Explaining National Debt

For those who really don't take the time to follow politics it can all be so confusing... national debt, annual budget, national deficit... what do they all mean?

Here is an analogy that I hope will help explain some of what is happening now in our country;

Mary is a single woman planning her household budget. She owns a modest home and a nice vehicle, her income is $1,000 per month. She budgets her money to pay her mortgage, groceries, utilities, etc. and her expenses are approximately equal to her income. But, that isn't enough for her... she sees need around her and feels that she has to allot monies toward improving the lives of others.

While she is sitting at home planning her budget three intruders enter her home. One is very polite yet, nonetheless, a criminal entering her home uninvited. The second is a thief who gets to the quick work of packing up her most prized possessions. The third is a rapist who proceeds to do what he does best... terrorize and victimize. She starts thinking that criminals are discriminated against and it is unfair so, she decides that is where she will put her money. She offers to educate the intruders, pay for treatment for the rapist (he obviously is misunderstood and just needs treatment).

She doesn't have the money to do the things for these men that she has promised so, she goes to the bank and takes out loans in order to pay for them. This would all be good (although a bit crazy) except for her budget does not even allow for her to pay the interest on her loans which she is now taking out on a regular basis. So, she goes to her uncle Guido to borrow money to pay the interest on her loans. She gets along well with her uncle although she knows that not paying him back could be dangerous.

What will happen to this woman? What happens when her uncle demands payment? She will lose everything she owns, her world will be destroyed and she is doing it for what??

Mary's budget is our national budget
Her income is our national income
The difference between the two is the national shortfall
What she owes the bank is the national debt
What she owes her uncle is the national deficit
Her uncle is China
The intruders are illegal aliens

Liberals like to talk about helping our fellow man, about what is "right" but, isn't it right to take care of ourselves? Without taking proper care of ourselves, how can we possibly help anybody else?

Oh Me.....

"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." ~ Benjamin Franklin

I was nudged to write about Peter over a week ago and didn't do it. In light of my opening line... I will not deign to make an excuse for why I didn't write on the subject some time ago. But, I do want to be honest with you all and say, I messed up again. Satan likes to use the times when I mess up to tell me that I am not worthy of sharing a message that God speaks to my heart.

So... here goes...I was speaking with a friend regarding appearances recently. Shortly after our talk, I was reading in the word about when Peter denied Christ. I think we all know the story. Jesus told Peter, "before the cock crows, you will deny me three times" and Peter swore it wasn't true and it came to pass, just as Jesus stated. The lessons generally taught along with this story is affirmation of Jesus prophetic nature, the lure of peer pressure, etc. We know that Peter walked alongside Jesus for years - he observed firsthand miracles and prophecies. He knew without a shadow of a doubt that Jesus was the Christ and yet, he denied him because he was afraid.

There's more to it though... in Matthew 10 we find Jesus teaching His disciples. During this time of teaching He commissioned the disciples to preach salvation and then He went on in verses 17-19 to say, "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say". Keep reading through the chapter and let me also make special note of verses 32 & 33, "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven."

Now, back to the point I am trying to make...Peter was willing to deny Jesus at the risk of his salvation because he wanted to look good even though he was warned not only the night before, but during Jesus teaching.

We put on faces that we want the world to see. Sometimes we put on different faces for different people, this one for my family, this one for my colleagues, this one for my church friends, this one for my teammates...and we may fool some people but, we won't fool them all. It's a lie and for the one you didn't fool, you have destroyed your testimony. Sometimes, we even lie to ourselves about who and what we are. Sometimes, we would rather make excuses for our behavior and rationalize it then to face that we blew it. I am going to boldly say that it is the worst kind of cowardice when one cannot face themselves.

1 Samuel 16:7 "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Hebrews 4:13 states, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." There is no such thing as "looking good" in front of God. We have all sinned and come short of His glory.

One time, my oldest son had friends over and they began roughhousing and one of the boys fell hard into the wall in the hallway causing a large hole in the drywall. My son went and got a poster of Captain Kirk and hung it over the hole, hiding it from view. Nobody knew it was there... but it was. It doesn't matter what others see, if there is a deficiency in your heart condition, it will remain there, whether it is seen or not. Because the poster hid the hole... we put off repairing it. Exposing our faults, is the first step toward overcoming them. As long as we keep them hidden, there is little motivation to repair... after all... it just might be painful.

But, back to Matthew 10... when we face those things that frighten us...we have the promise of the Spirit leading us. We know what to say because He speaks through us. I want you to really "get" this...you cannot fail when you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit...you cannot fail. So, when you try to protect yourself... and you follow your own leading, you may think you are saving yourself from [humiliation, pain, loss, etc.] but, you are in fact, putting yourself more at risk.

Keeping a right heart attitude can be a lifelong process. David said in Psams 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." To "renew" a right spirit implies that he had already possessed a right spirit at one time and in order to have that right spirit renewed, he needed his heart to be cleansed. He didn't ask God to stop him from sinning, he didn't ask God to improve his reputation. He recognized that the cause of his failure was his heart condition.

Why is it that we like to put band-aids over our little cuts and scrapes when we know that keeping them uncovered allows them to heal faster? We need to stop playing cover up so, real healing can begin and real progress can be made. Do you truly believe that there is anybody that believes you are perfect? Let's confess our faults and lift each other up, let's pray for each other, let's show compassion and understanding to our fellow man, let's be real so God can really use us to further His kingdom.

Write after I wrote this... I read something from a friend that I am going to add here with my paraphrase:

Man in his normal state will renounce his beliefs just as readily as Peter renounced Jesus before the Resurrection. But the same Peter discovered after the Resurrection, there is a power beyond man that causes him to forsake all. It is the power of God revealed through the Holy Spirit.

The Waste Places

I usually share my own writings but, this has been my favorite poem since I was in high school studying English Literature (my FAVORITE). Fear can be paralyzing but, we know who is the author of fear. So often, it is the fear itself that is our undoing. Proverbs 29:25 "A person's fear sets a trap [for him], but one who trusts the LORD is safe." Living in fear is no life at all.

The Waste Places
by James Stephens

AS a naked man I go
Through the desert sore afraid,
Holding up my head although
I’m as frightened as a maid.

The couching lion there I saw
From barren rocks lift up his eye;
He parts the cactus with his paw,
He stares at me as I go by.

He would follow on my trace
If he knew I was afraid,
If he knew my hardy face
Hides the terrors of a maid.

In the night he rises and
He stretches forth, he snuffs the air;
He roars and leaps along the sand,
He creeps and watches everywhere.

His burning eyes, his eyes of bale,
Through the darkness I can see;
He lashes fiercely with his tail,
He would love to spring at me.

I am the lion in his lair;
I am the fear that frightens me;
I am the desert of despair
And the nights of agony.

Night or day, whate’er befall,
I must walk that desert land,
Until I can dare to call
The lion out to lick my hand.

II
As a naked man I tread
The gloomy forests, ring on ring,
Where the sun that’s overhead
Cannot see what’s happening.

There I go: the deepest shade,
The deepest silence pressing me;
And my heart is more afraid
Than a maiden’s heart would be.

Every day I have to run
Underneath the demon tree,
Where the ancient wrong is done
While I shrink in agony.

There the demon held a maid
In his arms, and as she, daft,
Screamed again in fear, he laid
His lips upon her lips and laughed.

And she beckoned me to run,
And she called for help to me,
And the ancient wrong was done
Which is done eternally.

I am the maiden and the fear;
I am the sunless shade, the strife;
I the demon lips, the sneer
Showing under every life.

I must tread that gloomy way
Until I shall dare to run
And bear the demon with his prey
From the forest to the sun.

Waving A White Flag Now...

So, I entered a competition last night. It's one that given a night to think about and looking at all the facts I don't think I can win and yet, I am determined to win. I am just one of those people that was born with an excessively competitive spirit. Sometimes that spirit motivates me to succeed and sometimes that spirit keeps me from experiencing possibly wonderful things. How does it keep me from experienc? Well, having the competitive spirit that I do, I don't want to do anything that I don't think I will be good at because I have to excel...it's a necessity.

This life is competitive. We compete for careers, we compete for attention... we are taught from a young age that nobody ever remembers second place. There are several problems with this mindset.

Problem number one lies in the fact that, sometimes we get caught up in a race for the sake of the race, with no real goal.

Picture in your mind a man driving down a road and another man comes driving up behind him. As he sees the car gaining on him, he increases his speed. His mind, reeling, tells him to go faster, to not let this stranger catch up to him. Faster and faster he goes until the car behind him becomes a faint spot in the distance. Just then, he rounds the bend to find a bridge out and cannot stop in time. Perhaps that stranger was trying to catch up to him to issue a warning and backed off when he knew it was too late.

Problem number two lies in the fact that we are in the world but, not of it. Yes, the world is competitive but, we are called to surrender.

I hate that word. It is not in my nature. Me, surrender?

But then, I read my Bible and I find that this competitive nature of mine is part of Satan's lie. As contrary as it sounds, my competitive nature may full well impede my success and victory.

In the following verses, it is said that whoever seeks to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life for God will find it;

John 12:25, Mark 8:35, Matthew 16:25, Matthew 10:39, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33

I need to keep my competitive nature in check. I need to keep my eyes focused on my goal and not just run the race for the sake of running. I need to surrender... give up to God and not be caught up in the lie that I have to win here on earth because true victory comes after we leave this life.

Philippians 3:14 "I pursue, looking towards the goal, for the prize of the calling on high of God in Christ Jesus."

Although it goes against my very grain, I have the promise that in my weakness, I will be made strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9 "Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

Today, I am singing the words to the Lincoln Brewster chorus "All To You".

I'm living my life for You
And I'm giving everything to You
Not holding back, from every part
I'm giving it all to You

Not very competitive but, the sure way to victory.

Resurrected

This is something that I have felt led to write about for some time. I am not sure why I put it off for so long but, I am thankful I did because even now the full realization of the topic eludes me. I am soaking it in little bit by little bit.

As Christians, we have been taught that Jesus is to be the example of how we are to live life. His love, His kindness, His compassion, His long-suffering, His benevolence, His passion, etc. are all qualities we are to strive to attain. It's a tall order for most of us, yet we are to continue to strive towards that end and to grow in Him. There is another aspect of His life that I want to point you to today - His death. If He is our example, then we too have to die. Romans 6:4 "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

I know it sounds like crazy talk but, remember what it says in Matthew 16:25, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it." Our death is a symbolic death... we must die to ourselves. Our old lives, the ones we knew prior to coming to know Jesus as our Savior must become a thing of the past. But, this is a process... let's look at how the process took place in the life and death of Jesus.

1. Jesus yielded to the will of the Father in His life. Luke 22:39 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."

2. Jesus came to calvary beaten, scorned, shamed, naked, in agonizing pain, alone, burdened by sin, stripped of all worldly possessions, the list could go on.

3. Jesus died by giving up His Spirit. Luke 23:46 "Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last."

4. Jesus went directly into battle, entering hell and defeating satan. Matthew 12:40 "For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

5. Jesus was resurrected. Luke 24:5-7 " And while their faces were bent down to the earth in fear, these said to them, Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has come back to life: have in mind what he said to you when he was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of man will be given up into the hands of evil-doers, and be put to death on the cross, and on the third day he will come back to life."

In Jesus resurrection and through His defeat of death and satan He traded in;

A broken body for one healed and whole
Shame for honor
Nakedness for being clothed in glory
Separation from God for communion and being one with the Father
The burden of sin for righteousness
Death for eternal life
Defeat for victory

Are you getting excited? He is our example... through our death to self and subsequent resurrection in Christ, He showed us that these things are ours for the taking. Many churches and preachers teach that healing is available, provision is available, favor is available, etc. But, this is way past something being available. This is not like a mint in a tray next to a cash register. Jesus said to follow Him, follow His example... this means that these things are not just available...we are to take them in order to be like Him!

I hope I made this clear but just want to say this one last thing, one more thing to ponder on...

The definition of Christian is, "a follower of Christ". If you claim to be a Christian, then you are a follower and you must follow Him all the way through His life, death, burial AND through the resurrection. Too many people are suffering because they stop at the dying to self. They stop at death. Life is not a race to see who can suffer the most for Christ. We are more than conquerors. (Romans 8:37) Grab hold of the resurrection.

Something Real

So, I was thinking the other day that I felt like a greyhound on a track chasing the ever elusive rabbit. I thought to myself, "God, why can't you ever let me catch it?" Bemoaning what I want in my life and what I don't have. I have become the man in Haggai 1:6 "You planted a lot, but you harvested little. You eat, but you're never full. You drink, but you're still thirsty.?wine[ to drink but not enough to become drunk."> You wear clothing, but you never have enough to keep you warm. You spend money as fast as you earn it."

As I pined away at my not "catching the rabbit" God spoke to me and said, "if you catch the rabbit, you will find it was not real." Ahhh... the rabbit is mechanical, a deception. And even for the dog who wins the race, the winner's bounty is no real reward. He goes on to chase the fake rabbit the next weekend. These thoughts all lead me to question what it is that I am chasing. I was reminded of Ecclesiastes 2:11 "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."

What is it that I want in my life that I cannot seem to attain? Peace, love, financial security...I just want a reprieve from the pressure of my day to day life. But, I got off track... I started looking for these things instead of Him who provides all for my good. Seeking God first takes you off the track. Running the circle of life gets you nowhere. You will keep running until you die, never satisfied. Like it says in James 4:2 "You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God". We need fellowship with God, conversation, to make our requests known. The second part of the equation is found in Matthew 6:31-33"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." We ask, then we seek Him. Such a simple equation and yet so easy to lose sight.

I am getting off the track now. I want to chase something real.

You Matter....

Today was "Sanctity of Life Sunday".... it rolls around once a year as a reminder that we need to hold the life that God gives us sacred. We were reminded of all the verses in the Bible that tell us that life begins before birth and were reminded how we rejoice at the news of the Haitians pulled out of the rubble, still alive after all this time because it is inherent in our nature to value life. It is only our society that teaches us to devalue life. I sat in my chair listening to my pastor speak and he read the usual verses, that I have heard time and time again.

I am going to digress here just a bit and tell a story about my sons Becher and Drew. When I was pregnant with Drew, Becher was just three years old and he used to ask me all the time when the baby was going to come live with us. He would come up and rub my big pregnant tummy and say, "I miss the baby.... when is the baby going to come?" Shortly after Drew was born, I attended a "Sanctity of Life Sunday" just like today and Becher heard mention of the word "abortion" in the service. He asked me after church what it was and I told him that some people don't want to have a baby and when the baby is still in their tummy, they kill it and have it taken out. He was astounded and asked how and why that could happen. I explained to him that it is because those people don't truly believe that it is a baby.... that they are confused and that they believe that it is just "tissue". Well, "tissue" in our house had a whole different meaning than how I used it that day and Becher replied, "oh mommy, when Drew was in your tummy, I missed the baby, I NEVER thought he was toilet paper." Even at his young age he knew the value of a life.

It's a story that makes me smile so, I wanted to share even though it is only by a large stretch that it connects to the rest of what I have to say. Now back to my original thought!

My pastor today read Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Now, we know that God was speaking to Jeremiah in this verse however, we also know that according to Acts 10:34 that God is no respecter of persons. This means that Jeremiah is no different from us.... God knew us before we were born and even before our conception.

I have read this verse dozens of times over my life and although it is a good verse, it never really stood out to me until today. Today I heard the verse and God spoke very clearly to me, "I have known your beginning to your end, I formed you, I planned you.... there is nothing you can do to disappoint me." Wow, that is so far removed from the way I was taught as a child and even into adulthood.

Think about how Satan uses our guilt to keep us from growing in the things of God. If he can make us feel unworthy then we may not even try to press in, to learn, to grow. We live hanging onto the hem of our salvation instead of living in the fullness of God.

I am in no way saying that this gives us free license to misbehave. What this knowledge does is invites us to be closer to God, to truly realize what He thinks of us and how much He loves us.

I want everyone who reads this to think a new thought.... every mistake....every sin....He knew. Grasp hold of that. Every one...He knew it not only before you did it but, before He even formed you! Yet, He made you anyway, He wanted you for Himself anyway, He longs for fellowship with you anyway and He died for you anyway. It wasn't some nebulous sin that He died for on the cross.... He died for yours knowing exactly what those sins would be. Despite your errs, you are His chosen one and you matter... more than anything.

I hope you know how much your are loved.

Never Full

I want to paint a picture in your mind.... picture a pitcher and there is water being poured into the pitcher from up above. Throughout the pitcher, there are small round holes and the water is running out as it is poured in. The pitcher is crying out, "I'm made for water, fill me" and yet, it can never be full.

This mental image is a picture of some Christians. They desperately want more, they believe, they know that we were made for fellowship with God and yet, they are never full. Some are believing for the promises of God... promises of peace, provision, health, etc. and yet, they never receive. In Christian circles for many years there were those who mistakenly judged those who did not receive what they were praying/believing for thinking that they must have a secret/hidden sin blocking their reception of the promise. Shame on anyone who judges another. God judges us by our heart condition. One man CAN NOT judge another man's heart condition from his outward state.

So what is it that causes us to not be filled, to lose the Word we so desperately try and fill ourselves with? I believe these holes are portals into our life where we have unknowingly given Satan access and authority in our lives. Those times when we unknowingly let Satan in caused the holes and leaking of the vessel.

Let me give you some basic examples; reading your horoscope may seem innocent enough, after all, you don't really believe that stuff. Bottom line is that reading your horoscope is dabbling in Satan's lair and allowing him a portal into your spiritual being. Some other things that may have given Satan access; a spirit of rejection, soul ties, dabbling in the occult, allowing sacrilegious items in your home, etc.

We head the biblical warning to, "be on guard" but we are looking on the outside when it is quite possible the problem comes from within. We mistakenly think that once we have given our lives to God that we are protected from spirits but if we have given spirits free access.... they have no intention of leaving until we recognize them and call them out!

The Bible says that the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21) and says that the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12). We have to take it back from Satan and his minions. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." These are not some nebulous external forces and we need to learn how to fight this war. War is won on the offense, not on the defense. We need to identify our enemy and take back what is rightfully ours. Trust in the healing and restoration of God to seal off those portals!

Remember the parable of the sower who sows the Word? He sowed some on the path and the birds came and ate the seed. These are hard hearts that are not ready to hear and receive the word. Then he sowed on shallow ground and the seed immediately took root but withered and died because it had no root. Then he sowed on ground consumed with thorns and the thorns choked the seed. Then he sowed on fertile ground and the seed grew and bare fruit.

This parable never made any sense to me. If the Bible says that the Word is alive and powerful and does not return void.... why didn't the seed take root? The Bible says in Matthew 13:20 "The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy." He wanted the Word, he joyously received the Word and the Word doesn't return void! Like the pitcher, he joyously received the Word yet it was his internal condition that prevented the Word from taking root.

You can have victory, you can seal up these unseen portals that have been bleeding you dry and sucking your faith away from you. Acts 5:16 says that everyone brought to Jesus was healed and delivered. John 14:12 says, "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." You have the authority but as Hosea 4:6 says, "You are destroyed for a lack of knowledge." It's time to expose these devils for what they are and drive them out once and for all!

Selective Salt

Have you ever gone to the grocery and purchased salt and then brought it home and some days it was salty and on other days you could shake and shake the container and it just didn't have any flavor? Of course not.... what a silly question!!
Jesus says that we are the "salt of the world" (Matthew 5:13) yet we tend to want to be selectively salty. Flavoring our conversation with the good news of the gospel only when it is convenient and comfortable. Far be it from me to judge your Christian walk but, I would like to challenge you to really look at your life.... if you are being selectively salty, I dare say that perhaps you are not salt at all.
James 3:11 & 12 say, "Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." In the old testament we read in 2 Chronicles, Leviticus and Numbers about a "covenant of salt". Just as salt is a preservative, this covenant of salt refers to perpetuity. Salt is constant, salt is perpetual, salt preserves or it is not salt at all.
I have come to the realization that it is not enough to be a good example. It is not enough to be kind and loving to those around me. If there is one person whose life I have been a part of who is not given the opportunity to accept Jesus as his/her Savior... I have failed. I must be the salt that God says I am every day, in every moment to all people. Luke 14:35 tells us that if salt loses it's saltiness it is worthless and not even fit for the manure pile.
I am all the more convinced of this truth as I look back on my life and recognize the depravity that I have been saved from. The Word tells us in Luke 12:48 that to whom much is given, much is expected. We seem to read these words and focus on either great talent or material possessions. To the outside world, it would appear that I have not been given much but, I know what God saved me from. I know the extent of the grace and mercy that have been shown to me and I know that I owe God more than most. I am choosing from this day on to no longer be selectively salty.

I'm Not Afraid Anymore.....

Just a quick thought that I fancied sharing.....

My kids were watching "Home Alone" yesterday on the television and I happened to walk in the living room and sit down, cuddling with my five year old for a bit, catching some of the movie. I came in as the two bumbling burglars tried to access the house and the little boy turned on all the lights and then ran upstairs and hid under the bed. After being under the bed for a while he said to himself, "I can't stay under here forever". He then walked outside and announced, "I'm not afraid anymore! Do you hear me? I said, I'm not afraid anymore!" About that time when he was feeling empowered as he announced his new found courage, he came face to face with his neighbor looking ominous and holding a shovel, to which he turned and ran screaming back to the bed.

Isn't this analogous to many of our spiritual walks? We learn something about the character of God and we step out in new found faith and courage only to have Satan come at us with his shovel, scaring us back into our old ways and habits.

I didn't watch the whole movie but I remember when I watched it years ago that the old man that scared Kevin so badly at the begining of the movie ended up helping him defeat the bad guys in the end.

Just for the record, I want to say that I am truly not afraid anymore. I know the end of the story. I know that those things that Satan means for my harm, God will turn and use for my good. I know that I am victorious.

The Secret Deception

Those that have seen my blog know that I love to write. But, I have this deep need somehow inside of me for others that read my writing to enjoy it. I don't generally write on light topics but yet, I still try to tickle the mind a bit in my writings. So, I will mull on a topic until I feel ready to write. Tonight, I'm not ready but what I have inside of me can't wait. My prayer is that I will be able to pull it all together and make sense of what is boiling inside of me.

I read some quotes this morning written by a doctor I know. They were excellent quotes portraying Christian principles yet, he is not a Christian. One of the things he talked about was the power within ones mind to heal and he stated that anger and bitterness cause "dis-ease" and therefore disease within the body. I found myself agreeing with him, knowing that is a biblical principle (Proverbs 14:30 "The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.") and yet, somehow feeling sad because I realized how difficult it would be for this man to come to Jesus.

These thoughts were followed by thoughts on the book, "The Secret".... this book has become so popular and although a secular book, teaches Christian principles. I have seen it touted even in Christian circles and as I thought on it this morning, my heart was grieved. Grieved for the non-believers that figure out the principles in life that bring health and healing knowing that it will drive them farther from the Father and grieved for the Christians alike. You may wonder why it would worry me for Christians to learn Christian principles and I will tell you.... First, they are Christian principles but many Christians that have not searched the scriptures will not recognize them as such. Second, learning the principles this way circumvents the process that would normally bring one to these realizations.

The path to living an abundant life is a path of growth as we learn more about the character of Jesus and God the Father. We grow closer to Him as we learn His word and apply it precept upon precept in our lives. Mark 13:22 talks about the end times and states, "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." I believe we are being seduced into an abundant life that is a perversion of what God truly has for us. Satan is sly.... we have to take notice and carefully examine what we put before our eyes. The enemy is working hard to deceive us. 2 Corinthians 11:3 says, "But I am afraid that, as the serpent in his craftiness deceived Eve, so your minds may be led astray from their single-heartedness and their fidelity to Christ." My fear is that I am watching this happen. Jesus came and died that we might have life and have it more abundantly, He has offered us healing, deliverance, provision, love, peace but, there is no short cut. We gain these things through relationship with the one who created us to be in communion with Him.

P.S. Pastor Rob Hastings reminded me of this passage in 2 Timothy 3:1- "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

This is most definitely a form of godliness but denying its power. What a strong admonition. We need to take heed.

The Tired Perspective

I had a friend ask me the other day, "do you ever just get tired?" Of course the answer is yes. I do get tired.. in fact, I spent too much of my life tired. Now I have a different perspective and have left the tired perspective behind. Not that it doesn't try to creep in fairly often but I refuse to let it, instead casting my cares on Him and trusting in His promise to give me rest. Knowing that God is no respecter of persons (in other words what He has done for one, He will do for another according to Acts 10:34) I see many verses promising rest.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
Isaiah 14:3 "And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear, and from the hard bondage wherein you were made to serve."
Exodus 33:14 "And he said, My presence shall attend thee, and I will give thee rest."
Joshua 1:13 "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land."

I have had a large number of trials in this life, some that I created through my own bad decisions and some that were foist upon me by other evil people. I started life with faith but somewhere along the way I began asking, "why me?" "Why me God? Why do I have to suffer?" I resented the hurt and the pain and wondered why God would allow such a thing to happen to me. I found myself tired and blaming my tiredness on my Lord. Here is where the tired perspective comes in.... the tired perspective says, "I hurt, God allowed it to happen and therefore I am tired and angry with God."

I am going to present to you a new perspective...I know without a shadow of a doubt that I have a calling on my life to serve the Lord... that makes me a huge threat to the enemy's kingdom. I know that as such a threat the enemy works that much harder to discourage me. The more he attacks me, the more convinced I become that I have the potential to be great in the kingdom of God. I am not bragging in any way because I have made so many mistakes in my life that I am humbled and so very grateful any time God chooses to use me to touch another.

So, what does this little change in perspective accomplish? Look closely at the shift... instead of saying "why me" and feeling beaten and run down I can now say, thank you Jesus for choosing me. Knowing that I am that big of a threat to satan and his minions empowers me. Instead of wearing me down now I have grown stronger.

I am tired of the tired perspective. It's long past time to shift our perspectives.... to recognize the call on your life, to recognize the greatness within you, to recognize that you are being buffeted by the enemy but you have been promised victory!

If you don't believe me, just look at the evidence below!

Psalms 108:13 "With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
Proverbs 2:7 "He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless"
Psalms 44:7 "but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame."
1 John 5:4 "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."

You will overcome, God has destined you for greatness, God has a call on your life. Go after it, live in victory, rise up in strength as you change your perspective. You can do it. I believe in you.

Psalms 18:35 "You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great."

Gifts

When it comes to my children, I would love to be able to give them the world. It actually hurts my heart when they are in need of something and I cannot help them with it or provide it for them. It is like a heavy weight on my chest. On birthday's and holidays I dream so much bigger than what I can actually afford and I find myself wistfully thinking of what I would buy "if only"..... I have never been a materialistic person in any way but the one thing I would like to be able to afford.... to help my children when they are in need. (Okay.... that and good sheets because there is nothing like a bed made with good sheets after a long day!)

The Bible speaks of "our father". Galatians 4:6 says, "Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." If God is our father, I must assume that He feels as strongly about me as His child as I do toward my earthly children. He must long to give me the world.

Matthew 7:11 says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Wait a minute..... if I want to give my children the world and I am just an evil old sinner..... this says that God wants to give me even more!! The difference though, is not only in the amount of what He wishes to bestow upon me but in that.... He has already done it.

He died to give me dominion and authority over the earth, He lives to give me victory, He has given me healing, power, grace, mercy, forgiveness, love.... and yet, many times I have not taken it. If it hurts me to not be able to provide for my children, how much more must it hurt our heavenly Father when He offers gifts that we refuse to take and He looks down to see us struggling in lack?

Reach out and take the gifts He has given you.

My Shopping List

I keep a shopping list with the intent of writing things down as I notice that we are running low or as I use the last of something. The idea is that the house never runs out of the things we find necessary such as dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, etc. And really.... it's a great plan.

I bought the kind of shopping list with a magnet attached to the back so that I could put it on my refrigerator (somewhere I go far too often) knowing that seeing it would jog my memory and motivate me to write things down. The pad is even a special shape.... not just any ordinary lined paper but this shopping list pad is long, narrow, lined sheets.... perfect for making a list. I even attached a pen to the list so I would never have to look for one. Any time I needed it... it was right there.

My house is two stories high with one bedroom and one bath on the first floor and my children's bedrooms and bath on the second. Why this is significant is because I rarely use their restroom. They are old enough to be responsible for themselves so, I expect them to let me know when their restroom is out of shampoo, toothpaste, toilet paper, etc. Yet, often I find my things gone out of my restroom because they have let theirs run out and not bothered to tell me until it was too late.

When this happens I find myself snapping at them, "why didn't you tell me you were running low?" But, in all honesty, they are no different from me. Here I am with my AESLS (Advanced Executive Shopping List System) and yet.... I run out of things often. I grow accustomed to seeing my list and it no longer motivates me to write things down, sometimes the pen doesn't want to work using it at that angle, etc. I am lazy about it until I am left without at which point I become annoyed with myself at my laziness.

I am the exact same way when it comes to my spiritual life. When my spiritual pantry is full, I become lazy and apathetic. It doesn't seem so bad to run out of just one little thing....when I have so much else. Spiritual laziness carries a much higher price - after all, see Revelation 3:15&16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth."

I can just see God in heaven watching as my resources of hope, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:23) and self-control begin to run low having a reaction much the same as mine toward my children when I, in exasperation ask, "why didn't you tell me?" We need to tell God what we have need of - just like the blind man in Mark 10:51. Jesus knew he was blind and I am sure He could have assumed that he wanted to see but, He asked him, "what do you want?" and the blind man answered, "Rabbi, I want to see."

Let's just look at a few verses together.

Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

John 16:24 "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."

Matthew 7:7-11 ""Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

It's time to keep up on our spiritual shopping list. Time to take inventory and make God aware of what we are running low on. Really, there is never any excuses for running out of any resource when God is just waiting for us to ask.

Hope Like a Child....

Remember those days as a child when you knew exactly what you wanted out of life? I often think back to when my daughter Keeley was little and she loved the color pink. She would tell people, "when I grow up, I am going to be a doctor and I am going to get married to a pink husband and live in a pink house with pink grass." When Drew was little he insisted on being called "Farmer Drool" and he used to tell people that he was going to live in a house that looked like a big red barn that had 37 bedrooms and he was going to have 14 wives and 117 children! Some pretty specific hopes.

The Bible says we are to become as little children. I think the lesson here is to know what you want and what you hope for. We lose ourselves through the pressures of life and we forget what it is we really want or we figure we can't have it anyway so, settle for a plan B, C, D or even F. I know I need more money but I don't know how much, I know I need a new car but I don't know what kind exactly. When I was a kid I could have told you make, model, year and color.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for..... faith brings into being the things we hope for but if our hope is not specific then is it really hope at all? How can you have faith for something vague and nebulous?

Make your list.... what is it that you are believing God for? Imagine yourself with it, see yourself with what you hope for.......hope, after all, is the first step.

Resisting the Devil

In Christian circles you often hear people quote James 4:7 "So place yourselves under God's authority. Resist the devil, and he will run away from you." It's a pretty awesome promise yet, why is it that it seems like he is always there niggling away at Christians instead of running away like the word says? Is there some kind of trick that makes it work?

I believe that where the problem lies is in resisting too late. Just like a weed growing in a garden.... when you pluck out the seedlings.... it's easy.... if you let the weed grow..... the bigger it gets.... the harder it is to pull. We spend our time resisting a headache when we have a brain tumor... we come against the symptom, rather than the root of the problem. The second issue is we stand against the devil without our armor and he comes prepared with his arsenal.

So, let's defeat the devil! Let's walk together through this process....

First, put on the whole armor of God. Don't think you are going to resist the devil without your armor.... you are setting yourself up for defeat. We find how to put on the whole armor of God in Epehesians 6:11-19 "Take up God's instruments of war, so that you may be able to keep your position against all the deceits of the Evil One. For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against authorities and powers, against the world-rulers of this dark night, against the spirits of evil in the heavens. For this reason take up all the arms of God, so that you may be able to be strong in the evil day, and, having done all, to keep your place. Take your place, then, having your body clothed with the true word, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness; Be ready with the good news of peace as shoes on your feet; And most of all, using faith as a cover to keep off all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. And take salvation for your head-dress and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: With prayers and deep desires, making requests at all times in the Spirit, and keeping watch, with strong purpose, in prayer for all the saints"

Putting on part of the armor of God won't do... you must put on the whole armor. I could go on about how to saturate yourself in the Word, walk in righteousness, etc. But, in simple terms, putting on the whole armor of God is putting on God - period. Cover yourself in God. Fill your mind with God, speak the Word of God, listen to only those things that build up your spirit and give glory to God, look at only those things that build you up, etc. Immerse yourself in God and you have put on the whole armor of God. And by doing this you will be complying with Ephesians 4:27 which tells us to "never give the devil a foothold."

Second, be ever watchful. 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, "Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour." We are commanded all through scriptures to be on guard. Mark 13:9 tells us to be on guard. We are told to guard ourselves from false teachings and Godless chatter in 1 Timothy 6:2. Proverbs 4:23 tells us we must guard our hearts. And I just love Nahum 2:1, "The one who will scatter you is coming to attack you. Guard your fortress! Keep a lookout on the road! Prepare for battle! Be very courageous!"

It is not often in battle that the opponent comes right up to you and presents you with the opportunity to steal yourself. In warfare, the attacks that do the most damage are the sneak attacks, those that the opponent is unprepared for. The devil will come against you subtlely tempting you in the little things, planting seeds of the weeds of sin. A simple thought that you let sneak in, a careless word, misplaced anger. As you stand on guard, it is the little things that sneak their way inside your armor that prepare the way for defeat.

Third, have faith. 1 Corinthians 16:13 says, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." How do we stand firm in the faith? We build our faith through hearing the Word of God and we hear it by confessing it. Romans 10:17 "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Speak the word, speak the word, speak the word. And this brings us full circle back to putting on the whole armor of God.

Brand New Boots....

Do you remember that old song, "These Boots Were Made for Walking"?  I was thinking about that today.  So odd how old songs will sometimes pop into mind seemingly out of nowhere leaving you wondering what reminded you of them.  

"These boots were made for walking and that's just what they'll do.  One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.  Are you ready boots?  Start walking."  

I used to have a pair of boots just like that.  Being angry and hurt with feet to rush in for revenge.   The key word here being "used".  One of the definitions in the Merriam-Webster dictionary for the word used is "accustomed, habituated."  Pretty fitting in this case.  I was accustomed to fighting for myself at one time and I was wearing my war boots.  Sometimes I habituated the wrong places and wore my party boots..... I could go on but I know you get the picture.  

Let me share a jewel with you found in Ephesians 1:18-23 "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." 

Hmmm..... all things are placed under his feet.... guess that means our walking boots are of little effect.  Jesus already has it all under control.  We have a hope now and are able to look forward to a bright future, no more worries of what was in the past.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  So, why is it that we keep trying to put on our old shoes?  Why is that we return again and again to those things that we are "used" to?  Those things that we have grown accustomed to and those places inside of us that we have habituated.  It is a lie from the enemy that those old things are more comfortable.  He would have us believe that we can never escape from those old boots and just when we are feeling good about our progress we either slip them back on or someone comes along to say, "hey, aren't you the girl that used to wear the walking boots?"  

Yep, that WAS me.  But God is doing a new thing in me.  He is making a way in the desert and bringing up springs in the wasteland that was my soul.  Now I wear the preparation of the gospel of peace on my feet!  I like how the Weymouth New Testament states Ephesians 6:15 "as well as the shoes of the Good News of peace-- a firm foundation for your feet."

I have a brand new pair of boots and my feet are set on a firm foundation. But these boots are not made for walking, these boots are made for running headlong into the new life that God has laid out before me.  These boots are made for jumping up and down and dancing in the joy of the Lord.  These boots are made to serve my Father.

Baggage

The other day I was reading personal ads with a family member for the entertainment value.  Funny how some of these people lament their being single and seem to be completely clueless as to why when complete strangers can read a few sentences that they wrote and almost instantly determine why they have yet to find their "soul mate."  At times, we humans seem to be oblivious to our own faults.  Reminds me of the Bible verse in Luke 6:42 which says, "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

There is the ad that makes Star Trek references throughout, the man who calls himself "the wolfman" and references wherewolves and the lady who wants a partner willing to marry her.......the only catch is..... she is already married.  We read through the ads at times laughing so hard it hurt but at the same time noticing some trends.  One of the recurring themes that popped up in ad after ad was people stating that they did not want somebody "with baggage".  Ouch!  Is baggage all that bad?  I mean really, how do you get through this life without picking up some baggage along the way.  I dare say that if you show me a person without baggage, you are showing me a. a liar or b. someone who will fall apart in the slightest storm.

The way I see it, I have a full set of luggage.....the soft-sided carry on, the cosmetic bag, the large roll along, the medium sized roll along, the garment bag, etc.  Yep, a full set of luggage all collected amidst the trials of life.  Believe it or not, there is good news though.  See, God knew we would pick up baggage along the way and would grow weary under the burden, there is no way to avoid it for, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) and sin produces baggage.  Sometimes it is our own sin and sometimes it is the sin of others that produces baggage in our lives but it is always there.  But, He also promised to be our porter!!!    Matthew 11:28 & 29 says, "Come to Me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

So, why are we all carrying around this baggage that weighs us down and apparently scares off the high quality folk posting personal ads?  Because we don't know.... we don't know that all we have to do is ask and God is there waiting to take our load.  You see, the promises in the Bible do us no good if we don't know they are there.  The enemy loves to keep us ignorant and struggling when we have a God that is able to feed a crowd of 5,000 with 5 small loaves of bread and 2 little fish and still have leftover, we have a God who gave us the keys to the kingdom of heaven, which we put up on the shelf in our teepee for safe keeping?  Everyone knows that is a ridiculous analogy yet, it's true.  

What baggage are you carrying?  What burdens are you buckling under today?  What hope inside of you, have you let die because of hurt and disappointment?  

He's a perfect gentleman, standing there offering to take your bags but you have to give them over.  Let God be your porter.  Give it all over to Him and don't hold back.  He loves you and He will give you rest.

An Unlikely Instrument

I am a little tired this evening but I had some thoughts I wanted to get written down.  I pray I am able to make sense of them.

The other day my kids and I were traveling down to California from Oregon and as we were driving, we came into a lightening storm.  As we drove into the storm, my son told me about a little girl in his Sunday school class who told the class, "when you hear thunder, the angels are bowling and they are getting a strike."  I rolled my eyes at this story but then proceeded to tell them when I was a little girl, I used to tell people that thunder was the angels clapping their hands.  I know there is a scientific explanation for thunder but I like my story.  

But, telling that story to my children brought the Bible verse in Luke 19:40 to mind, "and he answering said to them, 'I say to you, that, if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out!'  

I used to sing a song in church that incorporated this verse and it went;

"Before the rocks cry out I just want to praise Him, just want to praise Him for all He's done.  Before all nature rises up to shout I just want to praise Him for all He's done for me."

Thinking about these words, I told my children that perhaps the thunder really is the angels clapping and maybe they are clapping and praising God because we aren't doing our job.  So, we decided that we should say, "praise God" everytime we see the lightening.  We continued to drive into a very large lightening storm and for an hour the kids tried to beat each other shouting out, "praise God" first at every flash.  It was a great time together.... one that I know I will always remember.  

But, of course, I am not stopping there....

I love what the Wesley Notes have to say about Luke 19:40 "If these (disciples praising Jesus) should hold their peace, the stones, which lie before you, would cry out - That is, God would raise up some still more unlikely instruments to declare his praise. For the power of God will not return empty." 

An unlikely instrument?  Perhaps  an unlikely instrument crying out from the earth such as thunder, a volcanic eruption, an earthquake..... aren't the rocks crying out more and more?  I think they are as our voices have grown silent.  We have become pressured beneath the load of the world instead of giving Him our burdens (Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.")  We have become embarrassed to speak out His name and we are treading on dangerous ground (Mark 8:38 "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.")

In this world with the trials we all face from day to day we have become those unlikely instruments.  People in the world cannot fathom the peace that passeth all understanding.  People in the world live within the dimensions that can be seen and felt and cannot understand how we can see the same picture yet envision a different outcome.  But, I live according to the promises in His word.  And that picture paints me praising God every second of everyday.  

Thank you Jesus for making me an unlikely instrument and for putting your praise in my mouth, your life on my lips and your power in my tongue.  When we see the awesome power of nature rising up..... let us be reminded that WE are to be that instrument of praise and we should have praised Him BEFORE the rocks cried out.

 

Letting My Light Shine

I was reading my Bible today and came across Matthew 5:16. It is a verse I have read many times in my life but today it jumped off the page at me, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." We all know we are supposed to be like light in the darkness around us, we all sang the children's song, "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine...."

But today I noticed something different. Today I noticed that my light is supposed to shine in such a way that it will cause others to glorify God. Wow! That is just not normal in our society. What would it take to let your light shine in such a way that it brings glory to God? Recognition is a hugely motivating factor in people's lives. People love to be seen as the talented one or the good samaritan, etc. I know how to do good things that will benefit others and also put just a little bit of the light on me. I don't need all the light of course but just a little pat on the back might feel nice. I really had to think about this one and these are a few of the things that I believe it would take to shine a light that points to the Father instead of to me;

1. Anonymity - If I do things to gain the respect of man, I lose the respect of God. Matthew 6:3 says, "But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." The true reward comes when we are able to selflessly do our work as unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:23) Doing works that glorify God in a state of anonymity can only point people in one direction.... to the Father.

2. Diligence - Romans 12:11 says, "Never be lazy in showing such devotion. Be on fire with the Spirit. Serve the Lord." We are to serve God by being "on fire" with the Spirit. On fire? Imagine if you will someone truly on fire. You see videos of houses on fire and out the door comes someone in flames, just sauntering out like it's no big deal. No.... that is not how it happens at all is it? You see someone running out, diving to the ground to roll, jumping up and down.... this is the attitude, these are the actions of one truly "on fire" and these on fire people never stop. To point people in the direction of God, you have to be diligent in your works, diligent in your confession, diligent in your countenance. Be on fire!

3. Attitude - There is nothing that points to the grace of God more than a loving and kind attitude in the midst of lifes trials. Philippians 2:5 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:" I don't know about you but, I'm in trouble here. While hanging on the cross, Jesus asked for the forgiveness of those who caused him that physical agony. Right in the middle of the throes of His pain, he thought about them and their salvation. I personally, want to slash the tires of the guy who cut me off on the freeway this morning.

4. Abandonment - Matthew 10:39 says, "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." In order to find life and in order to point the way to life, we must become like our Lord. Abandonment to self is the key to finding life. This isn't denial of who we are, what we feel or our needs but choosing to give those things, yes, even those parts of us we are certain God doesn't care for.... to God. Choosing His ways over our ways, choosing His peace over our fear, choosing His provision over our wants.

This verse has been in my mind since I was child. This verse has been repeated in Sunday School, Youth Group and Vacation Bible School. There have been entire sermons written around this verse and how we are to let our lights shine but how often have you hear "the rest of the story"? (Thanks Paul Harvey, for letting me borrow that verbiage). This isn't a little feel good verse telling us to be a good witness... this verse carries some weight. I would like to think that maybe one day I will achieve letting my light shine in such a way as to point others to Jesus.