HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Philippians 4:6-7  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Today is a day for thanks.  As we go through this day this verse must ring ever in our hearts and mind.  In fact to be honest it is one we must memorize and remind ourselves of on a daily basis.  Way too often we get wrapped up in the news and the bad things happening in this country and the world that we lose focus of the many millions of things we have to be thankful for.  Alas it is so easy to get a doomsday attitude when we listen to the news.  For many years I avoided the news like a plague but instead now I have learned to use the news as a tool for my prayer life.  It makes me appreciate my simple, uncomplicated life so much more.  

As I sit here today I want to do nothing but search my heart and give thanks for all that my God has given me and my family.  Sure I could sit and worry and be anxious about life, but why?  What good does worry do?  What does worry change?  Worry is a waste of time.  Worry is pointless when you stop to think that it will not change anything and to sit and worry about something that may never happen is just plain dumb.  

When I read this verse, I am reminded that when I pray, I need to give thanks to God for all I have.  Too often we come to God with a list of prayers, a list of needs and a list of wants.  How about changing that up?  Instead of asking, lets take time to thank Him for what He has given us.  Okay maybe you feel like you don't have much to be grateful for, well you're reading this right? So be grateful for the internet, be grateful for sight to be able to read and the education you had that taught you to read.  

Take time to look around you.  What do you have to be thankful for?  Health?  Job?  Family?  (Even as dysfunctional as it is, you still have a family.)  Friends?  Oxygen to breath?  Sunshine?  Rain?  Love?  A roof over your head?   Heat?  Air conditioning?  Water?   Listen I could go on forever with things we need to be thankful for, but we need to get this thankfulness down deep in our heart.  No matter how rough life is, it could always be worse.  Lets start looking at the bright things in life and give thanks to a God who gave us the greatest gift in the world to be thankful for, Jesus Christ who has given us Salvation and the promise of eternal life in Heaven.  My friends, that is something to be extremely thankful for. 

Today I come before you to thank God for each and every one of you.  I thank God for Jerry.  I am thankful we have found a church that nourishes each of our souls and together we are growing closer to God every day.  I am thankful that Jerry loves me more than life itself.  I am thankful for my children, my son-in-laws and my grandchildren.  I am thankful that I had a mother and father that instilled in me a love and a faith in Jesus Christ. I am thankful for my friends who have been with me through many trials.  I am thankful for my church and the wonderful pastors who have taught me so much. But number one on my list is I am thankful to have a God who loves me and who sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ so that I could have the chance to live in eternity with Him.  I could sit here and cry when I stop to think about all I have to be thankful for.  Please take time today and everyday to give thanks for all the blessings in your life.   

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thank you God for loving me even when I don't deserve it.  Thank you Jesus for dying on the cross for me even though I don't deserve it.  Thank you Jesus for saving me and pouring down your grace upon every minute of every day, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

GET OVER YOURSELF!

Ephesians 4:31-32  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 

Anger, it is one of those emotions we don't like to admit we have, or at least some of us don't like to admit we have anger issues.  Then there are others out there who wear their anger like a badge if honor.  They yell and scream at everyone who is in their way.  Their face resembles this bear.  They growl and pounce in anyone and everyone.  Know anyone like that?  I do.  Lets be honest here, we all know someone like that.  Their life is one constant struggle, one constant battle, they are never happy and nothing ever goes right.  The amazing thing is, it is always someone elses fault. God forbid your opinion is different than theirs.  God forbid something good happen to you and not them.  Like I said I know people like this.  You have to walk around on egg shells being careful not to offend them.  You have to chose your words carefully or better yet, just keep your mouth shut.  You can't really have  relationship with them because to be honest, you can't stand them.  People like this are miserable and they want to make everyone else miserable. The sad thing is some of these people are sitting in church pews every Sunday.  Really?  

Why are some people so angry?  I have a hard time understanding why some people seem so angry all the time.  Oh don't get me wrong, I am not perfect, I do get angry when someone pushes my children or grandchildren around.  Then I can become like this bear, but for the most part, I tend to try to see inside of what is happening and why.  People are so unhappy with their own lives and they feel the need to get vent, so the next person they come across gets body slammed by angry words and spit as they spew their venomous words our way.  Occasionally it may become physical, and that my friend is when it gets way out of hand.  Our words and our fists were not created for anger, but for love.  Is there a place for anger? Yes, but not the way some of us handle anger.  

Look at the way Jesus handled anger.  He was calm and spoke His mind.  Jesus had a righteous anger when people were being mistreated especially by the religious leaders of His time. His angriest moment was when He walked into the Temple, His Fathers house and saw people selling sheep and goats and other necessities that they needed to worship God.  Then He turned over the money changers table and raised a ruckus.  We do need to some anger over the horrible things that is happening in the world today, but yelling and screaming and throwing fists is not the way.  We need to learn to be patient and kind.  We need to learn to forgive those who hurt us and let it go.  Do I seem sort of callous in my remarks?  Sorry if I do.  I'm just a little fed up with people who always seem angry.

Do you avoid family celebrations because of something someone said to you a year or 2 ago?  Do you stay away from people just because they didn't treat you they way you wanted them to?  Women are notorious for this.   We hold grudges for years and never let it go.  We bring it up every time someone talks to us about getting together with that person again.   That anger resurfaces again and we relive that moment all over.  Really?  "Do you remember what she said to me at her wedding?"   Why do we do this?  I'm sorry but it's dumb.  We miss out on so much by clinging to these stupid anger issues and it keeps us from so much joy.  If you are angry, look in the mirror!  You are the reason you are angry!  No one can make you angry!  No one can be to blame for your anger but yourself.  Get over yourself!  Let it go and feel the joy in your heart come back!  For those of you who deal with angry people, do not let them steal your joy!

May anger never separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.  May anger never keep us from family and friends.  May your life be filled with peace and joy, in Jesus name I pray, amen!  

WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY TO ME?

You know I pondered quite a while about writing this but I truly feel called to write this today.  There are so many different opinions and definitions, so many emotions and feelings tied to the word Christianity.  Government's may label it a religion, non believers may label it a cult.  But to me these things have nothing to do with Christianity.  For me Christianity has nothing to do with religion and everything to do with a relationship. You see for me I have no part in religion, in fact to be honest I want nothing to do with religion.  I do not adhere to a list of do's and don'ts, rituals and rules are not in my vocabulary. Sorry if that offends anyone, but for me Christianity is about a relationship. You see for me, God is not just my Heavenly Father, He is my Heavenly Daddy.  That's right I call Him Daddy.  For some of you religious folks out there that may just be a little to disrespectful, but let me tell you, there have been many times I have felt like I have sat in His lap and cried.  I have felt His fatherly arms around me, holding me as I cried.  I never called my dad on earth, father.  That just seems so formal, cold and distant.  No, my God is my Heavenly Daddy.   He loves me like a daddy does, He holds me like a daddy does.  He has dried my tears and healed my heart.  That my friends is just a small part of what my relationship with God looks like.

Christianity for me is a faith and belief in my Heavenly Daddy!  I know I may get a lot of flack from this blog, but this is who I am and what I believe. For me it's not about religion, it's about relationship.  I have been adopted into the family of God because of my faith and belief.  For me, Christianity is not about a list of rules you have to fulfill in order to be accepted.   There is no prerequisite required and there is no list of good deeds I have to do in order to be a christian.  I didn't have to take a test or be interviewed by a panel of distinguished pastors. I came to God tattered and worn, a sinner who constantly screwed things up and hurt people.  I was messed up and searching for love and acceptance.  I never found that in religion.  What I found in religion was a list of rules and rituals you had to perform in order to be accepted.  What I found in religion was a building filled with people that seemed cold and unwelcoming.  Religion for me, seemed filled with people who where there every Sunday, because they had to.  Religious people seemed very judgmental.  God forbid you walk into their church in shorts and a tank top.   

Listen I don't mean to offend anyone and if you are, I am sorry.  My Christianity is about a relationship with God.  The only way to have that relationship, for me, was to accept what  Jesus Christ did for me on the cross.  You see I by myself cannot have a relationship with a Holy God while I am so filled with sin.  I needed to be forgiven, I needed to pay my debt for my sin.  To be honest there is no way I could ever pay the price for the sins I have committed.  God knew this but God still wanted to have a personal relationship with me, so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to pay the price in my place.  Jesus paid for my sins.  He cleared all my debt and wiped every sin, every stain.  Now I stand before God clean and redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  By accepting Jesus Christ as my Savior, I now have a personal relationship with my Heavenly Daddy.  

Philippians 2:5-11  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

I gave up on religion a long time ago and knelt down at the foot of the cross and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.  Since then I have changed so much that I am shocked at myself.  I was never given a list of do's and don'ts that I have to do or not do, instead my heart has changed and I no longer want to sin.  Because I have a personal relationship with God, and because Jesus Christ is my Savior and the Holy Spirit of the Living God lives in me I chose to do good works, I choose to be a better person, not because I have to but because I want to.  For me, Christianity is about my relationship with God, my Heavenly Daddy, not about a religion.

Heavenly Daddy, thank you for accepting me into your family.  Thank you for sacrificing your Son so that we can have a personal relationship.  Thank you for loving me and giving me amazing grace.  I pray that this blog may reach one person out there who is looking for a relationship for you, in Jesus name I pray, amen!    

TAKE OFF THOSE BLINDERS

For the most part many of us wander around this world with blinders on.  We try our best not to see what is happening in this world around us.  We don't want to see evil, so the blinders go on.  We don't want to see the truth so we hide behind blinders.  We don't want to accept the truth and these blinders help keep us from coming face to face with the truth of this world we live in.  The stark reality of this world is often too much to bare so the blinders we wear can sometimes protect but way too often, these blinders keep us hidden in our own little comfort zone.   I remember my grandma had a set of 3 monkeys and these monkeys were labeled "See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil".  One monkey of course had his hands over his eyes, the other had his hands over his ears and the other had his hands over his mouth, I think you get the idea.  he idea behind these monkeys was if we see no evil, hear no evil or speak no evil, then evil doesn't exist, but there's only one problem with that, it does exist.

While blinders may shelter us from the evil in this world, it also keeps us from seeing where there are needs in the world we can meet.  In other words blinders also keep us fro stepping up and stepping out.  If we have blinders on, we won't see that homeless sitting in a cardboard box in the middle of winter.  If we have blinders on, we won't see that older lady who needs help carrying in her groceries.  If we have blinders on, we won't see our loved one crying from the words we said that just pierced their heart.  While blinders can protect us, they can also prevent us from helping others.  I used to walk around with blinders on.  I didn't want to see or hear the latest news reports or read about what is happening in this world, but in doing so I also prevented myself from praying for what is going on.  If I don't see or hear what's going on, I can't help.  Sure it may keep me happy and joyful, no one likes bad news, but it also make me oblivious to what is happening around me and that is not always a good thing.  The one very dangerous thing about blinders is that if we keep wearing them we may miss the best thing in our life.    

Imagine missing out on that special someone because we had our blinders on.  Imagine missing out on a beautiful sunset or sunrise because we had our blinders on.  There is so much good we can miss by having our blinders on.  It's time to drop the blinders!  Burn them in fact.  Yes, they may protect us from evil but they will also protect us from a lot of good things that are happening in the world.  How many amazing things have we missed out on because of those dumb blinders?  Think about it!  There are so many things we miss out on because of those blinders.  I have seen people walking around with blinders and quite frankly it's scary.  You cannot see where you are going if you have blinders on.  You cannot see who is standing right in front of you if you have blinders on.  Don't believe me?  Read the Bible, the Pharisees had blinders on and they missed Jesus Christ, the Messiah they had been waiting on for many years!   Even the disciples had blinders on after Jesus died on the cross.  They thought the story was finished because Jesus was dead and buried, but the surprise was on them.  

Luke 24:15-16  While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 

  

They had their blinders on.  They forgot what Jesus talked about.  They didn't recognize Him.  Luckily shortly after this their blinders were removed and the saw their risen Savior but imagine what would have happened if their blinders had not been removed?  When we have our blinders on, we are a lot like the disciples, we miss out on Jesus Christ.  Throw those blinders out in the trash, get rid of them and open your eyes to see the true glory of God revealed to us by Jesus Christ.  Only then can we ever see the full potential we have in this world, only then can we reach out and help others like Jesus did.

Lord, remove the blinders from my eyes and help me to see you wherever I go.  Give me your eyes and your ears to be a witness to everyone I meet, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

GET READY TO RUN YOUR RACE

I don't know what it is about running that fascinates me.  I do not like running, I do love to walk, but it intrigues me to watch runners.  These athletes, like many, train and condition their muscles for years.  For some, it takes hours of exercise and hours of training everyday to so that they can compete in 1 race.  I am astounded by their dedication and their endurance.  During the heat of the summer months and the bitter cold of the winter, I see athletes running.   Against all odds, in spite of possible injury, they continuously struggle and fight to prepare for the upcoming race.  As I sit back in my lazy boy chair I wonder if I could ever be as dedicated as they are.  Training to running a race does not sound like fun to me. I am in awe of those who are able to do this.  They train for months, even years to run 1 race in the Olympics.  Against the odds, they line up with sometimes hundreds of other runners who have prepared the same way they have.  They battle to keep ahead of the others, they go faster and faster in order to cross that finish line first.  Is it worth it all?  Is it worth all the pain and all the time?  I am sure if we ask any athlete who has won a gold medal in the Olympics, they would say, "YES!!  It was all worth it!"

My friends and fellow believers, we are in a race here.  We need to build up our endurance and our stamina if we want to reach the lost of this world.  We have to be like athletes and train our mind and body to run this race.  unlike runners we do not have to physically train our bodies, we need to fill our minds up with the word of God.  We need to strengthen the Holy Spirit that lives inside of us and tap into the gifts and fruits of the spirit that we have been given.  We need to chose our words more carefully and we need to be cautious with our actions.  You see as we are running this race, non believers are watching us.  They make mental notes of our words and actions.  They are judging us to see if what we say is what we do.  They are listening to us to see if our words are judgemental or loving.   Yes, whether you feel like it or not we are in a race.  We are racing to save lives.  We are racing to witness to others about the truth of Jesus Christ.  If we do not train ourselves with the word of God, and if we do not listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will stumble and fall.  If that happens we have no chance of winning the race, let alone completing it.

Hebrews 12:2  Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. 

We need to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ.  He is the ultimate example of someone who finished the race and won!  He had the endurance He needed in order to face the trials and pain He experienced.  He had the ambition and drive to train for this race He faced.  He (like us) had the power of God available to Him which instilled the strength and abilities He needed to compete.   My friends, through the Holy Spirit, we also can have this power along with the endurance we need to run this race.  We need to learn from the life of Jesus Christ, that is the only way we can compete and come out victorious.   I plan on training for this race, who's with me?

Lord fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may have the power, strength and endurance I need to train for this race.  Help me to complete this race I am in and become unstoppable like you were, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

I'LL LIVE FOR JESUS!

Revelation 22:12-13  "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."

If we got paid back for everything we did, good or bad, what would that look like?  What feeling would we have to admit?  What actions would we have to admit to, good or bad?  What blame would we honestly admit?  As I look at this verse I am overwhelmed.  If I have to pay for everything I did wrong, than surely death is my sentance.  I get paid for what I have done right, I am afraid my paycheck would not be as big as I would hope.  If we all lived this way, thinking we would get paid back for what we have done or said, would that change the way talk?  Would that change the way we live?  Would that change our actions?  Oh I know mine would.  I would stop and think twice about what I was going to say or do.  I would learn to shut my mouth.  I would stop sitting on the sidelines and get into the game of life.  I would pray more and criticize less.  I would serve more and help others more.  So why don't I live this way?

We are humans and because of this we fight a minute by minute battle with Satan.  He twists this verse around to make us think we have to do a list of good deeds to get into God's good graces.  For him, if we believe all we need to do is good works to get to heaven, then he is happy. He doesn't want us to believe in Jesus, just good works. You see the paycheck Jesus has for us who believe in Him is enormous.  He already paid the price for our sins and our failings.  There is no debt to be paid, because Jesus already paid that debt for us on the cross.  Our debt has been paid in full!  So when Jesus comes, and He is coming, He is bringing all us believers a reward for believing in Him.  Our reward is eternal life in Heaven.  We get to eternally spend our days basking in the presence of our heavenly Father.  How amazing is that?

I know some of you don't believe there is a God.  Science has not proven His existence.  Well lets be honest they haven't disproven it either.  Listen I do not need a list of scientific facts to prove to me there is a God.  I do not need proof that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  I believe in God and I believe in His only Son Jesus Christ!  I have chosen to live for Jesus Christ!  By believing what I believe, I do not have to do good deeds, I chose to do them because I want to be like Him who loved me first!  

Jesus Christ is my Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last!  My choice, my faith, my belief!  I have seen His miracles and I have seen Him move mountains!  I have been given the gift of His Holy Spirit which has transformed me into a better person.  His story and history and I get to play a little part in it.  Jesus will tell His story through me and I am grateful.  I am so grateful I do not have pay the price for all my sins and failings.  That price would be way to extreme.  Until Jesus comes, I will be doing what I can and paying close attention to my words.  When I meet Him face to face, I want to hear, "Well done my faithful servant.  Enter into the kingdom of God."

Lord, thank you for paying the price for my sins.  I wait patiently for the reward you have promised me but until then help me to live to serve others, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

IS IT THE GOVERNMENTS JOB TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MAN, OR OURS AS BELIEVERS?

1 John 3:17  But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 

This picture literally breaks my heart.  I don't know about you and where your walk is with Jesus, but this is a photo of someone He would stop to help.  The sad fact is how many of us believers would pass this man by without a second glance?  I for one have been guilty of passing by people like this.  My thoughts run wild with newspaper clipping about being attacked or worse.  Oh now don't judge me, be honest, you have passed by people like this too.  We feel helpless sometimes and don't know what we can do, so we do nothing.  Where is our compassion?  What happened to our willingness to help others?  Are we so consumed with our own problems that we just figure out that the government can handle them?  

Okay let me be more realistic here, where has our compassion gone when we see someone in our own family that seems down and a bit depressed?  Do we sit compassionately and just hold them and listen to them or do we jump all over them?  "What's your problem?"  "You should be happy, what's wrong with you?"  "I just don't get you!" These questions and many more comments are ones we make on a daily basis.  Maybe we do not come across the homeless on an every day basis, but we do come across family and friends that deserve a little compassion.  We sometimes honestly have no patience to have compassion for those closest to us.  Although I do have to be honest here, there are some people who dwell in drama on a daily basis.  They play the pity me card to get attention, I'm not talking about the drama kings and queens.  I am talking about those family members, those friends that are normally in a happy state.  Those are the ones we often judge without compassion.  

Too often we are so wrapped up in our own problems that we do not want to sit and listen to someone elses problems.  My friends, I have learned many valuable lessons on this verse.  We cannot continue to shut our hearts off from those in need, whether it be the homeless man on the street, the orphan, the widow or your family,   It is easy to see the homeless man and realize he needs help and have compassion.  It's also easy to just walk away from him.  It's easy to witness the orphan or the widow who is lonely and depressed and have compassion.  It's also just as easy to walk away from them.  But when it comes to people we live with or work with we seem to have no compassion.  Why?  Because we don't understand?  Because we don't want to waste our time trying to understand?  

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to have a heart filled with compassion. We need to do whatever we can, we need to do whatever is necessary to heal the hurts of others, whether we understand them or not.  Jesus stopped to heal so many people that we would judge as non deserving. Jesus had compassion on many we would just pass by.  Jesus had compassion for those no one else did.  Prostitutes, tax collectors, murders, homeless, lepers, are just a few of the people Jesus had compassion for.  Now days we are so quick to judge others that we miss the opportunity to show the compassion of Jesus Christ.  My question for you is;  are we really believers in Jesus Christ if we shut our hearts of compassion off and don't stop to help heal others physically, spiritually, mentally or financially?  

Lord, develop in me a heart of compassion for those in need.  Open my eyes, my ears and my heart to see where you need me to be your hands and feet.  Forgive me for the times I have walked by.  In Jesus name I pray, amen!

YOUR HEART IS A TREASURE CHEST!

My heart holds a treasure chest filled with precious memories of these crazy people.  Yes this is my family!!  I will claim every single one of them!  We are crazy and goofy but we are family.  Our bond is unbreakable and our love for each other is unconditional.  This is the treasure that fills my heart to overflowing.  I don't need a fancy car or a mansion on a hill.   I don't need priceless art work hanging on my walls because I have photos like these that fill my walls.  I also have colorings and drawings by my grandchildren, that is my priceless works of art!  My children fill my heart with love and joy.  My treasure chest is filled with things you cannot buy with money, like memories and love.  My treasure chest is filled with love from a Savior.  My treasure chest contains a book written many, many years ago that speaks of the truth of Jesus Christ.  You see, I learned a long time ago that the things we buy, like cars and art work and other material things, can overtake us and keep us from the real treasures, our family and our faith.

So many, too many, of us work countless hours and over stress our lives to provide the treasures that only money can buy.  We waste our lives working and striving for money, while our children just long to be with us.  We scrimp and save every penny for a future that may never happen.  We stockpile material treasures so that we can feel superior.  We hang our trophies up so that all the world can see and we have a list of accomplishments that we constantly brag about.  We take pride in all we do in this life.  We wave our successes like a flag, we fill our homes with precious things, and we invite others over to celebrate the treasures of our hearts.  When will we wake up?  What does it take for us to realize that anything we can buy can be replaced.  What has to happen for us to realize that these material treasures will rust and corrode?  When will we learn that the treasures we cherish most, the ones we put a price tag on, are worthless?

Matthew 6:19-21  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 

Our hearts can either be filled with monetary treasures that will rust and corrode, the treasures that thieves and robbers will steal, or our heart can be filled with love and joy and peace.  Each one of us has a choice.  I have chosen my Savior and my family!  No thief can steal either of these precious gifts.  Moths cannot eat through the fabric of my love for Jesus Christ and my family.  Nothing and no one can corrode the treasures that lie in my treasure chest.  Friends your heart can also be filled with priceless love.  Where your treasure lies, is where your heart lies.  I can instantly discern where a person's heart lies buy looking in their eyes and listening to their words.  Friends please take time today to examine what treasures you hold dear.  Evaluate where you heart lies by looking in the mirror and listening to your own words, for out of the heart, the mouth speaks.  

May our hearts become a treasure chest filled with unconditional love and acceptance.  May our treasures be filled with the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ and the memories of family.  May our speech come from a clean and righteous heart, in Jesus name I pray, amen.

WHO WATERS YOUR GARDEN?

A well watered garden grows by leaps and bounds.  If we take care of our garden faithfully and keep it watered along with fertilizing it, our flowers, vegetables, bushes and trees flourish with life.  If we don't tend to our garden, it will become barren and die.  I love my flower garden, I love flowers.  They brighten my day and lift my spirits.  There is something about flowers.  Maybe it's their vivid colors or their fragrance, maybe it's the combination of both those ingredients that brings a smile to my face, I'm not sure but flowers and a well watered garden just speak life.  On the other hand a garden that has been neglected, never watered, never fertilized and never weeded, speaks death.  The hard, cracked clay in an unattended garden says "No one cares about me."  

We are gardens.  When we are complimented and encouraged, we flourish with life.  The fruit, the flowers we produce when we are well watered, are magnified and they multiply like a wild fire.  We all need to know that we are important to someone.  We all need to know we are cherished and special.  We all need to hear compliments and encouragement from others. Yes we can get a lot from the Bible, but we also need it from other human beings.   There are so many times that God lifts us up with His words, but it is also nice to hear it from family and friends.  The sad thing is that we just take for granted that people know how we feel about them.  We take them for granted assuming they will be there tomorrow.  We always make sure we correct someone when they're wrong, but do we tell them when they are doing right?  

Yesterday a man at our church buried his wife.  She was not old by any means, but she had battled cancer and finally lost the battle and her life.  I'm sure he does not think of the corrections he should have told her about, or the things that she did that drove him crazy.  I'm sure he doesn't think about all the times she should have done this or should have done that.  I'm sure he doesn't think about the why she seemed so sad at times, after all she should have been happy.  No, those things are not running through his mind.  His thoughts are probably filled with all the memories and all the compliments he was able to give her in her last few days.  I am sure he watered the garden of his wife's heart, because he knew she was dying.    

If we knew that today was going to be the last day on earth for one of our loved ones, would we change the way we talk to them?   Would we change the way we treat them?  Would we water their garden with compliments and encouragements?  Or would we point out all the issues and problems we have with them?     Would we shut off the TV and spend time with them?  Would we just sit and listen with open ears and open hearts?  Or would we just sit and complain about the way they are acting? Would we say "I'm sorry if I hurt you."  Or would we blame them for what happened?  I don't know about you guys and gals, but I am tired of finding fault with others.  I am tired of seeing what is wrong with others.  I want to be a master gardener who takes care of the gardens of other peoples spirits.

Isaiah 58:11 (AMP)   And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not. 

People fail us.  God never will!  He waters our gardens with water that is everlasting.  His water will never run dry and our garden will always flourish when God is our gardener.  His words lift us up and encourage us when others do not.  The fruit from my garden multiples and magnifies my God, not me!  The fragrant beauty of a flower from my garden brings joy and peace to a troubled world, or at least I hope so.  Listen, God is always the master gardener who tends to our gardens, if we allow Him, but it's always nice to have our gardens watered by our loved ones also.  So don't take for granted that someone will be there tomorrow, tell them today how important they are to you.  Let them know how special they are and continue treating them the way Jesus treats you!  

May we all learn to become master gardeners who water and tend to the gardens of others.  may we never take others for granted and may we stop waiting for tomorrow to tell people how much they mean to us, in Jesus name I pray, amen! 

YOU HAVE BEEN SET FREE!

What would it be free?  I know what you are saying; "I am free!  I live in America!  I am free!"  My question is are you truly free?  Do you live your life full of worry?  Even if you worry just a little bit, you are not free.  Do you live your life full of guilt from the past?  If that is so, then you are not free.  Are your thoughts filled with regrets?  If so, then you are not free.  Are your words filled with anger and pointing out other peoples faults?  That is not what being truly free sounds like.  Living in a country that is free from tyranny and governmental interference has nothing to do with the freedom I am talking about.  I totally understand that our soldiers have fought and died for the freedom we have here in America and I am so grateful for their sacrifice.  But the free that I am discussing today goes much deeper.

You see I have discovered a sense of free that not many people have.  The free I am living has freed me from guilt and condemnation.  I learn from my sins and mistakes, then I move on, dwelling on them no more. This free has removed my anger and replaced it with love and forgiveness.  Living free as I do now, has cleared me of  a life of worry and regrets.  I know that all things, even the bad, will work out for my good eventually.  My words are (for the most part) filled with love and peace.  Yes I am human and I still stumble into the past old self, but I have learned so much about myself through this freedom I have found, that I no longer stay in my old self for long.  What would take me days and weeks to get over, now only takes me minutes or maybe a few hours.  I wish I could explain in words the free I feel.  All my burdens, all my troubles, all my worries have been lifted off of me.

John 8:31-32  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." 

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I am free!  The truth about Jesus Christ has set me free from the lies of Satan.  I have a sense of peace so deep and profound that it is hard for me to put into words.  I used to listen to and dwell on the lies of Satan.  I used to let the words of others and my past define who I was.  But now I know the truth!  My past cannot define who I am today!  Words from others will not derail me from the truth of my Savior.  Because I believe in Him, because I truly believe in Him not only with my words but with my actions, He has lifted every worry, every concern and every sin.  He has replaced my anger with forgiveness, He has replaced my regrets and guilt with acceptance and love.  He has removed the words others try to hurt me with His words that tell me how important I am to Him.   He has lifted me up and removed my burdens.  He has cleared the past garbage and washed me clean.  I am free!  The truth of Jesus Christ has set me free!  It can set you free also.

May the love of Jesus Christ set you free from your past and may His mercy and grace free you from all worry and condemnation.  May the lies of Satan never penetrate the freedom you have in Jesus Christ, in His holy name I pray, amen! 

THE GIFT OF LIFE 2 YEARS AGO TODAY!

2 years ago

Yesterday

John 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 

As I sit here contemplating this verse I try to grasp the true meaning of this verse.  I think of the soldiers who lay down their life for their country, I think about police and fireman who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.  These people are heroes to me.  They think about others first and themselves last.  They fulfill the true meaning of this Bible verse.  But friends there is another person I think about when I think about my list of heroes, my husband Jerry.  You see 2 years ago today my husband Jerry did something that none of us would ever dream of doing for a friend, he donated one of his kidneys to a clients son, who has become a close friend.  Matthew is just about the same age as our son, Sean.  When Jerry heard that Matthew was on dialysis and not doing good.  He stepped up and volunteered to see if he would be a match. After almost 6 months of testing the surgery was set.   I knew what Jerry was doing was nice, but I never understood the impact it had until we checked into the hospital that day.  We were greeted not only by Matthews parents, but his grandparents and brother and aunts and uncles and friends.  They had tears in their eyes and gratitude poured from their hearts like the tears running down their faces.  I have never seen not felt, such heart felt gratitude in my life.  

You see Matthew was born with difficulties. By the time he was 3 years old he had 30 surgeries.  He had a liver transplant when he was a baby.  His entire life consisted of hospitals, doctors and medicines.  He never really knew what a normal life was.  Before this surgery he had been on dialysis 3 days a week.  Think about a 24 year old who spends hours at a hospital, not working, but just sitting there watching his blood be filtered by a machine.  He took 28 different medications and life was not anywhere close to normal for Matthew.  Instead of hanging out with his buddies, going out to bars and having a good time, he spent his time exhausted and run down.  Vacations were a fantasy because of all his health issues.   Matthew couldn't work and had no energy too. When Jerry talked with Matthews dad in March of 2012 and told him what was going on, Jerry thought about our son, Sean and all the fun he was having and he knew that he had to at least try.

Matthew now has a normal life.  He has a job, a girlfriend, he has gone on vacation to Florida and he rides his motorcycle.  The most amazing part of this is that he only takes 2 medications now.  He has gained weight and is healthy.  For us normal folks that doesn't seem important but for Matthew it's a miracle.  You see that is my husband is my hero.  He didn't have to do this, but he did.  He endured 7 hours of surgery and weeks of recovery because he took this verse literally.  He stepped out and stepped up.  Last night we met again to celebrate life and Matthew looks amazing!  I praise God for this miracle of life that Jerry has given Matthew.  It amazes me that something as simple as a kidney could make such a big difference, but it did.

My number one ultimate hero is Jesus Christ.  You see, when our Savior said those words, He knew that He would be laying down His own life for you and I.  He sacrificed Himself so that we could have the gift of eternal life.  I am blown away by this fact and could easily sink into a pool of tears because of what He did for me.  I could also easily be brought to a pool of tears by what my husband did.  I get it!  Lay down one's life for a friend!  I truly believe this verse because I believe what Jesus did for me.  To have such love and such unselfishness is amazing.  My friends, could you imagine what this world would look like if we all lived like this?   Listen if you don't believe in Jesus, that's okay because He still believes in you!  In fact He is still waiting for you with open arms.  He doesn't care what you used to do or how many sins you've committed.  What He does care about is that you have the chance to live in eternity with Him.  He laid down His life for you whether you believe it or not.   

Lord, thank you for the gift of eternal life.  Thank you for healing Matthew.  Please help us learn to true meaning behind the verse, laying down our lives for our friends.  In Jesus name I pray, amen!    

YOU CAN SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE!!

As I sit here today staring out on the lake I am reminded of this picture.  This happened this summer while we were sitting on our deck with good friends.   We noticed this rather large bird flying around the lake.  Then we noticed that the wings were barely moving like he was just floating around the air.  I quickly grabbed my camera with the telephoto lens and captured this amazing photograph.  Yes, that is an American Bald Eagle!  You see, Jerry and I have a fascination with Eagles and all they represent.  I love watching Eagles fly, or shall I say float on the gentle breezes of the wind.  To me these birds of prey are amazing.  While they often prey on small living animals and fish to eat, they have an amazing tendency to rise above the storms.  The soar above the clouds and bask in the sunshine God has given them instead of worrying about what's going on.  They sharpen their talons and their beaks so they are prepared for any enemy that may attack them.  They renew themselves by plucking out their old feathers so that new ones will come through.  They are powerful enough to fly with a large mouth bass in their talons.  Their strength is amazing, but the biggest thing I am intrigued by is the fact that they do not wander in the ground like chickens in a chicken coop, they soar.  They don't pace around on the ground waiting for their next meal, they go out and find it.  They don't peck the ground and mosey around in the dust and dirt, they fly.  They don't run for cover when a storm approaches, they embrace the storm and rise above it.  Now mind you I have nothing against chickens, just stating the obvious.

Okay you may wonder what this has to do with being a believer in Jesus Christ.  Well listen up!  As a believer, way too many of us live our lives like the chickens in a chicken coop.   We wander around in the dust and dirt waiting for our miracle.  We kick the dust around and peck at the dirt and we gripe and complain and moan and groan about our pitiful life.  We gather together and commiserate about all our problems.  We run for cover the minute a storm hits and we cry and hide and blame God or anyone else we can.  We look up at the Eagle soaring in the sky and wonder why God blessed him and cursed us. " Why can't we be so lucky?  Why can't we be like the Eagle?  It's just not fair!"   Does this sound familiar?  We look at other believers who are successful and envy and jealousy rises in our hearts.  We judge them and criticize them, all the while we are pecking at the ground never trying to use the wings God has given us to fly.

Isaiah 40:28-31  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. 

Sorry I've been trying really hard to write uplifting messages and I guess I just blew that, huh?  Wait a minute, no I didn't!  This verse brings such great news to me!  Reread it and let the words permeate your soul!   Listen we all have choices to make in life.  Unlike chickens who cannot fly, we can decide to flap our wings!  God has given us all gifts and talents to use.  That means we have wings to fly like the eagles!  We can flap those wings, step out of our comfort zone and fly!  We can learn to embrace the storms in life and we can rise above them.  We can soar above the storm clouds and learn from each gust of wind that tries to dissuade us from the course God has given us.  We can avoid the lightening bolts of Satan by rising above them.  We can rise to new levels in our beliefs by just flapping our wings and rising to above the clouds.  We can renew ourselves by removing our old self and letting new feathers replace the old, won ones that kept us down in the chicken coop.  Listen we can either be chicken believers or eagle believers.   Which one do you want to be?  

May I learn to be an Eagle Christian and stop pecking the ground with the chickens.  Help me to step out of my comfort zone and embrace all that God has for me, in Jesus name I pray, amen!

YOU SHOULD BE DANCING !!

This picture is from my daughters wedding last year.  As you can see, my grandchildren are having a blast dancing to the music.  The DJ was outstanding and the dance floor was filled all night long.  I don't know about you, but I love good music!  I guess that's because I grew up hearing my brother's band play in our basement.  Yes I was the little sister who hid on the basement steps so I could listen to him play.  It was awesome!  Over the years my taste in music has changed some, but one thing remains true for me, I love music with a good beat.  I listen to all types, Barry Manilow and Styx, John Denver and Brad Paisley, Whitney Houston and Kenny Chesney.  My all time favorite music I love to listen to now is Christian music.  I know you already figured that out right?  Well while I love listening, I love to dance to the music.  Yes, even Christian music.  When no one else is around I put on my music and dance.  No matter how bad I feel, no matter what I am going through in life, music and dancing just seem to lift my spirits.  In fact when I am in church listening to Cliff and the church band play worship music, if you look closely you will notice I cannot keep my feet still.  Music and dancing makes me feel alive.

For me dancing means there is a celebration.  And although there are times when I feel like crying, those are the times I put on my music and dance.  There are some religions who feel dancing is wrong.  For me I do not understand that because Jesus likes a party just like we do.  In fact His first miracle was performed at a wedding feast, and let me tell you, jewish wedding ceremonies were huge week long parties.  You were created to dance and enjoy life.  Celebrate this life God has given us and enjoy the party!  Dance the night away!  You should be dancing!  Celebrate good times, come on!  Way to often we are so over burdened by our circumstances and weighed down by the worries of tomorrow, that we miss today!  Today is a present!  What if today was your last day on Earth?  Would you want to spend it worrying about what may never happen?  Or celebrate today by dancing?

Psalm 30:11- 12  You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,  To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever. 

To me, the Bible is clear, God will turn our mourning into dancing!  Instead of frowning and living life by complaining and whining, put on those dancing shoes and turn on the music and dance!  Dancing does not lead to sinning!   It leads to God!  I truly feel that God loves to see us dance and celebrate this life He has given us.  God has a great dance floor up in heaven and I for one, cannot wait to dance before God and celebrate the love He has given me.  We need to stop getting wrapped up and overwhelmed with our circumstances and dance knowing that our God is bigger and stronger than any circumstance we may have.   God has turned my mourning into dancing when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.  Will you join me on the dance floor?

Lord, thank you for the gift of music and dance.  Thank you for turning my mourning into dancing.  Thank you for allowing me to celebrate this life you have given me.  Help me to dance the nights away praising your name, in Jesus name I pray, amen!