January 5, 2018

Something has been on my mind and I wanted to share it. 

satan (using a small “s” because he is small) is crafty. The tools that he uses to discourage and dissuade people from a strong relationship with God, from leaning into each other, and from allowing God to truly use them for His (God’s) purposes are pretty smooth. 

satan tells us that our past is TOO bad for us to be loved by God or other people, or to be used by God. That if God or the people in our lives REALLY knew us, they would turn away from us. So we keep secrets. We can do that for awhile with people - but come on, keeping secrets from God? Guess what? That favorite phrase of mine that Tony shares with me - “This isn’t a surprise to God” - applies to this situation too. 

NOTHING we have done is a surprise to God. And WE may think we have disqualified ourselves - but have you ever checked out the Bible? I’m thinking Moses (murderer), Paul (murderer), David (adulterer, murderer), just to name a few. A whole bunch of people that we may have considered disqualified, but they are the very people that God used to further His Kingdom! 

Who puts a limit on our relationship with God, our growth in Him, and our ability to be used by Him? The person in the mirror.

It’s my prayer that none of us allows any of satan’s schemes to limit what God may have planned for us!

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” Genesis 50:20 NKJV

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

January 4, 2018

"When I feel sad and despairing, I remind myself that WHAT I KNOW is more important than HOW I FEEL. I call on the Scriptures that I have hidden in my heart. My emotions are totally unpredictable: changing without warning. But what I know is God is immutable— never changing-the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. In Him alone can I trust."  - Sue Sewell, "In the Shadow of Your Wings”

January 3, 2018

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you."  Isaiah 26:3

I love this verse. It doesn’t say that we will be in perfect peace because everything is perfect. It doesn’t promise that we will never go through anything. 

What it does say is that if our minds are “stayed on him”, we will have peace. In the middle of whatever we are dealing with - and we are all dealing with something!!

It may be worry. It may be grief. It may be fear. Not knowing how something is going to turn out. But the promise is the same. Perfect peace as we focus on him. There is nothing more powerful!!

December 31, 2017

I can’t even comprehend that we are on the threshold of 2018!! There have been lots of surprises in 2017 - great and awesome things that I never expected, and health issues that have frustrated me. But I know this - no matter what we face, it is STILL not a surprise to God, and He can work all things for good! I am so thankful for each friendship - the old, the new and the renewed. I am learning more and more that worry and a controlling nature are overrated, and the very best thing we can do is to put our trust in God, and to choose joy. It makes every situation better.

“What we perceive as unanswered prayers are often the greatest answers. Our heavenly Father is far too wise and loves us far too much to give us everything we ask for. Someday we’ll thank God for the prayers He didn’t answer as much or more than the ones He did.” - Mark Batterson

December 19, 2017

“When I think about the wise men, I’m amazed at how willing they were to interrupt their lives and go on a quest to seek baby Jesus. Surely, they were important leaders in their tribes and nations with seemingly more important things to do than traipse all over the world following a star and looking for a baby. However, that’s exactly what they did. And some scholars think the wise men may have been traveling for months, maybe even years, to find the newborn King.

I wonder how often we miss out on God’s invitations to experience Jesus because we’re not willing to interrupt our daily lives and normal schedules. So often we’re too busy, especially during the holiday season, to realize the opportunities that cross our paths each day. Instead we think, “Nah, I don’t have time to invite the neighbors to our church’s Christmas services. They might want to go and then I’d have to go with them and be late for the office party. Which reminds me, I need to pick up a gift for my boss.”

But do you really want to miss out on being part of what God is doing in others’ lives?

God’s interruptions are often invitations to something more significant. Today don’t miss out on the blessing of participating in God’s plan because you’re too busy. Allow God’s Spirit to interrupt your plans and reveal the joy of giving.” - Craig Groeschel

December 18, 2017 - Looking Back

Some days are milestones - before and after days that mark a huge life change. Three years ago today I found out that I needed to have chemo. At the time, I thought it meant a delay in my schedule (a big deal when you like to control things!) and losing my hair. I didn’t realize how much it would change me long-term. There have been negatives - mostly ongoing physical issues (eyes, memory, fatigue). 

But there have been so many more blessings that I would never have experienced any other way. Today, I think about the people who paved the way for me with their amazing attitudes in dealing with hardship. Jerrel and Jackie, Mindy and Michael, Amanda and Timothy - your example of faith through fire impacted me so deeply! And our support team was and is absolutely amazing! More than I could ever name - but Cristina and Daniel, (sharing your chemo experience), Brook, Larry and Susan,  Ashley and Tim, Stephanie, Cherri, Pam,  Mary-Dare, Ashley, Laura, Treasa, Patrick, Stacy, Aimee, Rachel, Beth, Amanda, Nelda, Jim, Sarah, Darlah, Sarah and Nick, Kelli and Scott, and other family and friends - you were and are such a blessing to us. 

So thankful that Kelli and John were home in this time, that Graham was born to bring us Christmas joy (and he is such a happy boy), and for all the things that God showed us and continues to show us. For all the new friends, for every life group, lunch, fun adventure that has happened since then - I am grateful!!

Of all the earthy blessings - Tony is the biggest blessing in my life! I already knew how amazing he was, but ever since cancer, his wisdom, leadership and love have been overwhelming. I love you. 🙂

Three years later. Thankful to be able to celebrate and reflect!!

December 17, 2017 - No Crib For a Bed

“She wrapped Him snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough—because there was no room for them at the lodging place. ”—Luke 2:7 

“Just imagine what kind of majestic, glorious, beautiful, and infinitely comfortable crib the King of the universe should get! However, when the King of kings was born, He didn’t have a nice... crib with a Tempur-Pedic mattress. Instead, the Savior was placed in a feeding trough where livestock would eat. It was basically a big rectangular stone farm sink sitting on a pair of cinder blocks!

So, from the humblest of towns, in the humblest of places (basically a barn), to the humblest of women (read Luke 1:26–55), the Lord was born and placed in the humblest of “cribs.” As surprising and unexpected as this should sound, when you get to know Jesus, it’s not surprising at all. Why? Because our Savior embodies and exemplifies humility!

In Philippians 2:6–8, we read that Jesus, “existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”

[As you prepare for Christmas], remember what Christmas is all about. It’s not about the bells and whistles, the decorations, the lights, or the fancy presents in golden wrapping paper . . . it’s about rejoicing over the coming of our humble King, who came to save us from our hopelessness.” - Danny Saavedra