Being Like-Minded

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by  being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."  Philippians 2:1-2

Well, this verse was more than appropriate to stumble upon this morning! Because I had a very vivid dream this morning that like-mindedness was not going on.  It was actually a bit disturbing, and it took me a while to fall back asleep after it woke me because I wondered what it was saying to me.  But in my dream, Andy and I were not like-minded at all.  In fact, we were at some one's house, who it turned out, was some weird cultish family- believed un-Biblical things and were spending their time trying to convert us.   I finally had enough, and I grabbed the kids and said we were leaving, except that Andy said he'd decided to stay and hear more.  He like what he was hearing.  I tried to pray for him to no avail, and the kids and I got in our van and left.

Bothersome, obviously.  Even more bothersome, because last night before going to bed, I had read most of Genesis, and when I was reading about Joseph and dreams and dream interpretation, I remember thinking to myself that I would like to spend more time learning about dream interpretation.  And I kind of shot up a quick little prayer in my head to ask God for more dreams, so that I could learn more.

Admittedly, I like the happy dreams better.  The ones with warnings and dire situations are not fun to discern and pick apart, and I have had a few too many as of late.  This one last night though, is fortunately, not a dream about something in the natural.  My husband's faith is firm and without fault, and if he ever were in a situation similar, you can bet that he would spend his time trying to convert the other people- not spend time listening and absorbing their dribble, only to end up believing it.   But this verse this morning makes me think, because there was one aspect of the dream that sticks out- and it's here in this verse.  Andy and I were not like-minded in the dream.   In fact, we were so not like minded that we were going in separate directions- and that is something to explore further and get to the bottom of.

Because you know what?  As you read the verse up above, there is great encouragement in there.  For we read here today that there is a HUGE perk to being a Christian.  And that is that when we become a child of God and accept Christ as our Savior, we also become united with others who have made the same decision.  Think about that- every person on this earth who has asked Jesus into their lives has common ground with you.  But even more so, Paul goes on to say that we can also take joy in the fact that we are like-minded.  And that we share the same love- Godly love, which binds us together as one spirit with one purpose- to win more souls for eternal citizenship in Heaven.

I didn't share my dream here this morning to make anyone think there is anything bad going on in either my or Andy's lives.  The dream used an extreme example of not being like-minded, and whatever it is that we need to explore and discuss could be something very small and minimal- just that we're not on the same page about something.  And it also doesn't necessarily mean that Andy is on the wrong side of thinking- just because the dream says he was.   In fact, it's probably the opposite.  The last several weeks have been challenging here, to say the least.  Andy broke two of his fingers in his dominant hand several weeks ago, and it's been a real challenge for me ever since. Of course, it was the same time as we were beginning school, so the kids and I were adjusting to a newer, busier schedule.  In addition to schooling though, over the last three weeks I have also had to attempt to maintain some kind of order in the household- as well as do all the extra work that Andy does- like the yard work and taking out the recycling, and admittedly, I've been overwhelmed and a tad bit cross.

Yesterday, for an unbelievable second, I was actually thankful that my garden tanked this year, because if it was producing tomatoes like my brother's garden, I wouldn't have been able to deal with it, quite frankly.  My days are crazy and too full as it is, one more task on top of what needs to be accomplished could have been the thing that causes me to really go bananas.

Thankfully though, I have an escape.  When I just can't think about doing one more load of laundry, or loading up the dishwasher one more time, I sit down with my Bible.  I sit down and read about the blessings of the Lord and everything else melts away- including my bad attitude.   And you know what?  Because we are all like-minded in Christ, we can all have the same experience.  Every single one of us can open up our Bible when we're struggling and find peace and encouragement from the pages within.   Because God is good all the time, and He ALWAYS has a word for us to read in His precious book.  I like to think that those days, when I just don't want to lift another finger to do housework or yard work, that God actually delights in me ditching my duties to curl up and spend some time reading His words, and seeing if He has something to say to me.   And what God will bless me with, He will bless you with.  Let's purpose to be more like-minded, and to spend more time in His Word, learning about His Love and His Purpose.  What could be better than that?

The Same Blood...

"Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!"  Romans 5:9

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"  Ephesians 1:7

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,"  Galatians 3:26

This past weekend we started watching a movie that's several disks long.  It will take us a few days to watch the whole thing.  It's a movie we enjoy watching from time to time- it's just such a grand movie.  We were watching and enjoying it, when the lead character said something that made me pause and reflect for a while on it.  He was talking about his family line- about the people he descended from and said "the same blood runs in my veins".  In context, he was worried about being evil like one of his forbears... but I couldn't stop thinking on what he said.

"the same blood runs in my veins"

It struck a chord with me.  See, also during that day, I had an amazingly bad headache.  Not quite a migraine, but a fierce enough headache that didn't seem to be swayed by food, drink or medicine.  It was bothersome.  I also had an experience with tingling and numb fingers in one of my hands earlier in the day, and of course, my mind managed to link them together and give myself some kind of serious health condition.  Never mind the fact that I've had pinched nerves in my neck and shoulders for a few weeks- which could cause both the numb fingers and the headache.  I still managed to think on it several times during the day, and think about all the horrible diseases or conditions that headaches and numb fingers could be indicative of.  I was making myself nervous, and I already knew that it was going to be a rough night sleep-wise, because I was worried about it getting worse...or what if I didn't wake up at all?  It's crazy sometimes, the things the devil will use to try and mess me up- and my health and thinking about my kids without a mom is one of those things.

But then I heard that line, I heard him say "the same blood runs in my veins" and it was as if something shattered in my spirit- the foreboding I was feeling increase throughout the day was gone, as I rolled that sentence around in my head, and thought to myself, indeed.  The same blood runs in my veins... the same blood that came to set mankind free.  The same blood that walked on this earth and healed the multitudes, and fed the hungry.  The day I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I had a transfusion, and my blood became infused with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  My DNA changed forever that day, and as I sat and watched the rest of that movie,  I just felt so much better!  When I went to bed that night, I had no troubles getting to sleep because my mind had started singing a song over and over about how the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me- and I knew the devil was just trying to mess with me.  And it wasn't going to work.

I spent a deal of time yesterday thinking about that line.  And while I am so grateful to God that while we watched a movie, He used a line in a movie to help break through what the enemy was trying to do to me, it really had me thinking about Jesus, and the things He did while He walked on earth as a man.  It had me thinking about this older brother of mine, and I kept coming back to the situation where he was being tempted by the devil in the desert.

In Matthew chapter 4, we read about how the devil tempted Jesus after he'd fasted for 40 days.  And in the end, of course, Jesus resisted him by quoting scripture at him.


"Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"  ¹¹Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."  Matthew 4:10-11

And that got me thinking about all the times that the devil tries to tempt us.  I could go into a hundred different examples of temptation by the devil, but I'll go with a really basic, really simple one.  The temptation of laziness.   I imagine most people face this temptation, because the world tells us we deserve it.  The world tells us that we deserve to have days where we put our feet up and do nothing, when the Biblical reality is that we are deserving of a day of rest- but a day of rest and a day of laziness are two very different things.  And often times that one day of laziness can turn into several, and before you know it, a lifestyle of laziness has developed.  You spend every single day lamenting all the things you didn't do because you wanted to watch one more TV show, or spend just a little longer surfing the internet.

Now I don't think that God wants us to do away with those things completely.  TV and internet can be huge suckers of our time... but quite honestly, when we find ourselves there too much, it stands to reason that we can play the blood card and be freed.  The same blood runs in my veins- the blood of Jesus, who withstood temptation and overcame the devil with words.  When I find myself being tempted to do something I shouldn't- sit around and be lazy, or read a book I shouldn't, or spend money I don't really have to spend- I can remember my big brother Jesus, and remember that He resisted temptation.  I don't have to succumb, and give in ,and then regret later and have to repent.  I can resist in the first place.  I can say "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only" and tell the devil to go away- and I CAN and WILL be successful.

I love it when God uses something so everyday like a movie or a song to speak volumes to me.  I pray that He continues to keep my mind open to what He has to tell me- that I won't miss it because I'm too busy to notice.  I'm so thankful for His intervention in my life.

He Who Will Sustain

"Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."  Isaiah 46:4

I wanted to look up the word "sustain" in the dictionary and I found many definitions.  As I read each one, my smile grew just a little bigger, because each one is so true of our God in Heaven.

• to give support or relief to
• to supply with sustenance-nourish
• keep up, prolong
• to support the weight of, also to carry or withstand weight or pressure
• to buoy up (sustained by hope)
• to bear up under
• suffer, undergo (sustained heavy losses)
• to support as true, legal or just
• to support by adequate proof

Can it get any better than that?  When I read the last part of the verse that says that "I will rescue you" I thought about how true that is, and you know what?  He doesn't just rescue us once or twice.  He is ALWAYS there, always holding us up and helping us walk the path of life.   I can't tell you how many times God has rescued us in the area of finances alone.  It's mind boggling to think on that, on how many times we've made mistakes, and yet there God is, providing help and solutions.  He's rescued us from bad decisions we've made about other areas of life, and the verse up above says that He will continue to do so until the day we die.

Of course, as we continue on this journey of life, it is my hope and prayer that at some point, we won't need to be rescued.  That the mistakes and the errors will fall by the wayside as our lives become more and more God-focused and God-centered.  As we continue on our journey of knowing Him more and more, the mere idea of mistakes will fall behind as we walk forward, centered in His perfect will for us.  Centered in the sweet spot.

He will sustain us.  Think on that word sustain, with all those meanings up above.  I personally favor the definition that he will support or carry, because there are just times where we need that.  There are times where we need to just let go, stop, and completely rest in the fact that He will sustain us.  He will sustain us when times are great, and He will sustain us when times are tough. 

You know, sometimes it's easy to remember that God sustains when times are tough.  I mean, when things really get rough, that's usually when we are at our most vulnerable, and we finally just lean back and throw up our hands and let God take over.   He follows through on that every single time.  But what I want, is I want to remember that God sustains when times are great.   I don't want to just look around at circumstances and think to myself that life is grand.  I want to look around with eyes wide opened and see and know that God makes life so grand.  I want that to be my first thought- to thank God for the many blessings and opportunities- and not a passing thought on a busy day.

I want to keep Him at my center.  Because He made me, and He will carry me and sustain me- no matter how the wind blows here on earth.  He will not relent, and He will be there every moment of every day. 

Too Much World

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. ¹²It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, ¹³while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, ¹⁴who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good."  Titus 2:11-14

The other day my mom offered her Christmas village to my siblings and me.  She's cleaning and purging out too much stuff accumulated through the years, and thought maybe someone would want her collection.  I thought about it for a minute, because I don't have a Christmas village, and it's honestly never occurred to me that I might want one.  The thought that literally went through my head is something along the lines of "isn't everyone supposed to have a Christmas village?  Isn't that just what people put out for a decoration?"  And then I had my answer.  I didn't really want the village.  But  the mere idea that it's something you do just because everyone else does was enough for me- because that's a thought process I'm trying to eliminate.  When the holidays come rolling around, we put up decorations that we want to, because they make our home look festive, and help us to feel joyful about celebrating the birth of Jesus. 

Too much world and too much stuff.  Now, there's nothing wrong with stuff.  Stuff can be enjoyable, stuff can bring joy to someone, and it can serve a purpose- but its when we have stuff just to have stuff.  When we moved several months back, I can't tell you how much stuff we actually got rid of.  The piles of boxes that we donated were simply amazing- all random items that we had in the house just because that's what people do.  They get stuff, they use it for a time, and then they put it away.  And they save it, because you never know when you'll use that item again- or worse, they save something for their children down the road, and then the process begins all over again.  We're raising our children to let go of stuff.  To realize that sometimes toys and things can be wonderful and we can enjoy them, but sometimes we also need to share them.

Because that's why I think God really allows us to accumulate stuff.  It isn't so that we can pile up totes in a basement or in a storage unit- it's so that at some point, we can be a blessing to someone else.

Just this week, I was the beneficiary of just such a thing.  A couple had an old quilting frame- an item that makes hand-quilting a quilt much, much easier to accomplish.  I've wanted one for years- since I began a quilt that I've been working on.  But they are expensive- especially the larger size that I really wanted.  Well, these people -who I don't even know- decided this was an item hanging around their house that was just accumulating dust.  They wanted it to go to someone who could actually use it.  And as I picked it up, and brought it to my home, I just felt so incredibly blessed.  That this item that I have wanted, but never really thought I'd be getting, was given to me. 

In fact, now that I think about that, this has happened to our family twice this week alone.  Once for myself with the quilt frame, and once for my daughter, with an item that she's wanted, but we certainly never thought she'd be the recipient of such a treasure.

And yet, I'm trying to balance my mind around the idea that I don't want to get caught up in the trap of too much stuff.  And more.  The keeping up with the Joneses syndrome, where a neighbor has something, so we have to have something.  That's the world trying to creep in and tell us we need something.  Of course it does, because when we spend our money on something that we don't really need, the world rejoices, because then that money is not going to someone who could really need it.   In the last several months, I've found myself in a serious case of phone envy, because it seems like everyone I know is getting newer, better cellphones while I have one that just does the basics.  In order for me to get one of these new phones, I would have to shell out a pretty penny- and for what?  For a phone, really, that does the exact same thing as the machine I am sitting at- only in the palm of my hand instead of on a desk.  Do I really need that?  No.  I don't even use my phone as it is- it's almost always off, so why do I need to spend hundreds of dollars on a fancy piece of electronics that I definitely don't need.  I don't.  But the world wants me to think I do.

Living a self-controlled life includes not having to have the latest and greatest of everything.  And I don't want this to come off like I'm sounding like I'm against having stuff.  I'm not, because stuff can make life more enjoyable- and God wants us to enjoy life.  But when that stuff consumes us, when that stuff becomes all we think about- that's what's wrong.   In fact, the verse above talks about how we're waiting for the blessed time when Jesus returns, and maybe that stuff can help pass some of that time in an enjoyable manner.  But we shouldn't hang onto that stuff like it is so important.  The only real important thing is Jesus.  Our thoughts should be on Him.  And then, when we get something, like I got that quilt rack the other day, all I could think about was how blessed I felt, and how cool it was that God worked it out to bless me in such an unexpected way.  And I also thought about how, as I get practice with quilting, how I could use that item to bless other people in turn.

I know plenty of people out there who subscribe to the ideas of many different financial gurus.  I have nothing against them either, but when someones mindset about money is all about whether Mr. Smart Money would let me buy such an item, we're thinking the wrong way completely.  Our thoughts should not be on Mr. Smart Money, our thoughts should be on God.  When we think on God, when we train our thoughts to go to Him, then the money thoughts also get easier.  When I am contemplating a bigger purchase, I don't think about what the financial people would say about that purchase, I think about what God would think about that purchase.  And what's even better, is that those financial people will never answer me personally about my question- but you know what?  God will.  God will answer me as I'm considering a purchase.  He will help make the purchase possible, or He will give me a firm feeling that I should pass something up.

I can't tell you how many times I've determined that I'm going to go shopping to just pick up a few things, and I really feel strongly that I need to stay home instead.  I know that's the Holy Spirit working to tell me that today is not the day to be spending.  Just because there's a great sale going on at one of my favorite stores does not mean that I need to be there shopping the sale.  Especially when there are other bills still to be paid.  There's always those too. 

In fact, we're trying so hard to break ourselves of the worldly desires for stuff, that we've embarked on a "no-spend month" for our family.  We'll pay bills,put gas in the vehicles, and buy groceries on a limited budget.  But other than that, we've determined not to buy anything for the month of September.  (Except for a rake for raking leaves, because we'll need that before the month is out, and we don't have one.)  Do you know how hard the actual practice of this is? Just yesterday I was thinking about a few things we could use, and then I had to remind myself that we're not spending.  God wants us to learn to do more without stuff.  And He wants us to share the stuff that we do have.  I honestly just wish we had more that was worth sharing.

If God can give His own son to redeem us from our own wickedness, the least we can do is go without a few things that we don't really need.  Our desire is that as we spend time not spending, and focusing on Him, that we will break the world right off of us, and that our mindset will become more like Christ. 

Warfare Wednesday

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground."  Psalm 143:10

Today is the day that we set aside each week and pray for President Obama and our country.  I almost feel like a broken record saying that, but it is fact, and I am actually a little proud of myself because I do continue to pray... so many people pray at the beginning of a presidency, and they pray when there are issues, but they don't make it a regular thing.  And it needs to be.  Our president and our country need our prayers daily- once a week isn't even enough.  This week while we pray for the safety of President Obama and his family, I really feel the need to pray that he will also seek and listen to Godly wisdom right now.  He is working on tax cuts and stimulus packages, and more than anything, I just think he needs to seek God's will, and see what God wants for this country.  And I pray that he listens.  I pray that he listens to men and women of God who may bend his ear for a few moments. 

I also feel this morning a strong need to pray for marriage in our country.  I guess I haven't really considered this a Warfare Wednesday topic before, but here it is anyway.  The fact is, marriage in our country is just not at all where it should be.  So many marriages end in divorce these days, as people just decide that it's time for something new- like a new pair of shoes or a new dress.  Yet marriage is something that God delicately designed to be between a man and a woman, and to give us a glimpse of the intimacy God desires for us to have with Him.  And yet marriage is treated so casually here, and even more so, there are other ideas of marriage that are becoming more and more mainstream.  I just saw this morning that a new reality TV show is being filmed and produced depicting the life of a polygamist family... really, that's what inspired this little bit of prayer this morning, because the fact that this is going to be on TV is scary.  It presents polygamy in a loving a normal manner.  It seems to say that its okay to have more than one wife... and it's just not.  It's not God's way for us at all. 

And so I pray this morning that God would strengthen marriages.  I pray that He would show those who are contemplating divorce and separation the way to reconcile and learn to love each other all over again.  I pray that television and movie media production would give the American people good examples of marriage.  And I pray that God would provide healing for those who maybe have been in a bad marriage situation.  And for those who are in a bad situation, I pray for supernatural intervention.  I pray that the Holy Spirit will change the hearts of those who would do harm in one way or another.  Most importantly though, I pray that love triumphs all.  I pray that Godly love and God will be the center of all marriages, and that through these unions, God will do some great and wonderful things.

Blessings Abound

"Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew 6:8

Did you ever take the time to marvel at all the incidences of coincidence in your life?  Guess what?  They're not coincidences.  Not even a little.  You know, those times where someone gives you something that you end up really needing, or you come across someone who has just the talent you need to complete a project.  God does that.  God is a beautiful orchestrator of perfect events in our lives.  I love it when He sees to a need before we even need it. 

Like the day that the kids and I stopped at the grocery store on the way home from church.  Basic, basic example here, but I went back and forth about the idea of stopping at the store.  We had enough lunch stuff at home, but we needed lunch fixings for the week for Andy, and I didn't want to have to squeeze in a grocery shopping trip later in the day.  So the kids and I stopped and picked up a few things.  Good thing, because we got home, and Andy had brought home lunch guests.  Had we not stopped, there would have been nothing on hand to prepare lunch for company.  God saw to that need before we knew we needed it.

I can't tell you how many times we've needed clothes for the kids, but I don't really know how badly we need them until I actually go through their closets.  Sure enough, God always sees fit to bless us with clothes for the kids, just as I need to go through their things.  And then, the blessing of clothes is even more appreciated, as the pile of clothing that doesn't fit gets bigger and bigger, the more things we pull out.  God is faithful every time!

Or the times where God has blessed Andy with an extra job to make a little extra money, and we're thrilled to have a little extra in our pockets when an unexpected expense comes along.  Sure, we're disappointed a little to not be able to do something fun with that extra, but it sure is a blessing to be able to afford a repair to a vehicle when it is needed, and not have to scrimp and save for a few weeks to manage the extra expense.

I've found that there are times where I will wake up in the morning and really feel rested.  I'll have gotten a great night's sleep and wake up feeling completely refreshed- only to have the day get crazy busy and when I look back and reflect on the day, I can see how God blessed me with the necessary rest to be able to make it through the busy day without feeling exhausted and out of energy.

God knows what we need before we ask Him.  While I've shared examples of times when God has provided before we even knew we needed it, there have also been times where what He has provided and what we thought we needed or wanted was not the same thing at all.   I know many times we've talked to God about finances and providing extra means of income for Andy, or some way for him to bring in a little extra.  We know God is faithful and will meet our needs, but often times God's answer is not our answer.  Keeps us on our toes I guess, because so many times, when we're in a bit of a financial pinch, that's when other things are coming in that actually help us to stretch our few dollars further.  Someone will give us a bag of groceries, or some books that I can use for school until I can afford the ones we actually want to use.  Or I'll look in the fridge or freezer, and not really see anything to prepare for a meal, and then just like that, God will bring something to mind that will use ingredients I already have on hand- so that we don't need the expense of running to the store.

I just love to think on all the different ways that God has provided for us without actually doing what we thought He would.  God ALWAYS knows what we need.  Always.  He knows us.  He knows us so well, and sometimes when someone has something in their possession that they offer to us- and we don't actually need it, I always think about it and wonder if that will be a need coming up, and this is God's way of making sure that we're ready for that need.  He is faithful to see that we're taken care of.  I especially love seeing God take care of a need that my children have- and know that they have so that they can see how God is faithful to provide. 

God is good, all the time.  His blessings abound over and over- sometimes I think we just need to refresh our minds and think on all the things He has done- and know that He will be faithful to us in every situation.

Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda

"This is what the LORD says—
       your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
       "I am the LORD your God,
       who teaches you what is best for you,
       who directs you in the way you should go.  ¹⁸ If only you had paid attention to my commands,
       your peace would have been like a river,
       your righteousness like the waves of the sea."  Isaiah 48:17-18

This morning I read verse seventeen here, and I thought, gee, that's a good verse.  Then I read it again a few times, and it just...it felt like it bolstered me a bit.  Especially the part where it says this:

       "I am the LORD your God,
       who teaches you what is best for you,
       who directs you in the way you should go."

Yes.  He is God- and He knows exactly what He wants for us- but it's up to us to not get smack dab in the way of what God wants for us.  Because then I read on to verse eighteen, and I just felt such a sense of remorse.  It begins with "if only" and then when you add more to it, it says "if only you had paid attention".  Oh my.  That it not something that I ever want to hear from God.  That is definitely not a conversation I hope to ever have with God.  One of those ones where you're hanging around, and God says, "remember that time that you had a decision to make, and you made that particular choice?"  And I say "why yes, God, I remember that well."  And then He says "If you'd have made the other choice, the next few years would have been much easier for you.  Why didn't you pay attention when I showed you that was the better choice?" No. I don't want to ever have that conversation.

The fact is, God is God.  And He is a loving and wonderful God, and He directs all our paths.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart
       and lean not on your own understanding; 
 ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight."  Proverbs 3:5-6

I find that when I am in a season of really seeking His direction, it's much easier to get answers if I really dig in for them.   Meaning, that when I am looking to God for direction, I can't just go about my day as normal.  I need to set aside precious time for Him.  More time than normal.  That's when the principle of fasting can come into play too.  Oh, I've done that.  While seeking direction, I've fasted in the past completely from reading anything that isn't my Bible.  While seeking direction, I've fasted from the internet for a time.  While seeking direction I've fasted from watching any TV or movies for a while.  All of that amounts to eliminating some of the things that may take my focus off of God.  When I spend more time in my Bible, and I spend more time in prayer and praise, I find that when the answers present themselves much more clearly.  And why is that?

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me."  John 10:27

The more time we spend in our Bibles, and quietly waiting on Him, the more we recognize His answers for us when they present themselves.  I won't go into the multitude of ways an answer could present itself, because God is God, and there are countless ways that could happen.  But the fact is, the more time you spend with Him, the more you do recognize when He is telling you something.  The more you pay attention, so that someday you don't have to have that conversation with God that begins with "If only..."

Because did you see what comes after the "If only you'd paid attention..."?  Look!  It says there could have been peace like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea.  Just put that mental picture into your head for a bit.  Peace like a river- soothing and wonderful.  Righteousness like the waves of the sea- tranquility and beauty that comes from within.  I want that.  And I want to pay attention at every step of the way- even when I'm not seeking some kind of direction.

Which brings me to this point.  If I can take the extra time when we're looking for direction and looking for answers- what stops me from this every day?  What stops me from carving out extra time?  I guess I don't know, and it's something to think about isn't it.  Because the last thing I want is for an unexpected decision to suddenly pop up in front of me, and I make a wrong choice right then and there because I think I would know what God would have me do.  No- I want to know what God would have me do.  I want that assurance that I know my Shepherd's voice, and I will know the correct path to take should the situation come upon us.

Dear Lord, I pray this morning for understanding and for a desire to know you more.  I pray this for every person who reads this message- whether that be today, next week, or years from now.  May an understanding and a deep desire to spend more time with you come upon all you read these words.  We love you, Jesus, and we want to know you more.  Thank you for your love that is never-ending and for your guidance that is always just a whisper away. Amen.

Needy Hospitality

"Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."  Romans 12:13

Share with God's people who are in need.  That sounds easy, doesn't it?  And yet, sometimes, in practicality, it's not quite that easy.   Often times, I think that when we hear about people in need- we get motivated to help, and to share, but first, we take our own inventory.  Let's say someone is in need of food.  Okay, we have food in the house, we can share.  But as we go through our shelves, our pantry and our freezer, we make sure that we still leave an ample supply for us here at home.  We make sure that we leave a few weeks worth of food in our storage spaces, and we give someone who is genuinely in need of food, the things that we don't favor as much.  Why do we do that?  Instead, we should be more generous and understanding.  If someone comes to me and says that they have no food in the house, I should do one of two things. 

One, I should empty my shelves and my fridge and freezer of fresh, unopened food.  I should give them as much as I can- because I have a God who supplies ALL my needs, and He will see what I am doing, and will replenish my stores when it is needed.  Or two, we should take this person and take them to the grocery store and fill up a grocery cart or two.  Or maybe just go grocery shopping and then surprise them with a trunk-load of groceries.   Both options are difficult for us to do sometimes.  We don't empty our own shelves and cupboards because that is security- that is food for the family should we need it.  And we don't go fill up grocery carts to give to someone else because that's an expensive venture these days.  A truly full grocery cart of just the basics will run around $120 dollars- depending on how much meat is in it.  I pray often that God will help us to see the need around us, and to provide the means so that we can help meet those needs.

I really believe that when the Bible tells us to share with those in need, it's telling us to share selflessly.  It's to share with love, to give more than it seems we can at the time.  And I also truly believe that when we do that, God sees that, and He will take care of us if the time would come to be the one in need.  Love does that.

But you know, there's a second part to this verse.  It also says to practice hospitality.  Ah, hospitality.  Welcoming guests into your home and making them feel right at home.  I honestly think that when Andy and I do practice hospitality, we do it well.  We love the actual act of having guests in our home for a meal and fellowship.  But you know, often times, we need to be prodded to actually offer the hospitality in the first place.  It is just so easy to get caught up in the every-day business of life, and not want to call someone up and invite them over for a meal.  It's also too easy to be jealous of our family time, and to not want to share what little time we have together with someone else.  I'll be honest here.  When we moved to this new community, one of the big reasons we wanted to was so that we could take advantage of the opportunity to fellowship more often.  But now that we're here, now that we've been here, we've only done that a small handful of times. 

It is a good reminder this morning to open up my Bible and see the words "Practice Hospitality" because it's a good reminder that we haven't been doing that.  And we need to.  More than that though, we want to.  We want to get to know people better and to show love to one another by welcoming friends into our homes and treating them like kings.  But maybe we've just been too caught up in busy-ness to remember that we do want to do that.  It's a new month here, and as I look up at our calendar, I see all kinds of empty space just begging to be filled with opportunities for hospitality.  May God keep that in our minds and bring people to mind to share hospitality with.

Such a simple verse this morning, with so much to say to us.  May we be mindful enough to share with those who are in need, and practice hospitality more often.

Warfare Wednesday: On Our Knees

"So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees."  1 Kings 18:42

I continue to pray for President Obama this week.  As our country creeps closer and closer to the time of elections, it seems that every other headline is criticising this person or that person- and even people in office who are not up for re-election at this time.  The emotions in this country are just not good at this time, and I really pray that President Obama will spend some time talking to God.  I pray that God will become real to him and that he will seek answers from the only one who has the answers.

As I read in 1 Kings this morning, I stumbled upon some truths that I am praying over our country.  This verse I posted above, shows the prophet bending down on his knees in supplication before God- for the benefit of the country he is in.   And God answered Elijah.  God sent the rain that hadn't fallen in years.

But before that, Elijah called upon the Lord, God and demonstrated before all the prophets of Baal, and King Ahab, who really is God.  God sent the fire down that consumed everything in its path- including water, and at the end of the demonstration, the people fell down and worshiped the one and true God.

"When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!" 1 Kings 18:39

May we, who have a heart for God, and for the United States of America, fall to our knees and petition the Lord God for peace and mercy on this country.  May God do something so awesome and powerful that our neighbors can do nothing except fall down themselves and worship Him.

But more than that, I'm praying for an Elijah.  I'm praying for a man of God to come alongside President Obama and help reveal the truths that are hiding from the president.  And may the president hear this person and find that God IS his God, as well as this country's God.

This week I am also praying for mercy.  Currently, Hurricane Earl is headed for the Carolina coasts, and I pray that God would weaken that storm and spare the people who live in that area.  It could turn in many directions and head for many different coastlines on the East Coast, and I pray for supernatural protection for those people who call that area home.  May God have mercy on that region of the country and spare them from serious harm and destruction of property.

Even Though...

"Though the fig tree does not bud
       and there are no grapes on the vines,
       though the olive crop fails
       and the fields produce no food,
       though there are no sheep in the pen
       and no cattle in the stalls,
 ¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
       I will be joyful in God my Savior."  Habakkuk 3:17-18

This verse this morning made me smile, and made me think of my gardening this year.  Learning to garden in a new space always has its challenges, but this year has been exceptionally so.  It's not been a good year at all for the garden.   As I take my walks through the yard, I look at the plants that bear no fruit, and the spaces where plants were, but rabbits ate them, and I could just shake my head and complain.  I could grumble about the garden- and I admit I do if people ask how the garden is.   But you know, despite all the vegetative carnage in my yard, I am still filled with incredible joy when I walk the yard.

There are still a few plants that are bearing fruit of some kind.  And even though my garden is doing terribly, I still thank God for the garden.  I thank Him for the ability I have to do the gardening, and I thank Him for the wisdom He is giving us to improve the yard and make gardening possible for next year.   More than once, I've found myself thinking the opposite.  When we first moved here, I was so excited about the yard and the blank slate it presented.   As time has gone on though, that excitement translated into realization as to just how much work was waiting for me out there.   And at least twice, I've caught myself wistfully thinking about what it would be like to have that country property where I can put up a big ole industrial strength electric fence... and then I've made myself stop thinking like that.

Because God put us exactly where He wanted us.  And He gave me a yard that needs my tough- it's just going to take some work.  I could re-write Habakkuk's verse to fit my situation, since no figs or olives grow in my yard.

Though the apple tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the bean crop completely fails
and the fields produce very little food,
though there are no pumpkins in the pen 
and no corn cobs on their stalks,


yet I will rejoice in the LORD
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Creation itself is such a joy.  Life is such a joy.  It seems like almost every day I am reminded that we need so little- and yet we have so much.  Daily I find great joy in my kids- in seeing the world through their eyes, and spending time with them delighting in the world that God created. Yes, it's a bummer my garden bites this year.  But I'll tell you what, it makes the produce that we do enjoy from the ground that much sweeter.  The other day the four of us very carefully divided the tiniest little cucumber from the garden.  It was a surprise to find out there.  It could very well be the only one we'll have this year, but oh, it was wonderful, and it made us all smile as we nibbled it up.  And when someone gives us a handful of homegrown tomatoes, we are able to delight in them greatly, as we wait for the few fruits we have to ripen.

God is so great to give us these little things to bring us joy.  But you know what?  Even without those little things, we would have great joy, because GOD is our joy.  Thinking on the Lord brings us great joy each and every day.  As we delight in His creation, and we delight in each other, and we delight in His words that He brings us every day from the Bible.  God is our supply, HE is all we need, and He is more than enough.

Greetings, Fellow Citizens

"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,"  Ephesians 2:19

Something wonderful happens when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  It's so much more than simply a warm, fuzzy feeling.  In fact, it's many wonderful somethings that happen.  When Jesus comes into our life- He literally saves us from an eternity of torment in the lake of fire.   Additionally, when we make Jesus number one in our life, we also transfer our citizenship from earth to heaven. 

I am reminded of our studies of American History.  How appropriate, since we start school back up this morning as soon as I'm done here.  :)  I love reading the stories of immigrants, and the trials and travels they had to go through to get to our country.  So many persevered through hard times, simply to get themselves and their families to the land of freedom and opportunity.  They came from all kinds of differing countries and backgrounds, but do you know what happened when they arrived on our shores and visited Ellis Island?  They became US citizens.  Former Russians, Germans, Indians, Kenyans, and Chinese all bore the similar title of United States Citizen- even though they may have been rooted elsewhere.  They obviously looked and acted nothing alike, but they became citizens- brothers in this new land.

In the exact same way, when we accept Christ as our Lord, we are granted citizenship in heaven, and as such, we also suddenly find ourselves with a whole new family.  As part of God's Household, we find ourselves with a hugely new family full of new brothers and sisters.  And every person who takes that step of faith is welcomed into this same family.  Think of that- not only are we now citizens of Heaven, but we are also united for all eternity.  Our brothers and sisters in that church down the road are just as much part of God's household as the church that we attend on a regular basis.

Unity in the church.  So often I think that when people think of the idea of unity in the church, they think that we all have to shed the various teachings and ideas that make us unique, so that we all become one big, united church under God.  But I think that unity is actually slightly different than that.  It's not even so much the idea of accepting our differences, but simply the act of loving one another.  Truly.  Think about our natural, human families.  I love my brothers and sisters all the time- no matter what.  Even during those times in our life where we think we don't like them all that much, underneath, there is always love, connecting us one-with-another, no matter the circumstances or where we are in life.  The family model is a model for us as citizens of Heaven.  We are to love each other- no matter what.  We are to show love to one another- we bear each others burdens, and we lift each other up in prayer.  Unity is love.  It isn't all of our different churches uniting together and becoming one in theology and doctrine and whatnot.  It's simply loving each other, and then! (There's a really cool then!) Then, when we have learned to love each other- no matter what, we can turn to our unchurched neighborhoods and show them the exact same love.  That love will draw them in.

Really.  When the unchurched and the unsaved can look at their community and see all the different churches loving each other- instead of competing for membership or criticizing each other, it will draw them in.  Love will save our communities and our neighborhoods.  All because we showed love.  The love that was naturally placed inside of us when we accepted Christ as our Savior.  The same love that ties us all together as citizens of Heaven, is the same love that will bring peace and unity to the human race.  We just need to learn to love one another- just as Jesus commanded us.

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31

You Are Beautiful

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. ⁴Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."  1 Peter 3:3-4

I think that sometimes we get too focused on the outside.  I've seen these verses quoted over and over in the arena of telling people that the Bible says that we shouldn't wear jewelry or nice things.  That's silliness.  But when you really look at it, he isn't saying at all not to wear adornments.  But what he is saying is that beauty does not come from the decorations.  Beauty comes from within- the very beauty that emanates from our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives inside each and every one of us.

Oh, just think about this for a second- what a delightful picture to start my day with!  When Moses was on the mountain, spending time with God, he began to glow.  His face literally glowed from being in the presence of God- so much so, that he had to put a veil over his face when he came down the mountain.  Look! It says he was radiant!

"When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴ But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,"  Exodus 34:32-34

We don't have to wear a veil anymore.  Jesus came and made the ultimate sacrifice just for us, and in the process removed the veil.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit"  2 Corinthians 3:18

Each and every one of us who has accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior has Him dwelling inside of us- which means that we are radiant from the inside.   Sometimes we just fail to see it.  Sometimes we look in the mirror, or we watch the latest shows that tell us how to make ourselves beautiful, and the devil tells us such grand lies.  He tells us that we're ugly, or that our closet doesn't carry the latest fashions, so we think we will look dowdy as we walk out of the house.  He tells us that we're not good enough, and when we listen enough times, we maybe start to feel that way, and we shrink back.

But I'm here to say today that I AM beautiful!  And more importantly, YOU are beautiful.  You are beautiful because you are radiant from the inside.

Consider the snowflake.  God made snowflakes in such a unique way that there are no two on the earth that look alike.  Think about that- how many snowflakes does it take to fill a mountaintop- and no two are identical.  When we take the time to look at and examine snowflakes, we never, ever call them ugly.  No, really, think about that- no one ever looks at a snowflake and says "boy, that is one ugly snowflake."   Every snowflake is beautiful and unique and exquisitely made.

In the same way, YOU are exquisitely made.  You are a precious bauble that God has made just so, and He loves every single thing about you.  God thinks you are the most beautiful thing that He has ever made- and there isn't a single human being that God looks down on and says they are ugly.  They are all beautiful- but I think some even more so, because they have activated the Jesus that is inside of them.  Every human being on earth has the potential to glow for Jesus- but it isn't until that moment of asking Him into our lives that we activate Him- like flipping a switch in our DNA that says "glow for Jesus"!

There's nothing wrong with adding a few pieces of jewelry, styling hair, or wearing a touch of cosmetics on the face.  But if we think it's those things that make us beautiful, we're not really understanding where beauty comes from.  The old saying says that beauty comes from within, and that is so true- it comes from within, but it also comes from above.  God thinks you are the most beautiful being He has ever created- and He wanted you to know that today.

To Be Content

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹²I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:11-13

These verses have been on my mind for a few days.  I just keep thinking about what it would be like to be completely content, as Paul writes here in Philippians.   I do consider myself a fairly content person.  We stroll from walk in life to walk in life, taking things as they come in stride, but at the same time, there is the part of me that is always looking ahead.  We're always looking for that next paycheck, that next event, that next big thing, because maybe we're sure that's going to be THE thing.  Last week, and this week, actually, I think I'm getting a little of a taste of being content, because I've really been feeling it in my spirit.  I'm not sure if I can really explain what I'm feeling, but maybe I'll try.

Every once in a while I get these thoughts that are almost of inadequacy.  I say almost, because it's maybe more of a thought that I could be doing more than I am.  It's not the lack of a career or anything, but as I spend each and every day with my kids and my home, I get these thoughts that maybe there is more I should be doing than what I am. More so when I read things or hear things about other women who stay  home with their kids, host Bible studies, teach Sunday School, volunteer one or two days a week, and then still find time to go get their hair done or go out with the girls.  There are days where it takes everything I have simply to get the laundry done, and those are the days where maybe the devil tries to get at me and tells me that I'm not good enough.

But the last two weeks, there's been a shift in my thinking.  That's the best I can describe it.  I really noticed it the most yesterday, I think, as I set about the mundane everyday task of preparing lunch for my kids.  It wasn't even anything exciting, a simple assembly of grilled cheese, yogurt and chips, but as I assembled these plates, I just had this overwhelming sense of contentedness.  Like, this is exactly what I am supposed to be doing, and it fills me with incredible pleasure to simply feed my children lunch.   I can't say I ever felt that way about lunch before, except perhaps those days where I surprise the kids with something special for lunch, or with something unexpected, like a lunch at a restaurant.  My everyday this week has just felt so right and so...good.  We're going to be starting school back up next week, and that just feels right too.  As I've been planning and purchasing, everything has slowly come together, and I am completely expectant that this feeling will carry over into next week, and the beginning of our school year will be absolutely wonderful.

When I read these verses by Paul, I catch where he says that he has learned to be content in any and every situation.  That's what I strive for.  I may be content right here, and right now, but what about a few days from now?  What about a few months from now?  What if there is a major change or shift- will I be content?   I pray that I will be, because if I can focus on God, who gives me strength for all things, I too, can be content wherever I am.

Warfare Wednesday

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."  Philippians 4;6

I have to confess, I forgot it was Wednesday this morning.  I was focusing on some verses in the Bible, thinking on them, thinking on what I might find to say about them this morning, and then I remembered it was Wednesday.  Oh, yes!  we need to pray for our country this week!  We need to pray for President Obama and his family, and Vice President Biden and his family.  And we need to pray for all the elections going on in our country.  Regardless of who is running, may God win the votes.  May the men and women who will best represent God in their respective offices be the ones who are elected into position.

I also want to do some praising this morning, because God is good all the time!  I just read a little news article about a new discovery in the Gulf of Mexico.  Imagine that, a new microbe has been discovered that actually eats oil, and it flourishes in cold, deep waters where oil spills are most likely.  Praise God for His creation! And praise God for His merciful answer to the prayers that have been prayed for a miraculous answer to the devastating gulf oil spill.  God's delightful answer is a new creation that will eat the oil without affecting the integrity of the gulf waters. How wonderful and awesome is that!

But I also want to pray this morning for finances.  It just doesn't seem like this country can get it going in the right direction as far as finances go.  The different tax cuts and incentives in the long run just aren't helping.  As more and more people are forced to tighten their spending, it's going to get more and more difficult for people in our nation.  One of the bills that is going before the House of Representatives once the August recess is over is a bill to increase funding for school nutrition.  On the surface, the program sounds wonderful- it's an initiative to remove junk from school cafeterias and increase the nutritional benefits by serving healthier foods.  It also will allow more children to qualify for reduced price or free lunches- ensuring that poor children at least get healthy food while they are at school.  This is an issue I really support and am so grateful that First Lady Michelle Obama has championed it.  Except that some of the funding for this program comes at the expense of another program.  The food stamp program, which already doesn't provide enough funds for poor families will take a hit and those who receive food stamp aid will receive less. 

Yesterday I went grocery shopping because we were out of some basic necessities.  As we shopped, I also added a few things to put in my pantry- stocking up for the winter months where sometimes I just don't want to go out, or we are really watching our budget.  And I thought about how many people can't even do that.  How many people can't simply add just a few extra items to their cart every week to have as a back-up for in a time of need.  How many people don't think to add just a few things to take to a food pantry or a food bank, where hungry people get some desperate assistance.   In a country where so many people are fighting diseases that are a result from over-consumption, it's completely ironic that there are so many who go to bed hungry at night.  I sure wish that I knew the answer.   I find myself praying often that God would touch those who are hungry.  May He fill their bellies with manna, and send an angel to provide food for their tables.  Hunger is just not something that anyone should have to experience.  Ever.

As I think about these things this morning, it can be really easy for me to get anxious.  I realize this is Wednesday when we pray for our country, but I find that this verse above is very applicable to the things that I'm writing about this morning.  The issues that are very real in this country are very real in my own backyard.  I mentioned that I put those extra groceries in my cart, but the reality is that I was thinking about the months to come, and thinking about the time of year that Andy is usually laid off, and it made me a little concerned to think about the pantry and the freezer that we worked so hard to empty before moving in the spring.   And we haven't had the opportunity to re-fill.  Finances have been short, and it's been a trial of trusting God to provide, and not trying to rely on ourselves to meet our needs.   God always has the answer.  Whether it's a friend with a bag of groceries, or a few coupons to help stretch the grocery budget.  I need to remind myself sometimes of the very thing I posted above.  God is good.  All the time.

He Hears, Even When We Don't Cry

"I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.   Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live."  Psalm 116:1-2

God really blessed me yesterday.  It's a simple thing, a trivial thing almost, but it's amazing how one simple phone call that you weren't expecting can just totally turn into a blessing.  

Our new dance year started this week for the kids.  We actually have classes year-round, but after a week off last week, this is the first week of the new school year for dance.  Every year it seems we add more and more to our plate as far as dance goes.  The more Abigail has been in dance, the more we really feel that this is a path that God has her on for a time.  This year, she is up to five different classes, and it's been a bit of a challenge to get all those classes bundled into just two nights a week- reducing the amount of time we're at the dance school.  But then this year, Zander started dance too.  He's been having such a blast over the summer with his dance class, that I knew we made the right decision to let him decide if and when he ever wanted to take dance. But his class, really, the only one we wanted for him, was on an evening we were already busy with church. 

It was kind of a sacrifice moment.  Not that we needed to sacrifice one activity for another, because they were both at different times, but it meant a night of craziness for us.  Going to dance, rushing home to eat dinner, and then rushing off to get to church in time for the mid-week service.  Skipping church was never an option, we really feel that the kids get their best teachings on Wednesday night, coupled with enough activities that they don't actually know they are learning important things.  It's great.  As the summer went on, and we adjusted to this new schedule of back-and-forth, I just kind of accepted that this was our new normal.

I wasn't crazy about the new normal, and kind of lamented in my head that there wasn't another night that Zander's dance class was offered.  But I never said a word to anyone, and I know how much work goes into making the schedules at the dance school, so I didn't feel like I wanted to ask about another class and cause more work for the owners. 

But yesterday afternoon, I got a phone call from the dance school.  They had so many kids interested in Zander's class for fall, that they decided to add another one on a different night of the week, and were we interested in switching.  I was hesitant at first, admittedly.  Our schedule was set in my mind, and the night we would be switching to is truly our only free night of the week- I was kind of protective of it.  But as our conversation went on, I got more and more excited, and by the end of the phone call, I'd switched Zander's class to the new night.  As I hung up the phone, all I could do was giggle, because I knew that God had just blessed me.  Not just me, but our whole family, as our Wednesday night just became so much more enjoyable and relaxed.

I kind of sat on that idea all yesterday afternoon.  Isn't it just like God to answer our prayers when we haven't really even made a request?  I saw this verse this morning, and I thought about how that could have been me in another few months.  As the snow will eventually start flying, and I could just see myself getting more and more tense about all this driving back-and-forth stuff.  That would have been me, crying out to God for mercy as we lived out this crazy schedule that we made for ourselves.  And now it's a non-issue.  God looked at our situation, and just knew how much it would bless us to have Zander's class on a different night, and He set things into motion to make it happen.  God knew how much this would delight me!  I love thinking about that.  This may seem like such a simple, basic thing, but it really speaks volumes to me that God does care about our every day.  He does care about something as simple as how busy our week is, and He can change things up just because it will make us happy for it to be changed up.

So if God will answer the prayers we have not prayed even, how much more will He answer our genuine prayers- our cries for mercy.  What a thought this morning. What a great thought, that we can call on God all the days of our lives, and He hears us- even when we don't call.  I love Him so much.