I Do Not Know

“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

Someone At The Door

Aloha, Girlfriends! No, I am not in Hawaii, just dreaming! 

Earlier this week, I did take a short trip and spent the night at my mom's house. As I was sitting in her office typing my blog to you, the doorbell rang. Mom was in the shower, so I answered the door. Two women carrying Bible bags stood smiling at me and began praising Mom's landscaping. From that praise, they prompted me with a question about the anger hanging in the air lately around our cities and whether I knew the cause. I answered them with God's word, stating that He does tell us that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12). After a slight pause, one lady asked if she could share with me an article addressing this issue, and she handed me the Watchtower magazine. 

Now, I had no interest in the Watchtower or the message of the Jehovah's Witnesses. I warmly accepted her hand-out but informed her that I am a Christian. They nodded, asked about my church, and then the other woman said something that later came back to play over and over in my mind. 

"What I love about the Jehovah's Witnesses is that my mother grew up under Hitler in Nazi Germany. When she came to the US with so many questions, their Bible answered every single question for her. Then she passed it on to me." 

Hmmmm, really? EVERYTHING? She read the Jehovah's Witnesses bible and suddenly knew everything and had no more questions? (By the way, their bible is called the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. The men who "translated" it had little or no knowledge of either Greek or Hebrew.) Sorry, not buying that line. But we will come back to that in a minute.

To make the story short, I seized the opportunity of having two women at my mom's door to witness to them. I asked the first woman if she had a pen, which she did, and a piece of paper, which she opened up in a notebook. I took the pen and notebook from her and wrote "www.girlfriendmoments.blogspot.com" and told her that, since she shared with me, I would like to also share with her. I let her know that I write a Christian blog for women. I also mentioned that I agreed with her that God should be the source of our knowledge, not Google, not your neighbor, not necessarily even your pastor. 

For we are told in Jeremiah 29:12-14, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity." 

I highly doubt they will ever read my blog, but I am grateful God gave me the opportunity to cross paths with them that day. For one, perhaps God planted a seed of change that will bring them to the Truth. But more importantly, because the second woman's comments spoke to my heart about an issue that was already dwelling there. 

Seek and Find Me

The blog I was writing that day the doorbell rang was called The Story. (You can read it in the archives on the leftside of my page if you missed it.) The Story is God's Story, the Bible (correctly translated Hebrew/Greek to English), rearranged in chronological order. If you remember, I told you that Emily, Jordan, and I are reading this Bible out loud together. What I did not tell you is how arduously slow this reading is going! I am sure this is no surprise for those of you who know my son very well. "Deep thinker" does not even begin to describe Jordan! 

Remember that three year old phase when you were convinced that the only word your child knew was "Why"? Yeah, well, I don't think my son ever outgrew that stage. Therein lies the blessing and the curse! Inquisitive, reflective, and analytical, Jordan rarely accepts anything for its surface value. (Wonder where he got that gene?) Hence, reading aloud to him has always been a long process requiring a enormous block of time. Now, we all know that I am a mom with nothing else to do all day, so naturally I am delighted by my little investigator. (Yes, that is sarcasm.)

Seriously, though, reading the Bible challenges me to introspection. Reading the Bible with Jordan stretches me further, traversing topics that demand observation, reflection, explanation, and interpretation. When I presume to know the answer to his question, I explain to him, only to find myself on a walk later wondering if I actually gave the correct information. I find myself returning to the Bible, seeking and pursuing the truth in a way I can share with my children. Funny thing about seeking, I always find something. Many times, one question leads me to another and the pursuit of answer reveals an entirely new yet related certainty; hence, as God tells us you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(Jer 29 above)

I Do Not Know 

But what about the times when I seek and I cannot find the answer? When I knock and the door is not opened? Is it acceptable for me to tell my children, "I do not know?" Does not having every answer crumble my faith and demote God to a lesser being, or negate His existence at all? Is that not the argument atheists and other non-believers, by the power of Satan, want to use against us? And what about supposed believers, like the Jehovah's Witnesses who visited me? She told me that her religion and her Bible have all the answers. I have a problem with both kinds of thinking.

As stated in today's key verse, God tells us (His) thoughts are not (our) thoughts, neither are (our) ways (His) ways. Actually, His ways higher than (our) ways and (His) thoughts than (our) thoughts. Seeking and finding Him does not mean we become like God, that we know all His answers. Instead, we find our way into His abiding love that reveals knowledge and wisdom according to His measure.

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Ephesians 1:17

I am quite frankly comfortable with that thought. After all, was that not Eve and Adam's problem in the Garden, wanting to be like God, to have all that knowledge from the tree? Look what a disaster that turned out to be for all of humanity! I want God to be God, and humans to be humans. I do not desire to know all that He knows for many reasons, but really for one major point. 

I have found that when I think I know everything there is to know about a subject, or even a major portion of it, I stop pursuing. I am no longer consumed with the desire to learn more or to spend time on the topic. I move on to something else interesting. Let me ask, have you ever had that experience? Perhaps the subject was academic in nature, but what about people? Yes, people, created in God's image. How many spouses stop pursuing one another once they have been together a long time, once they have achieved great familiarity, once they "know everything" about each other? Can you imagine if that were the case with our Lord and Savior?

I do not know everything about God, and I cannot completely answer many of my own or my son's questions about His revealed Word. Yet, these deficiencies do not impede my faith, instead they embolden it. I love the Lord. I believe in Him and who He says He is. I am encouraged by the fruit generated by His Presence in my family. I have witnessed His faithfulness and constantly observe the results of His promises. Consequently, I hunger and thirst for Him like a craving that is never satisfied. I want to know Him more and more. I yearn to spend time with God, in conversation and relationship, listening as He reveals to me little by little the Truth that increases my freedom and my faith incrementally. The more He unveils, the greater my desire to turn to His Word daily, for courage, insight, and direction. 

So, I continue to read aloud with my kids from the Bible. They continue to ask questions. I pray and then I answer. Often we stand in the kitchen until midnight, going back and forth in deliberation. Sometimes my answer is a plain, "I do not know," but you can bet my faith says, "But God knows, and I trust Him." I hope my kids do too! 

To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1

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

My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Proverbs 3:1-2

Waiting

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. ... I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 27:14, 40:1)

Girlfriends, waiting is sooooo hard! 

Upon what do you wait today?

Knowledge? Insight? Discernment?

Relief from pain? Healing for you or a loved one?

Financial rescue? A job? A move?

Assistance in a relationship? A marriage? Parenthood?

Revelation of your purpose? Of God's plan for your life?

In every season of life, you will find yourself in the waiting room at one point or another. 

How will you wait? Full of worry and anxiety, rocking  in the chair but going nowhere? Or will you abide in Jesus and rest in His peace? 

We are called to do our part to seek God's will. But when the answers do not come in a reasonable time-frame, we are also called to wait. During the waiting stage, Girlfriends, do not worry or be anxious. Find something else productive and God-honoring to do and apply yourself. Call upon a friend for support and a reminder to bring your thoughts captive to Christ.

 "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him (Psalm 62:5).

Waiting is hard, yet not impossible; however, waiting is a choice. You must choose to wait in peace, free from worry. Waiting is disciplined obedience to God's Word. Ladies, today let us sing praises and celebrate past victories as we faithfully wait upon our Lord.  We do not have all of the answers right now, but God does. That knowledge alone gives me pause and a purpose. I trust in Jesus. Do you?

 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. Galatians 6:9

Be strong as you wait! I believe in you!

 

When Love Sees You

Girlfriends, I want to share the link to a video presentation of my favorite song from The Story Tour.
I urge you to check the entire production yourself. Then come back here in the comments below and let me know your thoughts.
Which song/video meant the most to you? Why?
What exactly spoke to you?
Who is your favorite Christian artist? (I am sure you all know mine: Mac Powell/Third Day!)
Feel free to write whatever inspires you!
Enjoy!


Disc 1 1. I Am — Overture 2. Good (Adam & Eve) — Matthew West/Leign Nash 3. Who But You (Abraham and Sarah) — Casting Crowns (Mark Hall & Megan Garrett) 4. Bend (Joseph) — Brandon Heath 5. It Must Be You (Moses) — Bart Millard (Mercy Me) 6. Bring Us Home (Joshua) — Michael Tait & Blanca Callahan (Group1Crew) 7. I’m With You (Ruth & Naomi) — Nichole Nordeman & Amy Grant 8. Your Heart (David) — Chris Tomlin 9. No Compromise (Daniel) — Peter Furler 10. Born For This (Esther) — Mandisa 11. Broken Praise (Job) — Todd Smith (Selah) Disc 2 1. Be Born In Me (Jesus Birth/Mary) — Francesca Battistelli 2. When Love Sees You (Jesus Ministry) — Mac Powell (Third Day) 3. How Love Wins (Jesus Crucifixion/Thieves) — Steven Curtis Chapman 4. Alive (Jesus Resurrection/Mary Magdalene) — Natalie Grant 5. Empty (Pentecost/Disciples) — Dan Haseltine (Jars Of Clay) & Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real) 6. Move In Me (Apostle Paul) — Jeremy Camp 7. The Great Day (Second Coming — Michael W. Smith & Darlene Zschech )

The Story

 "I see your story, I see My name,
Written on every beautiful page.
You see the struggle, you see the shame,
I see the reason I came.

I came for your story, 

I came for your wounds,

To show you what love sees when Love looks at you."

 When Love Sees You 

Mac Powell /Nordeman/Herms

Stories

I love stories. I love listening to stories, writing stories, and telling stories. I especially love reading stories to my children. Our home has always been filled with books--on shelves, in baskets, hanging off nightstands, even tucked into seatpockets of the car. Cuddling up under a blanket and traveling on pages through time and space into another world cannot be matched by any Disney Pixar movie or an xbox game.

Unfortunately, I have not read books aloud to my kids in years. Two of my children no longer live with me, and the rest of us at home are in love with technology. My oral reading now consists of shouting across the kitchen into the family room: "Hey, Em, listen to this post on Facebook..." or "Jordan, turn down that tv. I found this funny quote on Pinterest..."

Our current idea of quality time together is truly new age: We compete against one another in Words with Friends. I am sitting on my laptop at the secretary's desk, Emily at the breakfast bar with her Mac, John on the chair with his iphone, and Jordan sprawled across the couch with the iPad, each of us intermittently calling out, "Will you please hurry up and go?' or "What? FIZ for 45 points. That's ridiculous!"

Little did I know the five letter word STORY would soon dominate my life. Everywhere I turn, I notice this word popping up. I should not be surprised, as God has a consistent habit of repetition in order to get my distracted mind to focus upon His will for me! In September, 2011, I purchased tickets for a December concert, The Story Tour. In perfect foreshadowing, this event prompted a resurgence in reading aloud to my children. Journeying through a new format to an eternal and true Story, the Bible is once again transporting us to promised lands through tumultuous times, engaging the enemy and sharing our heroes' dreams, battles, set-backs and eventually total victory. This Story is ultimately our story, and I am thrilled to share it with my family. Girlfriends, please consider that you are also a part of this story! I encourage you to read with us.

The Story Tour

On December 18th, my husband and I took Emily and Jordan to what we thought was going to be a Christmas. Some of our favorite popular Christian music artists performed. To our delight, The Story Tour encompassed abundantly more than just the Christmas story. Singer/songwriter Nichole Nordeman, composer Bernie Herms, and many others joined talented forces to write the songs and create coordinating videos based upon principle persons and major events in our biblical history.  

The musical Story project tells "how God's story of love and redemption intersects with our story of brokenness and failures resulting in a new story of hope and rescue. 'I think for me one of the goals was to be able to listen to these songs and feel more connected to these people that walked before us and learned lessons that we're still learning,' explains Nordeman. 'There's such a tendency to turn them into superheroes and have these big, takeaway, moral-of-the-story moments. For me it was all about the humanity. These were broken people who were desperate and needed God. They were just like us. I really believe that, and I think sometimes forget.'" (NEWS SOURCE: The M Collective, July 19, 2011)

That concert was momentous and amazing! The various artists who delivered the message and the live music inspired awe. Entertaining yet deeply reverent, the audience worshiped in unison with the performers. Our family continues daily to relive the stories since we now own both the dvd and the music cd of The Story project. We each have our favorite song or story, which warms my heart when I think how God touched each one of us in a unique way that night! (In addition, during intermission the kids and I chose a new child to sponsor (Hamil from Peru) through WorldVision. We are honored to partner with this program.)

The Story Bible

The Story is of course God's story, the Bible. But pastors/creators Randy Frazee and Max Lucado took God's story and developed a method for communicating it to God's people in a format tailored to today's standards of presentation and comprehension. Their work is receiving praise everywhere.

According to the website www.thestory.com, "The Story is helping people in churches everywhere experience Scripture like never before. Carefully selected verses from the Bible are organized chronologically. From Genesis to Revelation, (you) will come to understand God’s story and how (your) story intersects with it." The Story Bible, by Zondervan, is written in the form of a novel and accurately abridged. I have purchased the teen edition for my younger son. A children's edition is also available.

Frazee and Lucado developed a series of sermons, small group discussion videos and questions, and the concert tour all based upon the chapters in this Story Bible. My girlfriend's church in Columbia, Illinois, (Hope Christian Church) is in the middle of this series. She loves it! My church (Calvary of Lemont) will begin this Sunday, March 11th. I cannot tell you how excited I am for this journey, especially based upon last week's experience of reading it together with the kids. (And what an experience it is! But that is the subject of tomorrow's blog!!)

Our Story

I am guessing you have had an "aha" moment by this point in reference to my choice of subtitling at the top of this blog: My Story, Your Story, God's Story. I truly believe part of God's story is that inspiration He gives me to write to all of you. Included in my discourse, my Girlfriends, are your stories too! Visualize with me the beautiful fabric He is weaving as the vibrant, silken threads of our lives intersect, connect, and flow into one another. I just want to wrap myself in the comfort, laughter, peace, and security of that cloth!

Girlfriends, I thank you for reading my blog. I also thank you for sharing your lives and your stories with me and my family. I thank God that He created each one of you, uniquely and purposefully, to fit into His eternal story. I pray today that you will be inspired to know Him more, to understand His Story as it relates to your story. And if the Story Bible can help you in that process, I pray you will find a way to get one. Whether it is the old-fashioned, hardcover edition available at the bookstore or the modern method of an ebook for the Kindle or ipad, matters not. What is important is that you know the Story He just for you and about you! Ladies, God is good!

Now, if I could only maneuver in Words With Friends for a triple word play with CALVARY, I would be rocking the house!!!

Love To You All!

Smile

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Psalm 118:24

What a beautiful day in store for us! Rejoice and be glad, Girlfriends. 

I will be accompanying my mom on a trip north for some medical tests as a follow-up to her surgery. Maybe we will get a chance to walk around the lake in Madison afterward. 

Wherever you are today, breathe it in and thank God!

I will post today's blog when we return to her house later in the day, so until then.....

Smile! I love you all!

Just Say Hello

A new command I give you: 

Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

Hello Girlfriends!

Have you ever thought about that word "hello"? I mean, do you specifically remember someone teaching you to say "hello" when you pick up the phone receiver? When someone looks you in the eye and smiles, is your natural response to say "hi"? If you are like me, you utter that word, or some variation of it, countless times in a day without even thinking about its impact. The word just flows naturally, hangs in the air for a second or two, and then quickly disappears as we retreat back into our shells, minds run amok with endless chatter and to-do lists. 

Hello

It is a simple word, "hello," but do you realize the power that one word holds? Whether we initiate the greeting or answer another's prompt, "hello" either invites that person into our world or carries us into theirs. A pathway of communication is opened. I like to believe that the potential for lifelong, maybe even eternal, friendship exists just beyond that one word. 

On the flip side, lies silence. When we ignore a person's presence or refuse to acknowledge their salutation, communication collapses. Unrealized potential slips away into the hurry of the day. No new connections are formed, and huge opportunities for blessing are lost. Perhaps, even, the one to be blessed would have been YOU. 

A Lot of Junk

I attended a Bible study today at the home of a friend who lives about 30 minutes away. As usual, I slipped into my chair just as the lesson began, so I missed the introduction of a first-time participant. As the group closed in prayer, my friend Nadine lifted up to the Lord the newcomer seated to her left, asking God to bless her search for employment. Afterward, while the ladies enjoyed delicious snacks prepared by our hostess, I said hello to this new woman, Marina.We chatted for a few minutes and then joined the rest of the group. Before long I connected enough dots to realize that Nadine had driven Marina to our study today. 

Curious as I am, or nosy as my husband calls it, I asked Nadine how she met Marina. The answer made me chuckle: "at the Goodwill Store." Of course, my next question was, "Well, exactly how do you meet someone in the Goodwill? Did you run your cart into hers, or were you hunting for the same things?" (Keep in mind, my dear Nadine is seventy-five plus years old! I am not sure exactly, but Marina is a generation or two her junior.)

Nadine, in her stylish Southern voice, answered, "I said to her, 'It looks like you are buying a lot of junk there.' Then I thought I would give her my 25% off coupon because she probably had about $100 worth in her cart and I only had a few dollars." Marina nodded her head in confirmation as the rest of us laughed out loud. Nadine filled in the details of that day's meeting and how their friendship developed to the point of inviting Marina to this Bible study. Demonstrating the power of extending a greeting and initiating conversation, Nadine proved that girlfriends are all around us, even in the middle of a Goodwill Store!

Just Say Hello

Nadine and Marina's story is especially intriguing to me for a few reasons. For one, Marina is from Mexico, and Nadine is a true Southerner. Marina speaks Spanish, and Nadine speaks "drawl." However, language did not prevent them from connecting. Secondly, Nadine is Protestant, and Marina is Catholic; nonetheless, denominational differences did not inhibit their spiritual connection. And the third reason is because just last night at my church I spent over an hour speaking with a wonderful missionary woman named Lynda Hausfeld. Lynda's "Say Hello" initiative "inspires Christian women everywhere toward relationships with Muslim women everywhere, knowing that such focus will radically impact believers and will draw Muslim women in all nations to Jesus." (www.sayhelloinfo.com)

Now, "it looks like you are buying a lot of junk there" is definitely a far cry from just saying "Hello." As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure Nadine is just about the only woman with enough charm to open with that line and end with the recipient riding to Bible study with her a short time later!! (God Bless, and more power to you, Nadine!) Furthermore, Marina is a Christian and not a Muslim woman. I wonder if she had been, would Nadine have still approached her with the same hospitality? I am going to guess that she would have, but before speaking to Lynda, I am not sure I would have. What is it about the hijab that intimidates and prevents us from extending even a basic greeting to Muslim women?

Girlfriends, Nadine and Lynda are both on to something very powerful that we need to hear today. That message is simple: Just "Say Hello." If we can slow down and take our eyes off our issues long enough to look around, we will see women of all types just like us, longing for friendship, relationship, and love. Do not be intimidated by the color of her skin, or the covering on her head, or the language that she speaks--women are just that, women. And a simple "hello" with a sincere smile can pave a path where that truth will be revealed. 

Maybe your greeting plants a seed that another will water and yet another will see blossom. Or maybe you are to be the water to a seedling already emerging. Who knows? You could even be the harvester of the hidden yet ripened fruit in a woman's life. The bottom line is you will never know if you don't step out in trust and say "hello." You have a unique gift to give: YOU. Share it! Do not let faith or denominational differences deter you from befriending a woman. Perhaps your example is the only testimony to Jesus that woman will ever see or know. What an amazing opportunity!

Ladies, we don't have to go hunting for connections. If Nadine can befriend a woman in the Goodwill Store, you know your chance is coming....maybe in the produce aisle, at the doctor's office, in your exercise class, or even walking the dog. Women are seeking---I know because I was once one of those women, and I was blessed by neighbors and wives of my husband's co-workers. These ladies who spoke the Truth into my life did not walk up one day and say, "Hey let me tell you about Jesus." NO. They looked me in the eye, smiled, and just said "Hello." 

Tell Me Your Stories

Just like Nadine, I have a few stories of divine appointments in unexpected places that transpired into deep and affectionate friendships with extraordinary women--many of you now reading thisunderstand because it is YOU of whom I speak. I pray God will connect each of you in a special way this week with at least one woman with "a lot of junk in her cart!" I would love to share your stories of God-inspired meetings. You can write a comment below or email me privately at jackie.living4him@gmail.com. Be blessed, Girlfriends, and be a blessing. 

Matters of the Heart

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

When the Heart is Not in It


Girlfriends, I apologize...I did not write to you yesterday. :-( That's my sad face, in case you are not up with the techno lingo and wondering why I am typing random characters mid-sentence! And for those of you whose intelligence I just offended, I apologize again!

I wondered when I started this blog what I would do on days like yesterday, jammed pack with so much activity leaving me too exhausted to think. I figured I could always write a little something, no matter what my schedule contained. I made an attempt last night, placing today's key verse at the top of the page; however, when no further cohesive thoughts came, I sensed God leading me away from the computer and back to the couch, resting beside my son and reading instead of writing. My heart longed for recuperation rather than revelation.

EKGs

After attending yesterday's morning Bible study, I volunteered for Young Hearts 4 Life. Our local high school students came to the gym to have their hearts examined with a free EKG. My role included correctly placing the "stickies" on the student, attaching the lead wires, and reassuring them through the painless process. This simple procedure helps identify persons at risk for sudden cardiac death.

Young Hearts 4 Life website states that more than 7,000 youngsters under age 18 die from undetected heart conditions each year. Surprising to me, many of the day's volunteers have personal experiences that endear them to the project. One young girl working near me was a former student and volleyball player whose heart stopped in 2007. Personnel performed CPR and used a defibrillator to revive her. Looking at her now, I had no idea of the trauma she suffered or that she has an internal defibrillator implanted in her chest.

Another man at the table next to me lost his son a year ago when his enlarged heart caused sudden cardiac arrest. The boy, by all outward appearances healthy and fit, ran cross country and collapsed. This short and noninvasive test could have saved his life. I am grateful for the volunteers and sponsors who made yesterday possible and am happy that my daughter participated in the screening, as we take for granted the conditions of our own and our children's hearts.

Testing the Heart

In today's key verse, God also reminds us that we are not to be fooled by physical looks when it comes to examining the condition of the heart. While my examples above relate to physical health, the Lord is referring to the spiritual state of the heart. Samuel's task was to anoint a new king, and David's stature and appearance paled in comparison to his brothers. God instructed Samuel to keep inquiring, passing over seven of Jesse's sons, until he sent for young David, who tended to sheep. God saw David's heart condition, not his size, age, or vocation. Because of God's insight and instruction, we know David not only as a great leader, from whose lineage came Jesus, but also by the nickname "a man after God's own heart."

Yet, David himself recognized the value of heart check-ups. We know from David's writings in Psalms that he desired the Lord, his Great Physician, to inspect, discover, diagnose and direct his heart that he may be forgiven and counted righteous.

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

Although a chosen man of God, David existed in a fallen world, and as such, his heart was not perfect.

You, God, know my folly; my guilt is not hidden from you. Psalm 69:5 (NIV)

A leak here, a murmur there, and suddenly David's entire being was affected. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and was responsible for her husband's placement in battle which resulted in death. He took a census rather than trusting in God's provision. Because of blood by his hands, he was not permitted to build the temple. Still David sought his Lord and cried out to Him regularly. God was his internal pacemaker, his defibrillator, shocking David's heart back into rhythm. Despite imperfections, because he regularly submitted to God's heart examinations and prescriptions, David was saved from eternal death by the renewing of his heart. 

A Different EKG

Girlfriends, God wants to give you what David received--a new heart, a clean heart, a healed heart, a healthy, vibrant, God-loving and people-serving heart. Won't you make an appointment with Him today? No referrals or pre-authorizations necessary; no paperwork to file; no co-pays or bills in the mail. Jesus paid the cost, His blood, and free of charge, you get the benefit: an EKG--the Eternal Kingdom of God.

Won't you open your heart and let Him in...
 ...Today, if only you would hear his voice, Do not harden your hearts...Psalm 95:7-8

Leap Day!

Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when men hate you,

when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil,

because of the Son of Man.

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. 

Luke 6:20-23

Leap for joy

Happy Leap Day, Girlfriends!

Praise to God for the warm weather here in Chicagoland--He gave us an extra day in February AND cranked up the temperature to boot!

I am going to step outside for a long walk today, reading a book and enjoying the breeze. How will you spend your extra day? Whatever you choose, I pray God's presence will be felt. 

Whether you are soaking in the sunshine or battling a personal time of darkness, my desire is that you LEAP for joy today. God is good, and His promises for a great reward in heaven stand. As Jesus states in the passage above from Luke, Blessed are you! How can our hearts not leap with joy when we consider His promises are for eternity, where days in a year do not matter?

Leap of faith

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) 

The book I am reading while walking today is I Still Believe, the autobiography of Christian singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp. Jeremy wrote the song "Walk By Faith" after losing his young bride to cancer after only a year of marriage. The raw and revealing lyrics to his songs show the leaps of faith he has taken in his life. His book also details God's faithfulness through Jeremy's journey.

I Still Believe stirs my heart. Now girlfriends, we are women who cry over great love stories, but what leaps off the pages and into my soul is more than a tale of love, loss, and longing. The members of Jeremy's family traveled rocky roads, eventually reaching out for God's grace. Once under His wings, their concentration and commitment to Him during even more challenging circumstances amazes me. Suffering did not cease once they were saved, but hopelessness did. Because they walk by faith and because they still believe, Jeremy and his family know "There will be a day with no more tears, No more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face." (There Will Be A Day, Camp)

Girlfriends, that is more than enough reason for me to leap with joy--won't you jump with me? Whether your vertical is zero or thirty inches, it matters not: Truly, God sees your bounce. Let's make this a record-breaking Leap Day.

Love you all!

Do You Not Know?

Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
   they will walk and not be faint. 

Isaiah 40: 28-31(NIV)

Do you not know?


I frequently hear stories from high school students about their peers who flat out reject faith in a higher power. Whenever the topic arises, these individuals adamantly argue against the existence of a Creator and the sovereignty of a God and Savior. The Bible, they say, is just a book written by a bunch of old guys a long time ago; it absolutely is not God's infallible Word and has no validity in today's scientific and modern age. These vocal pupils apparently dominate the conversation and completely frustrate the Christians in the room as they attempt to give an account for what they believe. 

Today, I thought about "the rest"--the students in the room who remain silent during such discussions. I am inclined to believe that "the rest" are in fact the majority, whether the conversation takes place in a classroom, a break room, or in a social setting. These individuals don't necessarily agree with the vocal dissenters, yet they absolutely do not know the God that the Christians defend? So they remain silent, listening. Usually no one pays attention to the them: those in rebellion as well as the Christians are immersed in their own thoughts, emotions, and arguments. But make no mistake: the silent ones will take something away from their observation, even if it is simply a list of questions in a longing heart.

Have you not heard?

I know firsthand about "the rest" because I was once counted among their numbers. I did not know. I could not participate in the discourse, having no knowledge one way or another. So I listened, questioning and reflecting, without any understanding of the basic concepts. For years, I simply walked away from such encounters, wondering, but not motivated to seek answers on my own as I thought I had life under control. And no one I knew offered to explain it to me. Years passed, events happened, and still I had not heard the message that would save my life.

One day, in my first college course, I thought I moved from "the rest" into a new category: the enlightened. Philosophy 101 taught rational proofs for and against the existence of God. I memorized them all and fancied myself an intellectual with deep insight. In truth, these superficial arguments were based upon rules of logic and no deep interrogation of the soul. I still had not heard. No one had told me. That professor was not interested in changing hearts, only memorizing the assertions and regurgitating them on paper. I continued to journey in darkness.

I did not join the family of Christians until someone actually took the time to speak to me about her faith. Modeling Christlike behavior, I was drawn to these women who over the course of years poured gently yet steadily into me, unabashedly sharing hope, joy, security, strength, and forgiveness. Eventually, as I listened and observed, the hunger in me increased until Christ became the only satisfaction for my pangs. I fled from the darkness to the Light, and pray that I will continue to run with perseverance the race marked out for me, fixing my eyes on Jesus.(Hebrews 12:1-2)

Who will you tell?

My dear Girlfriends, to which group do you belong today? Are you in rebellion, denying the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth? Has some hurt, tragedy, or abandonment caused you to desert your hope in the LORD? Or are you among "the rest," the majority who have not rejected Jesus but simply do not know? Is your heart crying out, "Someone please speak to me; I want to hear-I want to know?" Do you feel like Christians look upon you as an intentional sinner when truly you are not even sure what sin, redemption, rebirth, and sanctification mean?

Maybe you are a Christian, faithfully defending your Father against the attackers in your school, workplace, or community, but completely unaware of "the rest?" If so, have you been operating under the assumption that everyone knows about Jesus, or has at least heard of Him, so they must be non-believers by choice? Or perhaps you are completely absorbed in your own growth and have forgotten that someone once took the time to share the Gospel with you?

Wherever you land today, Girlfriends, lift up your face and do not be discouraged. Our God,  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. He will lift you up to soar on wings like eagles, to run and not grow weary, to walk and not be faint. If you are struggling with doubts, His Word shows how to ask for help to overcome your unbelief (Mark 9:24) and He promises that if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)


Ladies, if you are visiting my blog and have no idea what I am talking about most of the time, I am here for you! I want you to know, to hear, to believe, to accept, and to understand the intensity with which you are loved and the plan that Love has for your life. You are not here by accident; God created you and is pursuing a relationship with you. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) I know you have heard that verse before. This time, let it flood your heart and drink it in--He is talking about loving YOU so much that He would DIE for YOU. God desires your eternal presence with Him; I desire your eternal presence with God. If you want to talk or pray, PLEASE write to me.

And for my Christian friends, you who have heard, who do know the joy of the Lord, I plead with you to open your eyes and look around: With whom can you share the message of salvation this week? We surely must defend against the vocal attackers of our faith. 1 Peter 3:15 directs us to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have, But do this with gentleness and respect. But what about "the rest", the silent observers who cross our paths each day but never ask us for the reason? Matthew 28:19 says Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...and John 15:16 states You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. Is there anything more enduring than a saved soul? Girlfriends, read your Bible, close your eyes and pray, but every day lift your face and exercise your voice to speak to the silent ones who are seeking His Name. Your Master longs to say Well done, you good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21)


Today, Girlfriends, I am praying for each of you: to know, to hear, and to tell the Good News of Jesus Christ. Be blessed!

Faith and Mountains

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20

Mountains

When my husband and I were young and newly married, the Army moved us to Hawaii. For three and half years on Oahu, I lived with a mountain right outside my door. Recently, my husband took the kids and me back to visit. Although the actual housing in which we had lived no longer stands, that gorgeous mountain does. I loved watching the mountain at sunset, the glow from the sky reflecting off the green ridges, emitting warmth and tranquility. I never climbed on its side, nor learned how it formed or when. Some days, I took the mountain for granted, not even noticing it as I pushed the girls on the swing and casually conversed with my neighbors. Yet still to this day, that mountain rises majestically to the sky just outside what once was my lanai door. 

Faith

In those early years of adulthood and marriage, my faith was growing slowly. God was pursuing me, placing wonderful women in my path who would lead me closer to Him, particularly by their dedication to my children. Beth, a Christian woman and nurse who was present for the birth of two girls, is the godmother of Alexis. Donna, a neighbor devoted to her Catholic faith, encouraged me to attend church routinely and is also the godmother of Joslyn. (And the reason I bled green as a girl scout leader for 12 years, but that is a story by itself!) Both of these ladies had a major impact upon my blossoming relationship with the Lord and the faith future of our family.  Time has only magnified their role.

Mountains and Faith

Funny thing about mountains, as beautiful as they are to gaze upon, their height blocks your view of the horizon. That mountain in the backyard was not the only mountain in my young life. I had some major peaks to conquer as an Army wife, college graduate seeking a career and identity, a counselor in a domestic violence shelter, and a mother of three who struggled with detachment issues. Because my faith was nowhere near the size of a mustard seed, barking orders for them to 'move from here to there' did not work, and actually only frustrated me and wore down my husband. 

I had no clue that what I needed was to increase my faith through a solid relationship with Jesus Christ. Seeking Him was not my top priority: I was my top priority...how hard it was on me married to a soldier and trying to raise three small children; how difficult I found it to work a job and miss my baby take her first steps or put my kindergartener in after-school care; how internally I battled with the desire for a career and identity outside the home all the while wanting nothing more than to hold and play with my kids all day. Me, me, me. Instead of turning to the Father in prayer, I relied upon my own reason and strength to move these mountains. Guess what? They did not budge, and I wore out both myself and my family in the effort.   

Faith and Mountains 

Just as that Hawaiian mountain still towers today, the mountains in my life also stand. Yes, the children are older, but I am still a mother supporting and pouring into them. I rarely work for pay outside the home, but I volunteer countless hours in a week. The battle still rages within when I reflect upon former desires for a recognizable career. Furthermore, new mountains have formed over the years: my husband changed careers but we still endured years of physical separation, including two deployments into war zones. Medical emergencies and tragedies have threatened my children and family members. We have moved homes fourteen times. 

That tiny speck of faith that God planted early in my life and that Beth and Donna nurtured in Hawaii has  grown immensely by His grace and by the loving hearts of innumerable women I have been blessed to call girlfriends. Today, I can confidently speak to the power and wisdom Jesus imparts in Matthew 17:20: Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 

I have moved mountains. I have learned to find beauty in each rising challenge, yet I know that I need to see the horizon that the mountain obscures. With faith probably not much larger than a mustard seed at times, I consult my Father in Heaven when immovable obstacles arise. Through His strength, not mine, I tackle problems and through His wisdom, I arrive at solutions. The process is often slow, as God's timing doesn't run by my watch. Sometimes patience is my dolly; I strap on grace, mercy, joy, and forgiveness. Other times humbleness is my handcart, rolling on wheels of love and self-control. But I never call in the moving truck without first consulting the Holy Spirit in prayer, for by Him all these fruits are given. I am never disappointed or discouraged when I believe that just as God created that mountain in Hawaii and placed it there for me to enjoy, He is also the artistic Creator of my life. I face the mountains, but I also believe in my faith through Christ to move them. 

How about you, Girlfriends? What mountains stand in your backyard today? Are you battered and worn down from trying to move them  by yourself? Has your family suffered because you cannot take your eyes off the mountains?  Or have you been gazing upon them for years, enjoying the view but oblivious of what lies beyond? And what about your faith? Do you believe that you can conquer all things through Christ, who suffered, died, and rose to new life to forgive your sins? Are you seeking a relationship with Him, the greatest Mover of all times? I pray today that you will take time to gaze upon His glory, seek His love, and ask His forgiveness. Together, you can move mountains!

Love you Girlfriends!