Looking Back . . .

Dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up even stronger. Pray with the help of the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves safe in God's love, as you wait for the Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy to give you eternal life. Help those who have doubts. ~ Jude 20-22 ERV

The year 2016 is coming to a close and so often many of us journey down the memory lane of what the past year has brought into our daily lives. We look forward with anticipation and wonder of what the year ahead will deliver as we walk into the unknown.

A few years ago, I decided not to focus on only the year that had passed, but rather my life as a whole. I think of that young teenager filled with anxiety and depression and the strides she made to be healthy and whole. Little did she know that her life had been given one incredible gift that would lead her to a life she never dreamed of: the gift of faith in God. God had been there loving, teaching, and guiding. This one gift had the capability to show her that a life filled with joy and love was in plain sight, if only she trusted and had faith. 

Did that young teenager and maturing adult make lots of mistakes and cry many tears? Absolutely! Does she still? Yes, but these moments are now coated in God's Grace. This Grace comes along like the icing on the cake. When you give your best to bake a cake and it doesn't turn out the way you planned, somehow God's Grace comes along and reminds you with a little frosting, the mistakes inside the cake aren't really what is important. It's what you learned that will help you make a better cake next time that makes even the most messed up cake worthy of your time and effort. It's about forgiving yourself, too. God believes you can do better and He will help you believe that, too. It's about moving forward.

"Looking back" is a reminder that God has blessed us with a future that we are living each day. That in itself is a gift beyond measure. So, as you look back at 2016, take a voyage farther back in time. Your life, like mine, is being loved, taught, and guided with a God that always believes in us in all circumstances. My goal for 2017, is to please Him through my thoughts and actions. And on those days, when things don't go as planned, I will sit quietly covered in God's Grace knowing a new chance awaits me to diligently strive for a better tomorrow.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the daily treasures of life that You provide. As we move into a new year, may we be reminded that You are with us and counting on us in all circumstances. 

Amen

Deep Dark Secrets

"It's not easy letting go of someone you love. It's even harder when you know it's the right thing to do." ~ Unknown Author

I sit in church with my husband each Sunday morning with this deep dark secret. I listen to the sermons on forgiveness and loving everyone, and there I sit filled with guilt and confusion. I can't look the pastor in the eye because I know within me lies this destructive secret. I sink deeper into the pew. Can the pastor see the pain and agony that is enveloping my thoughts? 

The secret is what it is like to have lived an entire lifetime with an abusive family member who is toxic to my mental and physical being. Every time I forgive and try to move forward, I find myself in the same destructive pattern. So, how do I deal with the secret versus the Christian path I am asked to walk each day? The answer is complicated.

Often times, I find myself using this verbiage, "I haven't walked your walk, so I can only imagine how you feel." We all have our own walks, and honestly, I truly believe that relationships and hardships are so perplexing that no one can truly understand the heartache another experiences. However, God has provided us with empathy to try and understand the pain others feel. Empathy allows our emotions to visit places of the heart we may have never been or wish we will never go. It is really a unique emotion when you think about it. How amazing that God wants us to understand what others feel!

A few weeks ago,  I made a decision to sit up straight in church, and look the pastor in the eye. I hope my eyes now say, "Pastor, I have prayed and prayed over this situation. I have given my all, but I have had to hand this over to God because I can no longer handle the pain. I need to be physically and emotionally healthy, and I can no longer allow this person to destroy me. I have to let go. I can  forgive, but I can no longer set up the stage to be hurt again. Please forgive me for being unable to keep trying."

Carrying a secret is a heavy burden. The decision to let go of someone whom you love is never easy. So on those days when the pain is too much to handle, I find myself praying to God for this person who causes so much pain and asking God to help me deal with this painful decision I have had to make. Others may never understand, but God does, and I think that is what really matters. I find comfort in this verse from Matthew 11: 28, "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."    

Heavenly Father,

You know our hearts and intentions. Please help us work through the secrets and burdens we carry. Help us to look others in the eye knowing we gave our best with Your guidance.

Amen

What Does the Second Amendment Say to You?

"Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence."~I Peter 3:13-16a

The heartache of the senseless killings by predators using automatic assault weapons continues day after day. Is it safe to go anywhere anymore? Do we need to say good-bye to loved ones before we venture out our back-doors? Do we let fear change our lives? What can we do to change the world we live in? Many questions to ponder with no clear answers.

The second amendment of the constitution states, " "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Sounds a little dry and focused on the word militia. What is a militia? It can be defined as a well armed society seeking defense and protection. What happens when the enemy becomes part of the same society needing protection? Tough question!

I will use the disclaimer that my husband is a hunter. Yes, he uses a gun, and no, it does not frighten me to have guns locked in a cabinet in our home. For those that can't understand the mind of a hunter, you might be surprised to find that most hunters have an amazing love for nature. The environment and keeping the ecosystem balanced is an intricate part of keeping nature thriving and the majority of hunters follow strict regulations to help achieve this. If you eat meat of any kind, you might need to stop and think through what happens to animals before they are placed on your dinner plates. It's sad. Many animals are raised in conditions where they can barely move, fed food and antibiotics that help them grow as fast as possible so they can quickly be killed and marketed, and most never know the beauty of nature that God has created. When my brother and I raised a calf when we were kids that became our pet, you can't begin to imagine the heartbreak of seeing that calf go off to market. The deer my husband hunts live off the land eating what God has provided for them to thrive and have a good life. Two different ways to bring food to the table, but all animals are God's creatures.

Yes, we have the right to bare arms for protection, and to use for food on our tables. This brings me back to the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution. I don't believe that our forefathers ever thought about assault rifles that can kill dozens of people in minutes when the 2nd Amendment was written. Yet, somehow, we don't want that 2nd Amendment touched because it somehow takes away some of our power of which we feel entitled. I can tell you whole-heartedly that I am no longer afraid to say to anyone, "We need to do something!" Yes, we need to do what our forefathers did over 200 years ago, and say, "We the people, need to protect the people!" These forefathers weren't afraid to fight for the rights of the people, and we shouldn't be either.

God gave us all wisdom and intelligence to be loving children. When we see problems, we need to have courage to speak up when something needs addressed. Not using my voice allows me the comfort to hide from the problem, but I do have the "hope" inside of me that we together can become a more loving society. I cannot fear what others think of me as I decide to work toward the greater good and safety of the society my children and grandchildren will inhabit even after I am gone. So, we are all faced with the questions, "What does the 2nd Amendment say to me? What am I going to do about it?"

Heavenly Father,

Give us courage to stand up to help the innocent in our society. Grant us wisdom to know the difference between entitlement and what needs to be done for the greater good. And when others disagree with us, help us to focus on You and Your wisdom.

Amen

"Sort the Piles and Keep Moving Forward"

Let your eyes look directly forward,
    and your gaze be straight before you.
Keep straight the path of your feet,
    and all your ways will be sure.  Proverbs 4:25-26

Laundry really never ends. Even if the baskets are empty, the clothes on one's back will soon need washed. The first step in doing the laundry is the "sorting." It seems easy when you've done it for decades until you try to explain to someone else how to "sort" the laundry. It isn't as simple as putting all the same colors together. Most know that you can't put a red evening dress with a red towel because the materials are different. The red dress will be ruined as the towel fades streaks of a different red onto the dress. Yes, it takes a little knowledge and judgment to "sort" through the "piles" that have accumulated throughout the week.

Recently, I sat down with a friend to discuss a big decision on an employment possibility she might be making. If it were just the question that needed answered, it seemed to be an easy yes or no response. But, it was about so much more. This decision would affect an entire "pile" of different parts of her life. After much discussion, we listed all the ways this decision could change her life. Now, came the difficult part: making the decision. It's not always easy to "sort" it all out, but at some point she has to make a decision and move forward.

Sometimes answers aren't really right nor wrong. It's more about having faith and trust after one looks honestly at how the decision can affect their life, and then through prayer, asks God for direction. One has to keep moving forward. You can't look back and wonder if you had made the other decision how all the "piles" in your life might have come out differently. Just like the red evening dress and red towel, the decision to put like colors together seemed like a logical one, but you didn't expect the streaks to do such a number on the dress. The red dress may need replaced, but you never know what is waiting to take its place.

When you're faced with a big decision that affects the many "piles" in your life, remember God is there to listen. He is a forward thinking God. He is there to help you "sort" through all the decisions that are neither right nor wrong. So, the next time you're "sorting" your laundry; remember, use your knowledge and judgment and know that whatever happens you've got to keep moving forward as verse 26 in Proverbs 4 reminds us, "and all your ways will be sure."

Let us pray . . .

Heavenly Father,

Each day, we are faced with so many decisions to sort through in our lives. Remind us to turn to you and keep moving forward with your guidance.

Amen

"Decisions are the hardest thing to make,
especially when it's a choice between,
where you should be, 
and where you want to be." ~ Author Unknown

Choose Hope

"The Lord will display his glory,
    the splendor of our God.
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
    and encourage those who have weak knees.
Say to those with fearful hearts,
     Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
    He is coming to save you.”  Isaiah 35:2b-4

A desolate desert, no sign of vegetation, and no water for as far as the eye can see would send most of us into a panic and instill a fear within us that death awaits. In the book of Ezekiel and Isaiah 34 we read about God's disappointment in the behavior of his people and the wrath that awaits, but yet a gift of renewed hope is provided in Isaiah 35 for a future where rivers flow and vegetation even grows on mountains. God isn't going to give up on any of His people. His mercy is abundant. Life will be a beautiful place for future generations. The two images are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. One seems hopeless, and the other brings hope. 

Each day we read about the tragedies, heartache, and evil that enters into our society. At times, it might seem much easier to just give up and feel there is nothing that can be done to change the world that we live in. But then something triggers something deep inside of us. (I believe it is the Holy Spirit at work.) Our Pastor's sermon today was so beautifully presented; with tears in her eyes, she talked about the Syrian children that are washing ashore as they flee from the evil and conflict of their home country. The parents of these children want a more desirable life for their children. They are willing to risk it all for the possibility of hope for a better life. Maybe now that the images of dead children washing ashore are surfacing, we the people of the world will open our eyes and ears that the Syrian people need help and hope.

I think every day we choose either to have hope or to be hopeless. It starts early in the morning when we rise. We can decide to dwell on all that is wrong in our lives in the coming day, or have a plan of hope that we can make a difference through our lives. These heartfelt verses from Isaiah remind us that hope is abundant. With God's help we can let go of fear and be strong because God is coming to destroy our enemies. Sometimes the enemy lies within us. The enemy that tells us we aren't good enough, aren't smart enough, aren't capable of making a difference, etc. But, God tells us this isn't true. We have His strength behind us to accomplish small things and together we can achieve great things. His work has to be done through us. We are His lights in this world. Lights of HOPE!

In an obscure way, hope is a lot like a disease. You can spread it around, and others will catch it. The more you care about making a difference, others will too. How does hope survive in a world where it seems hopelessness could easily become the next super bug? It survives and regenerates every time we share an act of kindness in the life of someone else. Journal how you spread hope through kindness in your own environments. You might be surprised how the smallest gifts of hope and kindness multiply in ways you have never dreamed. Don't be afraid for God is with you. That's His promise to each of us.

Tomorrow and every day, when we wake up, let's all choose to thread hope through our day. Let's count on God's promises that we have the strength to overcome the fears and enemies that tell us we can't make a difference. 

Let us pray,

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Our hearts ache for those that face such evil and enemies in their lives. Help us to not only help fight these enemies, but also the enemies within us. Give us the aptitude to believe that with Your help, we will be a conduit of hope to others.

Amen

Investing Our Riches

"Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!  People who work hard sleep well, whether they eat little or much. But the rich seldom get a good night’s sleep.  There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost." ~ Ecclesiastes 5:10-14a

Life can change in an instant! We have all heard this phrase and many of us have lived through life altering events. This past week, a story has made headlines that is living proof that one can never take for granted that the riches one accumulates can be stored and never taken away.

A dentist from the United States went on a safari hunt in Zimbabwe. The riches he had accumulated through his practice took him to the other side of the world with a reported hefty price tag of over $50,000 to hunt big game. He hired the best hunting tour guides to help him obtain permits and find what he hoped would be the kill of a lifetime. I won't share my opinion on the rights or wrongs of this hunt, but rather how one decision this dentist made can change everything.

During the hunt, in one second, one pull of the trigger, the dentist's life has been forever changed. The gun was pointed at a lion that the villagers held dear and loved. This dentist who had accumulated wealth and prestige, now finds himself loathed by the community he served and by people around the world. He has now become internationally disliked and perhaps a very lonely man. Even those that may support him may feel the pressure to stay as far away from him as possible so as to not show any association with him.

The Bible heeds warning about the destruction of storing riches. Solomon, who most believe wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, may provide some great advice for us all. He wrote, "There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver. Money is put into risky investments that turn sour, and everything is lost."

Life's lessons can be tough ones. It's what one gains from the experiences that defines our character and faith in God. We can all fall into the trap of thinking that more money will be the answer to all our problems and provide so much for us, but in reality, we have to vigilantly understand that God watches closely how we use the gifts He provides for us. If we have a special talent, do we share it? If we have financial means that allow us to give more, do we? If we have extra time, do we use the time wisely? If we have the ability to pay it forward, have we jumped at the chance to do so? If we have the choice to condemn or grant grace and propagate peace, what do we choose in our relationships with others?

Maybe it isn't so much about having too much of anything, but maybe it is more about how we use what we are blessed to have in this life. Perhaps accumulated wealth of any kind that is used only for self indulgence isn't what God has in mind when he asks us to give our lives away for His sake. In Deuteronomy 30:20, Moses, may have said it best, "You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” I think this verse sums it up very well.

So, regardless of how you feel about the dentist that shot the lion, remember that anyone's life can change with very little notice. If we live each day with Moses' advice, perhaps even when those devastating moments occur, we will know that we are never alone because we have invested our entire lives in a God that loves us unconditionally. If we keep our hearts in the right place with our Father, our riches will overflow into the right places as well.

Let us pray,

Gracious Father,

The world we live in puts an emphasis on obtaining riches and self-indulgence. Help us to understand that in You, we truly find the riches of life and how to share them to Your glory.

Amen

Remodel - Renew - Transform - Love!

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 NRSV

If you've ever done remodeling in your home, you may have come to realize that the one main project you began with often leads to many other little projects. It's difficult to do one project without affecting another. Soon, one small project can transform a room into a new and inviting space that one couldn't envision when it first began.

Transforming our hearts may often have the same effect. For example when a person falls in love with a person they don't stop to think about all the things that are going to change in their own life because of that love. When I met my husband, I never dreamed that I would come to learn about so many different things. Not growing up in a sports-minded family, I didn't realize that one could literally find sports so appealing. I have learned the "basics" about football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and my favorites, tennis and golf. I didn't even know sports language when we met. I can't begin to list the multitude of wonderful things that loving my husband has taught me about this wonderful place called life.

As I grew in my relationship with Christ, I also didn't realize how my life was going to change. Even with my introvert personality and way of being, I "want" to grow closer to Christ. I care deeply about so many people and issues that I once never even thought about. I want to be an advocate for those who are less fortunate by helping in some way that God will equip me to provide for them. I want to be diligent in daily prayer knowing God hears every prayer. I feel called to be on God's fan list knowing what a great example He has set before me. Yes, I want to learn about and grow more in love with God each and every day. 

Renewing our minds is directly related to having open minds. It is difficult to renew a closed mind. A closed mind builds walls of arrogance and self righteousness. An open mind invites God in to transform us one day at a time to learn about His wisdom and carry out His teachings in our daily lives. Humbleness, empathy, and understanding are found in an open mind. So, keep an open mind in life because you never know what God has planned for you. Like a home remodeling project, you may start out with one main project, but God may have amazing smaller projects for you to fulfill. God can already see what we aren't even capable of envisioning!

Let us pray . . .

Heavenly Father,

As we live out our daily lives here on Earth, help transform our minds to carry out the projects you have set before us. Lead us where we need to go and equip us with the tools we need to make a difference, one life at a time.

Amen