Huh? (part two)

You know how I am -- always trying to learn. As I reflected on my child's inattention-masked-as-severe-hearing-loss, I realized I act the same way. Except for me, I choose not to hear God.

I know it's how I am. Even though I know that listening to God leads to my best, I still find myself ignoring Him. I remember when God whispered his plan to adopt into my heart. For months, I pretended it wasn't him and blamed midlife crisis, my children's growing independence and insanity for those thoughts.

One evening while watching football with my hubby, long after I had realized God was speaking to me, He "told" me to tell my husband. What did I do? I stood up, stretched, and went to bed! Mind you, it was the middle of the third quarter in a hotly contested playoff game and I LOVE FOOTBALL! Yes... you can call me stubborn! I wasn't going to listen to God no matter how hard He pushed.

You probably figured out by now that I did eventually listen to God since my daughter is Chinese and my husband is not.

I still wonder why. Why don't I listen the first time God speaks? Why don't I trust that He is smarter, wiser and definitely more perfect than me? Why don't I live the way I teach my kids to live? Why am I so stubborn?

I don't have the answer, but I am comforted knowing that even Paul struggled to follow God. Romans 7:15, 19 (NLT) says, "I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate... 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."

I wonder... If I start listening to God the first time, perhaps my kids might suddenly be cured of their "hearing loss?" Just a thought!

How about you? Do you listen to God the first time? Or does He have to badger you, too? Any suggestions to help me listen better?

Paid in full

Running errands this weekend in preparation for Nathan's graduation party next weekend, I noticed gas prices had dropped to $3.29. Hardly a bargain, but so much better than prices have been, I made the quick decision to top off the tank... just in case they creep back up.

Approaching the pump island, another car came toward me, both of us headed for the same row of pumps. Since I was making the right turn, I got to pull in first. Credit card in hand, I proceeded to the pump as I've done hundreds of times. The screen said, "$55 prepaid. Lift nozzle and select grade." Baffled, I looked around. Everyone at the station was at a tank, pumping gas. No one was waiting in the wings.

"Really?" I thought, "Free gas? Nah." I pushed the button to ask the clerk. She seemed confused. "It's prepaid. Go ahead and pump." She didn't seem to care that I hadn't been the one to prepay it. I asked again, "Are you sure I can have this gas?" "Yes," she replied, "It's paid in full. Go ahead and pump." I heard a hint of, "Wow... this lady doesn't understand how gas pumps work." 

There was no, "Jesus loves you." OR "Someone came in and wanted to pay it forward." Just... "It's paid in full.... (now leave me alone)."

So, I pumped, expecting alarm bells and police cruisers to appear. Nothing happened. The pump quit at $34.14. I smiled to myself as I realized someone else would also be blessed... in a strange way. I replaced the cap, closed the little door, pulled out of the station -- unnoticed. I finished my errands, the whole time expecting to be stopped by the police. Handcuffed. Sent to jail.

It's been a few days and still no police. I think I really was allowed to use that free gas, though it's the strangest blessing ever!

Ever since, I have also been thinking that many of us approach Christianity this same way. Jesus paid in full the required sacrifice for our sins, but we can't really fathom it. We wonder, "What's the catch?" "Who's out there watching me to mess up?" OR "If I accept Jesus, I won't ever have fun again." We miss the blessing and focus on other, irrelevant stuff.

Accepting Jesus is a simple thing that we make hard. Really. First, He loves you enough to pay the price in full. No strings. No one waiting in the wings to bust you for making a mistake. Seriously, God doesn't have angel cops out there waiting for you to mess it all up so he can throw you into some pit of damnation. He just loves you. 

Second, God wants you to receive this blessing with all your heart -- no worries about other things. Just be thankful. Otherwise, you miss out on what you've been given, new life IN CHRIST that is infinitely better than the old, sinful life. 

Third, you can have fun! YES, true Christian living means not getting drunk, not sinning in anger, and more... but Christian living replaces all that with true peace -- you can lay your head on your pillow at night knowing that you matter. Christian living is true joy -- a heart full of things you can't imagine without Jesus. God's love is true love -- knowing you, with all your warts, secrets, and skeletons. 100%. All the time.

Jesus paid in full the required sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. He's got us covered. We can accept it and live in that joy... Or, we can reject it and look over our shoulder the rest of our lives and miss the blessing.

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide.

I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."

And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Psalm 32:5

Where are you today?

P.S. To the generous person who bought my gas. Thank you!!!

This is NOT spam

SPAM! It literally gives me the chills, receiving an email that starts, "Dear Karen, I hope this finds you well. I am writing to tell you about..." You know the ones? They start out all personal and warm, and then ask for my bank routing number and other personal information so I can get in on the most amazing opportunity ever! CREEPY!!!

I got one today, so apparently my email spam filter is on vacation. Grrrr...

As I deleted this morning's offensive spam, I realized that my visceral reaction to spam mimics the internal response the Holy Spirit gives me when satan tries to SPAM my life.

Yep! Satan is spam! He starts out all personal and warm.... like with Eve in Genesis 3:1-6:

[Satan] said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. 

Crafty! He seems to ask, "Are you sure you heard God right?" And then... "If you eat that fruit you will become as wise as God." Ooooohhhhhh.... If I give Mr. Spammer my banking information, I'll become as rich as Bill Gates! Yeah, right!

You'd think I'd be smarter than Eve. After all, she didn't have the Bible to guide her, friends to encourage her or a pastor to preach truth each weekend. I'm not, though. I may not fall for the spammer's temptation. When that warning bell rings, loud and clear, I hit the delete button fast! An automatic response that requires almost no thought from me.

BUT... when Satan attempts to SPAM MY LIFE, my response is hardly as swift or sure. Throughout the day, instead of being thankful for the family God has chosen to give me, I complain, ".... lazy." "Did he really forget to ____________ again? (insert sarcastic tone as well)." "Why does no one around here appreciate me?" You know... little ingratitudes that pile up all day long. Finally, we sit down to dinner and I yip and snap at everyone for minor annoyances that hardly warrant my reaction. Satan spammed my day. Worse, I let him do it. YUCK!

How does Satan spam your life? More importantly, what are you going to do about it -- let him keep stealing your joy or learn to listen to the warning bells and make some changes?

How about we all commit to installing some anti-spam software in our hearts? Come back Friday for a list of verses to get us started!

Lots of love,

Who are you?

There is a generation that curses its father,

And does not bless its mother.

There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,

Yet is not washed from its filthiness.

There is a generation -- oh, how lofty are their eyes!

And their eyelids are lifted up.

There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,

And whose fangs are like knives,

To devour the poor from off the earth,

And the needy from among men.

Proverbs 30:11-14

Some Bible passages are easier to read than others. This passage, in particular, initially reads so negatively of cursing our parents, prideful, judgmental, evil and selfish behaviors. It speaks of our society. Do whatever it takes to reach the top. Don't worry about him; he certainly doesn't care about you. You are number one! You're the best. You deserve better. Isn't that what society says? Isn't that how the people of this world behave?

Is that what the Christian says as well?

Honestly. Yes. We all do. It's called sin. The opposite of sin would read:

There are those who honor their parents,

Who admit their failures

and humble themselves before others,

Who serve the needy,

Who love.

Which version of this passage will you live today?

Love,

Spring Planting

Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

Matthew 12:30

Spring. 

Flowers bloom. 

Gardens come alive with color. 

Simple beauty makes our hearts smile. 

Jesus. 

Hope blooms. 

Sinners come alive with love. 

Simple truth makes our hearts smile.

He came to give us life. 

Not just you. Or me. 

Everyone. 

Yet...

We push them away. 

Deemed unworthy. 

Judged inferior. 

They fight alone.

Isolation. 

Careless words. 

Indifference. 

Breaking hearts. Wounding souls.

Let's be love. 

To those we don't like. 

To those we ignore. 

To those we don't understand.

That's all Jesus asks.

Will you?

Roaring like a lion

All week, the song "God's Not Dead" by the Newsboys has been roaring in my head!

Take a listen: God's Not Dead...

Does God's love roar in your life?

Or do you live more like a mouse?

Super Bowl 2012!

Here it comes, the big game: New England Patriots and the New York Giants. It's an east coast battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. No matter where you live, odds are, you know about this game. You'll probably watch it, if only for the commercials. Seriously, 111 million people tuned in for Super Bowl 2011, the most watched show ever!

And the food.... Will you be noshing on nachos? Pigging out on pizza? Or gobbling gourmet? This is THE weekend for food, friends and flat screen TVs! Everybody's talkin' about it... or Madonna and the halftime show.

I love the excitement of Super Bowl weekend! GO GIANTS! But a piece of my heart breaks... We're all so willing to talk football, food and commercials. Why aren't we that willing to talk Jesus?

Something to think about.
Love,

"Start Fresh"

I don't know about your inbox, but mine keeps filling with ads, blog posts and book suggestions offering the opportunity to "start fresh." This morning, a clothing store sent a "start fresh" sales promotion. I'm tempted to run out and get a few bright sweaters to warm up my winter wardrobe, but...

I got to thinking (that's how we say it around these parts), would a couple new sweaters really offer the fresh start I desire? Does organizing every room of the house really offer a fresh start? How about healthy eating -- does that change the entire course of my life, erasing the past so I can start fresh?

Sure, these things are good. New clothes in the closet brings a smile to the face, definitely a brighter look than the same old-same old tired look... but those clothes get old. The colors, no matter what color brightening detergent we use, fade with time. Sweaters lose their shape. Blouses lose their buttons.

An organized, uncluttered home does offer the benefit of being easier to maintain. Just this week, we emptied our family room and cleaned it from ceiling to floor. We rearranged the furniture and it "feels" cozier and more intimate. Everyone likes it. But rooms get dusty. Windows get dingy. And papers pile up.

Healthy eating offers many benefits: a trimmer waistline (I'm in my 40's -- such things don't come naturally anymore), shinier hair, and a clear complexion. Healthy eating certainly improves the quality of life, but it doesn't mean we'll live forever. No diet offers that.

If I'm going to start fresh, I'd like it to last. Forever. The only fresh start that offers forever is a relationship with Jesus. My prayer is that each one of you will know Him this year. If you've never asked Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of your life, I pray that my story, coupled with His love, will move your heart to want to know the same Jesus I know. If you know Him, but don't have his peace or joy in your life, I pray your heart will long to know Him better.

My words are not God-inspired like the Bible. This blog simply shares my journey as a Christian wife, mother and daughter of the King. When you read, I pray God speaks to your heart and nudges you into deeper relationship with Him. Living in His love is the one and only way to permanently start fresh!

If you know that Jesus is waiting on you to accept His gift of salvation, it's as simple as ABC!

• Admit you are a sinner and ask God's forgiveness.
• There is no one righteous, not even one... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:10, 23.
• Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Romans 10:13.
• Believe in Jesus, God's one and only Son sent to live, die on a cross and be resurrected for 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.
• To all who receive him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12.
• Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
• If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord (of my life)," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (to stand in punishment on your behalf for the forgiveness of your sins), you will be saved." Romans 10:9.

Pray this simple prayer:

Dear God,

I know that I am a sinner who needs a savior. I believe that Jesus is your Son, who was born to Mary, lived as a man and died on the cross sinless. I ask Jesus to be the Lord of my life so that my sins are forgiven and I may live in heaven eternally with You. Please forgive me of my sins and help me as I start fresh today, with You.

In Jesus' name,

Amen

Maybe you've already asked Jesus into your heart, but you want to start fresh too. Friendship with Jesus, like with anyone, requires that you invest time. Pick that Bible up and dust it off. Open the cover and read. Let God's inspired word remind you that Jesus loves you -- all the time! Take a few minutes today, and every day, to talk with him. He will change your life forever! A friend of mine recently shared that time with him led her to forgiveness and an indwelling of peace that she never knew existed. Isn't that kind of friendship worth a bit of your time?

My prayer for us all is that God will fill us with a fresh start that lasts not just for a few days or weeks, but one that lasts a lifetime, into eternity.

With much love in Jesus,

Wrestling Demons

Friends,

These feelings of hurt and disappointment continue to press on me. I wonder why I battle these demons. As I said the other day, I know I should trust God with my life. Yet, I feel defeated. Worn out. Sad. Overwhelmingly sad at times. Why won't the demons leave me alone? Why doesn't God answer my prayers for comfort and peace?


I wonder.... is it the demons I wrestle? Read this from Genesis 32:22-31:


   That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”

   But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

   The man asked him, “What is your name?”

   “Jacob,” he answered.

   Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”

   Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.”

   But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there.

    So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

    The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. 

I've read this passage many times, not thinking much about it. Jacob wrestled God and survived. Who really cares that he and God wrestled? 

It's so easy to gloss over stories we don't understand, isn't it? How about today we look deeper? 

This event happens just before Jacob meets his brother, Esau, to reconcile after decades apart. Refresher for those who don't remember, Jacob tricked Esau into giving him his birthright as the first-born. Then, he tricked Isaac, their father, by covering himself in fur and the smell of wild animals to receive the birthright. Esau was understandably upset by his greedy younger brother. 

Jacob was a manipulator. He and Esau were estranged because of his manipulation. Plain and simple. How could they truly reconcile if that manipulation remained in Jacob's heart?

Think about it... are you and a family member estranged? Have you lost a good friend after a falling out where you're certain you were right and they weren't? It's so easy to point the finger. I speak from experience here!!! I've spent way too much of my life looking at the splinter in another person's eye instead of the plank in my own. (Matthew 7:3)

When Jacob wrestled and survived, God changed his name from Jacob (which means "manipulator") to Israel ("God-wrestler"). God willingly fought all night with him to strip him of his manipulative, self-serving ways. Jacob's heart was transformed by wrestling with God. Not demons. Don't miss that.... Jacob's sinful heart was cleansed only after he wrestled with God. Demons had nothing to do with it. It was his sinfulness.

As I look at my current struggle, I realize I have blamed others, particularly satan, for the gloom that has settled in my heart. Yet, I'm beginning to understand that my battle isn't with the enemy. The battle inside is with God for my heart.

Oh how I hate admitting that I have flaws! (Duh! There's my pride again... rearing its ugly head.) I hate admitting that I am afraid or that I worry. I want to believe that I trust God fully, with every aspect of my life... I want to be spiritually mature. 

Apparently, the only road to maturity involves pain... and moments -- or weeks -- of wrestling with God.

My prayer today is that when the wrestling ends, God wins. May I be one step closer to the spiritual maturity I so desire. 

With love,

Whose in charge here anyway?

I've been a Christian quite a long time, but I'm finally beginning to understand some things. For the longest time, I got frustrated that I attended church every week but my life never seemed to work right. I kept battling the same problems: fears of financial insecurity, angry outbursts, pessimism, and laziness. (Please don't ask my husband if that's all... I'm sure he could add to the list.)

Somewhere along the line, it finally hit me. Psalm 16:11 says, "You will show me the path of life; Your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forevermore." God will show me the path of life. In God's presence is the fullness of joy. At God's right hand are pleasures forevermore. Without God by my side, that joy I crave just isn't coming.

I had thought accept Jesus and be happy. The end. Christian living, though, is Christian relationship with Jesus. Time spent reading the Bible (and discovering truths like Psalm 16:11), praying, and praising God leads to joy. It took a while for me to figure out how to do that. Here's what my faith looks like now... It's a lot more than going to church on Sunday.

Time reading the Bible:

• When I read, I go passage by passage so I can think about the words. 
• I use a study Bible. I have several, but I started with the Life Application Study Bible which explains the ancient text as it applies today. 
• I read cross-references. The side margin includes links from one verse to other verses in the Bible. Reading those links helps me understand the broader meaning of the verse.
• I keep a journal and write my thoughts and prayers as they are inspired by the scripture. I ask God to show me how to apply the scripture in my life.

Prayer:

• My prayer time is casual. I talk to Jesus just like I'd talk with you. No fancy words. He knows what I'm thinking about, my stresses, worries, ideas and joys. 
• I tell him about prayer concerns my friends share with me and I trust him to handle their problems. (I used to try to figure out the solution for them, but I realize, that's HIS job!)
• I pray throughout the day, too. When I walk the dog, I pray for neighbors, especially my kids' friends. I pray for our family as I cook dinner. I throw up a quick prayer, "Jesus hold my tongue." when I want to scream at the kids.... OR "Jesus, I'm sorry." after I scream at them!
• I pray with my husband and kids. It keeps us close.
• Perhaps the thing I've learned to do best is LISTEN!!! Prayer is a conversation with Jesus. Listening is essential to a good conversation. He speaks, though it's hard to explain. Just try it. You'll see!

Praise!

• Praising God for all the good He does is exhilarating. Truly!
• Traffic jam? Praise God that you have a car to get stuck in.
• Kids driving you crazy? Praise God that you have been blessed with children. So many people long for the arguments you must endure... they don't have kids.
• Sick of macaroni and cheese again? Praise God for the meal on your table. Much of the world is going hungry.
• Keeping the temperature set at 67 to keep utility costs down? Praise God for your sweater -- or sweatshirt.
• Sunny skies out your window? Rejoice that He has given you another day! (You can praise for rain too :D)
• Basically, God blesses us with so much. We get so caught up in our wants and desires that we miss out. Choose not to miss the little things He does for you each day. You'll be amazed at your blessings once you start looking for them!

Most of my life, I've been "in charge." Or I thought I was. Really, though, I was captive to my emotions, fears and worries. They dictated how I lived. It was not fun! Now, God is in charge. He is the center and He's doing a great job! The more I trust Him the easier it is to trust Him more. (Yes, you can reread that sentence. It DOES make sense!!!) 

Who's in charge of your life? Is it you? Your feelings? Fears? Emotions? Finances? Or is it God? 

If you happened to read yesterday's post, Paint your world happy, I hope this post helps you understand how this new relationship with Jesus works. It's also important that you do get involved in a church. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Accountability and encouragement from other Christians makes this all so much easier to understand. 

Paint your world happy

It's cloudy today, but it is very yellow! 

My husband is a saint! He painted our family room about two years ago and he is repainting it. WITHOUT grumping! Our front room is a soft yellow, absolutely beautiful, so we decided to paint the family room the same warm color. We did not consider the effect of sun! The family room gets a lot of sun, and our soft yellow glows brightly. It just doesn't work. So he's painting again, a gorgeous color called "Beach House Blue." Yep! I'm living at the "beach" year-round.

Our new beach house blue... not done yet.

This change to the house is no big deal. For the cost of a few gallons of paint and some muscle power by my dear husband, "we" can easily modify our home's appearance. Except for those forearm cramps, the process is painless and permanent... until I change my mind again. *wink*

How many of us try to do the same thing in our own lives? We update the wardrobe. We spend hundreds at the salon on hair, makeup, hands and toes. We give up on the hard work of exercise and invest instead in spanx (call it what you want, it's a girdle!).

How many times have you participated in the plastic smile conversation? Someone asks, "How are you?" The instant reply forced between clenched teeth, "Oh, fine. Just peachy." Plastic smile frozen on your face until you turn away and that broken heart trickles down your cheek in a silent tear.

We pretend that we can buy happiness with new clothes, a fresh face, and fake words. Pretenders.

The truth is, we can't make our lives look good with a simple update to our outward appearance. All the money in the world can't buy peace, joy or contentment. The harder we try to paint our world happy, the more we hurt. Proverbs 15:13 says, "A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit."

We can't fix our lives with a fresh coat of paint. We can find joy, peace, love, contentment, patience and more when God fills our heart. If you don't know the God of these great gifts, He is already with you, waiting on you to invite Him in. He wants to fill you with his love. When you let Him in, you won't feel the same need to keep redoing yourself. This is the last paint job you'll ever need!

If you'd like to ask Jesus to fill your heart and become your personal Lord and Savior, it's as simple as ABC:
A. Admit you are a sinner who needs God.
B. Believe that Jesus lived, died and rose again for your sins.
C. Confess Jesus as Lord of your life.

You can pray right now and invite Him into your heart:
Dear God, I admit I am a sinner who needs you. Please forgive me of my sins and give me a life with you here on earth and eternal life with you in heaven. I do believe that Jesus died and rose again for my sins. I confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen

If you prayed that prayer, congratulations! And welcome to the family. Please visit a church and get plugged in with the people there. God doesn't want you to do this alone! Also, check out gotandem.com for more resources as you take this journey with Jesus. And please let me know too! I'd be honored to pray with you and for you as you get the best makeover ever!

Enjoy your new heart!

Love,

A New Perspective

For as long as I can remember, I've had trouble with my right hip. During summer band camp in high school, I never finished out the week. By Thursday, I couldn't march -- and could barely walk. Through my adult life, it's been much the same. Traveling by plane, my right leg swells. A long day at an amusement park or hiking in the mountains always ends with hip pain so severe I can't even sleep on my right side.

My men on Apollo's Chariot

A couple weeks ago, a friend and I were talking about my "wonky leg" when another friend, a physical therapist, walked up. In ten seconds -- or less -- she commented, "Do you know your right leg is longer than your left leg?" (Yes... I do. Not a lot longer. Just a smidge, but she could see it.) She recommended that I put a lift in the heel of my left shoe. And I did. The first couple days, I developed pain in my left, lower back. Nothing serious -- muscle tightness. Then it was gone.

This past Saturday, we went to Busch Gardens. I expected the pain to return (we drove there 3.5 hours, walked 12 hours and drove home another 3.5 hours... a recipe for hip pain for sure!). Yet, the pain did not come. Nor did the swelling in my leg.

The kids patiently posing

My whole life, I've thought I was stuck with this bum leg. Not so bad I can't function, but something I've accommodated. I was so wrong! My friend saw it differently. She didn't look at the pain, she looked at the source. And now, I have no pain. WOW!

The same process is true for the pains of our hearts. I used to claim that I'm a yeller, because that's just the way my parents raised me. It's just who I am. Yet, I know that God is love. He wants me to train my kids in His love. Now when I yell, but I know it's my choice not to follow God's Word to speak the truth in love. And I apologize for yelling.

E-squared: Ernie and Ellie 

We can live day to day, managing the "pain" in our lives, or we can ask God to reveal the source of our pain AND ask His help to overcome. Satan wants to trick us into thinking that "this is just the way life is." When we do that, we give up on God's best for our lives.

God's word promises us that He has a plan for our lives, a plan to prosper us and not to harm us... a plan to give us hope and a future! Let's claim that plan by curing the cause of our heart pain and filling our hearts instead with God's love.

Feeling hopeless: Romans 15:13
Feeling lonely: Deuteronomy 31:6
Feeling anxious: Philippians 4:6-7
Feeling defeated: 2 Corinthians 4:8
Feeling grief: Psalm 23:4
Feeling worried: 1 Peter 5:7

God loves us. He wants the best for us. Ask Him to reveal the source of your pain and replace it with his love.

In Christian love,

Powerhouse Thank You!

This weekend, I spent an inspiring evening with the Powerhouse Church of Jesus Christ family. This warm church in the heart of Raleigh is taking a stand for God's kingdom. What an honor to share in their building fund kickoff, A Glimpse of Heaven. The Powerhouse family knows how to celebrate! We enjoyed great food, great fellowship and great worship!

Me, Co-Pastor Marjorie and Pastor Wayne Sharpe

They launched the Powerhouse building fund campaign, with a vision to reach the lost and hurting in the community. Powerhouse isn't waiting until that new building finally materializes, though. The evening really included a challenge to begin now. They brought community service programs in to share about resources already available:

• iChoose Pregnancy Support Center. The church can change a mom's life, a dad's life and a baby's life by helping the girl facing an unexpected -- and perhaps unwanted -- pregnancy receive counseling and support.
• Raleigh Area Development Authority.  The church can serve families at risk of losing their homes by helping them secure services at RADA, which offers credit counseling, housing counseling and mortgage assistance. Families are the fastest growing homeless demographic. Resources like RADA can change their lives forever!

In Matthew 20:28, Jesus explains that "the Son of Man did not come to be served, BUT TO SERVE and give His life as a ransom for many." I can't wait to hear the impact that Powerhouse Church will have on Raleigh as the church steps up to serve like Jesus, radically impacting those who cannot help themselves.

Pastor Sharpe, Co-pastor Sharpe and Powerhouse, I lift you today in prayer. With thankfulness to Jesus for all He has already done and for all He has yet to do through you. May the vision God has laid on your hearts be fulfilled in a mighty and glorious way. May the City of Raleigh be impacted by the love of Christ as it has never been before. By the power of His name, Amen

Thank you for allowing me to share in your Glimpse of Heaven!

Stepping Up!

Did you know that single parent homes accounted for 34% of all homes in the United States in 2009? Or that another 5% of homes included kids living with neither parent? (source) That's about 40% of families -- Two in every five homes!

My kids are blessed. Mom and dad live here, with them, together. At bedtime, they get two good-night kisses. They get two prayers. They get double hugs. When I'm having a bad day, I have back-up -- my kids don't have to deal with just me. Dad can calm the storms. (And I do the same for him once every three years on his bad day.) I can't imagine raising them without him.

A whole lot of families in this country don't have that same opportunity: Ready or not, they're raising kids the "hard way." Single moms and dads push through to "git 'r done." Grand-parents, aunts, uncles, siblings and foster parents stand in the gap, addressing hurts and pains, loving and nurturing the best they can.

Who's there to help? Sure, we have over-worked agencies and programs: Big Brother, YMCA, social workers and more do their best, but there's not enough government money meet the needs. There aren't enough volunteers to help everyone. School teachers give till their hearts break, called on to be counselor and conscience, not just teacher anymore. They can't do it all.

Church -- it's our job. "Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." (Isaiah 1:17) Plain English: Do right. Seek justice. Encourage. Defend. Plead for. Calls to action directed to the church -- God's people.

Yet we drive to church Sunday morning, dressed to impress. We sit in the pew, nodding our agreement with the pastor's wise words. We drop a token offering in the plate. We leave -- thanking the pastor and praising his efforts. We go home.

Just add one more thing to Sunday morning: Serve. One hour each week. Teaching kids that God loves them. Reminding them that God is there even though it's tough at home sometimes. Encouraging them to make wise decisions that will last a lifetime if they just learn them now. A hug. A tear, wiped away gently. A prayer offered from an innocent heart. Serve. Care. Be God's hands and feet.

Just a couple hours each week -- leading a Bible study group for women who parent alone. Encouraging them to discover God's truth: they are important. They are not forgotten. They can -- in Christ's strength -- do all things, even parent "alone." Offer to provide childcare for these groups. Pay for someone's childcare so she can attend a group. Serve. Love. Be God's hands and feet.

Just a couple hours each week -- be a Godly example to the fatherless. Men, these kids need you! Boys need to know what it looks like to be responsible, to listen well, to stand firm and not run away. Girls need to know that Godly men are humble, honest, kind and sincere. Who will model fatherhood to these future fathers? Who can show a girl what a "good husband" might be for her one day? Serve. Be an example. Be God's hands and feet.

Our call as Christians is to know God and make him known. (See Matthew 5:13-14 for Jesus' explanation)

Will you do it? Will you be one who does right, seeks justice, encourages, defends, pleads for? Or are you content to let a generation fall apart? What do you think God would like you to do?

American "Idol" (Part Five)

Genesis 22: 6-8 says, "Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”
   “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.
   “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”
 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together."

If you've been following the American "Idol" posts all week, Abraham's trust in God has been a central theme. Over time, Abraham's faith grew. He learned to trust God with all his heart. When God decided to "test" him (Gen. 22:1), Abraham was ready.

These verses take it a step further. They show us Isaac's trust. No doubt, Isaac had witnessed many burnt offerings sacrificed before God during his young life. He knew they needed a sacrificial lamb. Can you see it? They're climbing a mountain, carrying all the wood they need for the sacrifice. They're carrying the fire. Up the mountain. Without the sacrificial lamb.

Isaac had a choice. He could have asked sarcastically, "Dude, ummmm.... I think you forgot a little something. No big deal or anything, but when we offer sacrifices to God we use a lamb. And... well.... I think your old age is catching up with you, cuz you forgot!" He could have done that, but he didn't.

He could have rebelled. "Dad, seriously? You want me to climb that mountain without a lamb. And you want me to carry all that wood. Forget it. I'm. Not. Going." Maybe he could have added that famous kid line, "And you can't make me." But he didn't.

Isaac took the wood. He climbed alongside his dad. He asked about the lamb. Then he was done. Obeying, trusting. Why?

Look back at Abraham's life. Abraham trusted and obeyed God. Sure, he made mistakes along the way, but he learned from them. By the time Isaac was born, trusting God was natural for Abraham -- just a part of the way he does life. And his son had the front row seat! Isaac could trust his dad, because his dad trusted God.

This is the hard part: We want our kids to trust God -- even though we don't. We worry about disease, accidents, and kidnapping. We stress out over finances and the house we live in. We fight with our spouse, both struggling for control. We want our kids to trust God -- but we don't. Hypocrites!

Abraham trusted God -- with everything. Even his son's life! In turn, Isaac trusted his dad. When he grew up, it's clear he trusted God too.

What will you do? Trust God, so your kids will trust him too? Or hold on for dear life -- and keep them from learning to trust? It's up to you.

Genesis 22:9-12: "When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”
   “Here I am,” he replied.
“Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”


Dear God, Help us trust you with our kids. Help us trust you with our finances, our marriage, our jobs... everything. Help us learn from Abraham -- and live like he did, walking closely with you. Reading your Word. Praying. Fellowshipping. When the fear creeps up, help us turn to you and let go of the fear. We love you, God. Help us show it more. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen

To read these posts from the beginning, go to American "Idol" (Part One).

American "Idol" (Part Three)

photo © 2007 D.A.K. Photography | more info (via: Wylio)
Genesis 22:2-3 says, "Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 

Isaac was born to Abraham at the ripe old age of 100. Abraham's wife, Sarah, was 90. They had longed for a child for decades. Not years. Decades! After waiting all those years, Abraham and Sarah must surely have treasured Isaac, the child their hearts had longed for. Yet, when God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, his son whom he loves, as a burnt offering, Abraham did not hesitate. Scripture says, "Early the next morning... Abraham got up and loaded his donkey." 

How could Abraham do this? Why didn't he argue with God? Going back to verse 1, we discover God's motive: He was testing Abraham. God was testing Abraham's heart, how much he trusted God. Surely, Abraham would do anything for his beloved son. No doubt, if needed, he would have died in Isaac's place (that's my opinion -- based on my own experience as a mom). Our love for our children is so great that most would do anything, including give up our lives, for them. Abraham didn't ask God to trade places, though. God told him to go. He told him to sacrifice Isaac. Immediately, Abraham took Isaac and went.

When I first became a mom, I hovered. Nothing touched my son's lips that wasn't pure and healthy. He ate plain yogurt, pureed fruits and veggies without preservatives. He always had a clean, fresh blanket to play on. And I washed his toys regularly -- vigorously! We never missed a doctor's appointment. I never missed a hiccup, a sneeze, or a whimper. 


While laboring with my second son, the doctor told me I could push. I asked her to wait a minute and called my firstborn to tell him good-night and that I love him. Yes. I was the quintessential overprotective mom!


Can you tell that I did not trust God with my kids' lives? Do you see how I worried, fussed, protected and hovered to keep them safe? Parenting that way wore me out -- and wore my nerves thin. No mom can be everything to her kids. No mom can protect her kids from every speck of dirt or bump or bruise. But I sure did try.


Maybe you can relate? He's got a cough -- it's getting worse -- should I rush him to the E.R.? Maybe you research the best baby toys and books and play classical music. Maybe you obsess about whether to watch TV or not. Or which kids to play with on the playground. 


Maybe your kids are older, and you agonize about friendships -- the ones they should have but don't or the ones they have but shouldn't. Or school? Clubs? Activities? Sports?

Luke 12:25-28 (MSG) says, "Has anyone by fussing before the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? If fussing can't even do that, why fuss at all? Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don't fuss with their appearance--but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even see, don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?"

For you? Do you realize God will do his best for you? He loves you. He loves your kids too. Read about it in Psalm 139:13-18:

For you created my inmost being; 
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
   your works are wonderful, 
   I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you 
   when I was made in the secret place, 
   when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 
Your eyes saw my unformed body; 
   all the days ordained for me were written in your book 
   before one of them came to be. 
How precious to me are your thoughts, God! 
   How vast is the sum of them! 
Were I to count them, 
   they would outnumber the grains of sand— 
   when I awake, I am still with you.

Back to Abraham... He set off to Moriah with Isaac, no fear. No questions. No worries. He understood that Isaac's life came from God, just like his.

If it's hard for you to trust God with your kids' lives, pray. Ask for understanding and peace. He created your child, ordained your child's life, and loves your child. More than you can. Ask him to help you trust. Give your kids to him -- and your fears, too.

When the fears and over-protectiveness creep back in, give it all back again. And again. And again. Until you have the faith of Abraham.

To read this series from the beginning, please go to American Idol (Part One). To continue to the next post, please go to American Idol (Part Four).

American "Idol" (Part Two)

photo © 2007 Daniel Catt | more info (via: Wylio)

We can learn a lot about trusting God with our parenting from Abraham and Isaac.


Genesis 22:1 says, "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

   “Here I am,” he replied.

God called out to Abraham, and Abraham responded immediately. God called. Abraham responded. Why? Because they are close friends. Abraham's heart was full of love for God.

Most of my life, I wasn't that close to God. I was saved. There were even seasons of closeness. But there were also times when God called and I just didn't hear him. It was like our friendship had slipped away -- not because of him, but because of me. I didn't make time for God. And what happened? I became fearful for my kids. I worried about everything -- even whether I could survive a trip to the grocery store. I got depressed, badly enough that I wouldn't get out of bed to shower or care for my young children. Life seemed so hard. But, that was my choice. Not God's plan.

How about you? What's your relationship with God? Do you respond immediately when He calls, like Abraham? Or does your life look more like mine did -- full of fear, loneliness and worry -- because you don't hear God's whisper of love every day?

In John 15:5, Jesus says, "I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." God's desire is for our lives to be filled with fruit. When we love others in the love of Christ, they can discover a relationship with him, too. We walk confidently through the storms of life (finances, health, relationships), and others see our strong faith and become curious enough to check it out for themselves.

When we walk in fear -- unwilling to trust God with our kids' lives, our finances, our health, or whatever, we ignore him. We don't hear his voice calling. We don't respond. Life gets hard. No fruit.

We have a choice: Walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.

Choosing Christ means:
1. Giving our fears to him -- even if we have to do it again and again, we keep trying until we finally hand them over and let him keep carrying them. It doesn't matter what our fears are, finances, relationships, job, or KIDS! First Peter 5:7 says, "Cast all your anxiety on me, for I care for you." Jesus died on that cross so that we could live forgiven AND free from worry -- because we know how the story ends. Heaven! Rejoicing! PARTY!

2. Shining our light for others -- When Jesus carries our fears, it frees us from the burden of worry. We can "rejoice in the Lord always." (Phil. 4:4) We don't rejoice in our circumstances -- whether they be good or bad. We rejoice IN THE LORD True joy is not found in what we have in this lifetime, it is found in our eternal relationship with Jesus. Again -- we are forgiven, Jesus carries our burdens, and we know how the story ends. It's up to us to live FOR JESUS so others can know Him too!

If you, like I did, face fears, pray to God. Ask Him to fill you with His love -- to the deepest corners of your heart. Ask Him to help you remember that Jesus died so you don't have to live in fear or worry. Ask Him to help you grow in trust -- and see Him more and more each day. You have a choice: walk alone in fear or walk confidently in Christ.

Wouldn't it be nice to know God the way Abraham did? He calls. We answer. Immediately.

The story continues at American "Idol" (Part 3).

"The Vest" and John Edwards

For those who don't know me personally, I am a passionate Buckeye. I have followed the Ohio State Buckeye football team through coaching ups and downs, championship seasons and rebuilding seasons. My husband says he married the best woman on the planet because I'm as knowledgeable about football as he is. Our kids follow the Buckeyes too. Really, they don't have an option. No non-Buckeyes eat at our family table!

The past ten years, Jim Tressel, aka "The Vest," has been a strong example of integrity and faith. He often benched players for bad grades or bad attitudes. Then, Tressel resigned as Buckeye coach this week, amid allegations and investigations by the NCAA (non-sports readers, the NCAA regulates college sports and is responsible for disciplining teams, schools and coaches who violate the rules). I don't know the whole story, but Tressel compromised his integrity somewhere along the line and allowed student athletes to violate NCAA rules. His coverup is a rule violation too. Did those misdeeds help the team on the field? Did they help the students off the field? Who knows.

I hope my kids will learn that all it takes is one step away from the path God has for us to crumble and fall. It takes just one mistake. One bad choice. One compromise of values. Just one can change our lives forever.

John Edwards... same story. He's a North Carolina man. He dreamed of becoming president. His campaign screeched to a halt after having an affair with an aide, fathering her child, and (allegedly) trying to cover it up with misappropriated campaign funds.

One mistake... that slid into another... and another... and destroyed a dream. A career. A family.

Of course, God is bigger than either Tressel or Edwards' mistakes. God can redeem their lives. He alone can put the pieces back together to do something amazing -- despite their choices. May that happen for both these men.

Today I pray for my kids. May they learn from their hero's mistake. May they understand that compromising Christian values leads to problems. There's no such thing as a successful coverup, just more lies. Kids, I pray you will learn that what you do today -- right or wrong -- affects what happens in your life tomorrow.

And God, help me model wisdom. Help me nurture my kids to love what You love, to desire what You desire, and to follow You every day of their lives. Thank You for the gift of forgiveness when we do mess up. Thank You that we don't do this alone!

Worms

photo © 2006 pfly | more info (via: Wylio)
Yep, worms.

Yesterday, Ben and I cleaned our flower beds and mulched some of them. I got the fun job of edging the beds so the mulch won't spill out so much. Just about every shovel-full uncovered an earthworm and I was thrilled!

If you're thinking "yuck" right about now (or... "This chick's crazy if she gets excited by worms!") please keep reading. There's beauty hidden in this post!

The first seven years we lived here, the earthworms wouldn't join us. Mostly, we had slugs. Lots of ugly, mean slugs. My son once commented that "slugs are like satan, because they eat at your roots and kill you." Slugs feast on plant roots and kill them, destroying gardens.

Yesterday, those worms showed me that our once dying garden has come back to life! YAY!

What changed?
1. We replaced the clay that once dominated our yard with a healthy layer of topsoil, dirt full of nutrients to encourage strong plant growth.
2. We fertilized the yard according to the recommended schedule, not just now and then when the thought crossed our minds.
3. We invested in mulch, to insulate the new plants. As that mulch has broken down, it's improved the quality of the dirt.
4. We cut away dead or over-crowded branches, so our plants and bushes aren't weighed down.

The worms remind me of a healthy Christian life. The healthy Christian:
1. Replaces sinful, worldly desires with faith in Christ.
2. Fertilizes the heart regularly: reading scripture and allowing it to seep in, praying, and worshipping.
3. Invests in relationships and activities that encourage growth and insulate us from the harshness of the world: serving on a ministry team, participating in small groups, worshipping and fellowshipping with other believers. These relationships help us keep our focus on that healthy relationship with God.
4. Cuts out the bad stuff: selfishness, pride, and time stealers that keep us from becoming all God wants us to be.

Faithful work in the garden has its reward: beautiful plants and flowers. Faithfully living the Christian life has its reward too: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

photo © 2006 Clayton Sieg | more info (via: Wylio)

Rejoicing in His love today!
Love,
Karen

A Bowl of Soup

Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country,

famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!"... Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright."

"Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is a birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, 
selling his birthright to Jacob.

Genesis 25:29-33

I read this passage recently and it won't let me go. Jacob, opportunistic, steals his brother's birthright. How could one brother do that to another? Horrible. Weak, spiritually and/or physically, Esau caves in. He eats the stew and regrets the decision the rest of his life. Genesis 25:34 says, "So Esau despised his birthright."

I can't imagine loving my brothers so little -- taking from them what is rightfully theirs. It would be like walking into my brother's home and taking his kids as my own. Or selling his wife. Unimaginable! 

But it's Esau's choice that really haunts me. He sold his birthright -- a double portion of his father's inheritance and the role of patriarch of the family. Remember, his daddy was Isaac, the firstborn son of Abraham. He had land, lots of land. Livestock. Camels. Concubines. Servants. Wealth. Esau was the firstborn son of the firstborn son. He would have become patriarch of the entire clan. He would have become the great-great-great-great (X24 or more) grandfather of Jesus. 

He gave it all away. For a bowl of soup.

Like Esau, God has a birthright for each of us. He created our inmost being, fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:13-14). He has a plan for our lives, a plan to give us hope and a future. (Jer. 29:11). Yet, we, like Esau, give up that plan for nothing more than a bowl of soup.

God blesses us with academic skill. Instead of applying ourselves, we settle for "good enough."

God blesses us with physical talent. We give it up for a twinkie.

God blesses us with His Word. We give it up -- never opening the Bible to read.

God blesses us with a wonderful marriage. We give it up, investing instead in television, the golf course, hanging out with friends after work, pornography, selfish anger or facebook.

God blesses us financially. We decide it's not enough. We give up God's blessing and reach for our own, ultimately drowning in debt. For what? A few extra pieces of clothes in the closet. Dinner out because we just don't want to cook. A brand new car to keep up appearances.

Every day, we make choices like Esau. We choose here and now. Never giving the future a chance.

We have another choice. We can choose to seek God's will for our life. 

Paul wrote, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Cor. 9:24-27)

Instead of giving in to the here and now, we can keep our eyes focused on God. The plan He has for us. The life He desires for us. He has given us a wonderful birthright. He gave us Jesus. 

Isn't life in Christ worth more than a bowl of soup?