Change Ahead

 

“It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows.”  

~ Charles Spurgeon

"The only constant in life is change."

I am not sure who first made this profound yet obvious statement, but my life is a testimony to its truthfulness. Can anyone else relate?

Change.
Change my mind. Change a diaper. Change the oil in the car. Change in the sofa to buy a gallon of milk. Change the sheets. Change a light bulb. Change schools. Change jobs. Change in the date night jar.
Change.

Sometimes things change when I wish they would stay the same. Other moments I long for change but change does not occur.

Change begins from the moment of birth, when we leave behind the safe, gentle, and warm comfort of the womb for the cold, bright, and sometimes harsh reality of this world.  Adam and Eve experienced change when they were ejected from the Garden of Eden. Wow, what a change that must have been, having previously found all of their needs, wants, and aspirations met in the Lord only to find that their desire for change, to know the mind of God, brought them the biggest transition ever.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.Genesis 3:6 ESV

So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. Genesis 3:23

Change.
Change of residence. Change in relationships. Change of clothes. Change in the hearts of all men and women.

Change comes when we least expect it, yet if we keep our eyes focused upon God, the signs are often present. The world experienced significant change in the time of Noah simply because all had turned away from God's goodness and commands. The flood changed the topography, the geography, the geology, and genealogy of the earth. By the sign of the rainbow, God promised never to make that kind of change again. Yet His people continued to divorce themselves from Him; never content, never satisfied. Always desiring change.


The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them." But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:5-8

Change is inevitable, and usually a by-product of our own action or inaction. God changed not only Abram and Sarai's names to Abraham and Sarah, but He changed the course of history when He gave them a son and made Abraham the father of all nations. But Abraham also instigated a change which has brought unrest in the world to present day when he could not wait for God's promised change in his status as a father. Abraham took Sarah's servant and had a child called Ishmael, from whom the Muslims descend. 

Change can indicate a new favor or mission in the eyes of the Lord. God changed Jacob's name to Israel "because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”Genesis 32:8 God changed Saul, a persecutor of Christians, from a man with sight to a blind man and finallyback to a man with true vision when He converted Saul to Paul on the road to Damascus. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 9:17

The point of change is to turn our hearts back to God and His plan and purpose for us. But so often we cannot see through the self-induced stress and angst brought about by change to realize the goodness in store for us. God knows we will experience change, and He gave the prescription for handling it:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

Girlfriends, you and I will face change in our lives. We can embrace it, or we can resist. Either way, God is the Author of change, and the outcome will remain despite our attitude toward the change. What will suffer however is our progress in our faith as well as our relationship with God and with others. 

I pray today that if you are facing some degree of change, that you will turn to Scripture for guidance and assistance. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. Proverbs 3:5-7

Remember that God is using change to work in you, drawing you closer to Him and all He designed you to be. 

Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Cor 5:17

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Finally, Ladies, remember that while God prescribes change, He, the Lord of all, does not ever change. His Word endures forever; His promises stand true; and He is the unchanging Rock upon which we can build an eternal future. I pray you will make a personal change if you have not already and commit your life to these enduring truths that will guide you forever through this ever-changing world until one day we reach the perfect Heaven. 

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

God Bless you today and always! And don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke detector!

Love Stories

We love because he first loved us.  

1 John 4:19 NIV

A Love Story

"That's so cute." Not exactly the words I expected to hear from my seventeen year old daughter as she read through the funeral bulletin while we stood in line at the wake. My eyes widened as I asked her, "What is so cute?" She held the memorial bulletin out for me to see. (And I promptly moved it about six more inches away from my face so I could indeed read it--teenagers just do not get it!)

Our Love Story

Bob and Shirley met at the Illinois State Fair, August 15, 1953. She was 17 and he was 20. Bob bought Shirley a lemonade and asked her to ride the ferris wheel. They lived happily ever after.

Bob carried this photo (of their first date) in his wallet every day since 1953.

My great aunt and uncle's love story is cute, and sweet, and the fairy tale romance every little girl dreams will come true for her. Bob and Shirley came from truly impoverished backgrounds, but for fifty-nine years, together they developed a rich, treasured life in Monroe, Wisconsin, parenting four beautiful children and creating a legacy of kindness and charity in their community. Their humble, giving spirit shaped them as individuals and as a couple. They will always be remembered as a blessing to the youth of that rural town, and I will always have the honor of calling them my godparents.

Your Love Story

So Jacob served seven years for Rachel and they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her. Genesis 29:20 NAS

Girlfriends, maybe you have a sweet love story too. Perhaps your Prince Charming swept you off your feet from the first moment you met, just as Bob did Shirley. Or maybe you were the one to initiate the first date like someone I know! Possibly your husband has carried a photo, or letter, or some other memento in his wallet over the years. Or maybe, like Uncle Bob's brother-in-law, your husband has never once removed his wedding in sixty years of marriage. (The hospital threatened to cut it off when he recently had surgery and refused to remove it. As a result, he held his ring fingertip next to his wife's ring fingertip and slid the ring onto her hand until after the surgery when he slid it back in the same manner. Another "how cute" story for my daughter!)

Ladies, I do not know your circumstances, but I do know that some of you are reading this and weeping. You have longed for a sweet love story but the inkwell has been dry. Your pages are still blank. Or maybe your beautiful love story did not have a happy ending, or it is presently falling to pieces. While you are smiling at the sweetness of Bob and Shirley's tale, you are hurting or longing deep inside. Take heart, my darlings, and continue reading...

Your True Love Story

On whichever end of the spectrum you find yourself, I want you to know that you have another love story to tell--one perhaps you know very well, or one you are not even aware is happening. Either way, I promise each one of you possesses this story because it is the story of God's perfect love for you. 

 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 NIV

My friend, even before you were conceived in your mother's womb, you were loved by God. He knew everything about you, and He cherished each detail: from your hair color to the shape of your face, from your personality to your special talents. He has always carried an image of you in His heart. He wrote you beautiful poems and stories; He fashioned the skies, the stars, the flowers, the fields, and the heavens for you; Girlfriends, He even came to earth as a Man and died for you because He loved you so much and wants you to be with Him eternally. No other love compares to this one--it is perfect love. And every love you have here in earth, as today's key verse states, exists because you were first loved by God.

My dears, Jesus is seeking you, pursuing you, desiring you to know His love and to return His love. All you have to do, if you have not already, is say yes. Your love story is exclusively penned by the author of love, the Creator of love, the one Who IS love. I pray you will embrace it--no fairy tale, not even the most romantic earthly love, can replace the depth and completeness of your Savior's love for you. 

You Love Because You Were First Loved

My Aunt Shirley and Uncle Bob knew the love of Jesus, and they lived it out both in their own marriage and individually in their lives of service to others. Girlfriends, live in the light of the greatest love of all, knowing this story is yours too, and if you accept it, the ending is always happy!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are...1 John 3:1 NIV

Have a blessed weekend, and let your loved ones know how much they mean to you!

A Song in Honor of Bob and Shirley: God Gave Me You by Dave Barnes 

How May I Serve You?

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, 

watching over them—not because you must, 

but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; 

not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 

Not domineering over those in your charge, 

but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:2-3 ESV

How may I serve you today, my dear girlfriends? Scrub your floors? Clean your toilets? Wipe down the sinks?

Before you think I have gone completely crazy, or am soliciting business for Merry Maids, let me tell you a story. I have a friend whose son is in his early 20's. This young man took an entry level position at a company. In a short amount of time, his hard work was acknowledged and resulted in a promotion to a supervisor. As one of his first acts as a manager, this young man cleaned the nasty bathrooms at his place of employment. Can you imagine his new subordinates observing this act? Perhaps at first they were resentful that this new guy had gotten a promotion so quickly, or that this youngster was going to be bossing them around? Just when their righteous indignation was fully in flames, the guy goes and cleans the toilets. Really? What's up with that?

Well, as a manager, my friend's son took the example of Christ to heart and decided to truly model the servant leader. He saw a problem: disgusting restroom facilities. He knew the solution: daily cleaning and maintenance. He humbled himself and placed his name at the top of the rotation for this sanitizing schedule. Then, he informed his subordinates that they would each be assigned a day of the week, including himself, for maintaining the conditions of the restrooms. Impressive!

Jesus was really on to something when he told us in Luke 22:26 "Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves."  I am fascinated that my friend's son enacted this principle in such a humbling and base manner. Not many young people lower themselves to such tasks. Pondering the consequences and potential results, I believe that his workers will follow him as a leader into large battles now that they have seen his faithfulness to them in the small, menial tasks. Showing them firsthand that he is willing to enter the trenches as their leader, or urinals as the case may have it, speaks volumes about this man's dedication to his workers and employer.

Was this also the result Jesus desired? If the disciples observed Him washing feet--one of the lowest acts performed by servants in His day--would they definitely not follow Him to the death as their leader and Messiah in the larger task of spreading the Gospel to the lost world? And how much more were they bound to one another through the washing of each others' feet as well?

And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45

Living to serve...Serving as a way of life...leading by example...giving upyour life for the many...not lording authority over others...a slave to all. Powerful words, compelling us to examine our ways. Ladies, I pray the Lord's example will touch you in some special way today as you determine the direction of your leadership life--and make no mistake, you are all leading someone, somehow.

Servant leadership...how can I assist you today? I am here, toilet wand and Lysol in hand...just a phone call or email away!

I love you, my dear friends! Be blessed.

Happy Father's Day Weekend

  "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” 

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Happy Father's Day weekend, Girlfriends!

Whether your earthly father is living or passed on, I pray you will honor his life before the Lord this Sunday. 

Fathers seem to battle for recognition behind the mamas of the world! History proves my claim: After hearing a sermon about Mother's Day in 1909, a young woman from Spokane, who was being raised along with five other siblings by her widowed, Civil War veteran father, decided that he too should have a day of honor. She spoke to her pastor about the idea and began promoting Father's Day; however, the road to official recognition was long and tumultuous, culminating in 1972 when President Nixon signed the law recognizing the third Sunday in June as Father's Day.

Why is it so difficult for many people to adore and celebrate their father? I mean, picking out that card takes forever compared to the one for mom: every card seems like it was written just for mom, but I have to read ten times as many Hallmarks to find the one that fits dad. And then I settle on the "funny" vs. the "sentimental" and I am not even sure why. 

I asked my daughter the question I just posed above. Her response provided some insight from a teen perspective, yet I believe has universal truth in it. Basically, her answer included today's key verse. Dad is the one who is a continuous source of strength, emboldening children to show courage and to conquer fear. He is the hidden force behind each battle fought, and as a child, we look to dad expecting not only to find him present but also rock solid and prepared to charge forward should we need back-up. In contrast, we look to mom for arms to hold us and a shoulder upon which to weep, for comfort and care, even when she includes encouragement, inspiration, or advice into her nurturing. 

Leaning on dad and expecting his presence should not diminish our ability nor desire to thank and praise him. Yet somehow we often interpret dad's strength as a wall against weakness, and we associate weakness with passion and emotional expression. Hence the difficulty in choosing that appropriate and meaningful Hallmark card over the humorous or light-hearted sentimental one.

And then God steps in...our Father in heaven...our ultimate example of what it means to be a dad. And what does He have to say about all of this? Girlfriends, be encouraged, because the pinnacle source of strength, encouragement, guidance, defense, and rock-solid love says go ahead--glorify me! Honor me! Thank me! Remember me in all your days on earth! God is not embarrassed by our songs of praise and admiration; He is not diminished in His authority or power because we call out to be held by Him, to be loved by Jesus, or to be adored in His eyes. Actually, He instructs us to do so, and also makes statements about those who choose NOT to praise the Lord:

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Romans 1:21 NLT

Ladies, your heavenly Father wants your gratitutde and worship, and He wants you to extend the same to your earthly fathers. Do not hold back--strength does not preclude affection, adoration, or thanksgiving. Shower dad with love. And praise God as well.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 NIV

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 NIV

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22

So if you haven't yet, go ahead and send that sappy, sweet, sentimental card that pronounces your deepest emotions and love for your dad. Or buy both if you cannot resist a laugh as well! I think dad will appreciate either one. If your father is no longer with you, maybe buy him a card and write it all down anyhow. Finally, ladies, I know for some of you I am speaking Greek...your relationship with your father is so broken and unrelated to anything I have written today. I pray for you to come to Jesus with that pain. Lay your hurt at His feet and ask for healing and restoration. But also know that although sin has overtaken your earthly relationship, your Father in heaven is perfect, loving, and kind, and He waits with open arms for you. He loves you with every ounce of strength in His being, because God is love. Go to Him!

Have a blessed and beautiful weekend, wherever you are!

Sacrifice: Day In, Day Out

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends....I have called you friends.

John 15:13, 15 NIV

Greetings from Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St Louis, Missouri.

Did you know that June 6, 2012, marked the 68th anniversary of D-Day? I had the honor of passing a portion of that day in a special place, the final earthly resting place to thousands of American heroes and heroines. And now today we celebrate both Flag Day in the USA and also the 237th birthday of the US Army. Praise God!

While visiting the St Louis area this past week, I walked through Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with several different girlfriends from our former hometown.. The setting is quiet, peaceful, and serene. Occasionally, a car will pass on the way to visit the marker of a beloved buried here. Deer gallop gracefully through the grave sites, unaware of the sacrifices and valiant deeds carried out by the persons named on either side of the homogenous, solid white stones. We even encountered a lone fawn curled up next to a headstone of a World War II veteran, as if keeping watch and company of the souls commemorated in this hallowed ground. 

Standing under a tree near the Civil War section of the cemetery, gazing out across the waves of white, cascading over the sloping and rolling terrain, I felt a chill under my skin. I stood in awe and utter amazement at the sheer number of lives laid down for the freedom and prosperity of our nation. I knew not everyone named on a headstone died during active service of this country, but I also had firsthand knowledge of the price otherwise paid by soldier, spouse, and children alike. I related in a special way to the day-to-day laying down of life, freedom, and choice in order to pursue a sense of duty. I felt honored to be among their numbers under the leadership of my husband as a soldier and patriot.

In the devotional My Utmost For His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes, "Jesus does not ask me to die for Him, but to lay down my life for Him. Peter said--'I will lay down my life for Thy sake' and he meant it; his sense of heroic was magnificent. It would be a bad thing to be incapable of making such a declaration as Peter made; the sense of our duty is only realized by our sense of the heroic." (p.122, copyright 1963) Wow! I ask myself, can I stand in a place such as Jefferson Barracks, or any cemetery in America, and not feel the urge to make such a declaration? Can I gaze upon a flag flying today and not acknowledge and appreciate the heroism of my fellow Americans and desire to honor them by my own actions and sacrificial giving? Am I capable? Am I willing?

Oswald Chambers continues, " Has the Lord ever asked you--'Will you lay down your life for My sake?' It is far easier to die than to lay down life day in and day out with the sense of high calling. We are not made for brilliant moments, but we have to walk in the light of them in ordinary ways." (p. 122) Girlfriends, can I say "wow" again? Day in...day out...laying down our own passions, pleasures, desires, and wishes for the greater good and glory, in honor of the one brilliant moment in all of history, the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our God, upon the Cross--a moment imitated by so many men and women in the over two thousand years since that day. Day in...day out...relinquishing our rights and our freedoms for the eternal glory of God, for the salvation of His children, and for the freedom to worship and glorify Him--or not. Praying for the "or nots."

Finally, Chambers states, "For thirty three years Jesus laid out His life to do the will of His Father, and, John says, 'we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' It is contrary to human nature to do so." (p. 122)  Yes, ladies, it is contrary to our nature to deny ourselves, but as mothers and wives, we understand the nature of sacrifice. I pray you will conquer your will and steady yourselves upon the path to righteousness that is paved with your willingness to forego your own comfort and pleasure for that of others as a result of your love of Christ.

"If I am a friend of Jesus, I have deliberately and carefully to lay down my life for Him. It is difficult, and thank God it is difficult. Salvation is easy because it cost God so much, but the manifestation of it in my life is difficult. God saves a man and endues him with the Holy Spirit, and then says in effect--'Now work it out, be loyal to me, whilst the nature of things around you would make you disloyal.' 'I have called you friends.' Stand loyal to your Friend, and remember that His honor is at stake in your bodily life." (p. 122)

Girlfriends, I could not sum up my emotions and thoughts on this patriotic day any better. I pray in whatever capacity you serve on this earth, that you will be loyal, act honorably, follow the Holy Spirit, acknowledge the sacrifices before you, from God and from your fellow man, and most of all, lay down your life...day in, day out...for your God. I thank you, and I am grateful to the service members, and their families, who rose to the challenge throughout history.

Be blessed today!