the right Easter outfit. But that was yesterday. Today, most of us will jump back to our routines and life continues as normal.

What does Easter mean to you? To some it is the start of spring. The flowers are beginning to bloom. The weather is starting to warm. The sun is setting later. Time to ditch the winter sweaters and coats and start spending more time enjoying the outdoors. Ahhh! Spring!

To others, Easter is vacation time. Schools are out of session and parents have taken time off from work. The beaches become your playground. Families spend quality time together enjoying each other. When they go back to their routines they are feeling refreshed and renewed.

No matter what you choose to do over the Easter holiday, it all comes to an end. The dinner has been eaten, the outfit you wore is no longer new, the warm, spring weather will turn to hot and humid, the vacation ends. But there is something that you can choose to do that will continue into eternity. That something is to accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

You see, every one knows the story of Easter. Christian or not, most people know the story of how Jesus was tortured, crucified, and died. And on the third day, He arose again. But to believe this will carry with you into eternity. There will be no end to the joy of knowing Jesus as your Savior. 

So as we return to our routines, let us return refreshed and renewed, knowing that no matter what happens, Jesus is with us. The days ahead will be filled with joy, hope, faith, and love. Let us live each day in the power of the resurrection.

Tomorrow

I think we all have an inherent nature to want to know what is to come. There are people that seek out psychics to tell them what their future holds. The tools they use are tarot cards, crystals, horoscopes, etc. People want to know where they are going, who they will marry, etc. Some believe these predictions so much that they can become disillusioned and depressed when events don't come to pass. Others just laugh it off as nonsense.

You are probably thinking you are not like this. But how many times have you watched the news and made your weekend plans based on weather predictions? Lets think about it. We look to see if they will predict a day to be sunny, snowy, rainy, etc. Then base our plans accordingly, only to be disappointed when that warm, sunny Saturday turns out to be cool and rainy. That's not the same thing! It may not be, but the point is that we all look for signs of what the future might be like.

Even the church gets involved in this 'future telling'. They tell us to watch for signs of the end times. Look for wars, earthquakes, famine, false prophets, etc. to indicate Jesus is coming back. Generations have seen these signs and predicted the end, yet we are still here.

These types of teachings are what turns a lot of people away from church. They hear preaching on getting ready for the last day when Jesus will come back to judge. They hear that they need to be 'right with God' to avoid damnation. But do they hear how to do that? Does the church teach us how to have a relationship with God?

If the church would focus on teaching how to know God, how to walk with Him daily, how to love, how to hear God direct our steps, etc., I believe our world would be radically different. Let's use the Bible as a tool. It tells us how to live, how to know God, and how not to worry. If we heard teachings on these things, we would be loving the unlovable, helping our neighbors who are struggling with addictions, focusing our attention on how to be more like Jesus. Then, and only then, will we not worry what the future holds. Focus on today, on how much God loves you despite your shortcomings.

Matthew 6: 34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.“

Here's Your Sign

It was a dreary day, raining and cloudy, and I would have much rather been curled up at home instead of working. The positive side was that perhaps the rain would clear the air of all the spring pollen. All the sniffling, sneezing, and itching of the past few weeks might be over. That got me to thinking.

There are times in our lives that 'spiritual pollen' irritates us. You know the kind, the lack of money, stress, arguments, etc. The things that turn on focus to the negative things in our life. Sometimes this pollen is an attack from our enemy, the devil. He is out to make our lives miserable, to destroy us. Other times, this pollen is self made. Perhaps that decision we make that doesn't turn out the way we expected. Either way, spiritual pollen can make us miserable.

Back to the rainy day. I arrived home from work and we decided to treat ourselves by going out to dinner. Of course, about that time it began pouring down rain. But we didn't let that deter us. Out we went. As we were leaving the restaurant, we noticed the rain had stopped and the sky was starting to clear. It was then we saw it. The brightest rainbow, full of color. We just sat in the parking lot, marveling. It was still there when we got home, just as bright as could be. I knocked on our neighbor's door so she could see this awesome rainbow. We were all just standing there in silent admiration. That got me to thinking again.

A rainbow, God's promise to us. But rainbows are only created after a rain. The rain that clears the air of irritants. I began thinking of how good God is! Even though we may experience spiritual pollen like adversarial attacks and such, God, in His mercy and grace, sends His Spirit to reign.

So, the next time you experience a rainy day, think about how God is not only clearing the air but also your soul. Then, when the rain is over, look up for a rainbow.

Don't Slap God

Now that the weather is starting to warm up its time to dig out those spring clothes from last year. And if you're anything like me, you find things you've forgotten about. Its almost like free shopping. Then disaster strikes as you attempt to put on those pants you bought last year. Not only can you not zip them, you can't even button them around your waist! Then you try for that pretty flowered shirt. Strange, I didn't remember it being THAT form fitting last year. My first thoughts are usually along the lines of “I'm so fat!”. Then I start criticizing myself, which leads to being in a foul mood.

Then there are those bad hair days. You know the ones, no matter how hard you try you can't get your hair to do what you want it to. It won't curl, won't straighten, won't do anything! Agghhh! At that point you think, and maybe even say, “I hate my hair!”. That sets you up for being irritable.

We all have those times in our lives where we become so critical of ourselves that we begin to believe our life is horrid. We think things like, I hate my body, I hate the way I look, why did God make me this way, etc. When we feel like this and think on these things, we are insulting our Creator. It is like slapping God in the face.

You see, God created us. He knew how we would look, decisions we would make, where we would be working, etc. Psalm 139:13 “For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb.”

He knew, before we were even born, what would be occuring in our lives on this day, at this moment. So for us to criticize ourselves, and others, it is like criticizing our God. Even though things make not be the way we want them to be, or we may not look like we want, we are still made in His image. If things aren't going the way we want, ask God for help. Remember Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you,says the Lord,thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.”

Take a Hike!

Friends of mine are avid hikers, and not those little walks through a national park. I'm talking about days, and sometimes weeks, of hiking. In talking with them, I never realized all the preparations that are made prior to their trip. I guess I thought you just packed some clothes and food and took off walking. I was so wrong! It could take weeks to months of planning depending on the destination. The first leg is to select a starting and end point. Then you have to check weather forecasts, determine how many miles you think you cover in a day, and begin gathering the provisions you will need. Tent, sleeping bag, clothing, food, water, first aid kit, etc. When packing for an extended hike, you need to keep in mind that you will be carrying all these things, usually in a backpack.

Then they made an interesting statement, its not the actual hike that is so hard, it is the preparations. They recounted stories of some of the mistakes they made and how they learned to prepare better. Of how the first hike was short, just a weekend. Slowly, their hikes became longer, lasting a week, two weeks, etc. In fact, each trip they learn new ways to make the next hike easier. Along their travels they meet hikers with more experience who share their adventures and errors. My friends learn from them, too.

I began thinking how much this sounds like our Christian walk. As we journey through this life, we have hills and mountains to climb. And we all know some of those mountains can be tough! But God has given us provisions. We have packed faith, His word, His spirit, etc in our hearts. He has given us experiences that we learn from that will enable us to get past the tough spots. And along the way, we encounter others who can share the benefits of their own spiritual mountain climbing.

Keep in mind that no matter the size of the mountain, God will not have us hike up one we are not ready for. God is our Father, and no father would have their child take a trip they were not ready to handle. I know some of the trails I have hiked were very challenging. There were times I didn't think I could endure. But then, there ahead, I could see the top. So we continue, the sight of our goal pushing us forward.

My friends truly enjoy the challenges of hiking. One of the many reasons is to experience the grand views from the top of a mountain. Are you ready for the challenge? May each of our days be in preparation for our climb to a mountain top. Let's get hiking!

In the Shadows

On a recent day, I was driving along when I looked over at the mountains. It was the middle of winter and yet they were beautiful! There was no lush greenery or the autumn colors of the leaves, just the sun casting shadows. I never realized that shadows could be so beautiful. 

That is what got me to thinking. There must be light for shadows to exist. Even a small amount of light creates shadows. Remember when we were kids and laughed at how much bigger we looked in our shadow? 

In the Book of Psalms (Ps 91:1), David tells us “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].” 

What a great verse to meditate on! First things first. What is the 'secret place'? I believe it is a place we come to in our relationship with God. We all have our secret spots, be it a secluded place on the beach, under the tree in our yard, or just a room in our house. It doesn't really matter where that place is, its the place we go to be alone, to get away, to clear our minds. God's secret place is sort of like that. The difference is, we can go there anytime. The secret place of God is where you meet Him. 

It is there we commune with our Father. We love, we learn, we follow. Imagine this, following God in such closeness that we are hidden in His shadow! Since we live in a world that has so much darkness, our light radiates from God. And if we stay so close to Him that we are in His shadow, our enemies won't even see us. All they will see is God's shadow. How awesome is that! 

Let's Play Cards

After reading this, you will never look at a deck of cards in the same way.        

It was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some reason hadn't been heard. The young soldier knew it was Sunday, the holiest day of the week.  As he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of cards and laid them out across his bunk. Just then an army sergeant came in and said, 'Why aren't you with the rest of the platoon?'  The soldier replied, 'I thought I would stay behind and spend some time with the Lord.'  The sergeant said, 'Looks to me like you're going to play cards.'  The soldier said, 'No, sir . You see, since we are not allowed to have Bibles or other spiritual books in this country, I've decided to talk to the Lord by studying this deck of cards.'  The sergeant asked in disbelief, 'How will you do that?' 

The Ace.  It reminds me that there is only one God. 

The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New Testaments 

The Three represents the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. 

The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John 

The Five is for the five virgins there were ten but only five of them were glorified. 

The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.

The Seven is for the day God rested after making His Creation. 

The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives -- the eight people God spared from the flood that destroyed the Earth.

The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy He cleansed ten, but nine never thanked Him.

The Ten represents the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on tablets made of stone. 

The Jack is a reminder of Satan, one of God's first angels, but he got kicked out of heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the joker of eternal hell. 

The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary. 

The King stands for Jesus, for he is the King of all kings. 

Count the dots on all the cards, a total of 365, one for every day of the year. 

There are a total of 52 cards in a deck; each is a week - 52 weeks in a year. 

The four suits represent the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.

Each suit has thirteen cards -- there are exactly thirteen weeks in a quarter.

So when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this old deck of cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for.'  The sergeant just stood there. After a minute, with tears in his eyes and pain in his heart, he said, 'Soldier, can I borrow that deck of cards?'

Don't Become Prey

Ever have those times in your life where you're dealing with one thing after another? Sometimes you don't even get over one thing and something else starts. Yes, life has times that can be a struggle, a trial, a drudgery. The good news is we have instructions on how to overcome these times. The directions we need are found in the Bible, specifically 1 Peter 6-10. Now, lets see what we need to do.

The very first thing is to humble yourself before God. All this means is that you let God know that you realize He is in charge. You have no real power to get through this difficult time, if you did, you wouldn't still be struggling. So cast aside your pride and acknowledge God as God. (verse 6)

Next, we cast all our worries and anxieties to God. Remember, He doesn't want our problems, He wants us to tell Him the things that are causing our minds to anxious. You know, the things we worry about that seem to be consuming us. (verse 7)

Why do we do this? So that our minds are clear, sober, and unclouded. Verse 8 tells us our enemy roams like a hungry lion seeking to devour. When our minds are clouded and filled with anxieties, we become easy prey. Just as in the wild, the lion will search for prey that is weak. Instead, fill your mind with things that are lovely, pure, holy, and good. This will help you to stand firm in your faith. (verse 9) It may not alleviate the situation you are going through but it will encourage you. As you think on the things of God and look to Him, He will become your strength. The grace of God will flow over you and fill you with peace. You will come through your situation stronger and securely grounded. (verse 10)

So there you have it. Specific instructions on overcoming troubling times. Does it sound easy? Yes. Is it easy to do? It can be, with practice. When will you begin practicing?

Be More Like Your Dog

Sometimes it is hard to express our emotions in words. Take the word love, for instance. We use it in many ways – I love food, I love this weather, I love you, I love that color, etc. Typically, we use the word love to mean that we have an intense like of something or someone. Sometimes I think we use the word love without really thinking about it. 

However, in the Greek language, there are different words to express different types of love. Eros is used to describe the love between a man and a woman, a physical passion. Storge is the love between kin, such as a mother and child, or a brother and sister. Phileo expresses warm affections, the love we have for a friend. And then there is Agape love, the type of love that doesn't depend on our emotions, an unconditional love. 

Can you think of examples of each of these types of love? One of the things that comes to mind is the love our pets have for us. I think this can be defined as agape love. If we feed them late, or scold them, or not give them that scrap of meat they want, it doesn't matter. They still love us. They know that we will take care of there needs. Our pets don't worry about if they will have food, they know we will feed them. They miss us when we are not present. Think about how excited your dog gets when you come home from work. They jump, run in circles, and do whatever it takes to express their joy and get your attention. They aren't mad and sulky because you weren't there, they just know they are glad you are with them. 

This is exactly how our love relationship with God should be. After all, the Bible tells us not to worry, God knows what we need and will supply it. Perhaps He won't give us all our “wants” but He always gives us our “needs”. Just like our pet, they may not get that scrap but they will get food. 

Have you ever gotten upset with God? I have. But that doesn't mean He loves you any less, even if you walk away from Him. He will look for you and tug at your heart until you return to Him. Again, just like when we leave our beloved pet and rush off to work. They may sulk after we leave but they rejoice upon our return. 

Perhaps God gave us pets so we can relate to how He loves us. When we come to truly understand that He loves us that much, with that agape love, it will begin to overflow to those around us. And that, my friend, is what God desires. 

Create a Masterpiece

Have you ever watched an artist? They take a blank canvas and begin filling it with various brush strokes of color. At first it just looks like splashes of colors. Eventually, the canvas starts to depict a picture. Perhaps fine lines or other details begin to emerge. The artist then starts to add the finishing touches and we see a beautiful painting. 

Every day we awaken, our lives are like that blank canvas. We are fresh and new. This is the time we need to spend a few moments in the presence of God. These moments with our Creator help to define our day. It is here we get our strength, our vision, our focus. Just as the artist works alone, staying focused on the final masterpiece they are creating, so must we. Before the cares of this world creep up and begin trying to add to its burdens. 

As our day progresses, that blank canvas begins to take shape. We meet people who just need a smile. The lady at the grocery store who just wants to be appreciated. A co-worker who needs someone to talk to. Perhaps you see someone and all you can do is silently pray for them. 

Look around you. See the beauty of the day. The sun that shines brightly. The rain that brings a rainbow. The cold that makes you snuggle into your coat. The warmth that makes you glow.

At the end of the day, that blank canvas has become a beautiful painting. It is filled with love, compassion, and joy. You are a masterpiece! 

God's love and mercy are new every morning! (Lam 3:22-23)

Refining Silver

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....

--Author Unknown

Just the Facts, Please

We wake up and read it, watch it, listen to it. Some of us do this multiple times a day. We talk about it to those around us. It can make us sad, angry, or scared. Sometimes it makes us happy or brings a smile to our faces. What is it? Sadly, it is not the Bible. It is the news, the internet, the media. They are an intricate part of today's society. But have you ever noticed that the majority of news being reported is negative? Its full of natural disasters, financial crisis, wars, crimes, and the list goes on. Occasionally they will report a heart-warming story that makes us smile. The news influences us whether we like it or not.

With this being an election year, people will be paying close attention. The media knows we pay attention to what they say. And many take what they report at face value. After all, they are the experts and they know. Wrong! They are people just like us. Reporters report news and sometimes they get it wrong. Sometimes they only hear and report one side to a story. Sometimes their own opinions influence how they report news.

Take this past Saturday for example. You may or may not know that the media began reporting the Joe Paterno, the Penn State coach, had died. It was on the internet news, sports news, etc. But they were wrong! The family informed them that he was in grave condition but had not died. Sunday afternoon, the headlines again read that he passed away. But this time it was true.

My prayer is that the people will use the resources available to validate some of the news stories we hear, especially with the presidential election coming. I ask that God would give us all discernment, that we won't believe everything we hear.

Next time you hear “news”, take a moment to get the facts. Don't let your judgments be clouded by biased opinions.

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.

Don't "go" to Church

People across the nation rise on Sunday mornings, dress up, and head to the church of their choice. There, they greet one another with smiles plastered on their faces and appear to have their acts together. The music starts and they clap, raise their hands, and some even shout. They gather together, sitting in their seats, appearing to listen attentively to the words coming from the pulpit. Meanwhile, many of them are mentally checking off their to-do list, planning on where to eat, or even fuming at their spouse. But to look at them, you would never know these things are going through their minds. The service comes to a close, they load back into their cars, and head home. There. They can now say they are good Christians who have been to church. Now for the next six days, they can return to their normal routines, until Sunday arrives again.

Is that what church is? If so, no wonder so many want no parts of it. We need to realize that church is not the building or the service, but that we are the church. Every day of our lives should reflect the Jesus that is in our hearts, the love that we have for our God and each other. We should be waking up with praise on our lips, spending time with God before the hustle and bustle of our day begins. It doesn't have to be an hour, it can be just a few minutes. Our days should be filled with moments of honoring and thanking our heavenly Father. We should be encouraging  those who come across our path. You never know how much a few kind words or a genuine smile will lift someone's spirit. We need to admit our shortcomings to one another and say “I'm sorry”. 

Does that sound like we're suppose to live perfect lives? Well, it shouldn't. We all deal with the same issues – anger, frustration, worry, finances, etc. We just need to handle them as Christians, as followers of Christ. For instance, someone does something that makes you angry and you react in that anger towards them. When this happens, conviction should start nudging at you. That is when you need to go to that person and admit you should not have said the things you did and you shouldn't have reacted in the way you did. Tell them you are sorry. You see, its not the fact that you reacted in anger, its the fact that you returned to them and apologized. It takes God in your life to enable you to do that. 

If we pay close attention to the directions that God is giving us, every hour of every day, and respond to His commands, then we are truly the church. The bible tells us in John 13:35 “By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].” This is how we become the church. Then, as we go through each day living by God's direction, we can gather together in the church building and have the kind of church service that people will be drawn to. 

Conviction or Condemnation

Breaking news---We are not perfect. Okay, so maybe that is not news to most of us. We are flesh and blood and we don't always make the right decisions. But when we do, how do we handle it? Do we beat ourselves up and dwell on it, slowly sinking into a woe-is-me-pity party? Or do we ask forgiveness, repent, and learn from our mistakes? 

A hard pill to swallow, but I believe it depends on our spiritual maturity. As we mature and grow in Christ, the more we begin learning from our errors. Think of this this way, when young children do wrong and are caught, what do they do? Try to lie their way out of it or begin crying and saying they are sorry in hopes of avoiding punishment. But as they grow and mature, they begin to learn from wrong judgments and start taking responsibility for their actions.

As Christians, we need to acknowledge our sin. God is quick to point out when we are acting out of character. Then we need to ask for forgiveness. Let God know that you are truly sorry for your actions. Remember, He knows our hearts. Repent, and turn away from your sin. Ask God to help you, to strengthen you, to surround you with Godly people to support you. 

The problem is, do we really know the difference between the conviction of God and the condemnation of the enemy? Have you ever had a past sin come to your mind, even one that you may have forgotten about, and starting beating yourself up over it? Why? God has forgiven and forgotten it, He sees it no more. So why are we reliving it and tormenting ourselves over it? The enemy is condemning us. That is his job. And if we fall into that trap, he wins that battle.  
When we sin, God convicts us immediately. He doesn't wait until later that day or tomorrow or next week. We know exactly when we do wrong. Now we may chose to wait until later to actually acknowledge and deal with it, but God doesn't. 

Simply put, condemnation will dredge up past sin, whether from an hour ago or years ago. The conviction of God is instant and immediate. So don't let the enemy steal your peace. When he brings up your past, just say “thank you for reminding me how forgiving and loving my Father is.” And start praising God for His love, His mercy, His grace. Watch how fast the enemy will flee!

New Year, New Mindset

Welcome to the year 2012! This is the beginning of a new year. We can never go back to last year, the same as we can never go back to yesterday. That time has past, its gone forever. But even though we can't go back, we can reflect on events that occurred, choices we have made, things we have or have not done.

As we reflect on these things, we should be seeing situations where we should have done or said things differently. How many times have we heard ourselves say, “if I had it to do over again, I would.....”? Although we can't return to that specific moment of time, there will come another circumstance that will be similar. The faces may change, the places may change, but the situation won't. That is our chance to use the lessons we've learned from the past and apply them.

You see, every day we are learning. Learning about ourselves, our God, our life. Its what we do with that knowledge that is important. Sometimes we tend to make the same mistakes over and over, sort of like the Israelites wandering in the desert. Other times, we realize our mistakes rather quickly. But our God is faithful and quick to forgive. All we need to do is ask And when He forgives, it is forever. That is what we need to learn to do - forgive.

When we handle situations badly, we need to acknowledge that and forgive ourselves. Although we are seldom able to forget the error of our ways, we are able to forgive and learn from it. We are able to take that lesson and apply it to our lives.

Sometimes there are things that happen that we can't change. Like when someone hurts us. But we can forgive them and move on. Holding on to yesterday's hurt is not only harmful, it is pointless. Why would we intentionally hold on to something that is hurtful to us? Let it go. Put it behind you. Move forward.

So let's start this new year with a new mind-set. Once today is gone and tomorrow becomes the present, let us put yesterday behind us and move on.   Don't take today's junk into tomorrow.  After all, you can't put new wine into old wineskins least they burst and make a mess.