Why is it that we sometimes fight God's direction? We tell Him, use us...send us... then we are content to stay put doing the same old thing, the same old way, day after day. When we don't see the results of our ministry (or our actions) we tell ourselves we are just in a "be still and wait on the Lord" period and in time He will reveal His purpose, His lesson, His results. We ignore the signs, for lack of a better word, and we chalk up the lack-luster results of our work for Him as someone else's fault when in reality if we were actually serving Him when, where and how He desires the results would be phenomenal.
Don't get me wrong...I do believe we have to be still and wait sometimes but should we not evaluate our own relationship with Him during that time, do a little self-analysis, some soul searching, a little introspection if you will? Shouldn't that be a part of our regular relationship with the Lord? The self-evaluation, I mean? While praise and worship, reading the Bible daily and a healthy prayer life are very much an important part of that relationship, how often do we honestly, evaluate the condition of our own hearts?
Charles Swindoll stated in his book Intimacy with the Almighty that "solitude is the place where struggles occur that no one else knows about. It is there that God probes our deepest thoughts and opens our eyes to the things that need attention... Solitude is the furnace of transformation" It is in those be still and know that I am God times that "He makes us aware of those things we try to hide from others." It is in the solitude and silence that we are transformed, that we become more like Him.
Psalm 139:23-24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." KJV
If we read His word, NO...if we meditate on His Word and apply it to our lives daily...have a meaningful prayer life and by that I mean...not just bringing Him a laundry list of what we want Him to do for us and what we will do for Him, if we truly worship Him...if we exercise this discipline of solitude and reflection of our own lives...examining our hearts with honesty and giving over to Him our weaknesses, our sins....how then can we go about doing what we have always done when we know in our heart of hearts His will is elsewhere or simply in doing something different?
Is it the fear that someone you love and respect will not acknowledge that you even know God's will? Is it that someone you love and respect will not agree with the direction in which you feel led? Is it the fear of letting them down or the fear that if it fails...your relationship with God will be examined and judged by friends and foes alike? What exactly is it that keeps us from stepping out whole-heartily, smack-dab into the middle of His Will, with excitement and unwavering faith and assurance?
I think it has to do with surrendering. By definition to surrender is to yield to the power of another, to give up under compulsion...relinquish. And guess what? It's a verb! It takes ACTION! It IS an ACTION! It is so easy to bandy the word about with all the other "Christian-speak" we have become comfortable using, isn't it? But to do it...well that's a different story entirely, is it not? If I were to be honest with you and with myself, I would have to admit it is sometimes difficult for this Type A, planner who demands perfection, who expects measurable results immediately. Why is it so hard to completely surrender? To be sold out 100% to Him... to His will?
We get caught up in activities in our personal life, in programs, promotions, and church socials, and what we think is the work of God. We are busy, busy, busy and we miss the mark...totally miss the mark...miss His calling, miss His direction...shoot right past His Will for us and hit the bulls-eye of the work of our own hands and we can't understand why we are not receiving a blessing.
How busy we have become and as a result...how empty all because we tell ourselves we are surrendering to His will yet have our plans all tied up nice and tidy in a neat little package with a pretty little bow subconsciously considering how it will look to others, and who will be pleased. All the while we are not still or quiet enough to even know if it is His voice we are hearing.
How assuring to know that He patiently waits for us to yield, to quit fighting Him, to allow His plan to run its course, to turn to Him for our security and significance. As He witnesses our doing that, He begins to reveal Himself and His will in greater depth.
If we don't slow down and listen...He will get our attention. If we pledge to be of His service and then do our own thing....if we promise to be used by Him then refuse to act when called... He will cause His purpose to be accomplished one way or the other. Two situations come to mind...Esther, who was told that deliverance for her people would rise up from somewhere else but to not think she would be spared if she took no action...and of course, there is Jonah..who went the opposite direction of God's will only to find himself in the belly of a great fish for three days while God got his attention.
As we step forward into a new year, let us be sure we are walking in His will...always keeping in step with the Spirit, being renewed and transformed daily, trusting Him whole-heartily, leaning not on our own understanding but acknowledging His grace...knowing His will...and walking by faith to accomplish His purposes... His good and perfect will.
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." KJV
I say it again...in ALL thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Monday, January 5, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
We are off to Missouri so please enjoy...It's A Dog's Life...we should be so smart!
Today we are heading back up to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to drop Jake off. He graduates 15 January and will be stationed there until deployed. I thought you might enjoy this story. I posted it back in July when I only had one reader...thanks Brother Jim! I posted the cartoon for you! :-D God bless and we'll see you again real soon!
Repost from...
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
It's A Dog's Life...we should be so smart!
Before Jimmy and I married I was a cat person. However, my boys have always loved dogs. Richard was the worst. I don’t know how he managed but it seemed every stray dog in the county showed up on our door step. When he was about 13 we were in a "dog free" period and he had just started the Junior Firefighter program at the local volunteer station. Jake was almost three and I decided to check out the local shelter to see if I could find a Dalmatian. Lucky me…they had one that was house broken and did a few tricks.
As our first house pet, "Backdraft" quickly became part of the family. While he was intended to be a surprise for Richard the dog had other ideas and he and Jake became fast friends. When Jake started school the dog would watch from the front window while "his boy" got on the bus. As it slowly rolled out of sight, Backdraft would head to the bedroom to sleep and watch TV. You would think the dog could tell time! At 3:00 every afternoon he would meander over to the window, poke his head through the curtains and wait - sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, but never lying down.
Repost from...
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
It's A Dog's Life...we should be so smart!
Before Jimmy and I married I was a cat person. However, my boys have always loved dogs. Richard was the worst. I don’t know how he managed but it seemed every stray dog in the county showed up on our door step. When he was about 13 we were in a "dog free" period and he had just started the Junior Firefighter program at the local volunteer station. Jake was almost three and I decided to check out the local shelter to see if I could find a Dalmatian. Lucky me…they had one that was house broken and did a few tricks.
As our first house pet, "Backdraft" quickly became part of the family. While he was intended to be a surprise for Richard the dog had other ideas and he and Jake became fast friends. When Jake started school the dog would watch from the front window while "his boy" got on the bus. As it slowly rolled out of sight, Backdraft would head to the bedroom to sleep and watch TV. You would think the dog could tell time! At 3:00 every afternoon he would meander over to the window, poke his head through the curtains and wait - sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, but never lying down.
Before the bus was even in sight the dog would jump up and start wagging his tail. I mean, really wagging his tail. As the bus drew closer he would run to the kitchen door, back to the window and to the door again until Jake burst through and dog and boy were reunited. There were slurps from the dog, pats from Jake, giggles and wiggles, and off they would go. I know from that daily routine why people say, "Dog is man’s best friend."
Backdraft died years ago and for many months Jake literally mourned the loss of "the only dog he will ever love." It’s kind of odd, I think about that dog and the way he loved his boy many times. Most often as I am getting ready for church - of all places. Do I wait patiently enough on the Lord, like that dog waited every day for the big yellow bus to pull up and deposit the love of his life at the end of the long driveway? Am I as excited to see the Lord as I step in the front doors of the sanctuary as that dog was when his little boy walked in the kitchen door? After all, isn’t that the way it should be? We are going to a place where we commune with our Lord. Shouldn’t we be excited? Shouldn’t we be happy? Shouldn’t we look forward to it all week?I ask you, just as I ask myself, to examine why you go to church. Is it for the people, the music, the programs, the Pastor? Is it because that’s what good people do? Or…are you going because it is there you see the love of your life?
Saturday, December 6, 2008
A Mother's Anguish Collides With Her Faith
Think back to the day you saw your child for the first time. You looked into that tiny face how long? Fifteen minutes, Twenty minutes…half an hour before you counted all the fingers and toes? You tried to figure out who the baby looked most like as you focused on the nose, the ears, the eyes…the hands and feet. O and the virtually indescribable feeling only a mother who just gave birth has…the rush of relief mixed with hope, love and joy tempered with a smidge of fear. Exhaustion overcome by expectation and the excitement of the sheer magnitude of experiencing this miracle of life.
Now imagine a law has just gone into effect that this very baby had to be put to death…thrown into a river and drowned. That at any moment he could be stripped from your arms and there was nothing you could do about it. This is exactly what Moses’ mother was facing.
Exodus 1:22“Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: ‘Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.’
My ‘mother’s heart’ leads me to imagine her pacing and praying…while fear, sadness, and worry mesh with the unconditional love a mother has for her child. With tears streaming, bouncing and rocking the baby boy “Look at him! How can we throw him into the Nile? I cannot do it! I won’t do it!” The only conclusion: to keep him, care for him and to hide him for as long as she can.
When hiding him became impossible she mustered all she had, stepped out on faith, and did the only thing she knew would keep him alive a little longer. With hope and trepidation in her heart and a prayer on her lips she began working on the basket that would protect him. And as his big sister kept watch the mother slipped her young son among the reeds along the banks of the great river.
Exodus 2:1-4 "Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds, along the Nile. His sister, stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. "
What happens next is clearly the hand of God. The baby is plucked from the waters edge not by your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill Egyptian. It was Pharaoh’s daughter! And who just happened to be there…standing in the shadows…with a suggestion for a nurse but the baby’s own sister. The Bible does not mention protocol or whether this little Hebrew girl was afraid to approach the princess. However, she seized her God-given opportunity and not only provided care for her baby brother but a blessing for the entire family!
Can you imagine the excitement as Miriam ran to find her mother and tell her what happened? “The princess has found the baby and she wants to keep him for her own! She needs someone to take care of him, and she told me to find a nurse! Hurry, Mother, hurry...RUN!”
Now imagine Jocohebed’s reaction. Can you see her clapping her hands, putting down what she was doing, jumping up and down a heart full of praise and worship as she heads out the door to meet the person who has rescued her son? Realization dawning that in just a short time she will once again be with the son she thought she had lost forever.
God used this mother’s courageous act of saving and hiding her baby to begin the plan of rescuing His people. She had no idea at that time what God was doing but He was definitely at work! He really doesn’t need that much from us to accomplish His plan does he?
When faced with a situation that seems humanly impossible to overcome instead of focusing on the predicament we should concentrate on God and His power, trusting Him for the way out. That is all He needs from us.
Revelation 3:7b-8 “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Now imagine a law has just gone into effect that this very baby had to be put to death…thrown into a river and drowned. That at any moment he could be stripped from your arms and there was nothing you could do about it. This is exactly what Moses’ mother was facing.
Exodus 1:22“Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: ‘Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.’
My ‘mother’s heart’ leads me to imagine her pacing and praying…while fear, sadness, and worry mesh with the unconditional love a mother has for her child. With tears streaming, bouncing and rocking the baby boy “Look at him! How can we throw him into the Nile? I cannot do it! I won’t do it!” The only conclusion: to keep him, care for him and to hide him for as long as she can.
When hiding him became impossible she mustered all she had, stepped out on faith, and did the only thing she knew would keep him alive a little longer. With hope and trepidation in her heart and a prayer on her lips she began working on the basket that would protect him. And as his big sister kept watch the mother slipped her young son among the reeds along the banks of the great river.
Exodus 2:1-4 "Now a man of the house of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds, along the Nile. His sister, stood at a distance to see what would happen to him. "
What happens next is clearly the hand of God. The baby is plucked from the waters edge not by your average, everyday, run-of-the-mill Egyptian. It was Pharaoh’s daughter! And who just happened to be there…standing in the shadows…with a suggestion for a nurse but the baby’s own sister. The Bible does not mention protocol or whether this little Hebrew girl was afraid to approach the princess. However, she seized her God-given opportunity and not only provided care for her baby brother but a blessing for the entire family!
Can you imagine the excitement as Miriam ran to find her mother and tell her what happened? “The princess has found the baby and she wants to keep him for her own! She needs someone to take care of him, and she told me to find a nurse! Hurry, Mother, hurry...RUN!”
Now imagine Jocohebed’s reaction. Can you see her clapping her hands, putting down what she was doing, jumping up and down a heart full of praise and worship as she heads out the door to meet the person who has rescued her son? Realization dawning that in just a short time she will once again be with the son she thought she had lost forever.
God used this mother’s courageous act of saving and hiding her baby to begin the plan of rescuing His people. She had no idea at that time what God was doing but He was definitely at work! He really doesn’t need that much from us to accomplish His plan does he?
When faced with a situation that seems humanly impossible to overcome instead of focusing on the predicament we should concentrate on God and His power, trusting Him for the way out. That is all He needs from us.
Revelation 3:7b-8 “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Friday, December 5, 2008
Taking a Stand
While raising my sons, if I said it once, I said it a thousand times… “Sometimes you have to do what you don’t want to do solely based on the fact that it is the right thing to do.” Determining what is “right” in this day and age seems to become harder and harder by the minute.
Where once morality was a black and white issue…the lines have been blurred to the point where even people who profess to be Christians live in the gray area: walking the tightrope between selfishness and righteousness. Either being blind to what is actually right according to God’s Word or worried about the consequences of taking a stand. Imagine all the excuses you have either heard or used. “It doesn’t directly affect me or my family. It’s not my business. What difference can one person (or a small group of people) make? I don’t want to get fired, don’t want to lose a good customer...” and on and on and on.
Exodus chapter one shows a clear picture of what God will do when we stand firm and do the right thing according to His Word. The Hebrews in Egypt were fast outnumbering the Egyptians and it worried the king. He then ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all the newborn boys.
Exodus 1:17 “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”
The midwives faith in God gave them the courage to take a stand and do what was right in sparing the lives of the Hebrew babies. God does not expect us to obey the authorities over us when those orders ask us to go against Him or His Word. The Bible is full of examples where people were willing to risk their lives in order to obey God or save others. Whole nations can be caught up in immorality; thus following the majority or the authority is not always right.
Acts 5:29 “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
In the Bible right and wrong is still black and white...no middle ground, no gray area. When we take a stand for what is right, solely based on the fact that it is the right thing; God will bless us.
Exodus 1:20-21 “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous (21) And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.”
We don’t take a stand for the blessing…we take a stand because it is right in the eyes of the Lord. How do we know what is right… by knowing His Word, by living a life of love and devotion to Him; by having that one-on-one intimate relationship with Him.
Most assuredly taking a stand can be a thing fraught with fright. However, when we are submitted totally to Him…His Spirit guides us and we move and act almost without thought.
What’s stopping you from taking a stand? Let your fear of the Lord overpower your fear of your circumstances or consequences…and let courage replace your apathy.
1st Corinthians 16: 13-14 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. (14) Do everything in love.”
Where once morality was a black and white issue…the lines have been blurred to the point where even people who profess to be Christians live in the gray area: walking the tightrope between selfishness and righteousness. Either being blind to what is actually right according to God’s Word or worried about the consequences of taking a stand. Imagine all the excuses you have either heard or used. “It doesn’t directly affect me or my family. It’s not my business. What difference can one person (or a small group of people) make? I don’t want to get fired, don’t want to lose a good customer...” and on and on and on.
Exodus chapter one shows a clear picture of what God will do when we stand firm and do the right thing according to His Word. The Hebrews in Egypt were fast outnumbering the Egyptians and it worried the king. He then ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all the newborn boys.
Exodus 1:17 “The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.”
The midwives faith in God gave them the courage to take a stand and do what was right in sparing the lives of the Hebrew babies. God does not expect us to obey the authorities over us when those orders ask us to go against Him or His Word. The Bible is full of examples where people were willing to risk their lives in order to obey God or save others. Whole nations can be caught up in immorality; thus following the majority or the authority is not always right.
Acts 5:29 “Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
In the Bible right and wrong is still black and white...no middle ground, no gray area. When we take a stand for what is right, solely based on the fact that it is the right thing; God will bless us.
Exodus 1:20-21 “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous (21) And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.”
We don’t take a stand for the blessing…we take a stand because it is right in the eyes of the Lord. How do we know what is right… by knowing His Word, by living a life of love and devotion to Him; by having that one-on-one intimate relationship with Him.
Most assuredly taking a stand can be a thing fraught with fright. However, when we are submitted totally to Him…His Spirit guides us and we move and act almost without thought.
What’s stopping you from taking a stand? Let your fear of the Lord overpower your fear of your circumstances or consequences…and let courage replace your apathy.
1st Corinthians 16: 13-14 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. (14) Do everything in love.”
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
He Hid My Keys!
We are in the second part of ‘severe weather’ season here in Arkansas and the above picture is a storm cloud recently spotted over the Kyzer Compound. I heard a statistic recently that stated we have had over eighty tornadoes this year. The average is about twenty-something. It reminded me of another small miracle.
I have always been a bit frightened to spend the night at home alone. I’ve traveled all over the world and stayed in hotel after hotel until they blended into one homogenized brand. Never once was I afraid in those places filled with people. But…put me in my own house, out in the country, all by myself, in the dark… the dogs start barking, the cows bellowing, the owls hooting, the coyote’s howling…and the hair on the back of my neck stands up. Needless to say, I have had some serious prayer sessions during those few times.
Several years ago Jimmy was traveling a lot between Ester, Missouri and North Little Rock, Arkansas picking up plants for wholesale. It must have been around Spring Break because on this particular trip he decided to take Jake along with him. I had been working grueling hours on a new marketing campaign was looking forward to some alone time and peace and quite. I stopped at a drive through on my way home and after checking and locking all the doors and windows headed up stairs to eat, read, and watch television.
I must have fallen asleep quite early because at ten o’clock I was startled awake by the weather alert system on television and the weather man describing a tornado touching down in Little Rock...just twenty miles west and it was heading my way! “Stay calm, stay calm…first thing is…I have to get to safety. Do I hide in the stairwell closet? What if something happened and no one found me?” So I did what any “good southern girl” would do…I called Daddy. My parents live half a mile away and if anything happened at least we would be together. I grabbed my purse, briefcase, shoes and sweats and headed downstairs.
By the time I reached the kitchen I was finally dressed and reached into my purse for my keys. They were not there! I rummaged through my briefcase, not there either. Most who know me, know I have this thing about my keys…they are always in my purse, always. You know…everything has a place and everything in its place. Wasting precious time, I headed back upstairs to see if by some remote chance they were on the night stand. Not there either, hummmm.
All of the sudden, the lights went out and the winds were still…eerie silence crashed down…as if all sound had been sucked from existence by some giant, cosmic vacuum cleaner. The only sound left was the pounding of my heart as the cherished minutes drummed on…I slid down the stairs step-by-step on my bottom praying the entire way. As I reached the landing, the wind kicked up again…this time with a vengeance. It sounded like sand blasting the windows as twigs, dirt and other debris slammed into the front of the house. I hit the kitchen floor face down, sprawled out and started praying…the louder the storm…the louder the prayer. It was over as quickly as it started.
I sat up trembling and lit a candle. I was trying to decide if I should stay home now that the tornado had passed or go to my parents. I looked outside but couldn’t really see any thing. I needed to go to Mom and Dad’s…but first...I had to find my keys. Absent mindedly I opened my purse and there they were…right on top.
I was still recovering from the fear of the storm and joy of the answered prayer when my little brother began frantically hammering on the door. I’ll never forget the fear in his voice as he repeatedly called my name. I stood on wobbly legs and let him in. He had come to rescue his big sister and take her safety.
Heading out we surveyed the damage and were shocked at what we saw. The worst was my truck…the driver side was smashed…door caved in, windows broken, fender dented so bad it couldn’t be driven. We picked up pieces of the trampoline for months and have yet to find the grill.
I know that night God had His hand of protection upon me. I never saw those keys in my purse until after the storm. If I had, I would have been on the road when the tornado hit. I truly believe the Lord kept me from seeing them so He could keep me safe in His arms until the storm calmed.
Are you in the middle of a storm right now? No matter what you are facing in your life…if you will simply call upon Him and trust in Him…He will hear…He will answer…He will deliver you…
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
A Soldier's Mother's Plea
Sleep evades.Tumultuous thoughts invade.
A young son prepares for war.
And the rain begins to pour.
A mother’s heart wrestles in unrest.
Will God listen to her behest?
To keep him safe in heart, body, and soul,
Has always been her prayerful goal.
He serves our country with pride.
Oh, God, please be his guide.
Keep him close and make him aware,
You are always there.
In times of struggle and distress,
Put your hand upon him, relieve the stress.
Keep his mind sharp and give Your direction.
Surround him, Father, with Divine protection.
His adoption was a gift from above,
A testimony of Your love.
Yet Eighteen years flew by so fast.
Dear God, please don’t let this hug be our last.
The tour of duty is only a year.
Still, Lord, I can’t help but shed a tear.
No longer a boy; not quite a man.
How far away is Iraq and Afghanistan?
Send him, Father, if You must.
In You I place all my trust.
In my weakness I see Your strength.
For Your love goes beyond any length.
As peace replaces fret,
Assurance that You will not forget,
Your child in a faraway land.
He is safe and secure in the palm of your hand.
From bed to knees and knees to bed,
Thank You, Lord, for calming the chaos in my head.
As night turns into dawn,
I stretch and yawn.
Emotions drain.
Still the rain…
Tumultuous thoughts evade.
Sleep invades.
Friday, August 1, 2008
What "HERO" means to me...
The mere mention of the word hero conjures up images of the events that took place on September 11th. We all remember exactly where we were when we first heard the news. Images flooded our televisions and all radio programming was interrupted as reporters tried to describe what was happening. For one brief moment in history America stood still, united in tearful disbelief as lives were shattered. We watched as police, fire fighters, and rescue crews charged headlong into the blazing buildings never to exit. We heard reports of a man, just an average man; fearlessly take charge as a plane full of people sacrificed their lives to save the lives of those who were the target. As rescue turned to recovery America raised her fist and a war began. Our conscience is peppered with images of those heroes going to and coming home from this war.
We have several military personnel in my family. My youngest brother and I chose the Navy, my oldest brother and youngest son the Army. My nephew and many friends are Air Force. One uncle, Army, another the Army then switched to the Navy to be first UDT then SEAL. He was always our family hero…still is.
By definition a hero is somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown great courage, strength of character, or another admirable quality…a war hero. A hero can also be someone who is admired and looked up to for outstanding qualities or achievements…heroes in the war on poverty, aids or any given cause.
As I look over the people who have impacted my life, for that is truly what a hero does…one can not be a hero without an impact; I think of the young couple who lived down the road from us. They had these two really active boys. Then the younger got sick and just would not get well. It was a rare form of cancer. I think of that young mother taking her child to chemo. I think of mother and father sitting at the side of a hospital bed for months at a time while they tried yet another kind of treatment to battle the disease. I am reminded of the first grade teacher who came to his house, on her own time, without pay, to help him stay up with his class. I think of the young parents, the big brother, the grandparents and family sitting in a packed church as a slide show set to music played across a screen, a tribute, depicting the images of a seven year old that spent most of his life fighting a monster that would eventually devour him.
I am reminded of the time when a very close family friend had twins born too early who spent months in ICU so tiny they would fit in the palm of your hand. The doctors and nurses always at the ready in the event something happened. I think about the time I was holding Logan when he quit breathing and his 24 year old mother just reached over and confidently massaged his belly until the machine signaled he was breathing again. I am reminded of her courage and their fight for life each time I see those healthy, active country boys.
I think of a young mother I recently met on blogger.com who anxiously awaited the arrival of her second child, and of the young son with autism. I think of how they gave up their lives and moved back home…the realization that her family would be there for them. I am amazed by her tireless efforts, researching, going to classes, making sure he has everything he needs, just so he can experience life to the fullest. And the faith and frustration demonstrated as she writes with undying hope in and love for our most gracious Heavenly Father. A mother’s heart laid bare anticipating each day…splitting time with daughter, son, husband…Doing all that mother’s and wives do… laundry, shopping, cleaning, cooking, nurturing, working part time, and more. I can see her in the still of night long after the children are in bed searching the internet for the latest information…longing for the day when the word “cure” will make its appearance.
It takes courage on an indescribable plane to get up every day and enter headlong into battle to fight for the life of your child. It takes super human strength to show calm in chaos, encouragement in the face of despair, hope in the absence of a cure. It takes strength of character to keep smiling when the war is lost and only time is left. These are the true heroes, worthy of honor and remembrance. Their stories are not flashed across the news screen, or splashed about in the news paper, their statistics are not scrolling along the bottom of CNN or Fox News Network yet their battle, their war, is just as horrific, just as real.
May we never forget to acknowledge or lend a hand, say a prayer, reach out in support to, and do all we can for those heroes standing right in front of us!
2nd Corinthians 12 [8] “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. [9] And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness.’”
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Habakkuk 3:19 “The Lord God is my strength: He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”
Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength”
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Psalm 18: 1,2 “I will love You, O Lord, my strength, The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation.”
We have several military personnel in my family. My youngest brother and I chose the Navy, my oldest brother and youngest son the Army. My nephew and many friends are Air Force. One uncle, Army, another the Army then switched to the Navy to be first UDT then SEAL. He was always our family hero…still is.
By definition a hero is somebody who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown great courage, strength of character, or another admirable quality…a war hero. A hero can also be someone who is admired and looked up to for outstanding qualities or achievements…heroes in the war on poverty, aids or any given cause.
As I look over the people who have impacted my life, for that is truly what a hero does…one can not be a hero without an impact; I think of the young couple who lived down the road from us. They had these two really active boys. Then the younger got sick and just would not get well. It was a rare form of cancer. I think of that young mother taking her child to chemo. I think of mother and father sitting at the side of a hospital bed for months at a time while they tried yet another kind of treatment to battle the disease. I am reminded of the first grade teacher who came to his house, on her own time, without pay, to help him stay up with his class. I think of the young parents, the big brother, the grandparents and family sitting in a packed church as a slide show set to music played across a screen, a tribute, depicting the images of a seven year old that spent most of his life fighting a monster that would eventually devour him.
I am reminded of the time when a very close family friend had twins born too early who spent months in ICU so tiny they would fit in the palm of your hand. The doctors and nurses always at the ready in the event something happened. I think about the time I was holding Logan when he quit breathing and his 24 year old mother just reached over and confidently massaged his belly until the machine signaled he was breathing again. I am reminded of her courage and their fight for life each time I see those healthy, active country boys.
I think of a young mother I recently met on blogger.com who anxiously awaited the arrival of her second child, and of the young son with autism. I think of how they gave up their lives and moved back home…the realization that her family would be there for them. I am amazed by her tireless efforts, researching, going to classes, making sure he has everything he needs, just so he can experience life to the fullest. And the faith and frustration demonstrated as she writes with undying hope in and love for our most gracious Heavenly Father. A mother’s heart laid bare anticipating each day…splitting time with daughter, son, husband…Doing all that mother’s and wives do… laundry, shopping, cleaning, cooking, nurturing, working part time, and more. I can see her in the still of night long after the children are in bed searching the internet for the latest information…longing for the day when the word “cure” will make its appearance.
It takes courage on an indescribable plane to get up every day and enter headlong into battle to fight for the life of your child. It takes super human strength to show calm in chaos, encouragement in the face of despair, hope in the absence of a cure. It takes strength of character to keep smiling when the war is lost and only time is left. These are the true heroes, worthy of honor and remembrance. Their stories are not flashed across the news screen, or splashed about in the news paper, their statistics are not scrolling along the bottom of CNN or Fox News Network yet their battle, their war, is just as horrific, just as real.
May we never forget to acknowledge or lend a hand, say a prayer, reach out in support to, and do all we can for those heroes standing right in front of us!
2nd Corinthians 12 [8] “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. [9] And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness.’”
Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Habakkuk 3:19 “The Lord God is my strength: He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”
Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength”
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Psalm 18: 1,2 “I will love You, O Lord, my strength, The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation.”
Saturday, July 19, 2008
My Baby Boy Turned Into a Man When I Wasn't Looking!
When I look at him my eyes see a young man; but my heart sees the little boy who during an ER visit for stitches in his chin looked up with terror on his face and crocodile tears in his eyes with great sobs gasp, “I …ahh…just… ahhh …wanna give… my ahhh… mommy a huugg.”We’ve spent the past couple of days upstairs, his domain during his junior and high school years, going through closets and drawers. His idea…the sorting through of clothes he no longer wants to keep, tossing out long forgotten, broken toys that have avoided the trash bin by hiding in the crevices along the back wall. Pointing out to me the things I can pass along to his nephews, things he wants saved, organizing one last time.
Why do I have this catch in my lungs? It’s not like a hard blow…you know the kind that knocks the breath out of you; still I find it difficult to breathe normally. Just the thump, thump, thump beating in my chest as the time draws ever near for him to report to Fort Leonard Wood.
I’d been trying to get pregnant for two years when I found out that I couldn’t have anymore children. I was devastated and at the age of 23 had a complete and radical hysterectomy. Two years later I was a single mother with a partial education. Over the next ten years…life moved on as I quenched the desire for more children, joined the Navy Reserves and got an education. Funny how God works things out isn’t it? Off and on through the years I had prayed for a child. I could raise another right along with Richard, by myself. Problem was…all I knew was that I was praying to the God that lived in my great grandfather’s Bible.
Then Jimmy came along and introduced both Richard and I to the Lord. First Richard was saved, then me…then marriage. Can you believe it? Nine months after we were married on a Thursday night we found ourselves rushing to the hospital and in the wee hours of Friday morning a security guard told us the only baby doe in the nursery was a baby John Doe. We had a son! We had a son!
I can see that day as clear as if it happened yesterday. I can feel him the first time I held him, I can smell that sweet fresh baby smell just after bath time, I can hear his first “dada,” his “first I wuv you.” I held him for six months straight! I just could not imagine that God would bless me so abundantly, so quickly after I became a believer.
Sitting here, I see snapshots in my mind of pee-wee football, an ATA World Championship, golf, bowling, hunting and fishing excursions with his dad and brother (along with the stories of the one that got away) band and choir competitions, more football, more martial arts…wins, losses, triumph, heart break... I never realized time was slipping through my fingers.
As we had senior pictures made, ordered invitations, cap and gown…I told myself I was ready for this, but then I was still expecting to pay for college and thought he would be home regularly to at least do his laundry. I never expected the Army! We had talked about it when he was in the 9th grade and again in 10th. I was military…it was good for me…but my war was Desert Storm…this one is different, more difficult, more casualties.
As he excitedly talks about his future, about boot camp, AIT, and with a bit of hesitation... the possibility of being deployed to the war zone... and then coming home after four years and becoming a police officer…that catch in my lungs returns.
I have prayed for him his whole life, even before I knew he would be mine. I am a woman of faith, I know God has a plan, He has the bigger picture. We raise them to be independent, make their own decisions and then they go off and do it!
My question is…did it happen over night or so gradually that I didn’t notice until just now? My baby is a man…thump, thump, thump another day closer to boot camp…another day closer to MP school…another day closer to that first duty station.
What is it they say? HOOAH….Army Strong…
Oh my! Army mom!
Thump… thump… thump.
Jeremiah 29:11 “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 a hope and a future.” ~NIV
Monday, July 14, 2008
Princess Isabella is a Thief!
We recently acquired a new puppy, an eight month old Chihuahua whom we named Princess Isabella. Jake calls her Dizzy Izzy and Jimmy calls her Taco Bell, but luckily for us, she will answer to just about anything.
We had forgotten what it was like to have a puppy around and it took us a while to get used to having a second dog in the house, especially one so tiny and loud! Poor Bruno just wanted to be her friend but it took her a couple of weeks to warm up to him and for her to get comfortable in her new surroundings. Now she thinks she runs the place!
Most small dogs like to find a high place to rest. It keeps them from getting stepped on and Isabella is no different. She loves the back of the couch and perches there to watch as I work or play on the computer, as she is doing now. She watches every move I make and is ready to pounce the minute I begin to get up for a cup of coffee or to turn the computer off.
One thing we have learned about our precious little princess is that she is a thief! It started one day when we couldn’t find the remote for the television in the living room. We had watched a movie the night before and instead of changing the set back to TV mode, we just turned it off. You know you can’t change that back with out the remote control, right? It was quite a sight at five in the morning searching the couch cushions, looking under chairs, between the arms of the recliner…searching to no avail and finally giving up and watching the morning news in the bedroom. A couple of days later while doing laundry the remote flew out of her carrier along with her “blankie.”
We never actually see her stealing things…remotes, pens and pencils from the cup on the desk, screw drivers, stray socks, wet washcloths from the side of the tub, pieces of aluminum foil from the trash, Jake’s watch from the coffee table…no we never see her taking them but we always know where to find them! Now we first look in her carrier or in her little pink bed and sure enough…there the missing treasure can be retrieved.
I really hate to make this comparison but she acts like the devil…he has come into the world to kill, steal, and destroy. The first time when we couldn’t find that remote…we turned the living room upside down searching and searching and finally gave up. Thankfully, while doing my household duties it showed up.
Like that dog, we never actually see the devil lurking around, perched watching our every move…waiting for us to step away from God just enough so he can get in there and steal something from us…happiness, children, spouses, energy, time, finances, enthusiasm, passion and before you know it he has a treasure trove of things that once belonged to us.
Sometimes, we look for those things in the wrong places…under the cushions in worldly places, between the arms of someone wrong…searching to no avail and finally giving up. However, if we do our duty…reading our Bible faithfully, attending church regularly, serving God, seeking HIM…what was stolen sometimes will fly right out at us while we are not looking. As we grow in the grace, mercy, and love of God we realize when something all of the sudden turns up missing all we have to do is look in those few places and retrieve what was stolen from us.
Are you missing something today? Has something been stolen from you? Don't look to the world for it's replacement...seek first the Kingdom of God...and you will find your missing treasures.
We had forgotten what it was like to have a puppy around and it took us a while to get used to having a second dog in the house, especially one so tiny and loud! Poor Bruno just wanted to be her friend but it took her a couple of weeks to warm up to him and for her to get comfortable in her new surroundings. Now she thinks she runs the place!
Most small dogs like to find a high place to rest. It keeps them from getting stepped on and Isabella is no different. She loves the back of the couch and perches there to watch as I work or play on the computer, as she is doing now. She watches every move I make and is ready to pounce the minute I begin to get up for a cup of coffee or to turn the computer off.
One thing we have learned about our precious little princess is that she is a thief! It started one day when we couldn’t find the remote for the television in the living room. We had watched a movie the night before and instead of changing the set back to TV mode, we just turned it off. You know you can’t change that back with out the remote control, right? It was quite a sight at five in the morning searching the couch cushions, looking under chairs, between the arms of the recliner…searching to no avail and finally giving up and watching the morning news in the bedroom. A couple of days later while doing laundry the remote flew out of her carrier along with her “blankie.”
We never actually see her stealing things…remotes, pens and pencils from the cup on the desk, screw drivers, stray socks, wet washcloths from the side of the tub, pieces of aluminum foil from the trash, Jake’s watch from the coffee table…no we never see her taking them but we always know where to find them! Now we first look in her carrier or in her little pink bed and sure enough…there the missing treasure can be retrieved.
I really hate to make this comparison but she acts like the devil…he has come into the world to kill, steal, and destroy. The first time when we couldn’t find that remote…we turned the living room upside down searching and searching and finally gave up. Thankfully, while doing my household duties it showed up.
Like that dog, we never actually see the devil lurking around, perched watching our every move…waiting for us to step away from God just enough so he can get in there and steal something from us…happiness, children, spouses, energy, time, finances, enthusiasm, passion and before you know it he has a treasure trove of things that once belonged to us.
Sometimes, we look for those things in the wrong places…under the cushions in worldly places, between the arms of someone wrong…searching to no avail and finally giving up. However, if we do our duty…reading our Bible faithfully, attending church regularly, serving God, seeking HIM…what was stolen sometimes will fly right out at us while we are not looking. As we grow in the grace, mercy, and love of God we realize when something all of the sudden turns up missing all we have to do is look in those few places and retrieve what was stolen from us.
Are you missing something today? Has something been stolen from you? Don't look to the world for it's replacement...seek first the Kingdom of God...and you will find your missing treasures.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Lord Send a Revival and Let it Begin in ME!
I have been reading A Global History of Christians and have just been through the Reformation, the Great Awakening, and The Second Great Awakening. How the preachers and their fiery brand of evangelism transformed the world in which they lived. Tent meetings and camp meetings sprang up not only in urban areas but on the edge of the western frontier. People couldn’t get enough of the Word of God! It kind of puts me in the mind of Acts chapter 2. Verse 37 ’When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the Holy Spirit."’ And we know what happened there, don’t we? Three thousand repented and were baptized! Brothers and Sisters, that is a revival!!!
I was thinking…what would happen if in the local park someone stood up with Bible in hand and began preaching repentance, baptism, and eternal life. Pointing out the condemnation of the soul-dead, weary masses, searching for meaning in the here and now. People trying to fill the holes in their hearts with possessions, careers, and the carnality of the world? Would people gather, share food, spend the night, stay there listening with rapt attention as long as the preacher spoke? Oh, I can see it now…who would be the first to call the police? Did they have the right permission and permits, had they paid the correct fees? If so, would they then be charged with disturbing the peace and be removed? Disturbing the conscience is more like it! Even "so called" Christians might accuse the evangelist of being a fanatic, an extremist, zealot, or worse…
Christians and society in general are comfortable with "church" taking place on Sundays in a building frequented by ’believers and seekers’ singing songs, giving an offering, listening to a sermon; getting a dose of heavenly love, righteousness and glory to soothe their minds so they can start their week off "right" then shaking hands and heading to lunch all before noon.
I must stop right here and tell you that my pastor is one of these fiery evangelists. I love it! I pray we would have visitors and regulars alike who would be ’cut to the heart.’ What would happen if this kind of evangelism burst forth from local pulpits everywhere? I guarantee it would cause quite a stir! Some would leave the "church" indignant if they actually caught a glimpse of the One True God, the Great I AM. Oh, but others…souls would be saved, lives changed, and a revival would break forth in this still sleeping giant we call America!
The song from Sister Act 2 rings in my ears. "Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me. We now need a revival to rock this world today, have it begin on another rampage that is how we pray. Lord send a revival, Lord send a revival, Lord send a revival... and let it begin in me!"
Psalm 139: 23 -24 (KJV)
(23)Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; (24) and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Will the revival begin in you?
I was thinking…what would happen if in the local park someone stood up with Bible in hand and began preaching repentance, baptism, and eternal life. Pointing out the condemnation of the soul-dead, weary masses, searching for meaning in the here and now. People trying to fill the holes in their hearts with possessions, careers, and the carnality of the world? Would people gather, share food, spend the night, stay there listening with rapt attention as long as the preacher spoke? Oh, I can see it now…who would be the first to call the police? Did they have the right permission and permits, had they paid the correct fees? If so, would they then be charged with disturbing the peace and be removed? Disturbing the conscience is more like it! Even "so called" Christians might accuse the evangelist of being a fanatic, an extremist, zealot, or worse…
Christians and society in general are comfortable with "church" taking place on Sundays in a building frequented by ’believers and seekers’ singing songs, giving an offering, listening to a sermon; getting a dose of heavenly love, righteousness and glory to soothe their minds so they can start their week off "right" then shaking hands and heading to lunch all before noon.
I must stop right here and tell you that my pastor is one of these fiery evangelists. I love it! I pray we would have visitors and regulars alike who would be ’cut to the heart.’ What would happen if this kind of evangelism burst forth from local pulpits everywhere? I guarantee it would cause quite a stir! Some would leave the "church" indignant if they actually caught a glimpse of the One True God, the Great I AM. Oh, but others…souls would be saved, lives changed, and a revival would break forth in this still sleeping giant we call America!
The song from Sister Act 2 rings in my ears. "Lord, send a revival, and let it begin in me. We now need a revival to rock this world today, have it begin on another rampage that is how we pray. Lord send a revival, Lord send a revival, Lord send a revival... and let it begin in me!"
Psalm 139: 23 -24 (KJV)
(23)Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; (24) and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Will the revival begin in you?
Monday, July 7, 2008
No Sacrifice At All
It took me two years to actually make the decision to give up my job to stay home. The money was great; I especially loved those quarterly bonuses! Could I really give it up and all it represented? Then there was the personal fulfillment…as draining as it could be, I thrived on the mental challenge. I loved the creativity of marketing campaigns. I came alive as I talked someone into bringing a busload of people to visit "my" city. Oh, and the thrill when the itinerary was planned and the tour finally materialized! I reveled in the accolades. I prided myself on being the best in the country when other cities representatives would call me and ask for advice and training. As I served on local and national boards, sat on panel discussions and spoke at seminars, I felt accomplished. I would go from the national spotlight…to no spotlight and I would give it all up in one conversation over supper.
I had gone over the budget to make sure we could pay the bills on Jimmy's salary. I knew I would have to make cuts and I was ready. As I prepared to bring my case before my husband, I thought of all the things I would no longer need…expensive suits, shoes and matching purses, panty hose, (about $312 yearly!) lunches out, the ever rising cost of gasoline, and money for the occasional housekeeper. I wouldn't even use as much make up and perfume saving even more money! These things I could easily give up. After all, they were necessary for the type of job I had…but it wasn't enough. What else could I cut? The twice a month manicures and pedicures ($2340 yearly) the hair salon, ($1080 yearly) and satellite TV. It was a little tougher to give these up. A woman heading into middle age definitely needs to "keep herself up," right? And the TV, what would I do with all that time on my hands after the house work was finished by 10 a.m.? The TV, I decided was not so hard to give up…most of it was just junk anyway…distracting, worldly, damaging junk…Still not enough. What else could go…eating out? Really, wasn't there something else? It had been a long time since I really cooked with any regularity. The demands of my career and the time constraints were not really conducive to much more than grabbing something on the fly or meeting somewhere for dinner before the restaurants closed. Could I give up eating out? Still I figured the cost opposed to the price of groceries and I just could not make it come out better than eating at home. So…out it goes!!
Then, my closing…the most important part of any sale! No longer would I have to sacrifice time with my family to entertain clients, no longer would I have to call in the middle of the day to say my boss wanted me to have dinner with someone, or that I had to fly across country to take care of an issue. No longer would January, February, and March be spent in hotel room after hotel room in cities that blended together as daylight turned to night and dawned again as I drummed up new business and maintained current customers. No longer would Valentine's Day, birthdays and anniversaries have to be celebrated on alternative dates because I was out of town. It meant I wouldn't travel as much – something I used to love. So I threw that love of travel in as one of my sacrifices for the betterment of our marriage and family.
I would sacrifice that barracuda, sales and marketing rep (for that truly is who I was.) for domestic bliss. I would be here for good, old-fashioned home cooked meals. I'd have more energy. I could garden, can, and freeze therefore cutting out more expenses at the grocery store. The laundry would always be fresh, clean, folded and put away. And less wear and tear on the car was a good thing, right? It was an easy "sale"…I'll never forget the words, "Don't worry, don't stay if you are not happy, we'll make it." Could I really make these sacrifices of money and self and be happy about it? Should I be happy? Sacrifices are supposed to hurt, aren't they?
It has been a couple months now, and I don't seem to be bothered by those so-called sacrifices. Don't' get me wrong, I would love to call Cheri up, jump in the car, head out and spend my entire bonus in an all day shopping extravaganza! But, our relationship is still there…better than ever. I hate the fact that I can not buy my teenager or my grandsons everything they see and think they want, but they still love me. So was that really a sacrifice?
I love planning and preparing the meal for my family and having dinner ready when my husband comes home. We still eat out on occasion so was that really a sacrifice? I am learning to give my own manicures and pedicures and only once did I mess my hair up so bad I had to have professional intervention. Thank the Lord, my sister, Barbie, used to teach at a cosmetology school! But if I can still "maintain the beauty regiment" of this old girl, is that a sacrifice? Of course, I am having a bit of difficulty getting my eyebrows to match…they might actually become a sacrifice.
So, I sit here thinking about sacrifices…by definition it means the giving up of something valued, the giving up of something or somebody for advantage. One of the definitions listed under both noun and verb was an offering to God.
That "offering to God" thing automatically brings to mind tithing. Tithing was something I had to grow into. In the beginning, I would tithe occasionally, if I had extra money or money I had not intended to spend. I never understood the importance or the reality that is was something God expected. I thought of it as a sacrifice and always made excuses for holding on to it, and those shopping trips and the relationship it was developing between me and my new daughter-in-law was a chief example. But it was that same young woman of God who years ago told me of her commitment and the commitment of her husband to tithe. Not just on the net, but on the gross. Time and again, I heard and saw how God blessed them in their faithfulness. I decided, I just had to step out on faith and do it, and I realized that by doing what God expects us to do results in a blessing and is not a sacrifice at all.
We recently had our Faith Pledge Drive at church. It is where, we as individuals in our local congregation, pledge to give over and above our tithes to support the worldwide church of the Nazarene, our missionaries, our pastors, our colleges, etc. I am always amazed at the dollar figure pledged for our small church and we usually make it! Some would call that sacrificial giving, but is it?
In our humanness, we tend to think about sacrifices, and sacrificial giving in terms of dollars and cents. If we are already honoring God with our money then we think of our Faith Pledge offering, or giving to the building fund or other program more as sacrificial giving than an offering.
But what about us? What do we give of who we are? Our time? An hour for Sunday School, an hour for worship service, maybe an hour for mid-week service? Do we honestly think that is giving our time to the Lord? What little time we actually spend reading the Bible, praying? Is that how we sacrifice our time for God? Surely NOT!
Some of us give a little more, we teach a class, we prepare a meal, we clean the church, we sing a song…is that even sacrificial giving of our selves, our time, our talent or is that just the tithe of our selves?
What is our attitude if we are asked to pitch in and help out in the nursery, come out on a church work day? If we are content to just sit on the side lines, pay our tithes and give a little extra monetary offering from time to time, consider this: is a physical gift to a spiritual God enough? When we give of ourselves, give until we don't think there is any more to give…that is when the blessings begin to flow, that is when God fills us up, that is when we begin to grow, that is when we begin to move.
When I quit my job I thought the money, and the extras that money purchased would be a tough sacrifice. I thought the accolades, the sense of accomplishment, the success on a big level would be the biggest sacrifice, after all it defined who I was in eyes of others, but I was wrong…so very wrong. What I have gained from my so called sacrifices far exceeds what I gave up. It is the investment of my time, my energy, my focus that has made a difference in our lives, in my life.
If you would give up who you are for the Lord, just as I gave up who I was in the corporate world for my family, you too would reap benefits beyond your belief and realize…it is no sacrifice at all.
I had gone over the budget to make sure we could pay the bills on Jimmy's salary. I knew I would have to make cuts and I was ready. As I prepared to bring my case before my husband, I thought of all the things I would no longer need…expensive suits, shoes and matching purses, panty hose, (about $312 yearly!) lunches out, the ever rising cost of gasoline, and money for the occasional housekeeper. I wouldn't even use as much make up and perfume saving even more money! These things I could easily give up. After all, they were necessary for the type of job I had…but it wasn't enough. What else could I cut? The twice a month manicures and pedicures ($2340 yearly) the hair salon, ($1080 yearly) and satellite TV. It was a little tougher to give these up. A woman heading into middle age definitely needs to "keep herself up," right? And the TV, what would I do with all that time on my hands after the house work was finished by 10 a.m.? The TV, I decided was not so hard to give up…most of it was just junk anyway…distracting, worldly, damaging junk…Still not enough. What else could go…eating out? Really, wasn't there something else? It had been a long time since I really cooked with any regularity. The demands of my career and the time constraints were not really conducive to much more than grabbing something on the fly or meeting somewhere for dinner before the restaurants closed. Could I give up eating out? Still I figured the cost opposed to the price of groceries and I just could not make it come out better than eating at home. So…out it goes!!
Then, my closing…the most important part of any sale! No longer would I have to sacrifice time with my family to entertain clients, no longer would I have to call in the middle of the day to say my boss wanted me to have dinner with someone, or that I had to fly across country to take care of an issue. No longer would January, February, and March be spent in hotel room after hotel room in cities that blended together as daylight turned to night and dawned again as I drummed up new business and maintained current customers. No longer would Valentine's Day, birthdays and anniversaries have to be celebrated on alternative dates because I was out of town. It meant I wouldn't travel as much – something I used to love. So I threw that love of travel in as one of my sacrifices for the betterment of our marriage and family.
I would sacrifice that barracuda, sales and marketing rep (for that truly is who I was.) for domestic bliss. I would be here for good, old-fashioned home cooked meals. I'd have more energy. I could garden, can, and freeze therefore cutting out more expenses at the grocery store. The laundry would always be fresh, clean, folded and put away. And less wear and tear on the car was a good thing, right? It was an easy "sale"…I'll never forget the words, "Don't worry, don't stay if you are not happy, we'll make it." Could I really make these sacrifices of money and self and be happy about it? Should I be happy? Sacrifices are supposed to hurt, aren't they?
It has been a couple months now, and I don't seem to be bothered by those so-called sacrifices. Don't' get me wrong, I would love to call Cheri up, jump in the car, head out and spend my entire bonus in an all day shopping extravaganza! But, our relationship is still there…better than ever. I hate the fact that I can not buy my teenager or my grandsons everything they see and think they want, but they still love me. So was that really a sacrifice?
I love planning and preparing the meal for my family and having dinner ready when my husband comes home. We still eat out on occasion so was that really a sacrifice? I am learning to give my own manicures and pedicures and only once did I mess my hair up so bad I had to have professional intervention. Thank the Lord, my sister, Barbie, used to teach at a cosmetology school! But if I can still "maintain the beauty regiment" of this old girl, is that a sacrifice? Of course, I am having a bit of difficulty getting my eyebrows to match…they might actually become a sacrifice.
So, I sit here thinking about sacrifices…by definition it means the giving up of something valued, the giving up of something or somebody for advantage. One of the definitions listed under both noun and verb was an offering to God.
That "offering to God" thing automatically brings to mind tithing. Tithing was something I had to grow into. In the beginning, I would tithe occasionally, if I had extra money or money I had not intended to spend. I never understood the importance or the reality that is was something God expected. I thought of it as a sacrifice and always made excuses for holding on to it, and those shopping trips and the relationship it was developing between me and my new daughter-in-law was a chief example. But it was that same young woman of God who years ago told me of her commitment and the commitment of her husband to tithe. Not just on the net, but on the gross. Time and again, I heard and saw how God blessed them in their faithfulness. I decided, I just had to step out on faith and do it, and I realized that by doing what God expects us to do results in a blessing and is not a sacrifice at all.
We recently had our Faith Pledge Drive at church. It is where, we as individuals in our local congregation, pledge to give over and above our tithes to support the worldwide church of the Nazarene, our missionaries, our pastors, our colleges, etc. I am always amazed at the dollar figure pledged for our small church and we usually make it! Some would call that sacrificial giving, but is it?
In our humanness, we tend to think about sacrifices, and sacrificial giving in terms of dollars and cents. If we are already honoring God with our money then we think of our Faith Pledge offering, or giving to the building fund or other program more as sacrificial giving than an offering.
But what about us? What do we give of who we are? Our time? An hour for Sunday School, an hour for worship service, maybe an hour for mid-week service? Do we honestly think that is giving our time to the Lord? What little time we actually spend reading the Bible, praying? Is that how we sacrifice our time for God? Surely NOT!
Some of us give a little more, we teach a class, we prepare a meal, we clean the church, we sing a song…is that even sacrificial giving of our selves, our time, our talent or is that just the tithe of our selves?
What is our attitude if we are asked to pitch in and help out in the nursery, come out on a church work day? If we are content to just sit on the side lines, pay our tithes and give a little extra monetary offering from time to time, consider this: is a physical gift to a spiritual God enough? When we give of ourselves, give until we don't think there is any more to give…that is when the blessings begin to flow, that is when God fills us up, that is when we begin to grow, that is when we begin to move.
When I quit my job I thought the money, and the extras that money purchased would be a tough sacrifice. I thought the accolades, the sense of accomplishment, the success on a big level would be the biggest sacrifice, after all it defined who I was in eyes of others, but I was wrong…so very wrong. What I have gained from my so called sacrifices far exceeds what I gave up. It is the investment of my time, my energy, my focus that has made a difference in our lives, in my life.
If you would give up who you are for the Lord, just as I gave up who I was in the corporate world for my family, you too would reap benefits beyond your belief and realize…it is no sacrifice at all.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Let Freedom Ring!
It is the wee hours of the morning on July 4th and I was awakened by the sound of rolling thunder off in the distance and the treat of an upcoming storm. Finally the inability to sleep won over and I sit here at the computer at 3:00 a.m. with a cup of chocolate coffee in hand, reading my Bible and thinking about the day ahead.Like most on this day, we are planning to gather with our family and friends for a cook out followed by swimming. Later there will be flag waving and patriotic music, followed by fireworks. This year Independence Day fell on a Friday and for many American’s the celebration will be more about the three day weekend and less about why we were granted the day off work with pay.
To think of the ‘why’ is such a sobering thought. A group of men were sick and tired of being run over by the tyranny of the “insane” King George III and decided to take a stand. And stand they did…even to the death! A band of rag tag farmers and merchants bound together by one belief over threw the well trained army of one of the first world super powers. It was not an easy task by any stretch of the means, yet they held strong through the adversity and a new nation was the result.
History shows us that freedom and death are inexplicably linked. From the American Revolution to the Civil War …to this war, the War on Terrorism…people willingly step into the fray and give their lives for freedom’s sake.
Freedom on a much higher level was also purchased by the blood of another as Christ laid down his life that we may be free from our sinful nature. With His death the new birth of man was made possible. His army did not take up arms and overthrow an oppressive dictator or engage the latest technology that he may take power by force. However, the world was forever changed as a rag tag band of fishermen, business men, and a politician were united in one belief and stood firm, and stayed the course so that all men may be free.
While the battle for the souls of men still rages (at this time) it is not fought army to army but the struggle is just as real and fraught with perilous adversity. From missionaries located in remote parts of the world to the lay leader at the local church the war wages on soul to soul as in hand to hand combat. Will you take a stand? Will you march into combat, head long and stay the course, and set men free?
John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ~NIV
Matthew 20:20 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life as a ransom for many.”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 8:2 “because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. “
John 15:12-13 “my command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
2nd Corinthians 5: 17-19 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us a ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.”
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
John 10:10 “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Pray For Your Children's Future Spouses
One of the best pieces of advice I received after becoming a Christian was to pray for my children’s spouses. My son was 11 at the time and who he would marry had never even crossed my mind. I remembered asking Ms. Lois - oh how I loved Ms. Lois! - what was I supposed to pray and how.
She led me in my first prayer for Richard and his future wife. To provide for him a Godly wife, that if she was not a Christian to put someone in her life to lead her, to begin to prepare her now to be a helpmate, a good and Godly mother for their children, to provide for him a woman who loves the Lord, with a soft heart, who earnestly seeks His will in her life and the life of her family, and to lead them in the path that they would meet and know they were the meant for each other. It became one of the prayers I said on a regular basis. Sometimes a sense of urgency would press upon me and I would pray for that faceless, nameless little girl who would one day be my daughter-in-law, that whatever she was facing right then in her life that God would keep His hand upon her.
I think back about how it looked to us like he wanted to date every girl in Central Arkansas before he finally settled down. Occasionally he would bring someone to the house for lunch or dinner but we’d never see her again. I’ll never forget, he went frog giggin’ - yes frog giggin’ one night with a bunch of his friends and he came home talking about this girl he met and that was it...he was hooked! She gigged more than frogs that night.
When he began using the "L" word I knew it was time for me to get to know this girl a little better. She had been to the house but seemed a bit shy and reserved. Of course, we are such a loud, energetic bunch I really don’t think she stood much of a chance. I began meeting her for lunch periodically and I soon knew that this was the girl I had prayed for - because even I was beginning to really love her.
She was intelligent and had a sense of humor - two things she definitely needed to survive in the Kyzer clan. She was generous, kind, sweet, and I could go on and on. Can you believe she even made sure to include me in the wedding plans and preparations? I even got to go to the photographer’s studio with them the day her wedding photographs were made. Never once did she make me feel like I was just the mother of the groom. It was not just her wedding - it was their wedding. That was just the beginning...
Richard and Cheri have been married for almost 9 years now. (WOW, has it been that long?) They have two wonderful, bright, talented, and lively little boys; Hunter and Gage. Still to this day I could not ask for a better wife to my son, a better mother to my grandchildren, a better daughter for me. Yes, God went way above whatever I could ever have imagined or expected. It’s just like Him, isn’t it?
So today, I am passing on that gem of a piece of advice I received so long ago from my "spiritual mentor." Pray for the future spouses of your children no matter how old they are. Do it today, do it now!
She led me in my first prayer for Richard and his future wife. To provide for him a Godly wife, that if she was not a Christian to put someone in her life to lead her, to begin to prepare her now to be a helpmate, a good and Godly mother for their children, to provide for him a woman who loves the Lord, with a soft heart, who earnestly seeks His will in her life and the life of her family, and to lead them in the path that they would meet and know they were the meant for each other. It became one of the prayers I said on a regular basis. Sometimes a sense of urgency would press upon me and I would pray for that faceless, nameless little girl who would one day be my daughter-in-law, that whatever she was facing right then in her life that God would keep His hand upon her.
I think back about how it looked to us like he wanted to date every girl in Central Arkansas before he finally settled down. Occasionally he would bring someone to the house for lunch or dinner but we’d never see her again. I’ll never forget, he went frog giggin’ - yes frog giggin’ one night with a bunch of his friends and he came home talking about this girl he met and that was it...he was hooked! She gigged more than frogs that night.
When he began using the "L" word I knew it was time for me to get to know this girl a little better. She had been to the house but seemed a bit shy and reserved. Of course, we are such a loud, energetic bunch I really don’t think she stood much of a chance. I began meeting her for lunch periodically and I soon knew that this was the girl I had prayed for - because even I was beginning to really love her.
She was intelligent and had a sense of humor - two things she definitely needed to survive in the Kyzer clan. She was generous, kind, sweet, and I could go on and on. Can you believe she even made sure to include me in the wedding plans and preparations? I even got to go to the photographer’s studio with them the day her wedding photographs were made. Never once did she make me feel like I was just the mother of the groom. It was not just her wedding - it was their wedding. That was just the beginning...
Richard and Cheri have been married for almost 9 years now. (WOW, has it been that long?) They have two wonderful, bright, talented, and lively little boys; Hunter and Gage. Still to this day I could not ask for a better wife to my son, a better mother to my grandchildren, a better daughter for me. Yes, God went way above whatever I could ever have imagined or expected. It’s just like Him, isn’t it?
So today, I am passing on that gem of a piece of advice I received so long ago from my "spiritual mentor." Pray for the future spouses of your children no matter how old they are. Do it today, do it now!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
What Are You Lookin' At?
I guess it must be this time of year that makes me think so much of gardening. Of course, it could be that big green house in the back yard I've spent so much time in or the fact that the garden needs tending and the Farmer's Market is finally open...I don't know.
Growing up we always had a garden. Sometime in late February, Daddy would crank up that old, popping, sputtering John Deer Tractor and begin the disking and plowing. It wouldn't be long and we would all be planting seeds in the neat, straight rows.
I hated that garden...Daddy always made us work and sometimes it was spread over acres and acres. It didn't matter to him what our plans were, how hot it was, or what day of the week; when the garden needed weeding he armed all the kids with hoes. When it was time to harvest we traded in our hoes for baskets. Heaven help us if when he got home from work and our gardening wasn't done... Yep, I really hated that part...but I loved eating from it. We were allowed to eat everything we wanted, as much as we wanted, when we wanted, and we didn't have to ask permission. I've eaten fresh tomatoes and strawberries until my mouth had blisters, I've gorged myself on watermelon and cantaloupe, been hosed off, and sent back out to finish my weeding or picking. I've eaten every vegetable raw, straight from the garden - even those that are really best cooked. To this day, I love fresh vegetables and I don't really mind the work of a garden.
As I got older, I had a turn or two at the helm of old 'Poppin John." The first time my rows were a bit wavy (OK crooked.) How could that old man (probably younger than I am now!) get those rows so straight? Finally, he told me. "See that fence row at the end of the garden?" "Yes, sir." I replied. As obedient 'southern' children know, it is always sir. "Aim for the post, keep your focus on it - you always go where you are looking."
Now that I am almost 50 years old that advice rings true in a different light. In Matthew 14:22-34. Jesus sends the disciples ahead of him and heads to the mountains by himself to pray. Later that evening 'the boat was a considerable distance from the land buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.' So what does Jesus do? Takes off walking across the water...The disciples are freaking out; they think they see a ghost! But He calms them down and tells them who He is and Peter, says Lord, if that's you, tell me to come to you on the water. So He does, Peter gets out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. (v.30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out to the Lord, "Save Me!"
You see, as long as Peter kept his focus on Christ, he was fine. He was walking on water straight to the Lord. But...he took his eyes off Jesus, got afraid and immediately started sinking. That is just like us! Everything is going along fine and dandy, we are focused on Christ, growing, serving, making an impact on the lives of others...then something comes along and distracts us. We loose our focus, and begin sinking. It could be work, children, special projects, anything...It could be as simple as someone hurt our feelings. Now we are focused on ourselves and what we need to do, should do, or want to do. Praise God, He will reach out and grab us when we cry out!
Daddy was so right back then. You go straight to what you are focused on. If it is Jesus, you are plowing straight, if it is the world or yourself...your path gets a bit wavy and winding, you get off track and your life looks just as bad as that first garden I plowed.
My question today is what are you looking at? Where is your focus, right now? Do you need to cry out to Jesus today?
Growing up we always had a garden. Sometime in late February, Daddy would crank up that old, popping, sputtering John Deer Tractor and begin the disking and plowing. It wouldn't be long and we would all be planting seeds in the neat, straight rows.
I hated that garden...Daddy always made us work and sometimes it was spread over acres and acres. It didn't matter to him what our plans were, how hot it was, or what day of the week; when the garden needed weeding he armed all the kids with hoes. When it was time to harvest we traded in our hoes for baskets. Heaven help us if when he got home from work and our gardening wasn't done... Yep, I really hated that part...but I loved eating from it. We were allowed to eat everything we wanted, as much as we wanted, when we wanted, and we didn't have to ask permission. I've eaten fresh tomatoes and strawberries until my mouth had blisters, I've gorged myself on watermelon and cantaloupe, been hosed off, and sent back out to finish my weeding or picking. I've eaten every vegetable raw, straight from the garden - even those that are really best cooked. To this day, I love fresh vegetables and I don't really mind the work of a garden.
As I got older, I had a turn or two at the helm of old 'Poppin John." The first time my rows were a bit wavy (OK crooked.) How could that old man (probably younger than I am now!) get those rows so straight? Finally, he told me. "See that fence row at the end of the garden?" "Yes, sir." I replied. As obedient 'southern' children know, it is always sir. "Aim for the post, keep your focus on it - you always go where you are looking."
Now that I am almost 50 years old that advice rings true in a different light. In Matthew 14:22-34. Jesus sends the disciples ahead of him and heads to the mountains by himself to pray. Later that evening 'the boat was a considerable distance from the land buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.' So what does Jesus do? Takes off walking across the water...The disciples are freaking out; they think they see a ghost! But He calms them down and tells them who He is and Peter, says Lord, if that's you, tell me to come to you on the water. So He does, Peter gets out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. (v.30) But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out to the Lord, "Save Me!"
You see, as long as Peter kept his focus on Christ, he was fine. He was walking on water straight to the Lord. But...he took his eyes off Jesus, got afraid and immediately started sinking. That is just like us! Everything is going along fine and dandy, we are focused on Christ, growing, serving, making an impact on the lives of others...then something comes along and distracts us. We loose our focus, and begin sinking. It could be work, children, special projects, anything...It could be as simple as someone hurt our feelings. Now we are focused on ourselves and what we need to do, should do, or want to do. Praise God, He will reach out and grab us when we cry out!
Daddy was so right back then. You go straight to what you are focused on. If it is Jesus, you are plowing straight, if it is the world or yourself...your path gets a bit wavy and winding, you get off track and your life looks just as bad as that first garden I plowed.
My question today is what are you looking at? Where is your focus, right now? Do you need to cry out to Jesus today?
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Refrigerator Reflections
Now that I have settled into this new phase of my life...you know the staying/working at home. I am excited to have time to focus on things that used to be done in a hurry, hap hazardously. Like cleaning out the refrigerator - man I should have done that a bit more often! Having an 18 year old son we usually don’t have leftovers but I also find odd things pushed up against the very back.
To this day Jake loves those vanilla pudding cups and can consume 3 or 4 in a matter of minutes but sometimes he sticks an open one in the fridge thinking he will return shortly to finish off the tasty snack. Do you know what one of those looks like after being stuck in the back of the refrigerator for a couple of weeks? It develops a crust and as the moisture slowly evaporates it leaves a hard and cracked piece of disgusting looking gunk. It makes one wonder how this thing could have ever been soft, sweet, and delicious. As I chucked that little cup into the trash I thought about the "Christian" heart, my heart.
When a person comes face to face with the Holy Spirit and accepts Christ as their personal Savior their heart becomes like that fresh pudding cup - soft and squishy. A new heart in a reborn person… how glorious, how exciting! Then along come the trials and tribulations of everyday life. It seems we are assaulted at every turn! Illness, hurtful attitudes from others, words unspoken, deeds undone, bitterness, unforgiving, merciless, vindictive attitudes, and more… in a life lived in a hurry. If we harbor these things in our hearts it is just like that pudding that has been shoved to the back of the fridge. Our hearts begin to get a crust and dry up. How do we keep that heart sweet and soft? We must be on guard and renewed daily through His Word and prayer. We have to keep the heart swept out and polished up so that He can use us in an instant.
So as you read this, please take a minute to reflect. Are you harboring something in your heart, storing up some trash in your soul? Now is the time to clean up...take it to the Lord in prayer. Give it up, throw it out, for we do not know the time or the place that He will chose to use us and we must be found ready.
To this day Jake loves those vanilla pudding cups and can consume 3 or 4 in a matter of minutes but sometimes he sticks an open one in the fridge thinking he will return shortly to finish off the tasty snack. Do you know what one of those looks like after being stuck in the back of the refrigerator for a couple of weeks? It develops a crust and as the moisture slowly evaporates it leaves a hard and cracked piece of disgusting looking gunk. It makes one wonder how this thing could have ever been soft, sweet, and delicious. As I chucked that little cup into the trash I thought about the "Christian" heart, my heart.
When a person comes face to face with the Holy Spirit and accepts Christ as their personal Savior their heart becomes like that fresh pudding cup - soft and squishy. A new heart in a reborn person… how glorious, how exciting! Then along come the trials and tribulations of everyday life. It seems we are assaulted at every turn! Illness, hurtful attitudes from others, words unspoken, deeds undone, bitterness, unforgiving, merciless, vindictive attitudes, and more… in a life lived in a hurry. If we harbor these things in our hearts it is just like that pudding that has been shoved to the back of the fridge. Our hearts begin to get a crust and dry up. How do we keep that heart sweet and soft? We must be on guard and renewed daily through His Word and prayer. We have to keep the heart swept out and polished up so that He can use us in an instant.
So as you read this, please take a minute to reflect. Are you harboring something in your heart, storing up some trash in your soul? Now is the time to clean up...take it to the Lord in prayer. Give it up, throw it out, for we do not know the time or the place that He will chose to use us and we must be found ready.
It's A Dog's Life...we should be so smart!
Before Jimmy and I married I was a cat person. However, my boys have always loved dogs. Richard was the worst. I don’t know how he managed but it seemed every stray dog in the county showed up on our door step. When he was about 13 we were in a "dog free" period and he had just started the Junior Firefighter program at the local volunteer station. Jake was almost three and I decided to check out the local shelter to see if I could find a Dalmatian. Lucky me…they had one that was house broken and did a few tricks.
As our first house pet, "Backdraft" quickly became part of the family. While he was intended to be a surprise for Richard the dog had other ideas and he and Jake became fast friends. When Jake started school the dog would watch from the front window while "his boy" got on the bus. As it slowly rolled out of sight, Backdraft would head to the bedroom to sleep and watch TV. You would think the dog could tell time! At 3:00 every afternoon he would meander over to the window, poke his head through the curtains and wait - sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, but never lying down.
Before the bus was even in sight the dog would jump up and start wagging his tail. I mean, really wagging his tail. As the bus drew closer he would run to the kitchen door, back to the window and to the door again until Jake burst through and dog and boy were reunited. There were slurps from the dog, pats from Jake, giggles and wiggles, and off they would go. I know from that daily routine why people say, "Dog is man’s best friend."
Backdraft died years ago and to this day Jake misses his buddy. For many months he literally mourned the loss of ’the only dog he will ever love.’ It’s kind of odd, I think about that dog and the way he loved his boy many times. Most often as I am getting ready for church - of all places. Do I wait patiently enough on the Lord, like that dog waited every day for the big yellow bus to pull up and deposit the love of his life at the end of the long driveway? Am I as excited to see the Lord as I step in the front doors of the sanctuary as that dog was when his little boy walked in the kitchen door? After all, isn’t that the way it should be? We are going to a place where we commune with our Lord. Shouldn’t we be excited? Shouldn’t we be happy? Shouldn’t we look forward to it all week?
I ask you, just as I ask myself, to examine why you go to church. Is it for the people, the music, the programs, the Pastor? Is it because that’s what good people do? Or…are you going because it is there you see the love of your life?
As our first house pet, "Backdraft" quickly became part of the family. While he was intended to be a surprise for Richard the dog had other ideas and he and Jake became fast friends. When Jake started school the dog would watch from the front window while "his boy" got on the bus. As it slowly rolled out of sight, Backdraft would head to the bedroom to sleep and watch TV. You would think the dog could tell time! At 3:00 every afternoon he would meander over to the window, poke his head through the curtains and wait - sometimes sitting, sometimes standing, but never lying down.
Before the bus was even in sight the dog would jump up and start wagging his tail. I mean, really wagging his tail. As the bus drew closer he would run to the kitchen door, back to the window and to the door again until Jake burst through and dog and boy were reunited. There were slurps from the dog, pats from Jake, giggles and wiggles, and off they would go. I know from that daily routine why people say, "Dog is man’s best friend."
Backdraft died years ago and to this day Jake misses his buddy. For many months he literally mourned the loss of ’the only dog he will ever love.’ It’s kind of odd, I think about that dog and the way he loved his boy many times. Most often as I am getting ready for church - of all places. Do I wait patiently enough on the Lord, like that dog waited every day for the big yellow bus to pull up and deposit the love of his life at the end of the long driveway? Am I as excited to see the Lord as I step in the front doors of the sanctuary as that dog was when his little boy walked in the kitchen door? After all, isn’t that the way it should be? We are going to a place where we commune with our Lord. Shouldn’t we be excited? Shouldn’t we be happy? Shouldn’t we look forward to it all week?
I ask you, just as I ask myself, to examine why you go to church. Is it for the people, the music, the programs, the Pastor? Is it because that’s what good people do? Or…are you going because it is there you see the love of your life?
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