Always Be Prepared...

Ehud - It Will Kill

2019-02-25T04:59:00.000-05:00

Judges 3:16-17 Now Ehud made for himself a sword a cubit long, which had two edges, and he bound it on his right thigh under his robe.17 And he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.

Have you ever watched the show "Forged in Fire"? It's a reality competition show where competitors make knives and they see who makes the best one. There are many rules: The time frame in which to complete the task, the metal they have to use, the type of knife they must create - and then when it's all said and done, the expert judges test the knives to see how well they are built. If you have seen the show, what insight into the level of expertise required - and skill - to make even a simple knife.

The Bible shares with us the parameters of the knife that Ehud had made. It was a cubit long - which is 18 inches, and it was sharp on both sides. It's interesting that these details are given to us. I think letting us know that Ehud made this knife himself shows us that he is a skilled bladesmith. We are also told in the previous verse (see earlier blog) that Ehud is left-handed. This explains why his knife was bound on his right thigh, thus making it easier for him to reach it. Another detail given to us in these short versus is the girth of the king. "Very Fat Man". My mind quickly goes to Jabba the hut. A picture of greed and laziness, self-serving and slothenly.

Now I don't believe that Eglon was always this way. It tells us in the earlier versus that he went down with his soldiers to capture the Israelites. That says 'soldier' and someone in good health to me. I think this is another nod to what can happen over 18 years when one gets complacent and only seeks to serve oneself.

It's very interesting the detail that God gives to us in His word (just two verses at that) and how all this will play out in the life of Ehud.....

Ehud - Means Combat

2019-02-18T06:50:00.000-05:00

Judges 3:1-15 12 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because they did this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. 13Getting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, Eglon came and attacked Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. 14The Israelites were subject to Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.
15Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud, a left-handed man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

What's in a name? My name means "Gift of God". I don't know if my sweet mom knew that's what it meant since I was named after my grandmother, but it ended up having a nice meaning. I was able to buy all the "Name Meaning Plaques" and hold my head up high!

The story of Ehud - brief though it may be - begins in a time of turmoil - good thing we knew he was ready based on the meaning of his name.

Eglon, king of Moab was given power over the Israelites because they were doing evil. I like that it mentions "in the eyes of the Lord" - because I believe that many people think that if it's not 'illegal' then it's okay. But, if God says it's not okay - regardless of what the law or the government says - then it's not okay. Period. This king ruled over the Israelites for 18 years.

Why 18 years? Because that's how long it took for the Israelites to cry out to God.

Many times I might be in the middle of a tough situation or a tough decision and I'm trying to weigh pros and cons, trying to foresee what the future may be and decide based on that, and then all of a sudden it will hit me: Have I prayed about this?? It took the Israelites 18 years to take the issue of a terrible ruler to God.

When we are intentional about giving our problems, our worries, our fears over to God all the time - it doesn't leave room for the enemy to get a stronghold.

So begins the story of Ehud.

Naaman - This is it!

2019-02-04T04:15:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 5:9-15
⁹So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” ¹¹But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. ¹²Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
¹³Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” ¹⁴So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.¹⁵Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.

This is Naaman's conversion. What does 'conversion' mean? Well according to Google, it is defined as "the process of changing or causing something to change from one form to another." For Naaman, this was two-fold.

When Naaman hears that Elisha has sent someone out to give him instructions of what to do - he was not happy. Perhaps he was expecting some big fanfare and a miraculous show - and it was not going to happen. Naaman was upset that he had traveled all that way and was told to wash in their river. He had rivers where he lived - he could've done that there. Instead of just listening and doing what he was told to do - he left angrily.

We are so like Naaman. We want answers to questions, but we want them in our own way, in our own manner, and how we expect them to be answered. God doesn't work like that. And when we get angry and stomp off, we miss the miracles that God is trying to do in our lives.

Luckily for Naaman, he had people around him to whom he would listen. They spoke common sense to his angry heart - 'we've traveled all this way. You are dying. It's a swim in the river. Why don't you just try it.' This is why it is so important to surround yourself with Godly people who will redirect your thinking when we get in our own way.

Then the miracle happened, his leprosy went away and he was changed: Not only physically, but spiritually as well. Naaman announced "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel".

How exciting to see that when we listen and obey, miracles can happen.

Naaman - Why Bother?

2019-01-28T05:30:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 5:8
⁸When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: “Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.”

There have been so many debates on the abortion issue in light of what is happening in New York. I should probably stay off of the social media platforms because I can't possibly understand the mindset of people who think killing a child is acceptable. I did happen upon one news article and mistakenly read the comments. The main 'commenter' dug her feet into the ground with the position of "it's none of our business what a woman does with her body".

The reason I avoid reading the comments normally is that people who post, don't want to hear anyone else's opinion. Nothing anyone says in reply to her comment is going to get her to change her mind. Unfortunately, those with Christian beliefs can't help themselves to spewing hurtful comments because she does not think the way a Christian should think. This should not come as a surprise. Why would we expect anyone who is not a Christian to think beyond what would benefit them? What would be the reason? Some may say just to be a good person, but if there is no immediate reward, if there is no consequence - what reason does someone who does not have a relationship with Jesus have for caring about anyone else?

On the other hand, as a Christian, we should deeply care about what is happening to someone else.

In this passage of 2 Kings, Elisha has gotten word that the king of Israel is upset about the letter he had received regarding Naaman. Now Elisha didn't have to do anything. There was nothing in it for him. There would not have been a negative consequence if he had pretended not to know of the Kings' turmoil. But that is not the man Elisha was and it's not the type of person God calls us to be. Elisha reaches out to the king of Israel and says "Send him to me, I'll take care of it for you".

When we see someone in need, it's very easy to look away and go about our daily lives. But these are the opportunities that God will give us to bring glory to Him.

Naaman - Say What Now?

2019-01-21T05:00:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 5:6-7
⁶The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
⁷As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”

How many times have we misinterpreted an email or a text? Mistook the tone of humor for ridicule or truth for sarcasm? This is what has happened between the King of Aram and the King of Israel.

Remembering that raiders from Aram have already taken people captive from Israel, it is understandable for the king of Israel to be apprehensive in communication with the king of Aram. Not only is the king of Israel caught off guard by the arrival of Naaman, but he assumes that the king of Aram plans to attack if he does not heal Naaman of leprosy, of which there was no cure.

Have you ever felt the pressure of a task to which you have no idea how to complete? Do you ever feel like God has called you to do something that you feel inadequate to undertake? I think this is a common thing - but there is one thing we need to realize: God doesn't need us to complete these tasks. He's offering the opportunity to be a part of something that He is doing. We can give our seemingly unbearable tasks to Him.

Naaman - Out of the mouths of babes

2019-01-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 5:2-5
Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. ³She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
⁴Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. ⁵“By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.

I followed the Elizabeth Smart story, as many of us did, in horror. At the time of her abduction, all of my four children were under the age of 10. This hit home for me. Who could possibly take a child away from her loving family? What would become of the child? How could she move on with her life after this?

In the time of Naaman, there was an Israelite girl who lived in Naaman's home as a servant to his wife. She was there because she was taken from her home when Aram raiders had conquered her land. I'm not sure what the girls home life was like before she was captured. She is not mentioned anywhere else except in this passage. But in general, I can imagine what my disposition might be towards the people who took me. Not this girl.

This young girl tells Naaman's wife that she knows a guy who can cure his leprosy. That he is in Samaria. Now Samaria is about a six hour drive from Aram. I'm not sure what the time frame is on camel or horse, but I can imagine it's a fairly long journey - especially for one who's suffering from leprosy. Here's the thing - not only does Naaman take the advice of this young girl to go on this long journey, he presents it to his boss, the king, so he can get some time off - and the king agrees to it!

God can use us at any age to be a blessing to someone else, no matter what our circumstances. Elizabeth Smart has miraculously been able to deal with her abduction and moved on to be an inspiration to others. Remember Whose you are and where you belong.

Naaman - Who Are You Again?

2019-01-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

2 Kings 5:1

1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

When reading a book, most of the time it's very easy to remember the main characters. Those are the ones that define the plot, the ones we follow along on the journey, the ones that stay in our mind when we've finished. You will remember Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy - but do you recall Rumblebuffin and the lesson we learned from him? Maybe, maybe not. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe is not the only book where this is the case.

I think the same is true for the Bible. We remember the people who have whole books written about them, Ruth, Esther, Job - but if someone is even mentioned in the Bible, there is a lesson to be learned there. So, for the next few months, let's look at the people that are mentioned but may not get the recognition they should.

The first is Naaman. Naaman was a commander in the army. The Bible says he was a great man and highly regarded by the king. We are even told why he was highly regarded: "because through him the Lord had given victory to King Aram". He was labeled as a 'valiant solder'.

In today's world, a man with those credentials we would expect to see in a military uniform with medals and ribbons attached to it. There is one crucial physical attribute attached to Naaman's description: "but he had leprosy".

In Naaman's time, this was a death sentence. I did a little research on leprosy and a person can have the bacteria that causes leprosy in their system for 3-5 years before symptoms appear. So by the time Naaman knew he had leprosy, it was showing over his skin. Now the Bible doesn't say - Naaman was a great military leader and then he found out he had leprosy. It says he was a valiant soldier - but he had leprosy.

How many times do we give an excuse to not complete a task? I'm guilty of it. Maybe my back was too sore one day or I was just too tired. Naaman had LEPROSY and yet when the Lord called him out to war to claim victory for King Aram - Naaman went. I think the first thing we can take away from Naaman in just the first mention of him is that when God is truly calling you to do His work, nothing should stand in your way.

New Year .... New Goals.... Same Mission

2019-01-01T09:41:00.000-05:00

1 Peter 3:8-15 8Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.11They must turn from evil and do good;they must seek peace and pursue it.12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer,

but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

Happy New Year!!

For some, ushering in the new year brings excitement about what's to come ahead. For others, a wave a nostalgia over the past year and goals met and relationships strengthened brings joy. Still for some, the realization that what once was, will no longer be holds firm and they are hurting.

I always struggle with a new years resolution. Should I stick with the age old "lose weight, get fit" strategy? The 'read the Bible in a year' has always held steady in the top ten. Even 'get the garage organized' has been batted around a few times.

But for this year, I think I've fallen back on my favorite verse and what began this blog so many years ago. 1 Peter 3:15.

As I get older and more cynical, I've found people - in general - annoy me. I don't understand their mindsets or why they act the way they do. Trivial though it may be, the mere hint of politeness has seem to have gone out the window. So - why - I ask myself - should I continue to be kind to these people. Oh right, cause God said to.

There is one goal in this life. To serve Jesus. When we love the unlovable and others wonder why - we should say - because of Jesus. When we help those that are undeserving and it makes no sense to other people, we should be able to say - because of Jesus.

He tells us in 1 Peter 3:8, love everyone. When people are mean to you, still love them. Not because they deserve it or need it, but because Jesus told us to and we love Him.

So this year, in 2019, I will try very hard to smile at the neighbor who parks on our lawn. To say "Hello" to the person who cuts in front of me at the grocery store. To spend an hour explaining to a client how the process works for the hundredth time without sighing in frustration. I will let others merge in front of me with a wave and not honk when I am cut off. I will love.... because of Jesus.

Who's your Idol?

2012-06-07T08:30:00.001-04:00

Exodus 34:14 - Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

Daily life is exhausting. The body is tired and doesn't want to roll out of bed. The kids may be sick or have their own issues they want to talk about. The parents may need physical care and it is your responsibility. A friend may have lost a spouse, either through infidelity or death, or even be suffering with a disease and this is a burden on your heart. It is a true statement that life can be hard.

At work one day, I overheard a co-worker sharing with a client some struggles that were going on in her life. She had recently had an injury and was discussing the pain of moving around and getting back into the daily grind. The client responded at the end of their chat with an "I'll pray for you". What a wonderfully positive statement. It says both 'I care about you' and 'there is hope for your hurting'. As my co-worker headed back over to me, I inquired - "is that client a Christian?" The response she gave startled me - she said, "I don't know, but it couldn't hurt".

Actually, it could hurt. God is very clear in the Bible when He says 'Do not have any other gods except Me'. Accepting the fact that people worship another god besides the one true God should cause sadness, not indifference. My problems, my hurts, my struggles are real - I want them to go before a real God.

God calls us to stand up for what is right - when we allow others and even God to think that we're 'okay' with our personal struggles being taken to someone other than our Creator, we need to say something. It does make a difference to whom we're praying.

Graduation video from 2011

2012-04-20T13:50:00.002-04:00

Ga Ga - not the lady.

2012-03-14T18:08:00.001-04:00

Exodus 2:5-6: Then Pharaoh's daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her slave girl to get it. She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. "This is one of the Hebrew babies," she said.

Our church has baby dedications once a month. All the parents bring their new babies to the front of the sanctuary and the church gets the honor of praying for the Godly upbringing of the child. Meanwhile, I sit in the pew with my husband 'oohing and aahing' over each little bundle that comes before us. I even go so far as to inquire of my husband if he thinks it would be nice to have another. My husband, knowing that our child-bearing days are gone, agrees that we should definitely keep trying as much as possible.

I often feel that my emotions are common. Doesn't every woman's heart long to hold and cuddle a child? Then I am brought back to reality when I read the news about the mother in Alaska who let her toddlers freeze to death http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/04/alaska-girl-locked-freezing-bedroom-dies_n_1319634.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008 or in Pennsylvania http://www.wpxi.com/news/news/local/bridgeville-couple-jailed-abuse-charges-baby-suffe/nLSkD/ and after more research, I learn that this behavior is not as uncommon as we would think or hope.

Abortion and murdering of babies was not uncommon in the 1100s BC either. The pharaoh had put a law in place that all first born sons of a Hebrew woman were to be put to death. A pharoah in Egypt was powerful, his family was well cared for - this included his daughter. One day, his daughter went down to the Nile to bathe - who bathes in a river with crocodiles? Maybe that's why she needed the attendants. The Pharoah's daughter saw baby Moses in a basket and took him in to her home. She doesn't turn him over to authorities - even though she knew he was a Hebrew baby. She doesn't have him killed - even though that was the law her father had in place. She takes him as her own and calls him Moses - even though he was not of royal blood.

We don't get to hear much more about the woman who raised Moses, we only see the results of her actions. The man who led the captives out of Egypt under God's direction. We may never see the end results of the effort we take in raising our own children or investing our lives in someone - but God is using the mother, the Sunday school teacher, the AWANA leader, the nurse, the principal, the bus driver . . . in a big way.

Where's a Burning Bush When You Need One????

2012-02-01T22:33:00.000-05:00

Psalm 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

I watched a movie today called "Sliding Doors" with Gwyneth Paltrow. The movie itself was nothing really to write home about - but the plot of the movie got me to thinking about something that has been plaguing my mind. The story begins with a woman who loses her job and as she leaves her office behind, she runs to catch the 'tube' (movie is based in England). In the one scenario, she misses the train - and then we rewind and see another scenario where she doesn't miss the train. In the path of her life where she catches the train, she meets a stranger and has a very casual conversation. She lets this man know that she lost her job and is headed home to her boyfriend. When she gets home she finds him in bed with another woman. She immediately leaves him and her life is played out where she again bumps into the stranger that she met on the train and they spend many happy days together enjoying each other's company and falling in love. In the other scenario, where she misses the train, she winds up getting mugged and going to the hospital and doesn't get home until after the woman with whom her boyfriend is sleeping with has left her apartment. Here her life plays out by being continually lied to and gets two part time jobs to support this guy who is cheating on her. A few months down the line, she does end up finding out that he was cheating on her and she leaves him, only to bump into the stranger she fell in love with in the other situation.

So in both scenarios, the end result was the same - she ended up with the new guy. When I look at all the different situations in life, the big ones and the small ones, the ones we fervently pray over and the ones we leave to our own best judgment, one question comes to mind: "Is this truly what God wanted for me?" When we hear people discuss parts of their life and they make the comment: "I feel this is where God is calling me" - how do they know? How can they be certain?

I took a Bible class not too long ago in hopes of getting a better understanding of this clarification of God's voice - discernment, if you will. While I felt like I wasn't getting anything that I didn't already know out of the class, I decided to raise my hand and ask - "What if I am wrong and that's not what God wanted me to do?" The answer that the leader of the class gave me was a good answer: "Do you not think, that our loving God, would guide you back to where He wanted you to be?" And while of course I do believe that to be true - how do you avoid the "months of working two jobs and living with a cheating liar" scenario? How can you be truly certain that it is God's voice you're hearing and not you're own? I know God has great things planned for us - the Bible tells us that - but Oh to have a burning bush.....

Would love to hear some stories on how you KNOW you've heard the voice of God:

The World Wide Epidemic - It's Affecting You!

2011-08-22T15:20:00.000-04:00

Romans 5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.

Sin. We have no idea the true havoc that wreaks when sin enters in. We see it as a personal issue that we try to avoid - like overeating or going in the sun without sunscreen. But it isn't just a personal issue - it's a global problem that many ignore.

We all know what happened when Eve decided to sin - it didn't just affect her, it affected Adam as well. It didn't just affect Adam, it affected the rest of humanity. However, let's be realistic, if it wasn't Eve, it certainly would have been someone - we are drawn to sin naturally - so someone had to take the first bite.

That doesn't make it right to continue to let sin run a muck. We generally think that if we sin, we're only hurting ourselves - this couldn't be further from the truth. The wife that cheats on her husband doesn't just hurt herself. The husband is hurt, the person who she cheated on is hurt. The children of the marriage are hurt. The grandparents are hurt. The dynamic of the entire family is changed.

The mother who beats her children is not just affecting herself. The father is affected by this sin. The children, obviously, are affected. The walls that are built up and the anger that naturally results can get transferred onto their future spouses and even their children.

There is no wonder why each generation continues to suffer as each sin from the previous generation continues on and on. So how do we stop this world-wide epidemic? Kill all the cheating wives and abusive mothers? No, as seemingly simple as that might sound - one sin on another just continues the epidemic. The answer lies in God's Word - as it always does: John 8:11 talks of Jesus' answer to the adulterer - "Go and sin no more". Seems simple enough, doesn't it? If every one person would recognize sin and make the effort to avoid it, we might find some time to heal and move on. It has to start with us. If we make that decision to fight temptation, step away from sin, the result will always be good - because it's what Christ calls us to do.

Satan as Easy As The Pain in Your Back????

2011-07-14T22:24:00.000-04:00

According to the American Chiropractic Association, 70 to 85 percent of all people have back pain at some time in their life.
A few interesting facts regarding back pain: Low back pain is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits in the United States. Back pain is the most frequent cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old. Americans spend at least $50 Billion per year on back pain—and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.

When people catch a cold or even the flu, they may wait a few days or even longer to go see a doctor for treatment. Day One of back issues will get you to a physician. Why? Because it hurts!

A few weeks ago, I pulled my back out. I was completely incapacitated. I couldn't move without intense, sharp, jagged pain wreaking havoc on my body. Not a situation a mother of four with two part-time jobs wants to find herself in. Do I have a point to my seemingly self-absorbed pity party? Why yes, yes I do:

The very next morning after I pulled my back out, I attempted to crawl out of bed to use the restroom. I couldn't even stand once I had reached my destination. I called out to my husband who came in to help me stand up, which sent my back into excruciating muscle spasms. What happens next leads into my paralleled spiritual reference - so read on.

While my husband held me in his arms, blackness began to cover my eyes and the shallow breathing began. I warned my husband that I was passing out, in fact, I remember repeatedly saying, "I'm blacking out, I'm fainting, I'm blacking out". When I awoke, I was on the floor of the bathroom, sweating. My husband had placed me there and went to get the phone to call 911. Now what happens next is your typical 'ambulance shows up and takes you to the ER' scenario - but I'd like to focus on the actual act of 'passing out'.

What happened was this: The pain that my back was in was too much for me to handle. My body physically shut down to protect me from the pain.

What if we reacted to sin that way? What if when we come across temptation that normally causes us to sin, our body just passes out until the temptation goes away? Unfortunately, our natural instinct is to gravitate toward the sin, not shy away from it - we have to choose to step away from it. Easier said than done. However, we do still have that option to call 911: 1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

When we are faced with temptation that seems impossible, God tells us that He will provide a way out - Asking Him for the strength to do this on a daily basis is essential in keeping our spiritual health in check.

As a fairly healthy individual, prescription strength ibuprofin, oxycodone, flexerel and six weeks of physical therapy promises to get me back to tip top shape. However, when we let temptation overcome us, we run the risk of not only taking ourselves down to a level that may seem impossible to crawl out of, but we tend to drag others right down with us. Praying for God's strength in my back and against Satan!

There's Too Many Shoes In Here!

2011-06-25T16:12:00.003-04:00

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

I have read a few books, fiction, devotional, self-help, that mention the use of a 'prayer closet'. A private place to go to spend time alone with God in prayer. I have often thought how nice it would be to have one. One small room set aside to spend some alone time with God.

As a reminder, I have four children - extra space in the house is just not happening. There is not one place I can go in the house that my children aren't willing to follow me into. Even the bathroom is not a sacred domain. While they may not follow me in, they are more than willing to stand outside of the door making sure they are getting updates of what I am doing or when I'll be done.

I find that if I want to have some alone time, I need to get up before everyone else and then when I get in the shower, I know that I'm alone. So, my 'prayer closet' is my shower. I have heard God speak to me when I take the time to get rid of everything else around me and just focus on my conversation with Him. While that time may be short, there has been nothing more meaningful than to hear what God has to tell me and the more times I spend having a conversation with Him, the more chances I give Him to offer me His wisdom. Where is your "prayer closet"?

Get Rich Quick!

2011-06-02T10:31:00.000-04:00

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.

We're all familiar with the story of the nerdy guy in school who grows up to be a big wealthy entrepreneur and all the kids who used to make fun of him are now green with envy. So many movies have been made and remade with some variation of this plot line.

The child in school who is encouraged to study hard and find the importance in doing the best he can on his school work is often ridiculed by his peers. His parents continue to support and guide his study habits because of the hope that one day he will be a successful, well established member of society with little financial burdens. The portion of his life where he prepares and works for the promise of something more grand is accepted and praised in society by those who have seen the success of hard-working students before him.

So the question is, why is it so hard for society to accept a life preparing for the future that Jesus has promised? Does the life of the student not parallel the life of the true Christian?

Like the student, a Christian spends their life working towards the things that Jesus has said are important. Helping others, building healthy relationships, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, etc., many times being mocked by others for their willingness to be a servant. Being labeled as "weak" or "getting walked on" for trying to live a life according to what Christ has established. But there is Hope!

Unlike the student, there is no guarantee that he will grow up and make a six or seven figure income, there is no promise that he will find a spouse that will love him unconditionally, there is nothing written in stone that says he will have friends beyond measure. Jesus says - and it is written - that there is a place for us beyond this phase of life, there is a place of no more sorrow, there is a place where we will be with our Creator who does love us unconditionally. Wonder when Hollywood will release that film?

Exercise - the new 4-letter word... times 2.

2011-04-07T06:58:00.000-04:00

1Cr 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Being a part of the weight-loss industry, no one wants to be told they have to exercise. it's the 'Voldemort' of the corporation - the word that should never be spoken. We all know it exists, but pretend it's not there.

In January of this year, my oldest daughter decided she wanted to start doing the podrunner - 10 weeks to 5k together. Intervals of walking and jogging to a beat downloaded to your ipod. Needless to say I was reluctant to start this endeavor - I knew it would be a commitment and hard work. Be that as it may, I agreed to join in and am happy to report that, four months later, I am currently up to a steady 2 1/2 mile jog three times a week. This half hour of exercise is so much more than just the hope of thinner thighs. The realization that came to me in the midst of the hyperventilating went beyond just trying to burn calories.

God has called us for a purpose. To tell others about Him. What does that mean exactly? I think it means that no matter where you are, Always Be Prepared. If God tells you to share Jesus with an elderly person by painting their house, would you? If God told you to share Jesus by working with inner city youth in a sports league, would you do it? Could you do it? Would you be physically able to travel to a third world country and hike over dirt roads to deliver the gospel if God asked you to?

When soldiers enlist in the military, they are trained and required to maintain a certain level of physical fitness. Why? Because if they are called into battle - they better be able to complete the task they are called to do.

Of course the argument can be made that if God wants you to do something, can't He give you the power to do it or work around it? (Think Aaron and Moses) Yes, Absolutely. He is God after all. However, if there was a choice between the lackadaisical Christian who may offer up a prayer every once in a while and the Christian who has studied, made himself physically capable for most tasks and who's prayer life is constantly full of "God, Send Me" - who is God more likely to use?

In my recent prayer life, where I've been questioning why God hasn't chosen to use me in a big and magical way, He has reminded me that I'm in the middle of a task that He has already called me to - raising my four children under His guidance - which is big AND magical. And He said that's enough for me right now. But I will still train, I'll still be encouraged by the music I run to, I will still study because I know the war is coming - and hopefully my children and I will be ready for battle.

Stolen IPhone 4: Grand Theft (Part 1)

2011-03-07T16:27:00.007-05:00

1 Thess 5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.

My husband's iphone 4 was stolen at Wal-Mart over the weekend. As inconveniences go, getting a cell phone stolen ranks right up there with stolen credit cards, wallets and photo identifications. Services were shut off, employer contacts were notified and police reports were filed. Were you aware that stealing a cell phone that had a purchase value of over $700 makes that act a 'Grand Theft' - which in actuality means nothing if you never catch the thief.

My husband, being the faithful facebook status updater that he is, received several condolence comments, but the most entertaining comments were the ones that told him what he 'should've' done to avoid this. For anyone wondering, NO - he had not downloaded the GPS app that helps you locate a lost or stolen iphone.

He had just finished texting me when he walked into the store and placed the phone and his wallet in the front of the cart. Before he got to the auto parts aisle, the phone was gone. One turn, one blink of an eye, one momentary look away and it was gone. all the contact names and numbers, all 1400 undownloaded pictures of vacations and family holidays, all drafted emails - gone.

Had we taken that one precaution of downloading the GPS app, the phone would've been discovered by now and this would all be an unpleasant memory. This was just a phone, that's all.

There is something much bigger at stake. Jesus is coming, as stealth as that thief. With one turn of the head or one momentary look away, He will return and if we have not taken the one necessary precaution that is needed to ensure that we stay with our rightful Owner, all could be lost. Nothing to download, no contracts to fill out and it's completely free. Romans 6:23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

IPhone 4: $700.00
Salvation: Priceless

Always Be Prepared....

Time Travel - Is it possible?

2011-02-04T03:51:00.003-05:00

I have to say - I like time-travel movies. I don't know if it's because it is a true break from reality, or just the imagination that it takes to make a time-travel movie seem. . . well, seamless. I've recently gone back and watched a few films from the early 80's and 90's: Timecop, Back to the Future, Peggy Sue Got Married, etc. Incidentally, apparently back a decade ago, no one could foresee the internet. Not one mention of Google in these early movies, and the silver jumpsuits never really caught on, maybe next year.

That being said, the main theme usually centers around changing the past so that a mistake that was made could be fixed. Somehow, by changing one or two instances, life would be so much better for the main character. Foregoing the obvious dangers of the time-space continuum and mass taking up the same space, having your future self warn you of mistakes that could change the rest of your life, seems to be a situation that draws in an audience. The allure of "what could have been" or "if I had only known".

Scientists spend long hours trying to develop this "future" experiment only to realize that the ripple effect could be catastrophic. It makes for good entertainment, but . . . 'what if?'

What if there was a way that our future self could go back and tell our past self - "Hey, that's not a good idea. When you lie about being sick to your boss and then in two weeks you really are sick and you take off and lose your job - just tell the truth" - there is a way, and it's something better....

God knows what the future holds. The answer to "what's the best decisions I can make so that my future self is right where it should be?" is simple - prayer. If we would stop and simply ask God to guide our decisions so that the choices we make are in line with what God wants - how could we want for anything more (“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8) Who knows us and wants the absolute best for us: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

He promises us in Isaiah that he will guide us - “The Lord will guide you continually …” (Isaiah 58:11)

The only thing is, we have to ask. We don't need an old DeLorean or a flux capacitor, we don't need a black hole, a wormhole or even a hot tub. All we need is Jesus.

Momma....

2010-08-31T22:41:00.002-04:00

I went to visit my mom this past weekend. She is such a wonderful mom. Always encouraging, always sweet, always mommy. It brought to light the true accomplishments of someone who has decided to raise up children under the leadership of God. The title of 'mommy' does not come easily and should not be taken lightly.

Were you aware that in America, only 12% of women within child bearing years are infertile? And that doesn't mean forever infertile - that's 12% of women who at one time or another struggled to have children or could not bring a child to term. While it is heartbreaking for those women who really want to have children of their own, there are billions of women who have conceived. Many of whom struggle with the choice of deciding whether or not they want to be a mom. The truth of the matter is, it doesn't take much to become a mother - but it takes a whole lot to become a "mom".

Sadly, many times we don't realize this until we become moms ourselves - only then do we truly appreciate our own mommys.

You see, to be a mother, it only takes 6-9 months - but to earn the title of 'mom' takes a lifetime. It takes staying up to rock a crying baby when you'd rather go to bed. It takes sacrificing your time to make sure your child makes it to band rehearsal or basketball practice. It takes stopping whatever it is your doing to see the dance that was just made up and hear the song that goes along with it. It takes giving up getting your nails done or hair done or a new outfit for yourself, so your child can get a new dress for that special night or tickets to that concert they've been dying to go to. It takes letting them make a mess in the kitchen because they've learned to be a helper - even if it isn't a help at all. It takes making them take their medicine when their sick even if they don't like you for it later. It takes punishing them even though they think you're the worst mom ever so they learn the right way to act later on in life. It takes going to church even though you've been there all week long because their excitement to be in church is more important than your tiredness. It takes responding calmly even when they're yelling because we know that scripture tells us not to provoke wrath in our children. Does being a 'mommy' come easy - absolutely not! We fail, we tire, we are human - but that is what makes the title so precious. A mom is one who has been charged by God to raise her children according to the example that Jesus gives us in the Bible.

Some of us have been blessed to be raised by Godly examples of moms - I am one of those women. I now have four children of my own and would be lost without the guidance from God and what I learned by example. So, thank you 'Momma' - I love you!

The Will of God

2010-04-28T06:30:00.000-04:00

I don't like to read. There. I've said it. I'm not a big reading fan. It's not that I'm uneducated and have trouble with the big words - it's not that I don't have a good imagination and can't picture a storyline. In fact, if I had to put my finger on why I don't enjoy reading - it would have to be that it takes too much time. If there is a book that I'd really like to read, I try to find it on audio and listen to it every time I'm in the car - then I can do two things at once, like everything else in my life I feel like I have to squeeze in.

However, that being said, I'm starting a new venture. My husband loves books. He doesn't have the time to read like he would like to, but he's been building his library for when it does happen. So, I mosied into his newly established library and found a book that caught my eye. It was a small book - so I thought I could tackle it. Simply entitled, 'The Will of God'.

The book's copyright date was 1944 and it was written in the midst of World War II. Tragedy was at every corner and people looked at their circumstances as the will of God. The author tries to bring to light the true will of God.

Romans 12:2 reads - Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

God's will does not include evil. It is good, pleasing and perfect. A tragic accident or a broken marriage is Not the will of God. That doesn't mean God can't use it for His glory, in spite of how we choose to perceive it. Do not stand idly by thinking this change in government or the decline of moral standard in the US and around the world is the will of God - it is not. We need to determine how God wants us to deal with these situations. Circumstantial will of God is next in Chapter 2.

No More Mister Nice Guy.

2010-03-03T22:54:00.002-05:00

Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."

I love superhero movies. Ironman, Spiderman, Superman, Batman. The idea of the strong fighting for the weak and winning against strong odds. There was one superhero movie that stuck out for me more with only one scene: The Incredible Hulk.

I wasn't a big fan of the first full feature film they did, but this last one in 2008 was really good. There's a scene in this one where Bruce Banner is in a foreign worn down factory that he's worked at for a while with very little pay along with other natives of that country. Well, when Bruce steps in a helps out a lady from these rough guys, they begin to beat him up. While they are scurrying to back him into a corner, while hitting him at the same time, Bruce warns them to stop - to not make him angry (the quotable Incredible Hulk favorite), they laugh and continue in their actions.

Why does Bruce warn these guys? Don't we all secretly want bad things to happen to bad people? Maybe, maybe not. Bruce knew that if they continued, he would turn into the hulk and not be able to control himself and may perhaps kill them. This stuck out for me because it was so parallel to the Bible.

Jesus hung on a cross being beaten and ridiculed and He knew the damage that could be done to those people if God decided to step in. Would they have deserved it? Sure. But Jesus in his infinite mercy and grace did not want that.

Did you know that we hold the same power? That when we choose to let Jesus lead our lives, that same power is within our grasp. The power that miraculously takes away cancer can fight the enemy. Could not God still send a thousand angels to flip over the car that just cut us off on the freeway and end that drivers life there and then? But would we want that? Does someone truly deserve to spend an eternity in Hell because we didn't take the time to say - "Jesus loves you"? In our own anger, we need to stop and say a prayer for those that are unkind to us - because 'with power, comes great responsibility'.

Happy Valentines Day

2010-02-05T19:58:00.003-05:00

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It's easy to think about love in the month of February. Valentine's Day has long been celebrated with roses, chocolates, cards and conversation hearts. Hallmark saw an opportunity and we fell for it hook, line, and sinker. A desperate need for that sought after emotion called "love".

The above verse in the Bible discusses what true love should be, which seems so far from our ideas. First, love is patient. Patience has never been my virtue. But, God says that's what love is. I can't really argue with that. So, every time I bend down to pick up the socks that sit two feet from the hamper, I have to remember that there is a man who wears those socks that comes home every day from work, without fail, and provides for his family. Love is kind. It's easy to be kind when someone else is kind to you, but when someone says to you "why isn't dinner ready?" after you've taught the kids all day, did the laundry, kissed the boo boos, dropped off and picked up from practice, and did the grocery shopping - not to come back with an unkind word is the love that God talks about. It's the Holy Spirit that speaks to you and reminds you that he's been stuck in an office all day dealing with people that are probably not Christian and you've been blessed to be able to spend time with your kids - he's just wanting to know you've thought about him enough to expect his return.

Love doesn't envy, boast and isn't proud. Are you envious of anyone? While I know this is a struggle for some, there's really not anything that God hasn't provided for me that I need. Sure, a new dishwasher or a new kitchen might be nice, but I wouldn't want someone else to go without it so I could have it. Boasting and being prideful go hand in hand. I would like to get credit for a job well done, but not at the expense of belittling someone else who may feel they deserve the credit.

This is just the first part of the verses that discuss God's idea of what true love is. It's not simple, it's not easy, and it doesn't happen quickly. It's like a garden that you begin to grow. You plow the dirt, you plant the seeds, you water the ground. Sometimes the storms that come make it seem like it's going to all wash away and you feel like you may lose your garden. But, if you pay attention to it, keep protecting it, soon... you begin to enjoy the fruit that comes from all your hard work.

Christmas - Politically Correct vs. Correct

2009-12-13T21:06:00.000-05:00

At what point did we decide that we had to be politically correct about December 25th? And at what point did it become more important to be politically correct instead of just plain correct? Frankly, I don't care if you wish me a "Happy Holiday" or a festive "Seasons Greetings", but don't try to remove Jesus from the holiday or play down its importance.

Christmas became a government holiday in 1870. President Grant decided it should be observed by the country as a whole, and congress agreed. It was a time designated to celebrate the birth of Christ - we all know that an exact date is not available, so we picked one, December 25th. Yet, so many people have tried to disprove the validity of Christmas as a Christian holiday and come up with one excuse after another to get Jesus removed from it.

During this same time period, Grant also declared January 1st a holiday. New Years Day. Yet no one ever tries to doubt the validity or meaning of January 1st. No one tells the government that we've misread the stars or the alignment of the solar system and the actual first day of the new rotation of the earth is not really January 1st. The existence of January 1 being established as a holiday to celebrate the New Year has never been questioned.

As well as January 1 being established as a holiday, July 4th was also determined to be an American government holiday by Grant in 1870. A day to honor our independence as a country after the long Revolutionary War was finished. If people with British heritage were to begin an argument with the government saying that their great great grandfathers died at the hands of Americans so they are offended that we would celebrate that victory - would our government declare July 4th should no longer be established because they didn't want to offend those citizens? Absolutely not.

What about Veteran's Day? November 11th. In 2006, an estimated 37.5 million immigrants were now citizens of our country. What if they said, "we fought for the service in our previous country, we're offended that we are not recognized as veterans" - would we change Veteran's Day to include anyone who's ever served in any military any where? No - that would be ridiculous. The service men and women have worked hard to protect our rights and freedoms here in America.

But people will walk on eggshells around those who might get upset if you say Jesus should remain in Christmas. It's okay to offend Christians, those who appreciate the eternal freedom from a Savior who gave His life.

So, as an American Christian - I will continue to celebrate New Years Day - I will toot my paper horn with the excitement of what may come and a remembrance of the year gone by. I will continue to celebrate July 4th. I will fly my flag high and appreciate those men and women who fought in the American Revolution and founded our country and their sacrifice so that we can be a free nation. I will continue to honor Veteran's Day. I will thank my American soldiers for their efforts in the service even when I may not agree with what the government has done, I will uphold our Veteran's holiday. And finally, I will celebrate Christmas in the manner in which it was established - a day to thank God for the gift of His son Jesus. I will display a manger scene and a Christmas tree. I will say Merry Christmas and thank those who wish me a 'Happy Holiday". I will continue to teach my children the reason why we celebrate Christmas and continue to feel sorry for and pray for those who are offended by it.

http://zee-em-sea.blogspot.com/2009/12/live-out-loud.html - My daughter's film project, enjoy.

The Witch of Endor - It Wasn't Me, I Swear.

2009-10-21T07:34:00.006-04:00

1 Samuel 28:9-10 But the woman said to him, "Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?" Saul swore to her by the LORD, "As surely as the LORD lives, you will not be punished for this."

Why is it when you ask a little kid if they've done something wrong, they immediately tell you they haven't? Even though you already know they did. My youngest daughter will deny everything the first time. But when I look her in the eye, ask her again with that serious tone - she comes clean. I guess it's our human nature to avoid a disaster that we perceive may happen if we give an honest answer. However, God requires it. I think, if we look at this realistically, I would rather suffer the consequences of telling the truth - than the strain on my relationship with God from not telling the truth.

Since the woman of Endor had no relationship with God, lying was not a big issue for her. She was lying to save her life. She was in hiding and knew that if someone turned her in - she would be killed. She had to be careful. Here's the irony: Saul promised her "by the Lord" that he wouldn't have her killed. By the Lord???? It's like hearing an atheist say "I swear to God" - really? How can you seek out the things the devil has lured you to and in the same breath use God to justify it?

It's the bar-hopping, unfaithful co-worker that tells you they love Jesus. How can you seek out the things of satan and still claim to have a relationship with God. We all back-slide, but the importance of having a relationship with God is seeing our error and avoiding that temptation. Saul got caught up in this and the example he could've been for the witch of Endor was lost.