Back in 1976, in Spokane, Washington, a track & field event was held for the Special Olympics.  Contestants from across the state had come to compete in this event.  The starter pistol sounded and the race was on.

Shortly after the runners set out, a contestant took a tumble.  Most of the other contenders continued on toward the finish line but two runners did the unthinkable.  They stopped and returned to help the one who had fallen get back up.  On lookers watched wondering what what was going on.  As it became apparent that the two simply would not leave this contestant behind, the crowds began to cheer.   The three competitors crossed the finish line together… in last place.  Although the race had ended, the applause continued for quite some time.  Interestingly, the celebration was not so much for the winner as it was for the show of benevolence between these three contestants.

As I try to envision this all unfolding, my heart is warmed and I smile; but two things really stick out to me about this story.

First of all, not everyone stopped to help.

Okay, it’s only fair to say, it WAS a race.  The others were just doing what they were supposed to.  They weren’t “expected” to stop and help.  But, the two that stopped obviously saw the race from a different perspective.

 And the same is true with life. We are all just trying to finish strong, Right?  Can you blame a person for keeping their eyes on the finish line and not looking back?  Maybe not.  

But maybe winning isn’t what life’s really about…  

 Maybe the ones who are truly winning this race called life are the ones who are bringing everyone along with them!  

My second thought about the story is this – The act of kindness is what made the race memorable.  This story is from 1976 and it’s still being told today – 35 years later.  But people aren’t talking about who won.  In fact, as I researched the story a bit I found that no names were mentioned at all – just the story of the selfless act of two young runners.  Does it matter who they were?  I’m sure it did to the person they helped.

What is it about seeing someone do the unthinkable (like forfeiting the chance at winning for themselves in order to help another) that warms our hearts and gives us a sense of deep appreciating for such acts?  Perhaps because it’s not the norm.

Lately, God is challenging me to live OUTSIDE the norm.

The Bible says in Ecc. 4:9-10 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 

Are you too busy running the race to look around and see someone who needs your help to get back up?

My hand is raised. I am guilty of it.  I’ve had a competitive nature since as early as I can remember.  I love to win.  But keeping my eyes on the finish line is exactly what can keep me from being aware of the fallen people around me.  And maybe that’s not winning at all.

Is there someone within your reach that could use a little help getting back on their feet?

• Maybe you could sacrifice some time to watch their children.
• Maybe you could provide a meal or a bag of groceries.
• Maybe you could write a letter or e-mail to encourage them.
• Maybe you could speak on their behalf.
• Maybe you could put a STOP to the gossip.

Whatever you do, don’t leave them while they are down.  You may be the only one in their path to lend a hand and help them up.

MY CUP OF TEA …this week is actually a book a friend reminded me of just yesterday.  It’s called, “The Prodigal God” by Timothy Keller.  This book is one of my favorites!

Newsweek called New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller a “C.S. Lewis for the twenty-first century” in a feature on his first book, The Reason for God. In that book, he offered a rational explanation for why we should believe in God. Now, in The Prodigal God, Keller takes his trademark intellectual approach to understanding Christianity and uses the parable of the Prodigal Son to reveal an unexpected message of hope and salvation. Within that parable, Jesus reveals God’s prodigal grace toward both the irreligious and the moralistic. This book will challenge both the devout and skeptics to see Christianity in a whole new way.

You can enter to win this week’s drawing and your own copy of “The Prodigal God” simply by commenting on today’s blog post.

And the winner is, chosen by random generator, Heather Pancake!  Heather, please contact us so we can get your copy of  ”The Prodigal God” out to you!

Pin It

Pin It

The other day, my daughter Abby was working on her math homework.  She is learning measurements  (centimeter, decimeter, deca, hecta, etc).  I noticed she had drawn a line on her homework page.  It was wobbly and bent.  When I read the instructions to the word problem it said:

~ Take a ruler and measure out 3.5 cm to see if it is more or less that 2 inches.~

Looking at the crooked line she had drawn, I asked her…”Abby where’s the ruler you used to measure?”

She started mumbling something about finger digits and holding up her hand to show how her fingertip is roughly the size of an inch.  In her mind, her measurement seemed “good enough”.

Immediately I thought to myself…Okay, hold the phone. Abby’s math teacher is a “by the book” kinda woman.   Fingertip measurements were not gonna fly!  “Good enough” as Abby termed it, would not be “good enough” for her teacher. 

I took a deep breath and realized this was a teachable moment.  The fact of the matter is that there IS an accurate, measurable answer to the problem.  I said, “Abby if you want the answer, the right answer, you must use the right standard.”  When Abby returned with the ruler, we found that she was way off on her guesstimation.  And, in case you didn’t know, two inches IS, in fact, longer than 3.5 cm.

At that moment God spoke to my heart.   “How often have you done the very same thing?”  Looks like this was MY teachable moment.

How often had I gone about my life just accepting what’s “good enough?”

Do you want to know what is the enemy of “what’s best” in and for your life? 

…What’s good enough.

God doesn’t want just “what’s good enough” for me.  He wants the very best for me.  That’s why He has given me a standard for living.  I can find the truth about every choice for my life in His Word, the Bible.   I don’t have to settle for “good enough.”

God tells us in Isaiah 45: 19, “I publicly proclaim bold promises (I love that – it is so absolute).  I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner.  I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found.  I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.”

He is the Author of truth.   He is the source of our answers.  And His thoughts have been recorded for us to live by.  The Standard – The Best.

Settling for “good enough” can have a range of consequences.   On a small scale, the consequences are just a nuisance when things don’t turn out the way we plan.

For instance…I can’t tell you how many times I’ve guesstimated on the size to cut a piece of wrapping paper, only to find that the edges don’t meet.   I know…you’ve done it too, Right?   You would think I’d learn by now but it happened just this past Christmas several times.  And I’m left with a handful of extra pieces that you can’t wrap anything in.

On a larger scale the consequences of settling for “good enough” can have an even greater impact.  I can miss out on the blessings of God simply by settling for what’s “good enough” in this world.

Think of an area in your life that you would qualify as “good enough”.  Go ahead. Be honest.  What I know for sure is that God doesn’t want you to settle on “good enough” for that particular thing.  He has something better.  Are you willing to trust Him for it?  If you are, ask Him to make what’s “good enough” in your life “His best”.  Ask Him to show you how to measure that particular issue by His standard.

Today, it’s my desire to evaluate my life to see where I’ve settled for “good enough.” Whether it be relationship issues, parenting issues, money issues, moral issues – you name it – God offers me a better standard to live by.  He offers me His Best!

MY CUP OF TEA

Today I want to share something I consider a favorite in the kitchen.  I love soup and when I need a quick lunch at my desk, I will heat up Pacific Natural Foods Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup.  It comes in a carton so you don’t get that metal taste.  I add a pinch of salt and eat it with crackers.  I love it!  In fact, I’m going to have a bowl for lunch.  I’ve tried just one other flavor from Pacific, but this is my favorite so far.  If you would like to try this soup, comment on today’s blog and you will be entered a drawing win your own carton (4 servings) to enjoy!

And the winner of this delicious soup is…(chosen by random generator)…Sue Sweeney!  Please contact us so we can get it to you!

Pin It

Who is God and how can we know Him?  This is an innate desire in all of us.  It’s a question we all face.  Some people push it down and say, “There is no God.”  But for the rest of us, this life is spent trying answer that question.  Ask a number of individuals and you are sure to get a number of answers.

People will say that getting to God is all about being sincere.  And, you’ve probably heard it said, “Many roads lead to God.”

So, people set up paradigms based on their understanding of who God might be and, out of these ideas, lifestyles are born:

• a life based on good works
• a life dedicated to worshiping man-made ideas about God
• a life lived believing that we are some sort of god

Jesus says, in the Bible, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes unto the Father (God) but by me.” John 14:6

The good news is that the Bible also says,  “God did not send His son into this world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved.”  John 3:17.

This truth has been distorted and “watered” down throughout the ages.

When making the mistake of considering Christianity in comparison to “other religions,” (as people often do)  I must say, they cannot be compared.

If I could explain it in allegorical, story fashion, I would say, for me, meeting Jesus went something like this…

One morning a man woke up, readied himself, and set out for his day.  This man walked every where he went.  He walked to the store, to see friends, to work, to the doctor. If he were going somewhere he would get there on foot.  This was not only terribly exhausting for him;  but there were times when the weather would get so bad, he could barely get through it.  There had to be a better way!  If only he could get that car to run.

From as far back as he can remember, there has been a shiny red car sitting in his drive.  He didn’t remember how it got there.  It just always was.  

He had seen people driving in their cars. He knew what it meant.  No more weariness!  You just sit down and rest while the car drives you where you need to go!  He would often dream about what it must be like to have protection in the storms and harsh weather and the confidence of getting to his destination safely.  Just remembering some of the difficult walks he’d taken sent a shiver up his spine.  On some, he wondered if he would even survive.  Oh, how he would love to have the peace and protection of traveling the road in a car!  

 He decided this would be the day he would get in the car and drive.  The words cut the air, “Everything changes today!”

He went to the garage, grabbed a 5 gallon jug and dusted it off.  Someone told him once that this jug would hold what he needed to make the car move.  So, he headed out to the stream behind his house to fill the jug with the fresh flowing water that coursed through it.  He returned to his car and filled the tank.  Jumping in the driver seat he turned the key and nothing happened. “How could this be?  The water I took from the stream was organic.  It celebrated earth and trees.  I dare say that there is not a more refreshing water to be found!  But, I obviously cannot use this water to start my car.”

He painstakingly drained the water from his tank and began again.  “I know,” he said.  “I will go to the sink and fill the 5 gallon jug with tap water.  It’s been filtered through the city’s system.  Certainly, they have gone through the steps to make this water good for me. They MUST know what’s best.  They are looking out for me I’m sure.”  He filled the tank, turned the key…nothing.

At this point he began to get frustrated.  “This is impossible! The water from the stream which was organic and celebrated Mother Earth did nothing. The water filtered through the cities system did nothing!  I know!  I will buy the best of filtering systems.  Only a handful of people are fortunate to have their water filtered this way.  In fact, they all meet once or twice a week to speak of their good fortune.  I will go and ask them where they got there water and buy mine at once!”

He went out right away on foot to find the water that would start his car.  When he found the group, he inquired about how he might obtain the means to have some of their special water for himself.  As they began to share with him, he realized this water they spoke of wasn’t cheap.  It would cost him good behavior, giving to charities, faithfulness to their meetings…the list went on.  He didn’t care about the cost, he just knew he could not live his life on foot.  He must find a water that would start his car.  He paid the cost  and carried the water home.  After repeating the now familiar process once again -  getting this NEW water into his tank -  he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and turned the key.  NOTHING!

This was more than he could take.  After all he had done!  He threw himself to the ground and began to wail.  He cried out, “I have tried it all!  Water from the stream!  Water from the city!  Water from the professional water people! And NOTHING!  How will I ever get my car to start?”  He cried and thrashed for what seemed like hours.  And then, he heard someone speaking to him.

The voice was gentle and calm.  Certainly they could see his great travail!  Certainly they could see he was beside himself!  Why couldn’t they leave him alone to wallow in his self-pity?  And there was the voice again.  Calm and quiet.

“What’s the problem, sir?” The man looked up to see a young man with a kind face.  “I don’t feel like sharing my troubles with this boy!” he thought.  “He has no idea of where I’ve been and all I’ve tried to do to get this car started!  Why won’t he just leave me alone?”

The young man spoke again.  “Car trouble?”   Without hesitation, the man angrily spilled out the story of his search for the right water to fill the tank. “I’ve tried it all, young man.  You cannot help me.  There is not a water in this world that will start my car!”

The boy stood there gazing intently as the man spoke and when he was finished there was a moment of silence.  The man waited.  “Had the boy not heard?  Didn’t he get it? The situation was hopeless!  This car will never rev to life!”

Then the boy spoke up. “You are right. Water will never start your car.”  

“What you need is Gasoline.”

A rattling in his head…a sudden jarring of his memory…this was something he’d heard somewhere long ago.

But all of those people – they told him it was always water.

Could it be true?  Could the boy be right?  Would he finally be able to turn the key and bring the shiny metal beast to life?!  Imagine what this would mean!  He steeled himself against the possibilities – careful not to fill up with hope.  He couldn’t survive yet another disappointment.

The young man asked if they could take a walk.  Picking up his 5 gallon jug he agreed and they set out.  Before long they came to a building.  Cars were coming and going.   And on the sign he saw the words “Gas station.”  He’d never seen so many cars in one place.  This must be where the boy worked.  He seemed to know everyone and they all greeted each other with a smile. The man even noticed others arriving on foot with their 5 gallon jugs, just like him.  Somewhere deep inside he knew he must be in the right place…at least he hoped.  He had already decided in his heart of hearts that this was his last attempt.

The young man led him to a pump and he filled his five gallon jug with the golden liquid of promise.  As he carried it home, he began to dream about how his life would change.  It all depended upon this thing called Gasoline.

There it stood, the red shiny lifeless lump of metal in the drive. He could hardly wait to pour the contents of the jug into its tank.  Once the last drop fell, he opened the door, sat down and, without ceremony or fan-fair, he turned the key.  

What happened next was nothing less than miraculous. The car shook to life and the engine roared!  He couldn’t contain his delight!  “The boy was right! The boy was right!  All this time I’ve been searching for water, when what I needed was Gasoline!” His head fell back with a great belly laugh!  He had finally found the answer!  

Indeed, life would never be the same!  He would never again have to travel on foot!  He could leave all of those helpless, hopeless days on the road behind, thanks to this Gasoline!  

In the days that followed, the man drove all over town each day, calling out to the pedestrians about him, “I’ve got good news!  You don’t have to travel on foot anymore!  You don’t have buy the hopeless tale that water of any kind will bring your car to life!  GASOLINE!  That’s the good news!”

And the good news continues to be told.

“I have come that they might have LIFE and have it to the full!”   (Jesus) John 10:10

MY CUP OF TEA 

Today, I’d like to share with you something I found just a few days ago.  How many of you have bought a lip liner at your local pharmacy and once you got it home and tried it on you didn’t like it all?  You might have thought to yourself…”Well, that was a big waste of money!” And into some drawer it goes.  For me, it seems almost impossible to find a lip liner that is not too red, too purple or too dark.  And when I try to go subtle, the color seems to blend in.  Well, look no further if what you want is a perfect neutral shade.  It’s Revlon ColorStay Liner For Lips in Nude (630).  I know I am fare skinned and light complected, but I do believe this liner will work for most everyone.  And you can be entered to win this lip liner for your very own.  Comment on today’s blog and be entered into this weeks drawing.

Thanks everyone for your comments on this week’s post!  Your words of encouragement mean a lot!  I have a winner for this weeks drawing…chosen by random generator…Sherry Pickering!   YAY Sherry.  Please contact us with your mailing address and I will get your lip liner right out to you.

I remember waking up before my alarm on New Years Day.  Perhaps it was because, I fell into bed at 9:30 the night before exhausted from our trip to Texas.  A friend posted their status New Years Eve “Youth beg to stay up.  Parents are forced to stay up and Grandparents dream they stayed up”…uh, grandparents and me.  I figured I’d just greet the New Year at 7:00 AM and that’s what I did.

On January 1^st we were scheduled to sing in Aledo, Texas, a church we always love to visit.  That morning, as the guest speaker approached the pulpit, he began to quote a very familiar verse.

This would be the first verse, from the first message, from the first church service for me in 2012.

And it seemed like God was waiting for the perfect moment to present me with a special gift to encourage my heart.  The speaker began…

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”   John 10:10

I thought to myself as he spoke, “Wow, that’s interesting! He’s quoting the verse we chose to be the theme verse for LifeHouse – the church plant God called us to begin in Townsend, Delaware.”

We are just weeks away from transitioning out of 10 years of singing ministry onto this new horizon.  I can honestly say many questions still crowd my mind.  It’s like Columbus sailing to the new world.  How will I know when we get there?  What’s the food like?  Okay, well not exactly.  I know.  But, you get the point.

Here I sat under the words of a preacher, far from my home, in Aledo, Texas.  And he was sharing a message that confirmed in my heart that we are right on target and God indeed has a plan through LifeHouse Church!

He actually brought a perspective on John 10:10 that I had not considered.  He told us that this verse might possibly be the most definitive verse of the Bible.  In other words, if someone came up to you on the street and said, “Hey, what’s the Bible all about?”  You could say to them,

“See, it’s like this…

Satan came to steal.  But Christ came to give.”

Think about it.  Look at your life.  Satan’s purpose (his mission, his desire, his determination, his intent, his scheme) is to steal from you.  It’s what he does.  It’s who he is.  He’s not trying to get his bachelor’s degree in business on the side.  He exists to steal.

He will steal your hopes.  He will steal your dreams.  He will steal your family.  He will steal your health.  He will steal your integrity.  He will steal your peace.  He will steal your reputation.  He will steal your influence.  He will steal your character.

Maybe he already has.

It’s sobering to think about.  All of the “what ifs”.  It would be a tragedy to stop there.

But that’s not all the verse has to say.  It’s like the ending to any great movie.

The Hero arrives. 

Christ came to give!

His greatest demonstration of giving was to give His life – bearing the expense of eternal life for all who would believe in Him.

If He had stopped there, it would be more than enough. But He doesn’t.  He offers to us a “rich and satisfying life” right now!  I know because…

He’s given me a purpose beyond existing.

He’s given me hope, not in myself, but, in His unfathomable depths.

He’s given me peace even in the troubled times.

He’s given me joy in the many things I once took for granted or overlooked.

He’s given me wisdom to live a full life.

He’s given me mercy by carrying me through the many mistakes I hand over to Him.

He’s given me grace to become the person I was created to be day by day.

He gives and gives and gives.

I am rich…because He gives.

My word of encouragement to you today is that it’s not too late.   Don’t let Satan take another second of your life.  Call on the “Giver of Good Gifts.” Call on Christ.  He’s still giving.

MY CUP OF TEA

Okay, friends.  I’ve got another favorite for you to try.  It’s a loose powder by MAKE UP FOREVER.  I use this to set my foundation and I’ve noticed it tames down any redness and keeps my face from looking shiny for hours.  Here is more on the product: Even on a bare face, this powder still works its magic leaving a soft focus finish that looks amazing on camera and in person. With makeup, it mattifies and “sets” your look making it last all day. One universal shade works for all skin tones.

As usual, if you comment on today’s blog you will be entered to win the drawing for your own HD Powder by MAKE UP FOREVER.   It’s truly a favorite of mine.

And the winner is…. Debby Brown!  – Chosen by random generator.  For those who would still like to give it a try, you’ll find it at Sephora. 

2012  Its a new year.  I would venture to say that every self help book and successful business guru would advise that the best way to enter 2012 is to have a plan.  After all, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” right?

But, for me, as I desire and seek to walk in close fellowship with Christ, I find that His message is altogether different.

Just yesterday morning, in my quiet time, God laid before me a verse that I believe sums up my start to 2012 perfectly.

Hebrews 11:8 ~ It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

2012 will be a year of new beginnings for my husband, my family, my ministry and myself. Many of you already know, God has called us out of our music ministry to plant a church in Townsend, Delaware. We don’t know what this looks like or what it means to step away from the familiar (more than a decade of traveling music ministry) into the unknown.

As you can imagine, many questions dangle from the sky as we look into this vast open space ahead. How will we provide for our children? Who will come and be a part of this new chapter in our lives? When? What? Where?

While spending time in today’s passage of My Utmost for His Highest, a couple of sentences really jumped out at me,

“Have you been asking God what He is going to do? He won’t (necessarily) tell you. God does not tell you what He is going to do; He reveals to you Who He is.”

So let me get this straight…
God, you want me to walk into this new year without a plan?
Yes, it’s called living by faith.
And, Will you show me what is ahead?
No, I will show you WHO I AM. That is enough.

THAT IS ENOUGH. Why? Because HE is GOD!

So, instead of putting together a plan for
“self-promotion” or
“self-improvement” or
even “self-preservation”,
God wants me to commit my heart and life, my dreams and desires to Him.

He says in Prov. 16:3 Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.

No, I’m not counting on “a plan” for 2012.  I’m not banking on my abilities or aspirations.  I’m counting on a Person.

His track record is astounding.
His attention, undivided.
His abilities, unparalleled.
His love, eternal.
His plan, perfect.

As you forge on into this new year, will it be business as usual?

Have you set up for yourself yet another list of new year’s resolutions hoping that THIS TIME you will actually follow through?

Maybe God is waiting on you to come to Him as you begin your year, not to find out what He can do, but to find out Who He Is.

Now that sounds like a plan!

MY CUP OF TEA – I want to share with you something I came across this summer.  I seldom have time to do my nails and, when I do, I only get to enjoy them for two to three days before I see the polish begin to chip.  While traveling in Tennessee, I purchased a bottle of top coat called “Out The Door”.

I mainly bought it because it claimed to dry polish quickly.  What I noticed is that my polish stayed on double and triple the time it did ordinarily.  In fact, I played a lot of volleyball this summer and my polish held up to the sun and sand.  I think everyone should try “Out The Door”.  And, of course, if you comment on today’s blog, you will be entered to win a bottle for yourself.

If you are planning on giving this product a try, I recommend applying one top coat after the nail color and then apply another coat later when you get a minute to ensure that the polish will last.

And the winner of this week’s drawing is Pamala McMorrow! Please contact us so we can get your bottle of “Out The Door” right out to you!