Choose Love: Celebrating in the Midst of Tragedy

See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 

 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today,

 by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways,

 and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules,  

then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God 

will bless you in the land that you are entering 

to take possession of it. 

But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, 

but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 

I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. 

You shall not live long in the land 

that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 

 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today,

 that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. 

Therefore choose life, 

that you and your offspring may live, 

loving the Lord your God,

 obeying his voice and holding fast to him,

 for he is your life and length of days, 

that you may dwell in the land 

that the Lord swore to your fathers,

 to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” 

Deuteronomy 30:15-20

Good Monday morning, Girlfriends!

Awaking this morning, I felt compelled to write to you. I bear a heavy heart burdened by sorrow for the victims, the families, and the community of the Newtown shootings. As a child of God and a follower of Christ, my heart broke, and I knew once again God's was also breaking, when I heard the news of the shooting rampage. As a mother of four children, I could not fathom the depths of pain and agony felt by the parents of both the adults and the children murdered. My gut reaction, I am sure shared by many others, was to gather my flock in my home and hold them safely under my wings. Letting them fly has been the most difficult task for me, but in moments like this one, even more so. 

While reading and listening to the news reports, I have followed this unfolding tragedy. Many thoughts raced through my mind and even more emotions through my heart and soul. I watched the community of Newtown turn to the local church leaders and to their faith to express grief and anguish. I am sure many asked how a loving God could allow this to happen? I know that question crossed my mind as well. Years ago, I would not have had an explanation. This week, I am grateful that I am solid on the rock of my faith, in my belief in the goodness of our God in heaven, and the knowledge that evil exists in this world. I know that God is ultimately in control and has defeated death when He died on a cross and rose again. In the end, Satan will no longer exist; however, until the time when Christ comes again, we have to live in a world stained with sin, haunted by Satan, who seeks to destroy. His method is to take advantage of God's great gift to man: free will.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

Girlfriends, God created us out of love, so that we too could love. Yet, in His infinite wisdom, He knew that in order for love to be genuine, He also had to give us the gift of choice. (Think of all of the people who love you: Would you feel that same sense of warmth and security if you knew that each and every one of them was programmed and ordered to love you and were not loving you by their own choice?) As written in today's key verses, God granted us free will to choose to love, or to turn away from love and choose our own way. And that, ladies, is the answer to the question how a good and merciful God could allow this Newtown tragedy to occur. God gifted that man with life and the opportunity to love, and that man chose by his own will to follow the ways of Satan and of this world. He chose to murder.

Today, I read an ABC News report that contained the following: "Some residents of Newtown, a picturesque New England community, began taking down Christmas decorations in the wake of the slayings." I am extraordinarily saddened if this report is true. I wish I had a way to reach each one of those people and encourage them to leave the decorations in place. Why? Because to take them down is to further encourage Satan and his legions.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  1 Peter 5:8

Precisely what Satan desires is for the world to NOT acknowledge and celebrate the Savior Christ. Ladies, now more than ever, we need to lift up the Lord on high. We already have groups like Freedom From Religion Foundation in Wisconsin who search for citizens who are publicly acknowledging Christ. Then this group files lawsuits to prevent expression and recognition of faith. And unfortunately, America has been caving in to them. Manger scenes are dismantled; the Ten Commandments and the name God are deleted and removed from view; crosses are torn off sports uniforms or covered with drapes during graduation ceremonies; prayer is banned. The list of ways we have dishonored God in this nation is endless and shameful. So I wonder why then do the grieving yet believeing residents of Newtown willingly choose to take down their decorations? Leave them up, people! Celebrate in the middle of your crisis because your God is on His throne in heaven, and He has not and will not abandon you.

Girlfriends, death is distressing and dreadful. Murder is ghastly and horrific. Because we love, our hearts will grieve, will be broken and afflicted. Yet, because of the love of God, we will not mourn forever. Restoration came on that Christmas Day and is coming again to finish His work. That promise is worthy of celebration, even in the midst of tragedy. So decorate your homes, your yards, your workplace, your schools, and display the love of Christ for all to see, hear, and know. You have the gift of choice: Deny Satan his satisfaction. Choose LOVE. CELEBRATE the CHRIST in Christmas.

Glory, praise, and honor to you, Almighty God, forever and ever. AMEN.

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10

Love and Humility

Humility isn't thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less.

Above all, love each other deeply, 

because love covers over a multitude of sins.

 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1 Peter 4:8-9 NIV

 

Girlfriends, Good Morning from my new home in northern Virginia!

Ladies, the Christmas season is directly upon us. Enjoy every moment of wonder and awe, looking and seeing through the eyes of your inner child. Your perspective will certainly change, especially in regard to the people around you this December!

I recently completed a study of 1 Peter. Yesterday morning, I sat down at the kitchen table and reread the entire book aloud to my dog, Oreo. (She was mesmerized by every word rolling off my tongue. I could tell by how loud she was snoring!) I, on the other hand, was intrigued by the numerous verses instructing us on how to treat one another. "God's perfect timing and direction," I thought, since we are in the season of hustle, bustle, and fight tooth and nail for every parking spot and position in the check-out line.

In this epistle, the apostle Peter is writing to believers scattered throughout the Roman Empire who are suffering persecution for their belief in Christ. How appropriate is it then that he desires for them to be in unity and love with one another? Peter knows that the outside world is cruel enough; why should we also torture one another with hateful and hurtful words and actions? Believers who are born again in Christ are family, and who should love you the most and care the deepest but your family? Yet God knows, and expresses through Peter's writing, that family can often be very cruel to one another, out of jealousy, pride, and insecurity. Hence his deluge of directions regarding our treatment of one another and how to "love...with all your heart."

Now that by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves and have come to have a sincere love for other believers, love one another earnestly with all your heart. For through the living and eternal word of God you have been born again as the children of a parent who is immortal, not mortal. As the scripture says, "All human beings are like grass, and all their glory is like wild flowers. The grass withers, and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord remains forever." 1 Peter 1 :22-25 GNT

What a wonderful word picture God paints: we are like the brown grass marking my front lawn right now; like the wilting carnations in the vase on my kitchen table. Ladies, we will not last long on this earth, but God's Word stands and so too will the legacy we leave behind. Future family gatherings and traditions will be affected by the love, or hate, we show one another right now. Our children will pass on to future generations not only the stories of Christmas past, but also the behaviors they imitate from us. Will tolerance and respect prevail around the festive feasts of the future? Will charity, generosity, and good will flow from the fingertips and pocketbooks of our grandchildren because we joyfully and willingly gave to the needy of our day?

Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:1-3

Remember my suggestion earlier: see Christmas through the eyes of your inner child and change your perspective? God also commands us change our appetite back to that of our infancy, to crave spiritual milk (which I hear goes well with frosted sugar cookies and gingerbread men!) Girlfriends, nourish your soul with God's Word and grow into women full of love for His people and His creation.

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3: 8-9

My husband texts our children a Quote of the Day every morning. (And since we are on eastern time and he leaves for work at 5:30 am, you know they so dearly appreciate the wake up call, especially the child living in California!) Today's quote stuck with me as I prepared to write this blog:

"Rudeness is a weak man's imitation of strength." Eric Hoffer  

I do not know who is Eric Hoffer (and since I typed that you know I have to take a break and Google it) but I know his statement rings with truth. Jesus taught that the weak will be strong, that the humble will inherit the earth. So why is it so easy for some people to be rude? Why is it so difficult to "be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves."? Philippians 2:3 GNT 

I believe the most likely answer is pride. Consciously or not, we often do consider ourselves better than some others, and we do not hesitate to say so or show it. But the instruction from God in Philippians 2:3 is "to consider; to count; to value" others better than yourself, depending upon the translation you read. All of these words imply a choice; yes, we have a choice to place others first and to humble ourselves before the Lord. We may find it extremely challenging to humble ourselves before certain annoying people; however, humbling ourselves before the Lord, or for the Lord, shifts the focus and eases the difficulty. Girlfriends, what choice will you make this Christmas season?

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11 NIV

Ladies, I pray you will truly find joy and peace emanating from placing others first: whether on the highways, in the shopping malls, from the giving trees, around your neighborhoods, or during the family feasts and celebrations. May the Lord empower you, softening your heart and strengthening your will (and ability to hold your tongue.) Love and forgive one another as God loves and forgives you.

Girlfriends, I love you, each and every one.

Happy Holidays!!!!

 

I Ate All of Your Candy!

 

 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, 

but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel. 

Proverbs 20:17

Hello My Dear, Sweet Girlfriends!

Here we are in November 2012, ALREADY! The older I get, the faster the clock seems to tick. Time. I never have enough of that commodity, especially at this time of the year: the holiday season.

Halloween is barely past us and now we look forward to Thanksgiving, which is a funny thing because I, for one, am very thankful for Halloween candy, especially the chocolate variety! Apparently, I am not alone in my love of candy. Today my daughter posted a YouTube video on Facebook of Jimmy Kimmel's parent Halloween prank on kids. Click here and take a look:  I Told My Kid I Ate All Their Halloween Candy Again.

Admit it, you smiled just a little!

Watching the video at the kitchen table and frightening the dogs with my loud laughter, my mind formulated two questions: What would my response have been as a child, and how would my own children have responded? Well, actually I thought three things, because immediately I felt this sense of shame and guilt  come over me as I wondered, "How embarrassed would I be by the answer to the first two questions?" Years ago, when they were little ones like the kids in the video, I am sure I would not have even thought to ask the third question. I was a baby Christian, still immature and beginning to grow in faith. Materialism and attachment to things of this world, even candy, were part of my old sin nature.

Today, however, after my initial reaction of laughter and amusement at the video clips, I was overcome by the absurdity of it all. We cry and throw fits over someone eating our CANDY. Ok, so for some of us, it is not candy; instead we kick, scream, and wail if someone eats our food, drives our car, spends our cash or uses our credit, wears our clothing, uses our computer, takes our job, or wastes our time. Attached to the things of this world, we miss the bigger picture: Every day is an opportunity to humble ourselves and bless someone else through our giving.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, 

and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19

Why do we hold so tightly to our "stuff"? What do our belongings  mean to us that giving them away does not? Do I need five pounds of candy? Do I need twelve pair of jeans or twenty sweaters? Am I unable to live without my computer for an hour or my car for a day? Would it kill me to slow down, be patient, enjoy breathing, and maybe connect with someone while I wait in line?

Girlfriends, I am not saying I would not be a little ticked if my mom ate all of my Halloween candy (sorry Mom). God is still doing a work in me called sanctification, working out that old nature that lingers in my new Christ-centered self. I am far from perfect simply because I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I am guessing even St. Paul would have cried if all of his Butterfingers and Snickers disappeared at once, for he tells us in Romans 7:18-20:

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

Ladies, my observation today is simply this: many times in life we behave like spoiled children who want nothing more than to gorge ourselves on the "candy" of this earth and who explode into tantrums when we cannot have what we want. Thankfully, Jimmy Kimmel's producers and editors had the good sense to end the film with the responses from some wonderful kids who seem "to get it." In contrast to throwing water bottles and crying uncontrollably, how sweet are the children who only want their parent to be happy or who look forward to next year when they can share the candy with mom? Without saying a word, those kids are screaming, "People, it is only CANDY." Love and kindness are sweeter than anything Nestle or Hershey could ever produce.

Today, I pray that we will all reflect upon our response to others when they want or need (or even steal) something from us. Are we too attached, or can we find joy in giving it freely away? How can we bless someone today?

More than anything, I want to offer the sweet words of eternal life to you, my Girlfriends. While we were separated from God by our sin, He came to earth to be our sin, suffered, died, and conquered death so that you and I may have eternal life through our acknowledgement of our sin, our repentance, and our faith in the work of Jesus on the Cross. If you have not taken these steps,I pray that today will be the start of your new life in Christ, one deeper and richer than any vat of chocolate! Be blessed!

How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Psalm 119:103-104

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

For Where Your Treasure Is

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. 

Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, 

a treasure in heaven that will never fail, 

where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:33-34

Good Friday Morning, my dear and sweet Girlfriends!

Today, I simply had to sit down in the middle of my literal "mess" and write to you. I have piles surrounding me everywhere I look: trash piles, donate piles, return-to-owner piles, give-to-friends/family piles, and do not pack piles. Yes, Girlfriends, moving day is upon us. Monday the movers come and the transition begins.

Can I tell you, though, that I have not seen the light of day in over a week. Yes, the ugly truth is that I have been buried in the "stuff" stored in closets, drawers, and the dreaded basement storage areas. Sorting through our entire house, I am amazed at the amount of possessions we have accumulated over the years. Yet why should I be surprised when I am the person who did the majority of the purchasing and collecting! Oh, and then I passed that bad habit on to three girls who also purchased and collected, and then moved to college and left most of it with me.

Clothing, purses, shoes, furniture, home decor, toys, craft items, electronics, food...buy buy buy....make me happy, give me pleasure....but did they really? That is the question I am asking myself today. Did all of this "stuff" really and truly bring me happiness? For a few fleeting moments, the answer was probably yes. The thrill of the hunt for that great bargain or that special, long-desired treasure brings a rush of adrenaline which persists until the newness wears off or the newer model, style, or upgrade hits the market. Then it is time to start the hunt all over again. 

Sadly, however, that adrenaline is a rush that is fleeting. As I move around this house, purging and prepping for packing, what truly stands out in my mind are moments...(sigh) moments... moments engaging with people and with the Lord in each room.  

In my kitchen, the stainless steel appliances are shiny and cold but the memories are warm and comforting as I reminisce about the past four years. Sitting at the marker and pen stained kitchen table, I passed numerous hours with the Lord, immersed in His Word as I read, worshiped, planned, and studied for small group lessons or FCA meetings  At the breakfast bar, countless conversations with the kids transpired while they snacked after school, or sat relaxing on weekends and during return visits home. That same counter top served as a buffet table for every celebration and gathering: from holidays to birthdays, graduations to wedding showers, Super Bowl days to my annual cookie exchange Christmas party. Old and new friends, family, and even strangers have gathered in this kitchen, praying together for God's blessing over our food and our lives. I cannot recall the fancy dishes nor the food nor the latest gadgets used for its preparation, but I can remember every face and every laugh, and even the tears, that were shared as we ate. 

In the family room sits a new sectional couch and the outdated-the-moment-we-opened-the-box HD television, but ringing in my ears is the laughter of ladies and the popping of bubble wrap as I recall last year's Christmas party and the release of holiday stress with every stomp on the wrap. I can see my son wrestling on the floor with his dad or sisters, the sounds of "get-off-me, I-can't-breathe" reverberating off the walls. I envision the girls and their dates to homecoming and prom standing in front of the fireplace with cameras flashing. A tear falls as I recall family photos taken just before my husband left to Afghanistan, but the tears turn to joy recalling the surprised looks and screams of elation from the kids when he walked into the room on Christmas leave. The heat of the fireplace is nothing compared to the warmth in my heart sparked by these remembrances. 

Upstairs are closets full of shoes, purses, suits, sweaters, tshirts and hoodies but my soul is clothed in love, grace, mercy, and joy. If the walls could speak, they would ignore their Martha Stewart paint, Ikea shelves, and Cardinals Fathead sticker. Instead, their story would include both heartache and happiness, recalling my daughters' pain and frustration during the first years of adjustment to moving in the middle of high school and having left amazing friendships and a boyfriend. In the middle of one of the worst nights, the tale would be told of a young boy opening his Bible to Isaiah 43, copying what he read in God's Word into a letter to his grieving sister, and bringing it to her room as encouragement to hold fast to the Lord. (And of the mother keeping that letter in her Bible as a reminder of the importance of her work teaching her children to hide God's word in their heart.) 

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3

The stories would also include sleepovers with friends and cousins, homework and helping each other study for tests, anticipation for a Hawaiian vacation, and excitement for the move to college. Of course, no biography of a boy is complete without mention of hours playing Xbox Live with friends and family over the internet. But the question remains, does the Xbox create happiness or is it interaction with others that the boy craves? As we prepare to leave these walls behind, I am positive it is the latter. My son is focused on passing his last weeks in person with friends while the Xbox sits idle in his room. 

Girlfriends, let us state again today's key verse:

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. 

Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, 

a treasure in heaven that will never fail, 

where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:33-34

Let us focus not on Coach or Prada purses but on purses sewn of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, patience, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Let us store our treasures not in cabinets, closets, and basements, but in our surrendered hearts protected by the Lord, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. Let us invest more in our relationships with family, friends, and the people around us than we invest in earthly goods which only end up in "piles" engulfing us: piles of garbage, piles of discard, piles of wasted resources and time which can never be regained, piles that promised happiness but stole our joy. 

"And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun." Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 

Ladies, as I pack all we own to move thousands of miles away, not one thing in any box or crate means more to me than the love I have in my heart both for Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, and for my family and friends. God is always faithful to me, and I am a new person since I humbled myself before Him and asked for His saving grace. My family and friends have honored me over and over and over again with their precious love, prayers, support, and companionship. I surely possess the greatest treasures of all eternity. 

I pray you will examine your heart today and ask yourself if you can state the same? Is your treasure in things of this world which will fade away, or is it in heaven where you will last forever? '"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Have you given your heart to Jesus? Have you humbled yourself, accepting your sin and asking for His everlasting forgiveness? Have you asked Him to be your Savior, from yourself and from the world? I pray you will loosen your tight grasp of earthly wants and ways, open your hands wide, lift them to the heavens, and find that by letting go you now possess the greatest, most valuable prize you could ever own: salvation of your soul and eternal life. And that, Girlfriends, is something you do not need to put in a box and load on a truck to take with you wherever you go. God now lives inside you by the power of the Holy Spirit and will never, ever leave you. Amen!

I Am Peaceful

The Lord is at hand;  

do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything

 by prayer and supplication

 with thanksgiving

 let your requests be made known to God.  

And the peace of God, 

which surpasses all understanding, 

will guard your hearts

 and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:5-7

Good morning, Girlfriends!

How are you today? 

"I am peaceful; thank you for asking."

I am interested to know how many of you would respond to that question this way? If I had to guess, I'd say, oh, about....ZERO. In today's world, peace does not seem to be the reigning state of mind or heart. Instead, we are more likely to be anxious, stressed out, busy, occupied, sad, concerned, depressed, or sick. Once in a while, that questions catches us on a good day--probably a Saturday--and we might respond with a more positive tone, proclaiming temporary happiness and contentment. Check back a day or two later, though, and most likely we will have reverted back to the former answers. Ladies, I admit, I have never heard anyone, including myself, admit to a peace-filled state of existence. Never. Not once.

Until today. 

Surprise! The words came straight out of ME. Yes, Girlfriends, I am peaceful. Thank you for asking. 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:7 ESV

Not as the world gives...

Ladies, I have every earthly reason to be in a state of complete turmoil and emotional upheaval right now: 

1. I am married. I am a mother. I am a daughter. 2. My husband started a new job five states away this week. I miss him. 3. We are moving. I am still here, trying to sell our house in an over-saturated, deflated market. We are going to lose thousands of dollars. 4. My teenage son does not want to move. I am the mom he loves, but I am the enemy moving him. Love/hate relationships. I feel his pain. 5. Another daughter left home to college last month. I miss my babies, aka my lovely daughters. I am trying to be a good, long-distance parent, nurturing tender wings as they encounter the harsh winds of real life. 6. My oldest daughter is in extreme physical pain from a life-altering, medical error. I hurt because she is hurting. I can't fix it. I am pleading with God to heal her. She wants answers, including Why? I can't answer. I try to lead her to the One who can. 7. This same daughter's husband started a new job this week. She is moving to the opposite coast from where I am moving. 8. I am going to miss my mom. And sister. And mom-in-law. And girlfriends. I wish I had been a better daughter. I want to take them with me. 

"I am peaceful; thank you for asking."

Girlfriends, in the midst of life's pandemonium, this tumultuous turmoil, I have peace. Despite all these circumstances swirling around me, surpassing all understanding, the peace of Christ is guarding my heart and mind. 

Peace did not find me, however. I had to go after it. Go after Him. Seek Him. Pursue Peace. God, in His grace and mercy, offered me His peace but the work was mine to do. Do not get me wrong. I did not earn it. Peace was freely given to me. But I had to choose to claim it. I could be anxious and worried, stressed and depressed, or I could follow His Word:

do not be anxious about anything, 

but in everything

 by prayer and supplication

 with thanksgiving

 let your requests be made known to God. Phil 4:5-6

My peace comes from trusting God. I give Him thanks and praise, even in the difficult times. I believe He is who and what He says He is. As proof, which we humans seem to demand, I stand on His examples of past faithfulness. To me. To my family. To others I know. To His beloved people written about in His Word. I submit my life to Him: the good, the bad, the ugly, the in-between. I chose to offer every issue up in prayer and then trust in His will and His plan, which is far greater than I will ever understand. 

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Ladies, peace is yours. Take hold of God's will for you. I pray today that you will seek the peace that passes all understanding. Do not sit idly by, waiting for it to come upon you. Do the work. Make the choice. I pray you will choose Jesus. Give thanks. Give praise. Lift up your face. Lift up your life daily. Peace is lasting but your efforts cannot be fleeting: prayer today, gone tomorrow. Be consistent and persistent in your pursuit. And be patient. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14

So, I ask you Girlfriends, how are you today?

Peace be with you.

Appraised Value

Consider the ravens: 
They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; 
yet God feeds them.
 And how much more valuable you are than birds! 
Luke 12:24

 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. 
They do not labor or spin. 
Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, 
which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, 
how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
 Luke 12:27-28

 “Do not be afraid, little flock, 
for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 
Luke 12:32

“For God so loved the world 
that he gave his one and only Son 
 that whoever believes in him
 shall not perish but have eternal life. 
John 3:16   

Hello Girlfriends!
I hope you had a "labor free" Labor Day weekend. Oh, wait, there is no such thing for a woman, right? Our work is never done. By the time we clean the house top to bottom, we have to go up to the top and start all over again!


Personally, I have had my fill of cleaning these past few months. In order to put our home on the real estate market, we had to do some serious purging, organizing, scouring, and polishing. Worse yet, we have to keep the place immaculate on the remote chance a potential buyer wants to pop in at thirty minutes' notice. The good Lord knows we would not want anyone to lower their offer because our beds are unmade, the sock drawer is hanging open, or the kitchen counter is covered in crumbs.

Speaking of offers, a part of the moving process involves appraisals and inspections before we're given a buy-out offer. Hoping to add value to the appraisal price, we spent countless hours working on our house, making repairs, adding upgrades, mending flaws, and replacing the broken and worn pieces. At the mercy of relocation appraisers for the sale price of our home, we knew we had to make everything perfect in order to earn the highest amount possible. I was devastated when the first appraiser came back $100,000 less than we had purchased our home. Ladies, I literally sat down and cried for thirty minutes straight before I called my husband and continued the meltdown over the phone! How could this man come to this conclusion, especially after all the work we had put into the house? Was our investment seriously worth so little? Hadn't we done enough to earn a better price?

The next seven days were agonizing as we awaited the second appraisers report; however, in the midst of those nervous moments, this blog was born. I turned to God in prayer, asking for the second appraiser to come to the conclusion that our home was worth more. Worth more. Worth more....more valuable....valuable appraisal....these words started ringing in my head. I was focused on all the effort we had given to "earn it."

Suddenly, my thoughts shifted to my own life and relationships. Was I tying my value to my work, to my house, to the appraisals others gave of me? God quickly answered: "YOU don't have to earn my love. YOU are worth more. YOU are of value to Me just as you are." No upgrades. No replacements. No attempts at mending will ever increase the price God is willing to pay--because He already paid it. He paid it in the blood of His only Son, and He paid the premium--the highest--the largest sum possible. Willingly, He paid it all... for me....for you.....for us.

Girlfriends, God says you don't need to labor to increase your worth, to elevate your value or position. You do not need the appraisals or inspections of men to know that you are solid gold--priceless--in the eyes of your Savior. Your value is in His love for you, and God knows you are worth it all--worth the incarnation of  Himself, the sending of Christ (God in the flesh) to this earth to give us a living example. You are worth dying a horrible death on the cross. You are worth rising, conquering death, and claiming victory over the evil one, who wants you to think you have to earn it.

Ladies, that is true value, that we are someone worth God dying for. We don't have to struggle to add value to ourselves-- to lose weight, educate, impersonate, accomodate, compensate, accumulate, deviate--NO. None of these things. All we have to do is just be in love with the Lord and willing to follow Him, accepting His atoning work on the cross and living out our faith in honor of His sacrifice. Not to earn value--but to show gratitude for it. You are HIS treasure.

My dear friends, if today you are wondering, "Am I worth it?" or worse yet, thinking "I am not worth anything," STOP wondering and START reading the key verses above. You are more valuable than the birds in the sky which God feeds and cares for daily, year after year. Will He not care for you? Will He not provide for you? Does He not love you infinitely more? YES, He does. You are more beautiful to God than the wildflowers which He dresses in splendid color, texture, and design. In His eyes you are perfect, lovely, and radiant. Nothing is more valuable than that for which you would give your life. So, I will say it again, God loves you so much that He decided to give you His kingdom--and so He died for you. That, ladies, is an appraisal you can take to the bank and cash in on your fortune!

My prayer for each one of you is that today you will focus upon your worth in the opinion of the Most High and no one else. Live on His appraisal of you. Act on your value as a child of God. Believe in His word. Know you are loved!

Seek Ye First

But seek first the kingdom of God 

and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow,

 for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 

Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:33-34 ESV

Helloooooooooo, Girlfriends!

Can you hear me across the miles and the expanse of time that has separated us this summer? I certainly hope so because I am longing to connect with you. Having been bogged down with a plethora of moving details, I longed to write but either found no time, energy, or, sadly, inspiration to put into words all that has transpired since early July. My desire to sit at the computer and convey my thoughts battled with a gnawing inside that told me only negativism would pour forth. I convinced myself that the words I would write in the midst of my confusion, stress, and sometimes sadness would dishonor God. So, silence and separation ensued.

Fortunately, I heard a Word from God last weekend that moved me out of my complacency. And, Girlfriends, would you believe those words came through a man? Gasp! I know. A man. But a good man, I will have you know, and his name is Pastor Mark Andreson from Calvary Church in Lemont.

Pastor Mark and his wife/son are moving to Indonesia to work in Christian ministry, bringing light to a dark place in the world. This fact was only recently revealed to our congregation, and last Sunday was Pastor Mark's farewell sermon. As I sat listening to his discourse, I marveled at God's timing and universalism, knowing that His Word, which is so precious to Mark and Kim at this time in their transition, was also penetrating the hearts of others in the audience, especially mine.

Like an arrow, one point in particular shot straight into my soul, and its source is today's key verse. Let me give it to you also from the Good News Bible translation:

Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings.

Is anyone else feeling like God just sat you down in a chair, took your chin in His hand and lifted your face, saying, "Look at me and listen up?" Well, that is exactly what I pictured Him doing to me as I absorbed Pastor Mark's message.

God's voice boomed: "Seek Me first and foremost: in the morning when you rise; in the day as you perform; and in the evening before you close your eyes to rest. I am the Alpha and the Omega; let your life reflect Me."

My heart heard God's reprimands loudly and clearly. I had put my worldly needs first, allowing worry and frustration to rule each day, to the point that I could not do the good works He has prepared for me in advance. (Ephesians 2:10) I could not write to you, my dear Girlfriends, and bring God's Word alive through His power from my fingers on a laptop because my anxious brain committed these hands to hours of internet searches for real estate issues, schools, housing, employment, medical insurance, and a multitude of other items that accompany a relocation. I missed opportunity after opportunity all around me to connect hearts and minds with God's Word because my own heart and mind were so far removed from Him. In essence, even though God has always proven His faithfulness to me, I trusted my ability to coordinate this move more than I trusted His power to put into place everything He already begun when He selected my husband for this new job.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God..." Do not get me wrong. I am not saying that God did not have tasks for me to complete to make this move, or any of the summer's events, happen. To the contrary, I realize that God assigns us work--I read the Bible and see many examples of God's people laboring hard. But what Pastor Mark so eloquently pointed out is that when we keep our mind on God, His Kingdom, and His righteousness before, during, and after our work, all the things we need are added unto us--and added without the stress and anxiety created by worry. Additionally, we find that we have time along the way to serve the people He places in our paths here and now. In other words, we do not miss today's opportunities because our brain is consumed with thoughts of tomorrow, or next week, or next month. He will give us plenty of people to bless then as well!

So, ladies, I have to give credit for my return to blogging to God first, and then to Pastor Mark for sharing with us God's message to him. I am so excited to write again and be a part of your day, sharing God's love and mine with you. I pray you will hear what the Lord has to speak into your life from today's verses and that you will always seek Him first. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, remembering that our labor is indeed blessed by Him when we focus on His kingdom and His righteousness, not our own glory, fame and fortune.

Finally, I want to pray God's mighty blessing upon the Andreson family, their relocation process, and the work they will do in Indonesia. I am happy to share Pastor Mark's other verses from last Sunday's sermon in hope that you too will find power and rest in Him. Blessings to all!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.1 Peter 5:6-11

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, 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 4:6-7

Trusting the Lord

 

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.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Hello My Girlfriends!

I apologize for the huge time gaps between blogs this past month. Not because of writer's block, or lack of interest in writing to you, but instead my life has taken an interesting twist that has thwarted my efforts to write daily. In the midst of mourning the upcoming loss of day to day contact with my youngest daughter (remember she is heading to college in just two weeks), my husband was offered a job promotion that requires a move even farther away from all of my girls.

So, ladies, I know you have heard Proverbs 3:5-6 quoted many, many times, but I am here to tell you that God gave us this piece of wisdom for a good reason. In the difficult and trying times, trusting in the Lord and believing His ways definitely lessens the pain and angst. I am submitting my life to Him, trusting that He will bring all things together for our good and His glory, just as He has done the past twelve moves in our married life!

Funny thing about trust, you must stick to your convictions and faith in all situations, including superstitious ones! Here I am, moving for the thirteenth time, listing my house on Friday the 13th, and finding that my mind wants to freak out over the numbers. Man-made silliness, I know, but I had to take my thoughts captive to overcome the uneasiness.

So, as I work feverishly this week to prepare my home for showings and appraisals, I am thinking of you and compiling blog topics in my mind.  Be ready for the barrage in August!!

I also want to thank God for Girlfriends who step to help in when life throws these curve balls. I am grateful for the helping hands and praying hearts that serve our family in love and friendship. Praise to God that this earth, wherever we reside on it, is only our temporary home. By God's grace, we look forward to eternity in one another's presence, with tea, snacks, flowers, candles, conversation, and laughter abounding.

I am so blessed!

Love to you all!

Lift Up Your Head

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2 NIV
 

Girlfriends, welcome to hot, hot, hot July! Wherever you are in the world, I hope you are staying well hydrated in this heat. You are the bright and beautiful flowers in my garden of friendship. Today, I pray you will also receive some refreshing, spiritual watering deep in your souls. Let's dive in.

Key Verse

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, 

because your redemption is drawing near.

Luke 21:28 NIV

Looking Down

Ladies, I have spent a lot of time walking lately, trying to sort out in my mind, and spirit, the direction my life is going. One day while traversing the sidewalks and pondering my existence, I noticed that I am always looking down. (I have seen more cracks this month than a plumber's assistant.) Even when I exercise by climbing the limestone stairs at the toboggan run, my eyes are fixed on the rising or falling of the steps--which by the way are covered in dirt, bird poo, and creepy, crawling (or smashed) insects. I realized that the visual stimulation received during my soul searching walks is not enlivening nor enhancing my thought process whatsoever. In fact, the blandness of the concrete and the repetitiveness of the fissures are depressing reminders of the routine ruts into which we can fall as we march through our days. 

Recently, I decided that one of my twelve laps up and down the 125 stairs would be taken backwards. As I began my reverse ascent, I tried to look down, straining my neck to see the next stair behind me. I turned to the right, but my neck hurt. I twisted to the left. My neck still hurt, and now I was also dizzy. Finally, I looked up and straight ahead, allowing my foot to find the edge of the next step behind me by feel and faith. I continued to climb backwards in this manner, gazing out at the beautiful green forest in front of me the entire length of the rise. Suddenly, I arrived at the top of the flight, unaware of how many steps I had taken because my eyes were captivated by the beauty displayed before me. Yes, my legs were noodly and my breathing labored, as usual, but this loop passed quicker than the others I believe because my gaze was upward and the view was pleasant.

How many of us spend the majority of our lives looking down? Take a walk in any crowded place and try to catch someone's eye to offer them a smile or a wink. Chances are most people are gazing downward--at the ground, scanning for possible impediments which might cause them to trip and fall; at their phones, searching for meaningful relationships in a text message or on facebook; at their ipods, hoping to find solace, or inspiration to keep moving forward, in the next artist's song.

We all do it. We travel this world looking down, focusing on our earthly life with earthly problems, scarred by sin and disobedience, fearful of the uneven pavement, of the bumps in the road, of the rocks in the path upon which we may stub our toes, or trip and take a tumble. But what if we could walk by faith, lifting our eyes upward, focusing on the things of God, of the heavenly and perfect realm, of the promise we have been made? How would life change? How many eyes would we catch, smiles would we share, knowing glances would we exchange? The beauty of this life is found by beholding the magnificence and wonder of the next one, and God's creation is the greatest peek we have into that eternal life. Ladies, look up and behold the wonder of it all!

Looking Up

In today's key verse, Jesus is telling of the future destruction of Jerusalem and the end of time. He is describing dark days and events, but then He says, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Ladies, the advice of the Lord can be applied to any season in your life. When the end seems near, darkness surrounds you and nothing feels right, stand up and look up--raise up your head! Redemption--your Savior Jesus Christ--is drawing near. My friend, draw near to Him. Lift your eyes from the ground, from the madness all around you, and catch His twinkling eye, the smile on His face, the expression that states, "I am here for you; I am in charge; and you will be fine."

Girlfriends, I challenge you for the next week to walk with head, chin, and eyes lifted high. God is trekking with you; He has your back. 

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

He will catch you if you fall; He may even warn you of the danger if you acknowledge His presence on the journey. 

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Isaiah 55:6

Turn off the distractions and converse with Him. Be still and know He is your God. (Psalm 46:10) Seek the wonder of His world and be amazed. Your insight, your vision, your direction will be brighter, clearer and more spectacular. Do as my favorite singer, Mac Powell of Third Day, sings: Lift Up Your Face!! 

My dears, I pray you will see the sun and moon shining instead of the gum and gunk stuck to the ground. I pray you will count the smiling nods you receive and the birds in the trees instead of worrying about stepping on cracks and breaking your mother's back. (Ha Ha- remember that old rhyme from childhood? If not, you probably think I am a cruel idiot right about now!) I pray the treasure you find in the colorful clouds of a beautiful sunset will be greater than the value of the occasional penny or quarter you may discover on the ground. I pray you will walk hand in hand, sharing with your best friend, instead of wandering aimlessly with cellular or electronic device in hand searching for affirmation from your virtual friends. Most of all, I pray you know and accept the love of God, your Savior Christ, and the indwelling Spirit of the Lord, whose beauty will grace your life forever more. Look Up!

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!