Left Behind...Should I Be Scared?

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

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Sooooooo.... usually I talk to you guys about stuff like how to make it through tough times, encouraging, funny stories from my life experiences, and as of yesterday, monkey poop.

But today I have something very serious on my mind and because I love you, my blog family, I just had to share it with you. 

One day soon, Jesus is going to come back to earth, in the flesh, to take all of us who love Him to heaven. Not in a figurative sense, not in a "after we die" kind of way, but in a very literal, very real, very soon kind of way. In fact Jesus tells us in Matthew 24

Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole...

 Also, and here is a nice surprise for all of us who have loved ones in heaven already: every person that loved Jesus and has died will be coming back with Him to get us:

"But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever." - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (NRSV)

You may be thinking, 'Rachel, why are you bringing this up? This is freaking me out!

Well, it should! Often as Christians we forget that there is a heaven that we should be longing for and a hell that we should be running from. In our church culture today, we can find many churches and pastors that preach on prosperity, self-confidence, encouraging us to be better people... but it is becoming more and more rare that we hear the message of the importance of being prepared for Christ's return and the very real possibility of being left behind or going to hell if we are not prepared for His return. 

There will be people who think that they are good people, maybe even call themselves Christians, that will be left behind. Jesus tells us more about this as we look deeper into Matthew 24: 

The Son of Man’s Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.

This tells us that those left behind were the ones not prepared for Jesus' return. No true followers of Christ will be left - if you truly love Jesus and have a relationship with Him, there is nothing to fear. This will be the happiest day of our lives! We will be re-united with our loved ones that have died, we will see our awesome, precious Savior face to face, we will touch Him and talk with Him, we will be one big happy family!

But this is also sobering - and that is a good thing. So, should we live in constant fear of missing the return of Christ? No, but we should always be awake and alert, making sure that our hearts and minds are in right standing with Our Savior. 

How Can I Know That I Won't Be Left Behind?

1. Allow the Holy Spirit to Convict You of Sin
Another false teaching of our culture today is that if something makes us feel bad, then that thing is bad and we shouldn't be made to feel bad... that is not true. The Holy Spirit is constantly speaking to us, warning us of the consequences of our sin... and sometimes, that makes us feel bad - or a better word for it is "convicted." Convicted means found guilty of an offense or crime. So, the Holy Spirit lets us know when we have sinned, helping us to know how to have a right relationship with Jesus.

2. Ask Jesus Often to Forgive You of Sin 
It's amazing how many people believe that God doesn't care about our sins, that we can sin all we want and God will automatically forgive us, even if we are not sorry about it and even if we are consciously making the decision to stay in our sins. The Bible tells us many things that convince us that our sins will keep us from having a right relationship with Christ and that we must ask the Lord to forgive us of our sins on an ongoing basis, but here are three examples:   

Romans 6:22-23 - "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

Psalm 51:17 - "My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."

1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."

 These verses tell us that sin in our lives does indeed mean death - aka, not in right relationship with God - but that if we bow our hearts and allow ourselves to recognize our sin and we come to Him broken and contrite, admitting our sin, He will not only forgive us, but He will wipe our slates clean, making us completely pure and righteous. 

3. Run Away from Sin and Run Toward Christ Every Day
A moving body of water is alive, a sitting pool of water is stagnant and dead - and both types of water will be filled with something. Moving water is clear and refreshing, filled with living fish, frogs, oxygen, plantlife. Stagnant water is dark and murky, filled with slimy, gooey, nasty bacteria and decomposition, suffocating anything that happens to fall into it. The same can be said of our minds and hearts - we must always we moving towards Jesus, striving to be more like Him and the more we do that, the more alive we and those around us will be. But if we say a prayer and ask Jesus to come into our heart, then sit in our sins, continue in the same habits and choices and relationships as before we came to Christ, we will become darker and more lost than before we knew about Jesus.

4. Tell Everyone You Know About Jesus
This is so important - if the boat you were on was sinking and you knew where to find all the life jackets, wouldn't you tell everyone where they were? Look around you today - most of the people you see are sinking and they don't know it... the Holy Spirit is dealing with their hearts, but they need someone to reach out to them, love them, and tell them about the Life Jacket: Jesus.

So, there is no need to fear Jesus' return, but there is reason to be sober, alert, and prepared. I don't want to miss the greatest party in the universe!  I want a VIP, backstage pass! - and that's exactly what Jesus offers us! When Jesus returns, I want to see you there - hugging the loved ones that you miss so much, standing with me as we worship Him, walk and talk with Him, eat together and meet all of the great, epic heroes from the Bible - David, Moses, Peter, Paul, and more. It's going to be the best day ever, when Jesus takes us home.
  





Gold Mines and Coffee Beans

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

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"And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘They are my people’; and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”  -Zechariah 13:9


It occurs to me that things and people who endure hard times and tough situations increase in their value, both in reality and in perception... but while going through the storm, it's often hard to see the value that is building within us, isn't it?

A good friend of mine is a breast cancer survivor, and after a complete mastectomy and several rounds of chemo, she not only survived but she found that she now has more resolve and strength to take calculated risks, to step out and do some things that she never would have before that battle... and it's not just me that notices the amazing, unstoppable person she has become. 

I have quite a few life-sisters who are what our culture has named "single moms" - you know who you are, and so do I.. you work full time, long hours, you are both mom and dad, many with no help from anyone, having to fight and struggle for your child to get what he/she needs, putting your needs aside.... You show a strength and a zeal that reminds me of epic prize fighters like Rocky Balboa!! ..and I am not the only one that sees your true greatness.

The list of people I have encountered that have grown stronger and wiser and closer to Jesus through adversity goes on and on - many friends and acquaintances have lost homes, jobs, marriages - or experienced the deaths of spouses and children - some are living with constant pain, cancer, or terminal illness... 

I call heroes like these Gold Mines - because as trials and hard times come at them, instead of ripping them apart and destroying them, every explosive blast unearths treasure - painfully wrought, heart-breakingly rich treasure.

I recently read about the most expensive coffee in the world, Koi Luwak, and as a major coffee lover I had to find out more about it.  I found that it is in very short supply - just 500 lbs of it is harvested a year, with retail prices reaching US$700 per kilogram. It is rare and precious because it is harvested from the poop of a monkey that eats only the most ripe coffee beans and something about the beans going through the monkey's digestive system make the beans super delicious and aromatic and therefore extremely valuable.
  
Now, I like to think of myself as modern and hip... but really?? REALLY??

All kidding aside, it's pretty interesting that a regular, old coffee bean that just happened to be laying around on the jungle floor like all the other coffee beans can go from Dunkin Donuts to Nordstrom's by going through.. well,.... poop. Those coffee beans are Gold Mines!

I am so grateful that our God is not as fickle and trendsetting as today's coffee drinkers, but He does seem to have a similar affection for people who have gone through ugly, soul shattering tragedy and upheaval. Psalm 56:8 gives us a little insight into this:

"You keep track of all my sorrows.
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book.


God sees your pain, the trial that you are going through, and He is keeping a record - another words, He will never, ever forget the battles that you have endured. Taking it a step further, Psalm 34:15-18 reveals that God puts His love and affection into action, also:

"The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
    and his ears are attentive to their cry;

 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
    he delivers them from all their troubles. 
 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
    and saves those who are crushed in spirit."


 Though it is clear that in this life, God will allow us to go through immense suffering at times, it is also clear that our God sees us, hears us, delivers us, is close to us, and ultimately, He saves us.

Today, you may be going through the worst pain of your life - or maybe someone you love is... I can't tell you that God is going to stop your pain; there is no magic prayer that will send prosperity and miracles raining down from heaven to make all the sorrow go away. But I can tell you that this too shall pass, that He is holding you in His hand, and He will indeed hold you together - you will not be destroyed by this, if you will hold on to the One that is holding on to you.

In fact, each explosive hurt, every stab of pain, will reveal a Gold Mine, a treasure... a strength that is more than you ever thought possible, because Jesus is carrying you through.


Is Something Missing?

Monday, December 2, 2013

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"God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us." Ephesians 3:14-20 (The Message)

Over my lifetime, there have been a few times when something that I cherish and love, a talent, a friendship, a ministry, a dream... has seemingly been allowed to vanish. Chances are you have experienced this too: a job that was promising dries up, a marriage that you counted on evaporates, the plan you had for your future fizzles, the ministry that you've always wanted to be a part of that finally falls into your lap... just as quickly leaps out of your reach again.

The loss of a dream is like a death... hands that were full are now empty and grasping, and if we don't understand the way our God works, we will be overcome with grief. The Bible tells us that God's calling on you (the dreams and gifts He has placed within you) is without repentance - that means it is forever. So, how does that fit in with the fact that every once in awhile, God allows something we love, that He has grown in us, to go missing?

This past Thanksgiving weekend we did something we never do: We took an impromptu road trip, packed up the kids, and headed out to Sea World in Orlando.  It turned out to be an awesome, fun-filled adventure.

So many little things turned our two day trip into a string of big memories that we will never forget... but there was one moment during this trip when our hearts stopped with fear and our worst nightmare came rushing up into our faces.


We had just asked a kind stranger to take this family pic of us outside of the Shamu Stadium, the busiest little spot in the theme park. Sara Rose was having such a hard time being still for the photo, super excited to go see Shamu.  After the pic, we returned the favor for another family, all of us thinking that the other had Sara Rose in their arms.  Warren took the pics, returned the camera to the rightful owner, and we turned to see our boys looking back at us... and no Sara Rose in sight. 

The four of us turned in circles, scanning the area and seeing nothing, calling out her name. Whenever we made eye contact with each other, we could see the gut wrenching horror that we each felt mirrored in the other's eyes.... I can still hear the pounding of my heart in my ears and the clenching fist of dread wrapping around my chest.

... and then there she was.  Skipping through a sea of knees, hands filled with flowers, huge gooey smile on her face. There she was.

I have never seen such a wonderful sight in all of my life! We all took turns hugging her and holding her, laughing... and yes, I cried a little.

The loss of a dream can be a lot like those moments when we thought we had lost Sara Rose: fear, loss, worry, our imaginations unfolding the next few hours, days, and years as endless, hopeless, and horrible.

BUT WAIT!!!! - This is where you must keep in mind something that will change the way you look at those moments in your life, for the rest of your life: At one point in history, for three days to be exact, it seemed to the whole world that Jesus was dead, too... and he was.  Jesus was indeed dead, the dreams of all the world dashed and stolen, our future seemingly destroyed, all our hope taken away.

In fact, this was not the first time we had been robbed - remember Adam and Eve in the garden? What plans, what dreams, what a future, all of us were going to rule the world with God, walk with the animals and hang out with Jesus every night - God had hooked us up! And then after one bite of that apple..... poof! All dreams gone. Future destroyed... right?

WRONG! Jesus won it all back when the stone rolled away on the third day - He conquered death and insured our future, our destiny, once and for all.

Our God loves new beginnings and broken things. The thing that seems to vanish, the precious dream that is gone - that is just the moment where God comes in and starts a new work!! Just as Sara Rose came running back up to us out of nowhere, God's dreams and future for you will come upon you again - He will never leave your hands empty as long as you keep them open, ready for new dreams to fill them.

I don't know what dream, friendship, ministry, or future has been taken or is missing from your life, but know this: It is not the end, it is another beginning. God will give it back to you, only this time, you will have learned some valuable lessons and skills, be better equipped to recognize the gift and walk in it, and keep those hands open, be ready for God to grow that dream beyond what you are able to hold.








Prayer Station Ideas for Prayer Meetings

Saturday, November 23, 2013

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A Creative Time of Prayer

I hold 4 prayer meetings every year, one per quarter, for our church Fine Arts Teams. We have found that 1 hour is a good length and that if we can engage everyone in activities that bring our relationship with Jesus to "life" in a tangible and real way, the experience becomes much more meaningful. So, this morning during our prayer meeting, we set up 5 stations throughout our church sanctuary and invited everyone to stop by each one and complete the activities at their own rate of speed while taking the time to pray between each one. There were lots of tears, lots of reflection, many smiles and everyone seemed to leave with a lighter heart and a sense of having connected with God.

Here are the stations that we had today:

1.  Communion
Remembering the Cross of Jesus
A loaf of bread and a challis of juice – dip the bread into the juice
I eat this bread to remember your body, Jesus, broken for me, and I drink this wine to remember your blood poured out for me.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life


 2.  Giving Thanks for Every Blessing

Like the one leper who returned to thank Jesus for his healing, how is your gratitude to Jesus lived out in your daily life? After a few moments, take a grape and eat it, savoring the sweetness and the gift of Christ’s love. Say a prayer of thanks to the Lord.


3.  Shine Your Light

I am a part of the body of Christ – a light in the darkness
Write down 3 character traits that you like about yourself – good things about you
Light a candle and place it with the others to symbolize your light in this community
Ask the Lord to help you to truly use your talents and gifts for Him and to realize how important your part is in the body of Christ.




4.  Sitting At Jesus' Feet 
As you “sit” on the floor at Jesus’ feet like Mary, 
consider the value of simply soaking up his presence. 
Take a floor tile and write a word representing the gift you receive 
by simply sitting and listening or the feeling you find by reflecting upon his company. 
Then place the tile on the floor, as others add theirs to yours, a floor of gifts.
Take time now to let this find a home in you. Invite God to keep this alive in your faith journey.  
(We set laid out a large rug and scattered it with throw pillows and bean bags
and invited all who passed through to sit as they prayed) 


5. Forgive Our Enemies

“But I (Jesus) say to you who hear, love your enemies, 
do good to those who you hate, bless those who curse you, 
pray for those who mistreat you.”  – Luke 6:27 & 28
Meditate on the above verses out of scripture and as you do ponder who some of the people you consider “enemies” are.  When a name (or “names”) pop into your head, pick up a stone and use one of the markers to print the person’s initials on the stone.
While holding the stone in your hand, say a “prayer of blessing” for the person you wrote down.  After the prayer, wash the stone in the water and allow God to wash away the grudge you hold against that person as the water washes the ink off.  If you are able to set in motion the blessing for the person you prayed for, take the stone home with you to remember to do so, otherwise just put your clean stone back into the pile.


















Making Thanksgiving Special

Friday, November 22, 2013

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Making Thanksgiving Special: Decorating, Crafts, Desserts and More




This Thanksgiving is a first for us: Our family always travel to Orlando to be with all of our extended family, more than 20 Butler-Stocker-Allens in one home (thank you, Aunt Sarah, for always hosting us so graciously), but because of my grandmother's triple bi-pass surgery a few weeks ago, we are forced to stay home this year. So, how do we make a simple, small Thanksgiving special and meaningful without breaking the bank and without too much effort?  I can't help you with that 15 lb turkey and all the fixings, but I have come up with some things that I think will put my family in the Thanksgiving frame of mind without putting me over my stress tolerance.


The Thanksgiving Tree - A Family Activity - $5

I wanted to do something with my family that engages all of us, but not for too long, and not too much effort on anyone's part - but a memory maker, nonetheless. So, when I saw this idea I fell in love!

Shopping List
*  A medium/small clay pot or basket or container

*  A 2 to 3 feet tall tree branch with lots of tiny branches
*  Sand, dirt, or rocks to put in the container
*  Sheets of autumn colored construction paper or craft foam paper (depends how many leaves you want to make)
*  ribbon or yarn or twine
*  a single hole punch (optional)
*  markers

Directions:
Hold the tree branch inside the container and fill the container of your choice with the sand/dirt/or rocks so that the branch stands up right on it's own. Cut the paper into the shapes of autumn leaves, making sure you make enough leaves for 2 or 3 per person, and place a small hole at one end and thread a 5" long length of ribbon/twine/yarn through the hole and tie the ends together. Place a container of markers and the paper leaves next to the tree branch. Instruct everyone to write something that they are thankful for on a leaf and hang it from the "Thanksgiving Tree" - encourage everyone to do it as many times as they wish throughout the day until each tiny branch is filled.


Cheap but Crafty Decorations

I found some great photos online of different decor themes, and found a Sunflower Theme that came with a treasure trove of free printable templates and instructions on how to put it all together. Click here to check it out and download the whole kit and kaboodle. Below are two projects from this theme that I did, affordably and easily (1 hour of shopping and 2 hours of project time)

 

Give Thanks Banner - $10

Shopping list: 
*   mini-glue gun and glue sticks
*  5 sheets of bright yellow cardstock
*  a roll of burlap garland
*  a package of foam sticker dots
*   a Circle Cutter (pictured below)  - becuase it costs about $20, I see it as completely optional (you can definitely cut out the circles by hand) - I was able to borrow one from a friend, which made these projects much less expensive

Directions:
First, cut 11 pieces of burlap 6" wide x 7" tall, fold in half and cut away a triangle from the bottom of each panel (center point at approximately 1 3/4" up from the bottom). Use a circle cutter to cut 11 5-inch circles out of yellow card stock. Attach the yellow circles to the burlap panels using hot glue. Print the attached template onto white card stock, then use the circle cutter to cut out each letter (OR cut them out yourself with scissors). Attach the letter panels to the yellow circles using foam dots to add dimension. String the panels together with ribbon or tulle.


'Enjoy' Napkin Rings - $8 (not including the glue gun/sticks)

Shopping List:
*  12 plain/simple wooden napkin rings (these are optional, you could use the twine)
*  mini glue gun and mini glue sticks (already had them from project above)
*  natural twine
*  the burlap scraps left over from project above
*  2-3 sheets of 12x12 inch scrapbook paper in a color or design that matches the pretty printable napkin ring labels (they say 'enjoy' on them)

Directions:
For each ring, cut a strip of burlap 1' x 1 1/2". To make the accordion-folded medallion, cut two strips of decorative paper 6" x 1 3/4", then fold the paper strips back and forth, accordion style. To form pointed ends, use scissors to clip one end of each folded strip at a 90-degree angle. Hot glue ends of strips together to create a circle, then push the edge of the paper in and hot glue the center. Hold for a few moments until glue dries. Print the attached "enjoy" party circles to embellish the center of each medallion. Lastly, hot glue the medallions to the napkin rings or attach lengths of natural twine with hot glue to the back of each medallion and tie them onto the napkins.

 notice the circle cutter pictured on the bottom left - cuts circles from as small as 1" to as big as 6"

Thanksgiving Dessert Buffet - $40+ (depends on how fancy you wanna get)

Shopping List:
*  All kinds of tiers to place desserts on (turned over pots and pans, shoe boxes, cupcake stands, pieces of wood, pretty platters, etc - stuff that you have laying around the house)
*  Large table cloth or pieces of fabric or burlap to cover the tiers
*  Artificial or real flowers and pumpkins and autumn colored pretty things (Walmart is selling artificial sunflowers and other autumn flowers for $1.50 a bouquet, more than 50% off)
*  3 to 5 desserts that can be presented in small bites (mini cupcakes, puddings, cake pops, bite sized pies, chocolate covered Oreos, brownies, cookies, tiny slices of cheesecake, etc)
*  lollipop sticks & hot glue gun/sticks or tape
*  small mason jars or shot glasses to present the puddings or parfaits

Directions:
Plan your desserts and how many of each dessert you would like to have. Then, place dessert tiers all over the top of a small table - it is best to have various heights of stands to add depth and character to your dessert buffet.  Use flowers and table cloths and fabric to make your stands and tiers pretty. Once you have purchased or prepared your desserts, pick a spot on the table for each one. Attach the pretty printable cupcake flags to the lollipop sticks with tape or hot glue and stick down into the tops of cupcakes or other desserts of your choice. Layer pudding/fruit/wafer cookies/whip cream/parfaits/or mousse into the mason jars and shot glasses. Place desserts on platters and stands. Write the names of each dessert on the pretty printable menu cards and place in front of each dessert, so that everyone knows what they are eating. Make sure napkins and utensils are nearby and handy.
this pic is of course not of our dessert buffet, won't be able to post those pics til after Thanksgiving
I truly hope these ideas give you some ideas of your own and encourage you to know that Thanksgiving day can be fun, beautiful, special... and cheap! I would love to see your own ideas and pics of what you come up with, too. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!








Jesus Mimi and Donuts

Thursday, November 21, 2013

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Jesus, Mimi, and Donuts



Sara Rose Making Friends at Dunkin Donuts
"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us..." - 2 Corinthians 5:20 

Jesus is so wonderful, He loves us so much and there is not a single one of us that have not been blessed by Him and His love in some way - even those times in our lives when we have turned away from Him, He still loves us, showering us with His favor and His mercy, and His Voice is always seeking us out. The Bible tells us that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." WOW! That means that every single face I see every day is loved by Jesus, whether they know it or not, whether they accept it or not.... THAT is why I simply must not be afraid to share Him with others.
  
Today was what I like to call a "Sara Rose Day" - I got to spend the entire day with my little mini-me, and there's no better way to start off a day like that then with a trip to good old Dunkin Donuts.  Since we have no where to be and no one to impress, I let her pick out her own outfit (yikes!), and I allowed her to take her best friend, Mimi, with us. Mimi is the small blankie with a bunny head that is the equivalent of the Holy Grail for Sara Rose, she has slept with Mimi since she was a baby and I thought it only right to allow Mimi the pleasure of accompanying us on our adventures today.

When Sara Rose walks into a room nothing seems to escape her notice; this morning was no different. As we waited in line for our donut fix, Sara Rose would not stop staring at a woman sitting alone at a table in a corner.

All through the line, she stared and as we went to find our seats, she walked right up to the woman, and stood there staring. I started to apologize and drag my little social butterfly away, but then I noticed something... the woman's eyes lit up as Sara Rose fired off a barrage of silly (and some quite personal) questions, she smiled big as Sara Rose handed over her most treasured little friend - her Mimi. 

 "You can hold my Mimi while you eat breakfast if you want to," Sara Rose whispered as I rolled my eyes and was about to tell the woman I was so sorry once again, but the woman had reached out and was hugging Sara Rose and thanking her for sharing... and I swear I saw tears in her eyes.

I sat down nearby and sipped my coffee, finally stepping out of the way of whatever magical thing was taking place between this woman and my child. She seemed content to hold dirty, ragged Mimi and talk and laugh with this toddler who had sought her out.  When it was finally time to go, I thanked the woman for taking the time to be so kind to my little one, and she said, "No, thank you - Sara Rose has made my day. I was having a very bad morning, and it's so good to hear that little voice and that little laugh." We talked for a few minutes and then said goodbye, parting ways.

I left Dunkin Donuts with a little nugget of golden insight snuggled deep within my heart: People are important and it is up to us to recognize hurt around us and to reach out to them with the love of Jesus. He is my treasured thing, my Mimi - isn't He yours?

It can be scary to talk to others about Jesus, but it doesn't have to be. When somebody is a Miami Heat fan, you can tell: it's usually written all over them! Their car windows, their t-shirts, their facebook walls, their ring tones and tennis shoes, they talk about the Heat with everyone they meet - just like Sara Rose couldn't help but introduce her precious Mimi to that woman this morning.

If Jesus lives in you, if He is your joy and your peace, then you take Him with you where ever you are. Ask the Lord today to give you an opportunity to share Jesus with someone. Every single time I have prayed for that to happen, IT HAS! God leads hurting people to the ones who will reach out. Will you ask God to help you reach out and share His Son with somebody today?

Feelings Are Like Children

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

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Feelings Are Like Children



Sara Rose does not like nap time. But she needs nap time (let's be honest: mommy NEEDS nap time, too). My little three year old ball of giggles and joyous energy will indeed turn into a whining, unhappy, grumpy mess by 4pm if she doesn't get her mid-afternoon snooze.

I certainly fantasize about her eagerly jumping into her bed every afternoon, batting her cutie eyelashes at me and saying "I love you, mommy, thank you for reminding me to to take a nap so I will feel happy and wonderful this evening - you're the best mommy ever!" - then she yawns super adorably and rolls over, snoring away within seconds.... but yeah, that has never happened, not even once.

Instead, I usually have to chase her down, pick her up, stuff her wiggly, wormy body into PJs, and lay her in the bed, all the while hearing the most adamant protests and complaints that the 3-year-old mind can come up with, and I assure you, NONE of them are complementary toward yours truly (me). Nope, she has NEVER ONCE thanked me for putting her down to rest. In fact, she will stare me in the eye and tell me she is absolutely NOT tired at all - today she told me that "Daddy already laid me down for a nap today" which is of course not true, as Daddy has been at work all day and she and I have been together every waking moment. Pretty little liar when up against the dreaded nap time.

 As her care taker it is my responsibility to recognize the need and enforce it, make sure it happens, and then we all reap the benefits later, when like a butterfly emerging from it's cocoon, Sara Rose emerges from her room bright eyed, giggling, full of hugs and kisses for the world (starting with Piper, our dog) and ready to take on the world again.

Our feelings are EXACTLY like 3 year olds - they do not always tell the truth, they do not recognize when they are out of control, and sometimes, they need to be put down for a time out behind a closed door.

Think about the tough situation or personal crisis that you are facing right now - what are your feelings telling you about it? Chances are, they are up one day, down the next, and often, they lie to us. Feelings will tell you that you are alone, that God has changed His mind about you, that you should give up, that life will never get better, that life as you know it is over... Feelings also tell us that our happiness is the most important thing, that no one else matters as much as our self, that we cannot be replaced, that we are PERFECT.  Yikes! That is a wide spectrum of WRONG! :)

If we were just animals driven by our instincts, then we would be slave to those crazy, often wrong feelings... but praise God, we are His kids, heirs with Christ (that means brothers and sisters of Jesus!), and His Spirit in us makes us bigger than and wiser than our feelings.

If you can't fall asleep at night because of worries; if you find yourself filled with insecurities about relationships and your self confidence is up one day, down the next; if you constantly second guess yourself.... it might be time to put your feelings down for a nap, my friend.

Ask the Lord to help you to trust in what you know to be true (Philippians 4:8), that He is in control (Romans 8:28), that He has a plan and a purpose for you (Jeremiah 29:11-13), that fear is not of Him because He has given you a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). That's right - read the Word of God in times like these, and the wiggly, wormy doubts and torments of your feelings will go down behind a closed door. 

Nighty-Night!

Don't Put A Lid On It

Monday, November 18, 2013

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Don't Put A Lid On It



For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. - Romans 15:4

Did you know it's possible to have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit flow OVER you without it residing IN you? Nothing scares me more than that possibility.

Sampson is probably the most famous historical illustration of this phenomenon. He did amazing, miraculous things, gave powerful speeches, and everyone knew that the hand of God was on him... and yet his life was always in shambles: he disrespected and argued with his parents constantly, his love life was unstable at best and downright sinful at worst, he took the anointing of the Lord for granted because his pride tricked him into thinking that he was special, that the show could not go on without him... and he ultimately died alone, a human tragedy.

Though God poured His presence and power OVER his life, calling him to a great destiny, Sampson's love affair with himself was a lid tightly shut against the presence of God living IN him.

Of course Sampson is an extreme example. Truth is, looking through Scripture, quite a few of the greats had their moment- David put a lid on it when his pride convinced him to count his armies and take credit for their victories, Peter put a lid on it when prejudice and legalism convinced him he couldn't sit and eat with people not of his race, Moses put a lid on it when he neglected his wife and children by putting ministry above them, Jonah put a lid on it when he allowed his heart to be filled with hatred and unforgiveness against his enemies...

The list goes on and thank goodness it does, because it gives us HOPE.  Tightly sealing their hearts against the power of God is not the only thing those men have in common: they also opened their lives and hearts to Him, recognizing their sin and allowing His presence to wash through them, revealing and releasing them from it. Each of those men became great, legendary, and changed the world in their time - and we still talk about them today in awe and wonder!

But the name Sampson, hmmmmmm....what does it inspire to this day?

One thing is certain: God has a calling, a destiny, an anointing for your life;  and for a time, He will pour it out over you, chase you, coax you to let Him in... He may even use that anointing to change the lives of those around you, to bring others to Him. But are you allowing His cleansing power and presence to reside IN you? It is my prayer that we take the lids off, that we let the Holy Spirit of God pour in and through us, that we might be changed and renewed and refined as we reach out to give this same power and truth to others.

Today, I check myself, too - I ask God to search my heart, to transform my mind, to reveal the ugly parts of me that need to be washed away in the flow of His presence... and I ask Him to help me to throw away the lids.




A Time for Everything

Sunday, November 17, 2013

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A Time for Everything 

 

 "There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven" Ecclesiastes 3:1


This past month has been a difficult month in some ways. My one and only grandmother, 82 years old this December 5th, underwent emergency triple bi-pass surgery and I and my mother have been helping to nurse her through her recuperation. It's been tough to see this strong, amazing woman so helpless and weak, but it is also inspiring to see her fight back and struggle against all the obstacles that she faces, gaining strength with each day that passes.

I've also faced some personal giants this month - spiritual battles that have left me exhausted but in awe at how God always equips us with just the right stone to bring those giants down.

Months like these can leave a person emotionally, physically, and spiritually empty - I know you've been there. Even as the giant falls and victory over personal trial begins to rise like a morning sun, even as the trauma of illness or loss begins to subside somewhat, the daily fight can have us daydreaming of better times - when everything was easy, everyone was healthy, and the road ahead wasn't a worry because the "now" was so smooth and calm.

It's in times like these that we must remind ourselves that "this too shall pass" - that this moment we are in right now is a season: a temporary hiccup that ultimately helps to shape us into the likeness of Christ. Actually, looking back on my life, I find it is during the tough, lonely, battle-filled seasons that I have known my God more, clung to His Word, seen His miraculous power, and allowed Him to change, renew, and draw me closer to Him. It is because of the battle that I see the true worth and joy of peace.

It is also during times like these that without saying a word, God uses us to show the world that He is real. When others around us fold, pack up and quit, we find the strength to pick ourselves back up again, start afresh, finding hope in our faith in Christ. Keep this always in mind: there is someone looking at you, watching to see if what you say you believe and Who you say you believe in is real... every victory for you is a testimony to someone that they can make it, too.

I don't know what giants you are facing today, but I do know that they will ultimately fall, that Jesus will bring you through, and that after this season passes, you will look back and know that you are His and that He was carrying you through this whole time.

"There is an appointed time for everything.  And there is a time for every event under heaven ~  
A time to give birth, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to tear down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to shun embracing.
A time to search, and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep, and a time to throw away.
A time to tear apart, and a time to sew together; A time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate; A time for war, and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

It's Gotta Be From Scratch

Friday, November 15, 2013

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It's Gotta Be From Scratch... Another Myth We Swallow

Me and Jason hanging out

Today I am making my son Jason's favorite cake... it's his birthday after all, and a guy turns 27 only once in a life time. Last night I tortured myself with thoughts of how to make it - should I slave away with flour, sugar, eggs, and cocoa for the better part of the day, I mean THAT would show my love, right? I could present it to him covered in a fine dusting of flour, exhibiting signs of extreme "Martha Stewart" syndrome and THEN everybody would think "wow, this woman loves her son, she gave her whole day AND her pride (because I look awful) and energy (because I look exhausted) to making her son that perfect, beautiful, made-from-scratch cake!"

Now, you are probably thinking to yourself (and you would be right) "Ummmm.... that is crazy."

And yes, it is, I am a super busy mom and mommy (there is a difference and anyone with both young adult kids and toddler kids in the same house will know what I mean); I am working, studying, exercising, cleaning, running errands, etc from dawn to dusk, so once I got over my little fantasy of baking in the kitchen all day while small woodland creatures danced around me, I realized there was NO WAY that could actually happen.

So, this morning I headed to Publix and got me some Betty Crocker boxes, frosting tins, eggs, and oil - and here I am, an hour later, looking at the most beautiful cake!... and I didn't sweat even one droplet and there's not a poof of flour anywhere.

It is very important that I make a little side note here that I am not saying home made cake making is bad, in fact some of my closest friends make the most amazing from-scratch confections that I have ever seen or tasted (yes, I'm talking about you, Sonia and Destiny!), it's a true gift and I wish I had it... but my point here is: I don't.

As I was beating my boxed cake this morning on medium for 2 minutes, it occurred to me that alot of the exhaustion and frustration that we face in this life is because we try to make things from scratch that we aren't qualified to make - here's a list of some of my personal "My Own Way Recipes" that have caused me trouble in the long run:

* Make My Own Future Happen Casserole
* Force My Kids to Do Things My Way Brownies
* Get Everyone to Love Me Pie
* Look Like I Got It All Together Even When I Am Dying On The Inside Turnovers
* Be The Most Valuable Player 24/7 Bundt Cake
* Solve Everyone's Problems Cuz I Know Everything Cookies

.... do some of these sound familiar? Chances are you've got some real bad "made from scratch" recipes of your own in the oven of life right now... and like me, you will find that in the end, they flop or burn or curdle.

Here's the point of all of this: God doesn't want us to create our lives and our future or anything from scratch, He's already done it... In fact, He has boxed up all the ingredients that we need in a little book, the Bible. All the instructions, all the information that we need for success and peace and acceptance and love is right there.

Don't swallow the lie that YOU have to make your life better or that you are on your own in this crazy kitchen of life - in those moments when you are tempted to whip up your own solutions, sit down, open your Bible, and watch Jesus create something amazing in you.

Jason's boxed cake turned out soooo yummy! Thanks, Betty Crocker!




Mirror Mirror and Other Myths

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

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Mirror Mirror... and Other Myths

"For the word of God is living, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12



"Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" As a child I would cringe and snuggle deeper into my favorite blankie every time this scene from Snow White played out on our tiny 1980's TV screen, the wicked step-mother glaring and scowling as she consulted her magical mirror to be reassured that (somehow) she was still the most beautiful of them all... until one day, the Mirror informed her that Snow White, now grown and sweet, had taken her place at the top of the cake. Surely you remember THAT moment - yikes!

As I've grown up, I still cringe whenever I see an image of that mirror or that wicked step-mother, but I also wonder: What made that woman base her self worth on what a mirror had to say? Of course she and her mirror are total fiction, but.... well, aren't we tempted to do the same? To base our self worth on what we see, what others say, what our feelings tell us is true?

Over my lifetime, occasionally, there have been those who spoke into my life untruth. Though it is a rare thing, I have indeed been hated, betrayed, lied about, told I was less, unworthy, that my talents were imagined, my calling damaged, my education lacking, my beauty exaggerated, my decisions tremendously wrong, ... have you ever been there? Sometimes these ugly sentiments have come from others but much more often other people's words have only been seeds... the greatest hater is the voice inside me that grows from those seeds.

Let's call this inner voice... the Mirror. The Mirror comes from within - all the words people spoke into your life that hurt, that diminished you, .. that you didn't give over to Jesus.  When we keep those words, accept them into our lives, we start to see ourselves through them, and the Mirror of self-loathing speaks to us, telling ourselves that we truly are less, that we will never be (fill in the blank) and ultimately, the beautiful and amazing creature that God created, YOU, begins to wither away.

The Bible talks a bit about mirrors... and this week as I was reading what it had to say, I thought about that scary mirror scene, and hmmmmmm I saw a connection. Let's see what God's Word has to say:

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."  I Corinthians 13:12 (KJV)

 I love how the New Living Translation puts it... 

"Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely."

Can you feel that beautiful creature in you stirring as you read those precious Words? The awesome-factor lies in the parts of that verse that say "but THEN"... that Word "THEN" refers to the day when we will be with Christ - when we will talk to Him and see Him and we will see ourselves the way HE sees us, the way HE made us to be seen. 

The only way that we can overcome the tiny but hurtful words spoken over us by others and by the Mirror we have created within us, is to replace them with the mighty, amazing, and truthful WORD OF GOD, all of which we can find written down for us in The Bible. His Word spoken over us breaks the Mirror. It is not enough to pray - when we pray to God, we are telling Him our words, our thoughts - in doing this, we are often simply showing Him our Mirror... but when we read His Word, He speaks to us, and His words change us, reveal truth to us, remove any ugliness, bitterness, unforgiveness, and other harmful attitudes, freeing us to be who He made us to be.

This week, don't consult the Mirror, consult the Word of God.... and you will find that who you are is beautiful, amazing, gifted, loved and called.