S.O.S.

It was a dark and stormy night aboard a cargo ship in the Irish sea. Eight men on board a vessel containing 3 tons of limestone...when the hull cracks and they begin to take on water. A 2:00 am mayday call was sent out and area ships answered to provide shelter for survivors. The men donned their immersion suits with strobe lights and found themselves in the chilly waters off the coast of Holyhead Wales.

The Royal Air Force sent a rescue helicopter with a crew of four to the scene of waves, winds and wondered...how many would they save? Out of the eight, two were airlifted to safety aboard. The difficulty was described as, "challenging at best."

What amazed me most about this exciting news story was that there was royalty on that helicopter. The Prince William himself was copilot for that mission. I wondered, did the rescued men recognize him during all the tension? Did they realize who was on board with them? I doubt they knew until afterwards, with a hot mug of tea and warm dry clothes on...someone let them know that the man who would someday be King of England had risked his life to come to their rescue.

How do you think those two men felt? Do you think they were amazed that he would step into that danger to save them? Why would Prince William risk his life for another? I wonder...

I have a message for you dear reader. Have you got your warm mug of tea and a blanket around you? There is a storm brewing out there in the world. Do you have that sinking feeling that your job is not going to save you, your friends are not able to save and you don't even have the strength to save yourself?

When you send your mayday call, make sure it's to the One who can rescue you. And don't expect Prince William to fly in on his RAF Helicopter and lower a basket!

Two thousand years ago God stepped out of His throne room and onto this earth as a man called Jesus. He came to earth to save us all from a death that no one should suffer from. It is nothing we can do ourselves to save us. Every time a person prays to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior, another soul is plucked from the storm of sin. Are you still treading water dear reader? How much longer do you think you can do this all on your own? Do not waste a moment to send out your own SOS (save one soul) prayer to God and He will.

How do I know that? Because I myself am a witness to my own rescue...and it was no "man who someday would be king"...it was Christ who IS KING!

I wonder...who do you say that Jesus is?

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

What's Cookin?

Here's a cooking tip for you if you need an easy way to peel garlic: turn it on the flatter side and press with the heel of your hand until you hear a "pop". That loosens the outer peel that contains the clove inside. You can then peel the garlic clove easily so it can be prepared for cooking.

So why would I put a cooking tip in my blog? Well, sometimes when I am doing the most mundane things like peeling garlic, God says "Write this!"

As I was popping and peeling my garlic cloves a verse came to mind from 2 Corinthians 4:8 "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed".

The weight of that verse sat on my heart...so many have felt something heavy in their life. Sometimes it's just this old broken world that we live in. But could it be that sometimes, the loving Father in Heaven is causing this pressure? Could it be that the all-loving Creator literally has his child in a tight spot on purpose? Would God do that to His kids? Of course He would.

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed.

How else are we to grow stronger? If he doesn't remove that tough outer husk of "self" after some pressure, how are we going to enjoy the real flavor of life?

Garlic is most pungent when it has been broken off the whole bulb, pressed and peeled...and yes crushed. And the more you break down that tiny piece of plant, the "louder" it gets with the fragrance. Pretty soon someone in the other room can smell it!

Have you ever met a real Christ follower who has had an easy life? A life of no problems, no issues, no sin? I think not. If you are a Christian and haven't come upon hard times, well then you better get ready!

My dear reader, one day you will awaken and find yourself in God's kitchen and He's stirring the pot of your life. And you will find yourself like that little garlic clove, getting pressed until you feel like you're going to break. But remember, this recipe is not for disaster but a magnificent culmination of His will intersecting with your life. And what an amazing recipe that is!

So when that day comes, pray, seek His will, ask others to pray that you will persevere and that your life becomes so fragrant to others they will be drawn to Christ from near and far!

As some comfort remember this: He wouldn't ask you to go through anything that Jesus had already been through Himself. (Check out Isaiah 53:5)

I'll get back to my roasted tomato and pepper salsa...and garlic cloves. Why don't you check out your Bible today and see what He has to share with you?

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Psalms 34:8

Eat Cake

"It was the best of cakes, it was the worst of cakes." That was a pretty good synopsis by my husband as we celebrated our son's birthday.

You remember the scene, either as a parent or as a child...a lovely concoction called a "cake" and enjoying a slice with them. Memories of a pink and purple strawberry cake with thick pink icing comes to mind...a sugar bomb if ever there was one. Or, a different kind of cake--a pancake--made in the wee hours by a youngster using chocolate milk, chocolate chips and flour...then you awaken to sticky fingers requesting your assistance to fry up the batter because they're too short to use the stove. (Thank you Lord for short 5 year olds!)

So there we sat with our son and his "cake". Let me describe it to you...you take one vending machine and order up a honey bun, and squash it as flat as you can in the wrapper. Then you drop another couple coins in the food machine for a squeeze tube of peanut butter. Then one more handful of coins for a bag of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies.

The wrapper is opened and becomes the platter for the cake. Peanut butter is squoozed (yes squoozed) out over the top. A cookie is used as a PB spreader. Then you crumble broken up cookies over the top. The flaps of the wrapper is closed over the top again and used to press the cookies into the honeybun. We all had a slice and quietly sang "happy birthday".

It was the best of cakes because it was not my son's 6th birtday...it was his 20th. And it was the worst of cakes because it was created inside a prison visitor room.

But you know what, the more I think about it the better that cake is getting. Because I got to hug my son for the first time in over a year and a half. No more video visitation for us!

The Bible says we are to visit those who are in prison. And I can see why. They are spiritual prisoners of war. Should we just leave them to the enemy to do as he wants with them? Or shall we visit, write, send books and accept the collect phone calls to let them know we are still here? We need to let them know the world is still turning and we will be here when they get out.

Someone has come to mind for you. They are either in a physical prison like my son or they are in an emotional or mental prison--which can be just as dark. It's time to reach out...and don't forget to take a cake!

Matthew 25:31-46

To the one you visit, it might be a far, far better thing that you do, than you have ever done...

Wake Up!

I was sound asleep one night while my dad was visiting. He sleeps on the other side of the house in my son's old room. This night I was awakened out of a deep sleep. I clearly heard my dad's voice call my name. It was like he was just outside the door! (Yes I heard him above hubby's snores.) It was so loud and distinct I almost stood up in bed...dropping the chains of a deep sleep on the covers.

I thought something must be wrong so I immediately threw on a robe and rushed to his room...where I heard nothing but even breathing of a person sound asleep.

The next morning I asked if he had any dreams or if he called for me. We were both stumped. Because the call was so clear to me!

The next weekend after he was gone I was still puzzled and had the hubby go in that bedroom, close the door and say a word with the same loudness. I didn't hear anything from our bedroom. We both wrote it off as a vivid dream.

The Bible tells us a story of a young boy who was resting in the temple and heard his foster-father call for him. Three times he got up to ask him what he needed. The third time, his caretaker told him the next time he heard his name called that it was actually God calling and to say "Speak for your servant is listening." (1 Samuel 3:1-10) The young boy did and became a great servant of God and annointed two kings of Israel because he listened to his heavenly Father.

Last weekend in church, we were enjoying a sermon with our church family. We had a few visitors and as always, our pastor invites anyone to give their life to Christ.

Recently he has been quickened to make a bold request. Normally it's heads bowed, nobody looking and you slip your hand up...no confrontation but then little accountability as well. This weekend everyone was alert when he gave the invitation. It was pretty amazing to see a young man boldly stand up after a pause and speak out loud his decision for Christ.

Think about it, this young man was sitting in church last week. He listened to music and a sermon like everyone else did. When our pastor gave an invitation to accept Christ, he didn't call this young man's name. But something made him stand. Could it be he heard his name called? Maybe like me hearing my dad's voice call while I was sleeping, could this young man hear his name while he was spiritually sleeping?

For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14

Make no mistake dear reader. God still speaks to us. He is calling His children by name and they are standing up. Could you be hearing your name as well? Have you ever stood to publicly proclaim Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Do not let the sun go down until you make sure of that.

Pray and ask God to forgive you, tell Him that you are ready to make Jesus Lord of your life. And then listen to that other amazing sound with your soul...the chains dropping to the floor! Make sure to speak to a pastor or Christian friend about your decision and find a church family that will hold you accountable and help you learn more about this decision.

It is time to wake up!

{Do} this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to {its} lusts.
Romans 13:11-14

Hard Way

The easy way out is never easy in the end. You always have to play some kind of catch-up or pay a huge fee of some kind.

My Dad always says, "Do the hard stuff first." Then you could take it a bit easier as you get older. That wisdom is true for schooling, work and even taking care of your health.

Instead of taking a year off before starting college, jump in with both feet--work through summer school and finish early. Even some high schools have ways to dual enroll in college--that way your two year degree is free!

Instead of waiting by the phone and computer for that job to pop up after sending out hundreds of resumes, volunteer in your field and do all the hard work. It builds up your experience, gets your mind off the wait, and you might catch some employer's eye with your dedication.

Start the day with something healthy instead of a doughnut or sugar bombs. By 10:00am your body will thank you by not crashing and you can reward it with a healthy snack before lunch. Avoid elevators and close parking spots--make those legs work harder and you'll have more energy by the end of the day, and a healthier heart in your 50's.

Taking the harder road is normally best these days, especially with all the time-saving, sweat sparing gadgets out there. Someone is always ready to take your money in exchange for the amount of time it might take you to work and get a better result.

The discipline muscle is the hardest and also the most rewarding part of your self to exercise. If you can conquer that, you will win whenever your body or emotions whine to pull over and take the easy escalator to what you think is the next level.

There is One who is the model of discipline. His name is Jesus and He knew what obedience of the will was all about. Even as a child, He hit the books. Later on a trip to Jerusalem, His parents found Him in the temple--debating scripture with rabbis when He was 12. There was no begging for sight-seeing jaunts to the pyramids or the camel farm! (Luke 2:41-52)

When He stepped up to the challenge God had for Him, He went toe-to-toe with the devil himself and won. (Matthew 4:1-11)

And even in the garden, when His path was clearly laid out for the cross and Death was near, He prayed to God, "Not my will but Yours." (Luke 22:39-46)

Think about it. The only time God ever asks you to take the easy road is in accepting His gift of His son's sacrifice on the cross for your sins. Because there is no amount of schooling, overtime hours or strenuous physical activity you can do to attain that forgiveness.

The hard stuff was already done by Christ. The only difficult part left to do is accept the free gift He offers. And to some, that seems too easy to believe.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, {it is} the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Prayer Call

My brother and I had a little bit of an anxious weekend. You see, we both tried calling Dad and didn't get an answer. In fact, his phone machine that normally answers with it's generic male voice (that sounds like a robot on too much caffeine) didn't even pick up like usual. We called and listened to the line ring and ring and ring. It seemed like nobody was home.

We wondered, did Dad pick up and go visit a brother? Did he go birdwatching on the West coast? Is he at a Superbowl party somewhere? When time ticked away, the fears started to pop their ugly heads. I did my best to play "whack a mole" with them by checking in with his minister, emailing my dad and listening to hubby say, "He's OK, he's probably busy."

Finally I got an email from the Reverend. "He was at choir Sunday, things are fine."

But I wasn't consoled until I finally got an email from him, "The phone line is down, it will be repaired on Tuesday."

I could stop obsessing...he answered and all is well again. It seems an old tree in the backyard had been removed, and so had part of the line. That tree had been growing for a while in the backyard...slowly reaching towards the lines. Before we knew it, the tree had engulfed the cables and all it would take was a good windstorm. (Now that I think about it, that tree had been growing taller for over 20 years!)

So the question that came to my mind was, have you ever felt that sometimes nobody is listening when you pray? Are there are times when you're trying to get through to God and the line seems too quiet? What do you do when that happens?

First, is God expecting your call? As a Christian, you can expect unlimited minutes in prayer with your heavenly Father. But if you have not accepted Christ, your call could be dropped. (John 14:6)

Next, make sure your connection is solid. Like a downed line, sin that is not confessed can break that connection as quick as a 50 lb tree limb on a cable. (John 9:31)

Sometimes we allow a dark thought to be planted in our mind. This thought, when it sprouts, can be easily plucked and dealt with early. (2 Corinthians 10:5, Psalm 86:5) Left to grow, it can turn into an action. Temptation itself is not a sin, it's acting on it that germinates the seed and growth is immediate. (James 1:13-15) Before you know it your lines to God are caught and broken...so it's best to deal with them as soon as they appear.

Do you only pray when you need something? Or prayed and prayed and then later in the day realized you didn't stop to hear a reply? Have you ever tried sitting quietly and sending up a quick, "I just prayed to say I love you, God"? Then sit and listen...you'll be amazed what your heart hears.

Did someone tell you that He hears you, just try again another time God is probably busy with the unrest in the Middle East? Know this dear reader, God is not human. He is God and He is omnipotent. That means He is everywhere all the time. There is no war or even a hungry crow that He ignores. (Luke 12:24) And as His children, so much more is His ear tuned to our call!

Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call {upon Him} as long as I live. Psalm 116:2

Don't forget that the line goes both ways. Make sure you listen for Him. It could be as simple as waking up at 3am for no reason, or maybe a song in your head when you awaken. Seriously...He loves you and will call you. The question is, will you answer?

How do you pray? Get to a quiet place, bring your Bible, close your eyes and either talk to Him out loud or within your heart. If you need a bit more instruction, check out how Jesus answered His disciples when they asked the same thing in Luke 11:1-13.

I hope you are blessed this week as you earnestly "reach out and touch" God in prayer. It's better than texting, chatting and even skype--and you'll never get a bill for going over your minutes limit! (Because Jesus already paid that bill.)

...So that you may know that it is I, The LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. Isaiah 45:3b

Life's If

As I was grocery shopping the other day, I overheard a conversation between two little girls that almost floored me. One asked the other a very simple question...but the weight of a two letter word slapped me in the back of the head.

The little girls where trailing their mom's cart and were deep in conversation. As I passed, the taller one asked the smaller one, "If you grow up, would you rather live in an apartment or a house?"

Simple question yes? But why "if"? Isn't that question usually started with a "when"? Don't children normally think they'll live until as old as their parents? Why "if"?

With the breaking news of the day still swirling in my worries, I asked God why that hit my heart so hard.

He reminded me of a bedtime prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."

Wow...could it be those little girls understood this childhood prayer better than I did? You see, we are not promised tomorrow. We are not promised another breath on this earth. Nobody knows when their time is. You can guess by looking at your family tree, or listen to what your doctor tells you...but nobody but God knows the exact date and time you will come face to face with Him.

So then, how should we live? The book of James says:

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are {just} a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, {you ought} to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." James 4:13-15

There's that little two letter word again, "if". Such a tiny word, but it carries the weight of humble obedience. Those little girls did have it right...and so does my grandma.

One of her phrases is, "Lord willin!" Which in Wyoming jargon means--whatever God wills! She knows all about that child-like obedience to "the Good Lord".

Can you say that today? Can you truly say that you want God's will in your life? Imagine that...even the word Life has that humble word "if" in it. God is awesome. Life is short and it can be hard, but with Christ you are promised to face the ifs of Life with Him--never alone.

If we were to live today like tomorrow wasn't coming, what would you want to change?

As the stars come out one by one tonight, I hope you will consider a new rendition of that bedtime prayer:

"Before I lay me down to sleep, I pray that Christ my soul does keep. And IF I die before I wake, I pray my eyes behold His face!"

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, {he is} a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Keep the Fire 2

I had a few more thoughts on our campfire experience. I decided, it's all about the marshmallows. It's not the chocolate or the graham crackers. They are just the vehicles to get the wonderful sugar napalm to your taste buds.

When we stopped at the grocery to pick up s'mores supplies, there was literally one bag of large marshmallows left. We made our way home with our bag of inedible looking white sponges. Little did they realize what was in store for them!

Hubby went out to where the palmettos and palm trees grow and selected some long green palm sticks. These he sharpened down to a point at one end. We stoked the fire a bit and watched the coals grow orange. Then one by one we parked a marshmallow on the end of a long stick and held it over the fire. Very carefully we held it near the coals, not taking our eyes off of it. One centimeter too close and whoosh! We had an instant torch on the end of the stick. No matter how quickly we blew it out, a charred smoking husk dangled from the end of the stick.

As we gained expertise, we figured out the best coals for slowly toasting a marshmallow. We'd turn it near the glowing ember, watching for a lick of flame to tease us with a flame-out. We kept it just out of reach, always watching, always turning. Sure, our faces felt warm and we might've singed some hair on our hands...but once we proclaimed it "Perfect!", the humble marshmallow was elevated to a gourmet experience: campfire brulee.

It's the same with me. If I realize when life gets hot that I am in the hands of the Master, I will trust that He is always watching and will never drop me into the flame. Because He knows just how much heat I can bear...as well as how much more flavorful my life can be. Why should I be satisfied with what the world calls "normal life"? --when I can step into the amazing purpose that God has in store for me...dancing just inches above the fire!

Life is sweet...why not ask for s'more?

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7

Keep the Fire

We had small group tonight and decided campfire therapy was needed. The weather was cool with a spritz of rain that kept us just chilled enough while the fire burned. (Yes January in Florida can be warm!) We had glowing coals, green palmetto sticks, soft marshmallows, sweet chocolate and crunchy graham crackers. It was a good night for this.

We talked about everything and nothing, we talked about deep subjects and silly jokes...and we shared our hearts for our family and friends. Our small group is small, but we're big enough to hold each other up through the hard stuff. And that's what a church family does...they do life together and they do it well with Christ.

As I sat there in the glow of the fire light and laughter, I saw the logs on the fire shifting and sending up sparks now and then like shooting stars. The new branches would burn brightly when first tossed on the fire--our faces lit up with the dancing flames. Then as the fire changed to blues and orange, the coals started to emerge...toasty grottoes formed and we deftly roasted a few marshmallows--and flamed a few more than we intended.

I realized as we shared and bolstered each other up, I saw ourselves as those logs on the fire. You see as new Christians, we ignite with the fire of the Holy Spirit...burning brightly with the excitement for Christ. But as time wears on, some days the flames burn hot and our lives seemed to be forever scarred, blackened and broken--this is where some want to escape, until we realize the fire is a crucible. God is purifying our lives. We watch as others come closer to find comfort in that warmth. As those glowing coals render up ash and a few sparks in the sky...we continue to offer our lives as a living sacrifice to the One who burns in our hearts.

As we prayed before our group went home, the sweet taste of burnt marshmallow and the smell of smoke in our hair and jackets lingered in our circle. And I had just a twinkle of an idea of what maybe Daniel experienced in the furnace...because Daniel had his small group who went through the fire together, and so do I.

"Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10

for our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:29

Badges?

If you've ever visited a government building, it's obvious that to have access to certain areas, you need a badge. This tells security who you are and your access level. Your badge determines where you can go. To get a badge, you either need to work there or be a visitor who has been cleared with security. And even then you may find doors that remain locked.

It is frowned upon at these establishments to "hold the door" for someone who has forgotten or lost their badge. Holding the door leaves the building open to anyone. The one who holds the door better be sure they know who they're letting in, or face the consequences of their boss.

I just realized today as my own badge unlocked a door for me at work...so many try to get to heaven by their own badge. They figure that their accomplishments, their morals or simply being born to Christian parents gives them full access to heaven. But you know what? There is only one who has full access: Jesus. He has full security clearance that gives Him the ultimate access: Heaven's throne. When you realize that's all it takes--you knowing Christ and Christ knowing you--you will have the assurance that one day you'll see Him with His foot in heaven's door and beckoning with an outstretched arm saying, "Come on, I'm holding the door for you!"

Get to know Him today...check out the book of John in the Bible's New Testament.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
John 14:6

Seed Cathedral

Have you seen the Seed Cathedral at the Shanghai 2010 Exhibit by the UK? It is incredible! If you haven't seen it yet, I am providing a link to a video of it.

There is some background music...if you listen, you will hear it softly say:

Safe Tomorrow , by Lali Puna
Never going anywhere
Never going anywhere
If we meet turn your head
Try to make it home by night

Never going anywhere
Never going anywhere
Don't stop by and get to know
Stuff your memory with facts

Save save save
Save the things you've got

When you walk into this building, there are thousands upon thousands of clear plastic sticks. And inside them you will find a seed. You can only see them from the inside of the building. From the outside, some have described the building as a giant dandelion puff that moves gently in the breeze. But on the inside, there are myriads of seed samples lit from the sunlight outside...they say about 60,000. Amazing shapes, sizes and colors...all packed up and ready to be a tree, a flower or a stalk of grain!

It is a most amazing collection I have ever seen. Each one by itself, mounted and balanced inside a solid piece of plastic, an architectural dream!

And then the song started to make it's way through the awe of the engineering feat before me.

"Never going anywhere" the chorus drones...and my mind sees another cathedral or church with rows upon rows of people in the pews. Each one a unique creation, ready to be planted, but they stay put. (1 Peter 1:23)

"Don't stop by and get to know" another line rolls across my speakers and I see families rushing out of their seats and into their cars to get home for Sunday dinner, soccer games or a movie. My conscience is elbowed--how many times have I lingered to speak to that new visitor that snuck in the back row? (Hebrews 13:2)

"Stuff your memory with facts" the song continues and I see many heads bent to read their Bible, memorize verses, looking at archeology time lines and genealogies. Don't get me wrong, it's good to study...but how good is what you learn until you actually apply it to your Life or share it with someone? (2 Timothy 3:7)

"Save the things you've got" and i am convicted of the stuff in my house that needs to be whittled down. That bookshelf, those clothes and nick-knacks that only catch the dust...time to make room. Do I really need the item if I have the memory? (Luke 12:33)

How long have we been sitting in our own seed cathedrals or churches? We are so well preserved, studious and obedient little seeds...but if you face the facts, we are nothing until we hit the ground! Because it is then that the shell cracks, a root slips out and we start the growth that is so needed in our church today.

Time to step out of your pew Christian...time to be in the World, but not be of the World. Yes, that seed cathedral is beautiful, but the potential for growth that is locked up inside blows my mind.

During this hot summer season may the Holy Spirit breathe on all dandelion puff churches and scatter us onto the ground, where we can grow AND bloom in Christ!

And when a great crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Luke 8:4-8

Three Hour Tour

Our Ladies' Bible study just finished Acts 27, the story of Paul's ship wreck on his way to Rome. I loved the detail that Luke gave us. You could almost taste the salt spray and hear the anchor chains rattle across the deck.

The one issue that kept coming up, was that Paul wanted them all to keep going. He promised that God said no one would be lost, just the cargo and ship. If everyone would stay on board and did their assigned chore, all would live.

It was a huge ship. It carried grain from Egypt to Rome, somewhere from 500-1000 tons of grain. There were 276 men on board for this trip. And Paul said in the middle of hurricane force winds,

"For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.'"

You see, when I was driving home, I caught the last words of a sermon on the radio. The pastor was quoting Matthew 24:13, "But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved."

Which is basically what Paul was telling this crew of 275 men...if you endure, you will save your life. They had to ride out the storm to survive it. Jumping ship would mean death for most, because each crew member and even the soldiers had a task that no one else could do. One missing man could mean death for many.

It is the same for us as a church. We clamber aboard our vessels to sail the seas of God's Word. But when the storms of life start to make us queasy, we want to jump ship and find a better route. We didn't sign up for hurricanes!

It's not the building that is the church dear readers. It is the people. When you look for a church, you must have a captain...or pastor...that you trust. His course is your course. His Admiral is yours. And the crew, they must all pull their weight. No slackers allowed! Every person has their job, from swabbing the decks to piping the tune to come aboard. You sign up, cast off and you don't drop a lifeboat at the first sign of a raincloud.

The church is the people. We are on this trip together. And if we keep our heads and encourage one another, we'll make it to our destination in good time. We just have to remember to endure to the end...no matter what.

Not if, but when a hurricane hits, we lighten our loads. We cast off what is not important, but hang on to the people. Why let a piece of luggage or 200 lbs of cargo get between you and someone who loves Christ too? Let it go...forgive.

I promise you there will be some smooth sailing, but there will also be hurricanes, waterspouts and a cyclone or tsunami. I'm just glad I've signed up with a seaworthy crew. It's no Disney Cruise Ship, but she's a true vessel that will take us into Eternity.

The weather started getting rough,
The tiny ship was tossed,
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The minnow would be lost, the minnow would be lost...

PS: Did you know you can sing the Amazing Grace to the tune of Ballad of Gilligan's Island? Coincidence? I think not.


"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Trash Day

When my son was old enough, we gave him the honorable chore of taking the garbage out of the house. I think maybe the first time he did it he felt pretty grown up, but week after week the repetitive process really got on his nerves. So he started to "forget" the chore...a lot.

A three person family can generate a pretty good amount of trash. And if you don't get it out to the curb, it piles up. The consequences then can be a simple smell at first, but that eventually attracts bugs, rodents and eventually disease. So really, this was a huge responsibility for a little guy. He just didn't see the long range consequences to the family as a whole.

It's the same with sin. Like garbage, if you don't bundle it up and kick it to the curb for God's waste management truck, it will pile up. I know, prayer and confession of sins can seem repetitive...but think of the long range consequences! When sins start piling up, they grow into bigger sins and you will find yourself so surrounded by spiritual garbage you may think, "What's the use in cleaning up at all?"

Dear reader, it is a daily chore and a heavy responsibility. If we confess our sins, He is faithful even we aren't and He will forgive us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

"Forgetting" to do this only adds to the pile and eventually leads to disease or death.

The sting of death is sin, 1 Corinthians 15:56a

Think of one little sin as a rotting potato in the bottom of the trash bin. Eventually you cannot deny something is wrong. And until you get it right with God, your life will stink!

So my question is this, have you done your chore for the day? Have you found that rotting spud in the bottom of your soul that has stunk up your life lately? Or, have you "forgotten" about confessing to the One who already knows all about you and is waiting to reconcile with you?

Don't waste another day, or minute! His mercy is new every morning, so talk to Him...He is only a whispered prayer away. And if you've never attempted this in your life, isn't it time to sign up for daily trash pick up? Here is a simple sinner's prayer...

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have piled up like so much refuse and separated me from you. I am sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

Special note to dads and husbands: the "manly" chore of taking out the garbage is an analogy of dealing with your family's sin. It is your place to make sure your family has taken care of their own sins. You have only to look to Job--a wonderful example of a dad taking out the spiritual trash!

His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, "Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually. Job 1:4-5

Elvis Sighting

My friend Ruth said she saw Elvis at the post office last week. When she dropped that tidbit during Bible study this week, we couldn't leave it alone. In fact, my friends dared me to blog about it so...here we are!

Ruth detailed what he was wearing, that he was getting out of a car and going in to the post office. In the midst of her hilarious retelling, we asked if he broke out into song or if he struck a pose. We had quite the tease fest. Especially when we found out this was her first foray into public after a long bout of bronchitis...we insisted that maybe he was a figment brought on by the residual effects of codeine. Admittedly, we were pretty silly.

We could tell through the giggles and hee haws that by her account and her demeanor that she had not truly been in the presence of the King of Rock n' Roll...just a faded imitation.

So, as I lingered in that study group with the giggles drifting in my mind, the Lord brought to memory another woman who had seen a king. She was like Ruth, going about her daily business. But post offices weren't invented yet, and neither was running water. She was at the town well, getting her daily jar full of water. It was midday, because she was avoiding the morning crowd. She had a bad reputation in town and didn't want to give the gossips anything to talk about. Little did she know she was keeping a divine appointment--because there sat a man, asking for a drink. He had nothing to draw water with. (John 4:1-54)

After conversing with the man, she was convinced she was in the presence of someone special, someone who knew scripture like a rabbi, but more than that. She sensed he was the someone her forefathers had told her about: the Messiah.

Can you imagine meeting Jesus at the post office? What would you ask him to be sure it was truly Him? Do you think you'd even recognize Him? What would you say to your family and friends about the experience? How do you think they'd receive you?

Pay close attention to what the woman at the well told the people in her town, "Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?" (John 4:29)

This is an example of the purest form of evangelism: tell people what Jesus did for you and ask them, "Could this be your king?"

They could tell by her account and her demeanor that she had indeed been in the presence of The King. See verse 39: Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me all that I ever did."

There is no lofty speech or complicated scripture equation to share with people. You are uniquely prepared with life experiences, doubts and failures. Speak to others about what you know. It's when we try to be another Billy Graham that we fall on our face. How can you begin to be a witness to someone else's walk?

It's not about proving He lived by using a microscope or archeology. It's about proving He is alive in your life, by how you met Him and what He did and continues to do for you!

Now put on those blue suede shoes and walk the talk!

GPS

I went to the door to welcome hubby home the other evening. The dog was barking frantically and when I opened the front door and looked outside I could see why. There was a strange car just closing it's doors and quickly pulling out of our driveway. My hubby came walking up the sidewalk with lunchbox, papers, and a puzzled look on his face.

He said, "That was weird."
I said, "Why, who was that?"
"I dunno," he said.
"So some strangers drove into our yard and then left?"
"Yeah, that's it in a nutshell."

Then he told me the part I missed. He said when he drove into the yard, the car followed him, turned around and an older lady got out of the car smiling. He greeted her.

Then the driver, a younger lady, got out of the car, took one look at my hubby and said, "Omigosh! We followed the wrong van!!"

They apologized and promptly got back in their car to drive away.

I can only imagine the panic that ensued inside that car. We had no idea how long they had followed him. He commutes home from work about 30 minutes every evening. He didn't notice when they started following him, just when they turned on to our street.

I hope they had a cell phone and could call a friend for help. I hope they made it to their final destination with no problem. I bet this was the last straw and that driver buys a GPS soon.

In January you can't land on a tv channel without hearing someone and their Top 10 of 2009 or a synopsis of the last decade. There were a lot of rough spots and calamities. You could say that a lot of people might've been lost and didn't know it until they arrived at where they thought they were supposed to be.

Are you one of those people?

Did you find yourself with a fancy hybrid car that had payments that could've been mortgage payments in the 80's? Or has that college degree not really prepared you for the job you dreamed of and you need a few more years of study? Or maybe you are getting ready to downsize to a smaller home because the mortgage was too costly for a family that suddenly has one income... Or did a phone call change your life suddenly one dark night?

Do you feel like the guy who got lost in on a country backroad, stopped to ask for directions and listened with dread as the local guy scratched his head and said, "Sorry bub, you can't get there from here."

Now what do you do?

Can I make a suggestion? Yeah, you can see that pitch coming...you need a GPS. And I don't mean a Garmin or Magellan. GPS stands for Global Positioning System. It's a device in your car that talks to a satellite up in space, and the satellite beams back an answer of where you are, where you could go and how to get where you want to go.

What do you think God's GPS is? His Word, the Bible! If you take the time to really read the Bible, it has a ton of wisdom learned from people who have "been there, done that, got the t-shirt and don't ever want to travel that road again!" It also has directions on how to get where you want to be.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver. Proverbs 16:16

But most of all the Bible has the thing that people need the most: GPS, or God's Plan for Salvation.

Dear readers, in this world you will have trouble. (John 16:33) There's no way around it. But when you have accepted God's plan for salvation, you have something better than any Garmin or Magellan on a dashboard. You have the Holy Spirit who will counsel and be your "driver".

When you confess your need for Jesus, pray for His forgiveness and turn your life over to Him, you will have a new life, you are "reborn". And He deposits within you the Holy Spirit who is your link, your satellite connection to God, for an eternity.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16-17

So how about it? Are you ready for the trip of your life? Do you want to be sure of your final destination? Just remember: Jesus is The Way.

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6

Season's Greetings

We had lunch in a Thai restaurant the other day. Like all restaurants, they like to dress the plate with fruit or green stuff. This place chose cantaloupe...which looked lovely in all it's delectable orange splendor. But one bite told my son it was all show, no flavor. I explained to him that in Florida, cantaloupe's season is summertime. Some growers try to force the fruit to produce out of season. They are successful, but if you've ever tasted fruit that was not in season you know it's not worth the steep price they charge. Normally it's bland, small and sometimes a mere shadow of itself.

As Christians, we bear fruit...Galatians speaks of this as fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

Strawberries are best in February and cantaloupes are best in the summertime but as Christians, our fruit is in season year around. The trick is to keep growing.

If you are rooted in Christ, your season has no end. If your branches feel a bit bare, then maybe it's time for some pruning, weeding or irrigation!

preach the word; be ready in season {and} out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

Recipe for Thanks

I am drying bread in my oven today. The whole house smells like bread baking. This is the first step for making my Mom's recipe for Thanksgiving dressing. I am excited that the Thanksgiving cooking sequence has begun!

I think this step is the most important for good dressing. You see, if you don't remove the moisture in the bread, there is no place for the turkey stock, butter and veggie juices to go. You end up with a soggy dressing that sits like a lump in your belly. By drying out the bread, you make room for all the flavorful wet ingredients.

When I remove the slices of bread from the low temp oven, they will rattle on the cookie sheets. They will be raspy and crunchy and ready to receive the juices that help the spices permeate the bread.

Those brittle slices of bread reminded me of a story. (Stick with me, it may not be very appetizing but I think you'll understand my point.) This story is from the old testament about Ezekiel. In chapter 37 we find him in a valley:

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, {there were} very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, {they were} very dry. Ezekiel 37:1-2

God asked Ezekiel if it was possible for those dry bones to live. He left it up to God. God told him to prophesy or preach to the bones. He spoke the words God gave him and he heard a rattling. A miraculous regeneration takes place for the house of Israel--because Ezekiel spoke God's words to the bones.

Have you ever felt like you've been walking in a desert? Do you feel like someone turned up the heat on your life lately? There are a few reasons for this, but the one I want to focus on is this: God has a plan for you.

Sometimes we get drenched in the worries and cares of the world and there is no room for the Holy Spirit to fill us up. So God takes us on a journey and turns up the heat a bit. We are left parched and dry...so much so that our will becomes brittle. But we are not abandoned there. It's when we can say, "Lord not my will but yours!" that God can begin His work.

O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalms 63:1

It's at this point that we are finally ready. God wants to fill us up with something better--something that will permeate our souls and bring back the spice to our lives. It's a regeneration of our spirit, that comes from the washing of the Word.

If you find yourself in an arid land during your walk with Christ this Thanksgiving, think about that side dish--dressing. Allow God to pour His Word into your life--find a quiet place, grab your Bible off the shelf and check out any of the following passages: Ezekiel 37:1-14, John 4:4-26, Psalm 42:1-5, John 6:32-40 and Revelation 7:13-17. Before you start to read, ask God to speak to you about your life in that passage, then dig.

Be prepared, you are about to experience a new blessing in your walk that will saturate your dry bones. He will pick you up out of that dark valley and quench your thirst. All you have to do is ask, receive and be thankful for it ALL.

Happy Thanksgiving dear ones, and may God speak to your dry bones!

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' " John 7:38

Wishing Well

So I was with a dear friend today and her sweet little boy. We stopped at a huge fountain and gave him coins to toss into the water. He was at first amazed that we would allow him to pitch pennies into the splashing water, but loved the game. Happily he toddled back and forth from us to the pool and tossing pennies one by one into the bubbling water. The coins seemed to vanish magically.

Have you ever done that? Have you pitched a penny into a fountain and tossed a wish in with it? It's a fun way to dream...whether it's a wish for winning the lottery, finding a soul mate or just hoping for a good parking spot at the grocery store, we love to wish.

Sometimes people look at God as a wishing pool. They summon on their best prayer skills and cast their wish into the sky...in hopes of Him granting it. And when an answer doesn't come, or they hear a "no"...they move on to the next fountain that might grant their wish.

In John 15:7, Jesus said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you."

Some people grasp onto the last part, "ask whatever you wish" and forget the first part.

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you..." You see, God wants us to have the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37:4) He loves to give gifts to His children. (Matthew 7:11) When we only come to Him with our wants and never stop to build our relationship with Him, we become a child playing at the fountain...casting our pennies in one after another, never abiding, never listening to His words.

We go away with a few less pennies, and a few more unanswered wishes. And we wonder, does He really care? Will He ever answer?

Dear reader, if we would only learn what it means to truly abide! Abide means to dwell, live with, remain. Can you truly say you abide with Him? Does His word abide in you?

I challenge you to take at least a week and really abide. Shut off the TV, open your Bible start and end your day with His word. Take those few minutes of your day...the ones you consider as not so important, like pennies on a sidewalk, and give them to Him.

Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. Matthew 7:7-11

Mind Games

I have a 70 lb. lap dog. He is a cross between a collie and German shepherd. He's very protective of his family and likes to herd grandkids around the yard. Recently he met our neighborhood armadillos.

The dog is fascinated by these "armored squirrels" that root around in our yard. They come to harvest earthworms wherever they can be found. And, they leave behind holes just big enough to turn your ankle in while hanging out the wash.

Our dog has taken on the responsibility of policing our yard for these creatures. He watches from the front and back windows like a noble sentry. And when he sees movement, the barking begins. It is my job to open the door, (he has not figured out how to open a doorknob yet), and he shoots out to meet the unsuspecting interloper.

With all the barking and full speed chases, you'd think I would have buzzards circling for all the carcasses in our yard. But, just when you think the attack dog instinct is going to snuff out an armadillo...his shepherding instinct kicks in and he ushers them quickly to the fence line to our neighbor's yard. It's hilarious to watch, especially when he surprises the animals and they leap into the air about two feet. (This is why you never drive over an armadillo--they'll leap into your car's undercarriage.)

So for now, we play this cuckoo clock game every half hour or so. The armadillo is spotted, the bark strikes 3pm, and the gate opens for the race to begin. Neither animal understands the concept. The armadillos keep coming back, and the dog keeps chasing them to the neighbor's house.

The only way to really rid our yard of these hole diggers is to trap them and either send them away to the wild or have them put down humanely.

As a Christian, sometimes we get thoughts that creep across our mind's fence line. They root around in our brain and cause everything from worry to unclean thoughts. Some allow those thoughts to dig around too much and they start acting on those thoughts. And sometimes they end up with legal problems as a result of those actions.

In II Corinthians 10:5b it says, "...and {we are} taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ..."

How do you do that? When you find a bad thought creeping into your mind, you say a quick prayer and mentally grab it and give it to Christ to deal with. It's like trapping an armadillo and asking animal control to take care of it. Then focus on something else and remember it no more.

I know, it will be hard at first. Have you ever had someone play the "polar bear" game with you? They say, "Don't think about a polar bear!" And you find it impossible to NOT think about polar bears. Or someone starts humming the theme song to Gilligan's Island or the chicken song and you feel like your brain has rebelled completely. The mind is very sensitive to suggestion!

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

Once you pray about it and acknowledge to God that a bad thought has slipped in, (confession) replace those thoughts with good stuff. Memorize scripture, listen to positive music, or just count your blessings. Above all, focus on something good in your life.

It may take a while, because our brains get pretty lazy. Especially with all the pop up ads and commercials out there. Someone always wants our attention. Maybe it's time to fast from TV or computers for you. That's something you should pray about. Because once we cut off the access that some bad thoughts have through the media, we make it easier on ourselves to really round up these bad thoughts and send them out of our lives.

I know that one day those armadillos will be chased into the wrong yard. You see, for now they go to our neighbors who are environmentalists. (Maybe I should give the animals more credit than I have.) But one day I think they will end up in our other neighbor's yard, and she has lived in the wilds of Florida for decades. She probably even has a recipe for possum on the half shell.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Lady in Waiting

I have just returned from a women's retreat. It was 72 hours of concentrated teaching. During the lecture series, we were to sit with the same group of women throughout the whole retreat. And each table had a name from a women in the Bible. My table was the table of Rachel.

Can I tell you a little bit about Rachel? She was a shepherdess. Her job was to lead her sheep to better grazing areas, watering holes and defend them from wild animals. She is found in Genesis 29.

She was in love at first sight with Jacob, a visiting Israelite. Her bride price was seven years of labor. Alas, her father tricked Jacob and had him marry her older sister Leah first. So Jacob vowed to work another seven years for Rachel's hand. They were finally wed.

Can you imagine 14 years of waiting for the man you love? After those 14 years she had an even more difficult wait. It seems she was not able to have children. She watched as her older sister had child after child after child.

Rachel tried everything, even using her handmaid as a surrogate mother. She was ashamed...even though she still had the real love of her husband...something that Leah never had.

These days I feel like Rachel, waiting for God to make something happen. I'm coming up on my one year anniversary of being laid off from a job I held for 17 years. Should I start my own business? Should I go deeper into ministry or missions? I am ashamed of my unemployment, I should be helping my husband support us!

When I pray about this, the only answer I hear is, "Wait."

Sitting at the table of Rachel over the retreat weekend reminded me of something. Yes, I am a Rachel and I feel a bit empty because I don't seem to be producing anything right now. I look to my sisters and see careers, children, missions and amazing lives. Am I envious? A bit.

But you know what? Like Rachel, I still have the love of my Savior Jesus and it will never stop. There's nothing more I can do to earn it, it is a gift. So, I need to repent of my envy.

And that is the reason why I have resolved to be His Lady in Waiting.

I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. Psalm 130:5

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9