That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:45
I'm not sure about you, but I love the rain! Living here in Texas has been a bit of a challenge in that department this past summer! We were wracked with a severe drought, it got so bad we could only water our lawns one day every other week! The dryness was suffocating to me, a person who was born in the rain, well at least I'm sure I was, because it rains nearly everyday in Ketchikan, Alaska! I remember a month ago it began raining outside very hard, and it was at night when my family was sleeping, so I went out in it, and just got soaked, it felt so good on my dry skin...
This verse is referring to troubles, everyone has them, trials, hardships, loss, hurt, whether you are a Christian or not, they will come your way! I was thinking on this verse the other day, and I realized something though, the unjust are just in the "rain" without any hope of protection, it's them against the world, but as a Christian we have hope, Jesus is our "umbrella, oh we still face the same things, but He gives us His promises, His protection. When you are out in a rainstorm even if you are using an umbrella you are still gonna get a little wet, because it'll only protect you so much, but you definitely won't be as soaked as someone without one!
Recently I saw of a video of a funeral for a very young man who had left this world due to cancer, sad? Yes, but what moved my heart the most was his wife was dancing in the spirit at her husband's funeral...she was dancing in the rain! The rain was pouring down on her, but she danced through it, God wants us to dance in the rain! When these hard times comes if we will dance we will realize God ALWAYS has a reason for each drop of rain that falls on us! Over and over this goes through my mind, these trials are not only for me, but for someone else too, think about the impact it'll have on someone when they see you dancing in the rain that is falling? What a difference it makes in you too, that rain begins to feel good on your spirit, because growth comes with that rain!
My friends, mark it down, the rain will come, but just make up your mind that no matter what you are only going to dance....
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Circles have to be my favorite!
There are times when God will do something that just causes me to take a step back and survey His greatness...
When I was 10 I lived in Ketchikan, Alaska, it was a rough time for me, we had just lost my little brother and my parents' marriage also folded under that pressure, don't worry, this blog is not about my suffering, I am just setting a scene. I was a kid that was broken down by circumstances, but you know I loved basketball! I would go to Valley Park elementary school and shoot hoops with my uncle, it was there that the light came into my life...his name was Brother Glover, well His name is Jesus, but the Jesus I saw was him! He let me know I mattered, he invited my family to church, and it was there in that little home church I first heard the gospel. God really stepped in there, but what I keep looking at is, I was born in Southeast Alaska..I love Southeast Alaska, now God is sending Brad & I to Southeast Alaska to Pastor! My mind has tried to wrap itself around that, but it is a big concept in the human mind. The benefits that He has given through this are, being near my Mom again, and Brother Glover will be doing our installation service! It is just so fitting, God wrapped that gift right up, even put a beautiful bow on top!
The saying goes, All things come full circle, well, I must say circles are definately my favorite!
When I was 10 I lived in Ketchikan, Alaska, it was a rough time for me, we had just lost my little brother and my parents' marriage also folded under that pressure, don't worry, this blog is not about my suffering, I am just setting a scene. I was a kid that was broken down by circumstances, but you know I loved basketball! I would go to Valley Park elementary school and shoot hoops with my uncle, it was there that the light came into my life...his name was Brother Glover, well His name is Jesus, but the Jesus I saw was him! He let me know I mattered, he invited my family to church, and it was there in that little home church I first heard the gospel. God really stepped in there, but what I keep looking at is, I was born in Southeast Alaska..I love Southeast Alaska, now God is sending Brad & I to Southeast Alaska to Pastor! My mind has tried to wrap itself around that, but it is a big concept in the human mind. The benefits that He has given through this are, being near my Mom again, and Brother Glover will be doing our installation service! It is just so fitting, God wrapped that gift right up, even put a beautiful bow on top!
The saying goes, All things come full circle, well, I must say circles are definately my favorite!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
The Sod Cemetery
The Sod Cemetery
My question for you today is, is the enemy truly defeated in your life?
There is a tradition that the Florida state Seminole football team has, it started in 1962, after they defeated Georgia 18-0 they brought back a piece of the sod from Georgia’s football field, and that tradition continues today, when FSU wins a game on the road as underdogs they bring a piece of sod back home to their practice field where they bury that sod in the “Sod cemetery.” .It may sound crazy to some, but as a football fan myself it could almost be a motivating thing, especially for longtime fans of FSU.
God truly loves the underdog! David was looked at as small, not very valuable to the common onlooker, but with his faith and trust in God, he defeated a giant that had terrorized Israel, and those bigger guys were scared of him, they had forgotten what God could do! At the time of Goliath’s slaying, David had already killed a lion and a bear, with God’s help!
Then there is Gideon, he fought a great army with 300 men! Talk about underdogs!! I really believe God wants us to have the “underdog mentality” there is just a difference there, when a team or person is told over and over the feat they want to accomplish just can’t be done, that “underdog mentality” takes over, almost possesses them to the point where they know they will accomplish it! I’m not saying God wants us to walk around with a defeated attitude, only the attitude of realizing we are nothing without Him, we need Him to have our back and fight along with us!
Is FSU taking it too far, well that’s up to you to decide, but the thing that I see there that just stuck with me is the sod cemetery gives them proof that they are winners, when the games aren’t going so great, maybe the victories just aren’t coming for the team, they can go there and remember..
I think we should have a “Sod cemetery” in our lives too! We need to take a piece of every enemy we defeat to the cemetery so we can remember and celebrate the victories God has brought our way! The FSU football teams also make a marker for each sod grave with the opponent, score and date of the game. I think the reason we could benefit from this is because we all have days when we fall and feel defeated, but that is where that “Underdog mentality” will take over, because you see the underdog never gives up, they are never defeated, in their minds they will win that game! We need to grasp that attitude, and purpose in our hearts that through God we are the winners and because He is so big, we will never be defeated! We need to visit Calvary daily, because that day in time Jesus pulled off the biggest upset the world had ever or will ever see!
It’s funny…you can even learn something from a game called football….God is ever teaching us, if only we will pay attention!
My question for you today is, is the enemy truly defeated in your life?
There is a tradition that the Florida state Seminole football team has, it started in 1962, after they defeated Georgia 18-0 they brought back a piece of the sod from Georgia’s football field, and that tradition continues today, when FSU wins a game on the road as underdogs they bring a piece of sod back home to their practice field where they bury that sod in the “Sod cemetery.” .It may sound crazy to some, but as a football fan myself it could almost be a motivating thing, especially for longtime fans of FSU.
God truly loves the underdog! David was looked at as small, not very valuable to the common onlooker, but with his faith and trust in God, he defeated a giant that had terrorized Israel, and those bigger guys were scared of him, they had forgotten what God could do! At the time of Goliath’s slaying, David had already killed a lion and a bear, with God’s help!
Then there is Gideon, he fought a great army with 300 men! Talk about underdogs!! I really believe God wants us to have the “underdog mentality” there is just a difference there, when a team or person is told over and over the feat they want to accomplish just can’t be done, that “underdog mentality” takes over, almost possesses them to the point where they know they will accomplish it! I’m not saying God wants us to walk around with a defeated attitude, only the attitude of realizing we are nothing without Him, we need Him to have our back and fight along with us!
Is FSU taking it too far, well that’s up to you to decide, but the thing that I see there that just stuck with me is the sod cemetery gives them proof that they are winners, when the games aren’t going so great, maybe the victories just aren’t coming for the team, they can go there and remember..
I think we should have a “Sod cemetery” in our lives too! We need to take a piece of every enemy we defeat to the cemetery so we can remember and celebrate the victories God has brought our way! The FSU football teams also make a marker for each sod grave with the opponent, score and date of the game. I think the reason we could benefit from this is because we all have days when we fall and feel defeated, but that is where that “Underdog mentality” will take over, because you see the underdog never gives up, they are never defeated, in their minds they will win that game! We need to grasp that attitude, and purpose in our hearts that through God we are the winners and because He is so big, we will never be defeated! We need to visit Calvary daily, because that day in time Jesus pulled off the biggest upset the world had ever or will ever see!
It’s funny…you can even learn something from a game called football….God is ever teaching us, if only we will pay attention!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Packaging
Last night I was wrapping up a gift I made for a baby shower when I realized I didn't really have any nice gift bags, I had a Happy birthday one and a bright yellow one, so of course I had to go with the yellow, I got out some stickers and ribbon and Presto...an acceptable gift bag...well kinda!
I started thinking about packaging, our packaging. In the great scope of things does our "packaging" really matter? Does it matter if we are thin, heavy, short, tall, quiet, or loud? I feel like God was telling me in my frustration about the less than perfect gift bag, that the gift is really what matters anyways...the gift of God in us! You may be like me, we feel less than acceptable a lot, you suffer breakouts, your weight goes up and down, you lose your temper with your kids, you lack enough self confidence...etc etc. Remember the gift is all that matters! I personally feel self confidence is really God confidence , He will finish the work He started in you! Don't be so caught up in the packaging, realize God has put many gifts in you so use them in this world, and make a difference with them!
I started thinking about packaging, our packaging. In the great scope of things does our "packaging" really matter? Does it matter if we are thin, heavy, short, tall, quiet, or loud? I feel like God was telling me in my frustration about the less than perfect gift bag, that the gift is really what matters anyways...the gift of God in us! You may be like me, we feel less than acceptable a lot, you suffer breakouts, your weight goes up and down, you lose your temper with your kids, you lack enough self confidence...etc etc. Remember the gift is all that matters! I personally feel self confidence is really God confidence , He will finish the work He started in you! Don't be so caught up in the packaging, realize God has put many gifts in you so use them in this world, and make a difference with them!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Scars that change us...
When I was 12 I went bike riding with some friends, and about half way through our ride I crashed my bike, the result was two black eyes and a face that was a huge scab on one side, and to this day I still have a scar above my left eye! Not a happy memory, but I started thinking about that this morning, and began thinking what about the "good" scars, the ones that change our very being? I thought of soldiers who fight to defend our freedom...many of them come back from war with scars, ones they are proud to sport, knowing they received them defending this beautiful country! I thought about stretch marks...beauty at its best, without those marks you wouldn't have one of the things you cherish most...children! If we could take a peek at the hearts of people around us we would see scars on each of them, yes and a lot of those experiences have been hard ones, sickness, death, violation, brokenness, loneliness, depression, the list goes on and on! I want you for one second to look at it this way, those scars have changed you, and we can dwell on the hardship of each one or we can turn those things around to change so we are able to help others, after all that is why God allowed those scars to come, in them is born empathy, compassion, understanding, forgiveness, long suffering and love.
When a Gardener plants his crop it doesn't just magically appear in a matter of hours or days, it takes time and work, those plants have to endure rain, wind, and intense sunshine, but in the end they grow and produce fruit. These scars are one way God produces the fruit of the spirit in our lives.
Our humanness needs to be changed in order for God to perform through us that which we are called to do! Next time you see those scars, and feel the memories of the pain remember God is perfecting us, and trying to use those scars to change us..
When a Gardener plants his crop it doesn't just magically appear in a matter of hours or days, it takes time and work, those plants have to endure rain, wind, and intense sunshine, but in the end they grow and produce fruit. These scars are one way God produces the fruit of the spirit in our lives.
Our humanness needs to be changed in order for God to perform through us that which we are called to do! Next time you see those scars, and feel the memories of the pain remember God is perfecting us, and trying to use those scars to change us..
Friday, September 11, 2009
Faith...it's a muscle!
Hebrews 11:1 tell us;
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
I have always loved that verse, I mean really who doesn't? When I looked at it today though something jumped off the page at me, in the margins of my Bible it tells what each highlighted word means, well in this passage substance and evidence are those highlighted words. Out of curiosity I took a little bit of time to look at each word and saw something I have never seen!
When I looked at the meaning of substance it means, realization, and evidence means conviction, so the verse could read this way;
Now faith is the realization of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. In the dictionary the word substance means, the actual matter of a thing as opposed to the appearance or shadow, reality. The word evidence means; something that makes plain or clear: an indication or sign. I know this stuff is a bit boring, but I promise we are going somewhere with this! Basically we need to have a "light bulb" moment where faith is concerned, we need to realize the reality of the things we are wanting to come to pass...speaking of lights, I feel like it is an indictment on me when I have more faith in a light bulb working than I do in a move of God! We don't worry or wonder about electricity, yet we will bite off all of our nails or get an ulcer wondering if God will.....
A conviction, is a cause of sorts, people who have a conviction regarding something do not fall over and play dead when someone challenges them, they stand strong on the proverbial "soap box." We need to stand that way on those hopes, and dreams, the lost family or friends, or that promotion...whatever it is!
When we lived in Florida there were military members there who jumped out of airplanes regularly, well on one such day a young soldier jumped out of a plane to find out his parachute was not going to open! After falling 13,000 feet he landed in a field flat on his back, shattering every single bone in his body! The crazy thing is, he survived that fall with not one single compound fracture, the doctors said the reason he was able to survive was because his muscle mass was so strong it acted as a cushion to his fall, and kept his bones from coming out of the skin! That same man a year later was jumping out of planes again! There are going to be times in your walk with God that you will free fall not knowing whether your "parachute" will open, and honestly there will be times that it won't and you will land flat on your back, at these times though your faith will be the muscle that cushions your fall, you may lose your stability, but those muscles will be there for support, and when the time is right you will be back doing what God has ordained you to do! Use your faith, come to the realization that the evidence is all there the things you have been asking for are already done, and when challenged use positive words and attitudes to stand on the conviction of those answered prayers! I want to leave you with one last thing, going back to the word substance, it means reality, it isn't a shadow or a false front , it is your reality, the reality is God said "Whatsoever you ask in my name, that will I do!" That means to me, God won't or isn't holding a carrot in front of us only to let us down, faith in God is never wasted...
And that my friend, Is Reality!
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
I have always loved that verse, I mean really who doesn't? When I looked at it today though something jumped off the page at me, in the margins of my Bible it tells what each highlighted word means, well in this passage substance and evidence are those highlighted words. Out of curiosity I took a little bit of time to look at each word and saw something I have never seen!
When I looked at the meaning of substance it means, realization, and evidence means conviction, so the verse could read this way;
Now faith is the realization of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. In the dictionary the word substance means, the actual matter of a thing as opposed to the appearance or shadow, reality. The word evidence means; something that makes plain or clear: an indication or sign. I know this stuff is a bit boring, but I promise we are going somewhere with this! Basically we need to have a "light bulb" moment where faith is concerned, we need to realize the reality of the things we are wanting to come to pass...speaking of lights, I feel like it is an indictment on me when I have more faith in a light bulb working than I do in a move of God! We don't worry or wonder about electricity, yet we will bite off all of our nails or get an ulcer wondering if God will.....
A conviction, is a cause of sorts, people who have a conviction regarding something do not fall over and play dead when someone challenges them, they stand strong on the proverbial "soap box." We need to stand that way on those hopes, and dreams, the lost family or friends, or that promotion...whatever it is!
When we lived in Florida there were military members there who jumped out of airplanes regularly, well on one such day a young soldier jumped out of a plane to find out his parachute was not going to open! After falling 13,000 feet he landed in a field flat on his back, shattering every single bone in his body! The crazy thing is, he survived that fall with not one single compound fracture, the doctors said the reason he was able to survive was because his muscle mass was so strong it acted as a cushion to his fall, and kept his bones from coming out of the skin! That same man a year later was jumping out of planes again! There are going to be times in your walk with God that you will free fall not knowing whether your "parachute" will open, and honestly there will be times that it won't and you will land flat on your back, at these times though your faith will be the muscle that cushions your fall, you may lose your stability, but those muscles will be there for support, and when the time is right you will be back doing what God has ordained you to do! Use your faith, come to the realization that the evidence is all there the things you have been asking for are already done, and when challenged use positive words and attitudes to stand on the conviction of those answered prayers! I want to leave you with one last thing, going back to the word substance, it means reality, it isn't a shadow or a false front , it is your reality, the reality is God said "Whatsoever you ask in my name, that will I do!" That means to me, God won't or isn't holding a carrot in front of us only to let us down, faith in God is never wasted...
And that my friend, Is Reality!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
lost..
You know what drives me crazy? Losing things! I will literally freak out over a lost paper or shoe...
Yesterday, one of my dear children could not find the match to any of her shoes, she was getting ready for school, and her dad was not so patiently waiting on her ( again)...with everything I could muster I spoke calmly to her when I told her, "When you get home you will locate every pair of shoes you have!" So, I sent her off to school in a pair of Croc-like shoes, knowing they weren't looked upon highly by the school. I know in your mind you are like so? Hang on though, I can prove to you a lost shoe really has much to do with God and our lives.
Before we knew God we were so lost, but God looked upon on as a very valuable thing, worth searching for! You see when God is not living in us we are missing a part of our heart, I tell my kids it is a key shape, because only God can open our hearts!
After I freak out about the loss of something I look back and realize the importance of losing something material is of no real value, but oh to lose your soul and be lost for eternity...what sadness! We need to hold the same attitude towards lost souls as we do when we lose a piece of paper, because I know I'll search and search until it's found, God did with us, so why not them?
Yesterday, one of my dear children could not find the match to any of her shoes, she was getting ready for school, and her dad was not so patiently waiting on her ( again)...with everything I could muster I spoke calmly to her when I told her, "When you get home you will locate every pair of shoes you have!" So, I sent her off to school in a pair of Croc-like shoes, knowing they weren't looked upon highly by the school. I know in your mind you are like so? Hang on though, I can prove to you a lost shoe really has much to do with God and our lives.
Before we knew God we were so lost, but God looked upon on as a very valuable thing, worth searching for! You see when God is not living in us we are missing a part of our heart, I tell my kids it is a key shape, because only God can open our hearts!
After I freak out about the loss of something I look back and realize the importance of losing something material is of no real value, but oh to lose your soul and be lost for eternity...what sadness! We need to hold the same attitude towards lost souls as we do when we lose a piece of paper, because I know I'll search and search until it's found, God did with us, so why not them?
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Something that has been on my mind for quite awhile is the question, Are we worshipping worship, or the Creator?
Let me start by saying I am a very outward worshipper, always have been, always will be! I love to jump, dance, run, sing and clap my hands! My concern is do we realize how great our God is? Are we running, dancing, singing and clapping because He is that great? Or are we just going through those motions, because "we are supposed" to be that way? There is a song I love called, "The Motions", very touching song, there is a line that talks about looking back at your life realizing you've gone through the motions..wow! I so don't want that to be me! I want to worship my King, because He is the Alpha & Omega, and because the fullness dwells in Him! If we danced, sang or whatever every minute of everyday for our entire life, He still wouldn't be lifted up enough! Isn't that an awesome thought? He is that wonderful, yet He chose us to love Him and worship Him! Everyday that I live I just want to fall at His feet, not because I only love the worship, but because I love so much the one that causes to want to worship, because He is worthy beyond words!!
Let me start by saying I am a very outward worshipper, always have been, always will be! I love to jump, dance, run, sing and clap my hands! My concern is do we realize how great our God is? Are we running, dancing, singing and clapping because He is that great? Or are we just going through those motions, because "we are supposed" to be that way? There is a song I love called, "The Motions", very touching song, there is a line that talks about looking back at your life realizing you've gone through the motions..wow! I so don't want that to be me! I want to worship my King, because He is the Alpha & Omega, and because the fullness dwells in Him! If we danced, sang or whatever every minute of everyday for our entire life, He still wouldn't be lifted up enough! Isn't that an awesome thought? He is that wonderful, yet He chose us to love Him and worship Him! Everyday that I live I just want to fall at His feet, not because I only love the worship, but because I love so much the one that causes to want to worship, because He is worthy beyond words!!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Plateaus
I have been on Weight watchers for 24 weeks now, and right now I'm experiencing my first plateau, partly because of my own doing, I must admit! The frustration level that is associated with these plateaus is very high! It got me thinking about walking with God, we can be even more frustrated by spiritual plateaus, but I look at it this way, it can be a time when God is trying to level us out and get us back on track! This week I have started back on my program, getting myself back on track, letting go of that junk food, I love so much!
I love God, and the way He does things is just perfect, He sets our feet on the rock to stay, plateaus in the spirit are just times of waiting on God, seeking direction or just to grow in Him...so I say thank you God for plateaus, in the spirit at least, not so sure about where weight is concerned though....I'll think more about that for awhile!
I love God, and the way He does things is just perfect, He sets our feet on the rock to stay, plateaus in the spirit are just times of waiting on God, seeking direction or just to grow in Him...so I say thank you God for plateaus, in the spirit at least, not so sure about where weight is concerned though....I'll think more about that for awhile!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Back to school
Unbelievably it is already that time again! Back to school....
Tonight we went out to get the last few things for the BIG day..shoes, clothes, backpacks..When Joshua tried on his new tennis shoes he ran all over the house, declaring his new shoes were helping to run faster than before! It took me back to my school days, I remember challenging neighborhood kids to races in my "new" shoes! Just something about those new shoes, they just seemed to transport me to a new place, a place where I reigned supreme in running, which of course was not true!
I love the newness of back to school..the excitement in my kids and the sadness I feel each year as I send them off with new clothes and freshly sharpened pencils..another step closer to independence! This time of year helps me cherish them and causes me to hold them closer...It encourages me to make our memories count!
Tonight we went out to get the last few things for the BIG day..shoes, clothes, backpacks..When Joshua tried on his new tennis shoes he ran all over the house, declaring his new shoes were helping to run faster than before! It took me back to my school days, I remember challenging neighborhood kids to races in my "new" shoes! Just something about those new shoes, they just seemed to transport me to a new place, a place where I reigned supreme in running, which of course was not true!
I love the newness of back to school..the excitement in my kids and the sadness I feel each year as I send them off with new clothes and freshly sharpened pencils..another step closer to independence! This time of year helps me cherish them and causes me to hold them closer...It encourages me to make our memories count!
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