Unity on 9-11

    Matthew and I will speak at our city hall on 9-11.  Our city is gathering together and we have been asked to speak and pray.  I feel thankful and honored to be a part of the community and its coming together.  Police, fire, and EMT’s as well as city leaders will join in Unity.

    Unity does not mean everyone must agree.  But it does mean people are willing to come together for a common good, put their differences aside, and walk in peace.  Unity among a group of people can accomplish the amazing.  A beautiful Bible verse found in Psalms 133:1 is “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

    So on 9-11-11, where ever you are, find time to thank God for our Nation’s protection.  Also remember those who provide that help and protection both here and abroad.  It is not political-it is Unity.

Labor Day

    When I think of Labor Day, I think of the labor of those who came before me.  I am very thankful and honored.  I’m also thankful that our country recognizes our need to celebrate the work of those who got us to a place of the “long weekend”!  America loves her long weekends.  The beginning and end of Summer is defined by a long weekend.

    But Labor Day for me reminds me of something even more. Not only the people who have labored before me- but of Jesus.  He is the ultimate Laborer.  Jesus is also the burden lifter.  Matthew 11:28-30 in the Bible says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

    Jesus desires to give us each rest.  A long weekend can only give us limited extra work and rest.  The rest Jesus gives lasts for an eternity.  As you enjoy your long weekend take on Jesus’ yoke and find rest for your soul eternally.

One Spark

One spark.

    Yesterday a small mistake destroyed a neighbor’s business-leveled it to the ground.  While a cement crew put in a new cement pad in front of a dairy farmer’s barn, the cement truck backed up and by mistake bumped an electric pole.  In only minutes generations’ worth of barns and equipment went up in flames.  In addition, animals and crops were also gone.  What was lost can’t really be replaced.

     James 3:5-6 says “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

    One spark of the tongue also can cause damage that can’t be recovered.  “Lord, I pray as you watch over me-help me to watch over my tongue!”  Let us all be mindful of the sparks we cause today.

Let there be Light!

     Today as I watch the day turn gray and rain roll in with loud claps of thunder and lightning flashing, it reminded me of a day about ten years ago.  It was a day that was very similar, except on that day lightning struck the house and blew up all of our t.v.’s and anything plugged in to an electrical outlet.  It also destroyed our cable box.  When the cable man came to fix the box, he had the shock of his life.  LITERALLY!  Lightning had hit our house, burning out our wiring, and stored in the cable box.  When the cable man touched the box-it threw him across the room and sent an electrical current throughout his entire body. 

     My life had been much like a sunless, cloudy, rainy day that never ended-Dark and dreary.  I was angry and unhappy because life had knocked me on my backside just as the lightning had thrown the cable guy across the room.  Life often can be very “unfair” and hand out pain and loss to anyone.  When I cried out to God in my anger, sorrow, and pain-He answered me.

     As God did in the beginning and separated the light from the darkness, He did so in my soul.  The truth of God’s Word brought light into my soul and set me free from the darkness that death had brought into my life.  In Genesis 1:3-4 it says “And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.”

     Dark days can still come, but they can’t rule because the light of Jesus has separated me from darkness.  If you are reading this-I ask-Let Jesus speak into your life “Let there be light”!

Do you need a mental shower?

Recently I spent the day with what I refer to as a “glass half empty person”.   It was exhausting.  Everything was looked at from a negative perspective.  When I left I really had to get a mental shower.  The Bible says in Philippians 4:8-9  “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”.

     The only way to change how you see what is going around is to fill yourself up with the Word.  What we think on is what we will do and say.  The Bible shows us all we can be in God.  Through Him “I can do all things”.   So it is important to keep those who are close to you “glass half full” people. 

     People who put you down are speaking against what God is telling you through the Bible.  A person who dumps negative thoughts on you is really pulling you away from what God is saying.   Keep yourself thinking right by putting in what is right.  If you don’t like your attitude or what you are doing- Change what you are allowing to influence you.

If you need a mental shower-don’t wait, get it now.  Putting it off only makes it worse.  Think on what is right.

Getting healthy

Growing up I loved to jump, run, skip, hop, and walk.  But walking was my last choice.  I was always moving.  I played hard until I went to bed.  I never had to wonder if I had moved enough to be healthy. 

     Today, I know that in order to be healthy I have move.  When I searched the internet I found that it was recommended to walk at least 10,000 steps a day.  10,000 steps!  That seemed a lot to me. 

     In order to know you are accomplishing a goal, you must establish a beginning and an end.  On my phone I have a pedometer.  The first day I walked 3375 steps.  Pitiful.   So I determined that every day I would walk at least one step more than the day before.

     To get physically healthy I had to know where I was, where I wanted to go, how I would get there, and know when I got there.  To get spiritually healthy I have to know and do the same thing.  One of the best tools to spiritual health is the Bible.  The Bible says in Proverbs 6:21-23  “Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life”.

     Today I know if I only sit on the couch I won’t be getting healthier and I won’t be increasing the steps I take.  Staying at my sad amount of 3375 steps can’t do for me what 10,000 can do.  To pretend that they would is a lie to myself.  In the same way, it is a lie if we tell ourselves that we can be spiritually healthy without growing in the time spent in the Word of God. 

     So as I put my donut down to take a walk (1 mile=2000 steps) and take more steps than yesterday, I let the Word I read earlier soak into my heart.  So I challenge myself and you to get Healthy.  Walk more today than yesterday and read your Bible every day.  Let God speak to you and then do what He says.  By doing that you will grow spiritually. 

I wonder, is it o.k. to eat my donut while I'm walking? 

Headache Time

    Have you ever had a headache.  I mean a shot in the head, light and noise like lightning bolts, sick to your stomach kind of headache?  Even though I have had a true migraine that has put me to bed, I'm not talking about that.  I'm talking about a person or situation that knocks your lights out. 
    Some days can leave you on the floor.  A knock out that leaves you not thinking or feeling right.  But what is to be done?  Only one thing-get back up.  Life wants to suck the life out of you.  The good news is- God doesn't.
    The Bible says in Rom 8:6-7  "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace."  I know even when I am drooling on the floor knocked out, I can get back up.  The reason is because in God there is forgiveness and peace.  Only in God is true forgiveness is found, for yourself and others.  Peace comes when we let go of what the flesh wants.  To get back up I need to put my mind back on the leading of the Spirit of God.  God is a healer in more than one way.

Joyful Days and Nights- Part Two

    During this time of vacation (and the reason for my lack of blogging) I have had endless moments of joy and happiness. Sun, water, and family can hardly be beat in the fun and happiness category.  A beautiful lake, jet skis, a speed boat all add to a happy setting.  But my favorite moments were when I had a chance to just float in the water with my daughter and talk. 

    Now that I’m not on the lake, the happiness I felt has subsided.  But not my joy or the time floating, talking about nothing and everything, with my daughter.  A sunset can end but joyful times building a relationship has eternal value.

     The Bible says in Psalms 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”  Family time builds me up because I can see the strength in our once one family, is now four families.

    My family is growing and I place my trust in God.  Joy is the result of a life trusting in Him instead of running from one “Happy” moment to another.  Joy comes through an abundance of time “floating on the water and talking”.

Joyful Days and Nights- Part One

Today my husband and I went fishing.  O.K. I mean my husband fished and I read a book.  It was a beautiful summer evening on the lake.  This is one of my favorite activities.  Sun, water, and family is a perfect equation for happiness.  My husband is happy because he is fishing and I am within arm’s reach.  I am happy because he is happy.  While he is fishing – I am reading.

    However, the happiness I enjoyed on the gently rocking boat ended when at sunset the mosquitoes chased us off the lake.   Happiness only lasts for a short time because it is a feeling based on circumstances. Because circumstances are constantly changing, happiness can come and go. But I’m fine with that because I have something even better. JOY.

    Joy is not a feeling.  It is an attribute of our spirit man and the Spirit of God.  It is a constant because it “springs” up out of our relationship with God and His nature.  The Bible says in Psalms 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.”

   Joy is an expression of God’s strength that is available for anyone who will trust in Him.  So even when I am walking through difficult times and I am not “feeling happy”, joy is always with me.  Joy fills my heart and my mouth with a song.  So if you hear me singing, you know why.

WHAT ARE YOU BREATHING?

    My dad was a dentist.  As you can imagine, good dental hygiene was a must.  Every night, before bed, we were sent to brush our teeth.  Our teeth were checked and my dad would actually smell our breath.  Only a clean “Crest Toothpaste” breath was acceptable.  If our teeth or breath didn’t pass, we were sent back upstairs for another try.  These habits from childhood have followed me my whole life. 

    As important as that habit was to pass on to my children, there was a new habit that was even more important- God breathed Scripture.  In the Bible, it says in 2 Tim 3:14-17  “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

    With our girls, my husband and I,worked hard to keep God first and family second.  Everything came after our first two priorities.  Daily we allowed God to breathe on us through His Word.  The Bible always has a fresh word on every area of life.  Still today, God is first and family is second.  Even more important than “Crest” breath is “God’s Word” breath.

Fresh Water Words

Recently, my husband and I were able to go and spend time in Florida.  It was so beautiful!  I love to spend time in the sun, sand and water.  The gulf water was warm, blue green and so inviting.  As fast as I could, I was in my bathing suit, running toward the water, and in with a big splash.  As a big wave crashed over me, it swept me off my feet, swirling me under water.  Salt water filled my mouth and nose as I struggled to get back on my feet and get my head above water so I could spit out the salt water and catch a breath.  The Bible says in James 3:9-12  “ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.   Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers, this should not be.   Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?   NIV” A relationship with Jesus and a growing knowledge of the Bible is a fresh water spring. In John 4:13-14 it tells us that Jesus is fresh water of eternal life.

    Even though salt water is good for some fish, it isn’t good for people to drink.  A person stranded out in the ocean will die of thirst because salt water shouldn’t be ingested.  Only fresh water can relieve a thirst.  In the same way a person can be dying of “spiritual thirst” and the only the “fresh Water of the Word” can relieve that thirst.  Life can crash over us, sweep us off our feet, and can fill our mouth with the “salt water words”.  But ONLY words that flow out of our mouth that flow from the fresh water of the Word of God can truly set us on our feet.  To keep our feet grounded on Jesus and praise for God in our mouth, we need to draw and fill our mouth with only fresh water.

   Gossip, rumor spreading, slander, and unkind words are salt water words.  They choke us and never relieve our thirst caused by our circumstances.  Drink long on fresh water and Enjoy!

I'm a nerd

    "Mom, you're such a nerd."  It wasn't the first time I've heard that, probably not the last.  I wondered if I had a sign on me.  I felt my forehead, no sign there.  I tried to feel my back, nothing there either.  When I looked down I saw the reason for the name calling... A BOOK!  An actual book in my hands. Clearly a nerd mistake, to walk around with a book in my hands. Most people these days do their reading on the computer, a Kindle or even their phone.  But there is only one book that should always be within reach, as well as in our heart and mouth.  Joshua 1:8 says  "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. NIV"

    God has given us a book that is better than any book currently on the "Best Seller's List".  A good book can help me or make me laugh.  But only the Bible can help me now and for eternity.  The Bible has sold more copies than any other book, EVER.  Joshua 1:8 makes it clear. On the road of living a life pleasing to God requires a three part commitment.  God's Word is powerful when it is spoken out of a heart and mind that is overflowing and feet that are quick to do.  Power to do all that God has promised.  But like any recipe, it only works when all the ingredients are mixed together.  A Bible can be carried by hand all day long, but if it isn't changing what we think, say and do, part of the recipe is missing.  Only I can decide every day what ingredients I will put in or take out.  No one-else has that power. 

     I guess I don't mind if I am going to be called a nerd.  I love a good romance or even better, a historical romance.  But I also know that the Bible only works when it is not just in my hand, but in my heart, my mind, my mouth and my feet.  So I guess  from now on if you want to call me a nerd- that's Mrs. Bible nerd to you.