Joyfully From Jacksonville

When The Rooster Crows

2012-01-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

“And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, "Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26:75 (NASB)

My mind was wondering. I was somewhere in the past, many years before I came into a relationship with the Lord. I had some questionable habits but didn’t pay too much attention to them; after all, I wasn’t hurting anyone. I kept my activities to myself and didn’t flaunt them. Overall, I was still a nice girl, and one with a few manners.

I worked in an office where the visitors were often uncouth and unpleasant. After such visits, my standard remark was, “Well, you think they would have said or done such and such, AFTER ALL IT’S ONLY COMMON COURTSEY!” Apparently, I said that a lot.

One day, it seems I forgot to do or say such and such on an issue of some importance. The knife entered my back quickly, when boss complained about my lack of propriety and exclaimed for all to hear, “After all, it’s only common courtesy!” If there had been a rooster in the area, surely it would have crowed.

Have you ever had a moment like that? You know – a moment where your words come back to haunt you. Quite humiliating isn’t it? It makes you wish you could quickly sink into the ground, disappearing from sight. I imagine Peter felt that way when his rooster crowed.

My Bible Study lesson for January 8 prompted me to contemplate those “cock-a-doodle do” moments of life, as it relates to my stand for Christ. The lesson stirred my thinking when it asked, “What does it mean to deny?” Good question.

Does it mean I skirt the issue when His name is brought up? Do I avoid the issue altogether because it’s too personal or controversial? Do I refuse to bring up Jesus when that proverbial spiritual door opens in a conversation, as if I know nothing about my Savior? Ummm. . . What is that noise I hear in the background, is a . . . rooster?

After serious thought on Matthew 10:32-33 which states, “if you deny me before men, I’ll deny you before the Father,” I have concluded (with help from additional Scripture), this refers to a lifestyle pattern of denial. Christ will deny those who continually deny Him. (“I knew you not!”) However, for the Christian, the true believer – even with all our flaws and imperfections – we will never need to worry about His denial. However, our denial is another story.

Ask Peter. He believed Christ. He loved Christ. He followed Christ. He walked and talked with Christ. Nevertheless, he also denied Christ not once but three times! He gets a bad rap for that, but wait and think about it – how many times have you denied Christ in your lifetime? How many have I? Peter only had three and when you look at it that way. . . I digress! Yet – whether once, twice, thrice - there is always the hope and the grace of Christ and His forgiveness.

Like I said last week, New Year, new habit. Can we walk in His forgiveness or will we be content to beat ourselves up because we were “spiritually caught in the act” when the rooster crowed? Will we move forward or stay stuck in the quicksand of the past? Peter grieved when he was caught. However, he allowed a Risen Savior to raise him up and set his feet back on solid ground. Read Acts and look at what would not have happened if Peter remained sulking in his sorrow.

Take some time today to think about the stand you take or don’t take for Christ each day. What things can you do or say to those you meet that will show you are undeniable in love with your Savior? Take honest stock of yourself, if you find yourself lacking, let your heart grieve then get up and move on with renewed passion. Remember the progress Peter made! The rooster may crow, but the Eagle soars!

Love, Barbara

A New Year A New Habit

2012-01-04T08:23:00.001-05:00

Once again, it’s New Year resolution time. So far – I am not doing so good on anything I hoped to improved upon in 2012 and it’s only day 4! So I thought I’d share my morning devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young for January 4. You read this as if Jesus was calling only you:

I want you to learn a new habit. Try saying, “I trust You, Jesus,” in response to whatever happens to you. If there is time, think about who I AM in all My Power and Glory; ponder also the depth and breadth of My Love for you.

This simple practice will help you see Me in every situation, acknowledging My sovereign control over the universe. When you view events from this perspective—through the Light of My universal Presence—fear loses its grip on you. Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities when you affirm your trust in Me no matter what. You receive blessings gratefully, realizing they flow directly from My hand of grace. Your continual assertion of trusting Me will strengthen our relationship and keep you close to Me.

I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.

—Psalm 63:2

See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

—Isaiah 40:10–11

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

- Psalm 139:7-10

Happy New Year - my love to all!

Barbara

On The First Day of Christmas . . .

2011-12-22T10:05:00.000-05:00

“But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”. Luke 2:10-11 (NASB)

Last week we attended a Christmas party and of course, we indulged in the tradition of singing Christmas carols. It was sweetly done after an evening of good food and fun fellowship. However, sweetness went out the window and general goofiness ensued when someone directed us to sing The Twelve Days of Christmas, in parts and complete with silly hand motions. Bob and I were “four calling birds” and it was a hoot.

Yet, I am forced to admit, it is my least favorite Christmas song. Why? I don’t know maybe it’s because I don’t like pears and I only watch the Partridges on reruns. However, many years ago working in a small office, for a small church, partially in the woods, I heard on the radio one day just before Christmas that old familiar tune with much different words. I recall them as:

On the first day of Christmas, my True Love gave to me, a Savior to set the world free!

I had the entire version written down – now committed to the black of hole “stuff” somewhere in my house – but I did manage to find this on the Internet. Today, I bid you, from my house to yours, Merry Christmas!

The Twelve Days of Christmas
by - Carroll Roberson

On the first day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: salvation full and free.

On the second day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the third day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: Peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the fourth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: love for all men, Peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the fifth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the sixth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me; power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the seventh day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the eighth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the ninth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: mansions above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the tenth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: streets of pure gold, mansions above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the eleventh day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: a thousand tongues to sing, streets of pure gold, mansions above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

On the twelfth day of Christmas Jesus gave to me: eternity to praise, a thousand tongues to sing, streets of pure gold, mansions above, a robe and a crown, a body glorified, power from on high, joy for my soul, love for all men, peace in my heart, everlasting life, and salvation full and free.

Two Weeks Before Christmas

2011-12-13T09:25:00.000-05:00

Two weeks before Christmas and with quiet in the house,

I stare at my computer with my hand on the mouse.

The tree is all lit and the stockings are hung.

Now I wonder what else needs to be done?

I need to wrap packages with ribbons and bows,

Then off to the Post Office where everyone goes.

I stand in the lines and silently hum,

Impatiently waiting for my turn to come.

Then back to the house with hustle and scurry

Driving myself crazy with bustle and hurry.

Finally I sit with a cup full of tea,

Something is missing but what could it be?

My eye catches sight of a leather bound book,

Waiting alone and feeling forsake.

Opening its pages and looking within,

It’s there I discover I am filled deep with sin.

I quickly learn sin will results my death,

I recoiled at the thought and drew in my breath!

But then came a word that perked up my soul,

Jesus gives life so to Him I must go!

For the babe in the manger became the man nailed to wood,

To take my punishment, in a way no one else could.

So I fell on my knees and asked Christ to begin,

The process of taking me out of my sin.

I asked Him to guide me each day of my life,

To give me wisdom and peace in dealing with strife.

He answered my prayer and bestowed me with grace,

And in Heaven forever, He gave me a place.

Now I begin to see a great need

In telling others so they can believe!

Jesus was born and laid bare in a bin,

So you would not have to die in your sin.

This Christmas - take time to remember the One,

Who was born of a virgin and whom God did call Son.

It is He that is cause for this joyous of season,

Tis true what they say, for Christ is the reason!

As you shop and you greet those in the street

Or places of work, just wherever you meet.

Without hesitation, please issue this call:

Merry Christmas indeed and New Life is for ALL!

Flying Stand By

2011-12-05T18:55:00.000-05:00

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NASB)

In October, we flew to Phoenix for vacation. Because Bob is a retired commercial airline pilot, one of our retiree benefits includes free flights. We can even get you a “buddy pass” depending on the circumstances. Now before you start drooling thinking we can fly you – free – first class to Rio, well, it ain’t gonna happen! We can’t even fly ourselves first class to Atlanta. In fact, we can’t even fly to Atlanta.

There are rules.

The biggest rule demands that we fly stand-by. This means we can only get on the plane if they are going to take off with empty seats. When we fly to destinations unknown, it is always unknown until the last minute if we can even get a seat on the plane. We’ve been bumped to another flight. We’ve been removed from our seats on a flight at the last minute and we’ve turned around and gone home. However, in this world of million dollar price tags, we give thanks to God for the blessing.

Now if you know me at all, you know I don’t always fly well. I once made them let me off a plane, but that’s another story! I also don’t do mornings. However, Bob insists on first flights out when we travel. Imagine my shock the first time I discovered there was a 4:00 AM! In the morning? What’s that all about?

Upon waiting for our last flight to Phoenix, I noticed a young woman sitting next to us having trouble determining if she was going to make her flight. It was early, I was tired, and truthfully, I didn’t want to be bothered. She’d eventually figure it out.

God had other ideas. I guess He blessed me with a spiritual listening gift. It’s called eavesdropping. The more I listened to her, the more I knew Bob could help. She was talking to airline customer service. Bob had direct access to flight information via our trusty laptop. But did I really want to get involved? Go ahead say it: shame on me!

She sounded so dreadfully pitiful and sweet and very concerned. Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer, “Bob, you’ve got to help this woman!” Blessedly, my hubby has a better heart than I do. Without hesitation, he did.

It turns out she was flying on the “pass” of a friend and under the same guidelines as us. Unfortunately, the seniority guidelines placed her at the bottom of the totem pole. Not to mention her friend failed to clue her in on the nuances of flying stand-by. She had no clue what to expect or what to do if she did not get on the plane. With Bob’s help, she was able to formulate several contingency plans.

While we did make it on the flight, sadly she did not. However, we left her prepared for what was ahead and she was so very grateful for the help. Before I walked down the jet-way, she and I exchanged best wishes to one another. It was then I discovered she was a believer in Christ and that I would meet her again in Heaven. I was thrilled to learn, she was not living life on stand-by!

Many people on this planet refuse to fly at all. They don’t want to hear about planes because if God wanted them to fly, He would have given them wings. They are content to serve a god of nothingness – unwilling to acknowledge the existence of a destination called Heaven. Some do their best to offer this folks a free ticket but they aren’t biting. Others are content to fly stand-by. They stand by their works, trusting they’ve been good enough to get a seat on that heavenly flight when it comes time to depart. Their ticket is a “hope so” ticket. Unfortunately, it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on!

Well, I am here to tell you I AM NOT FLYING STAND-BY TO HEAVEN. I will not even complain if my flight departs in the wee hours of the morning. I have already been to the airport and picked up my ticket, my free ticket that Jesus paid for in advance. Non-refundable, non-transferable. All mine! Now I am just waiting until the Gate calls me to board.

Christmas is fast approaching. We once again deck the halls in preparation for a Birthday Party. There are so many things for us to celebrate! During this time of remembering Jesus’ birth, I’d be remiss not to also remember His death, burial and resurrection. Because of my faith in Christ, I live in the assurance of my heavenly reservation – my free ticket to Heaven. Free to me, but it cost The Son His life. Therefore, while I am standing by for that moment when God calls me home, I’m not going on stand-by!

I’ll get carried away – when I get carried away!

Barbara

Consider Your Ways

2011-11-28T11:14:00.000-05:00

"You have sown much, but harvest little; you eat, but there is not enough to be satisfied; you drink, but there is not enough to become drunk; you put on clothing, but no one is warm enough; and he who earns, earns wages to put into a purse with holes." Haggai 1:6 (NASB)

Have you heard the phrase “spinning your wheels?” That is the first thing that popped into my head when the pastor read this verse a few Sunday’s ago in church. Perhaps that is how the message was intended when written by a little known prophet named Haggai.

Haggai – really? What were his parents thinking when they named him that! I guess they had good intentions as the Hebrew meaning for Haggai is festive. His message was one of completing the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. I imagine that could be a festive task! But I digress. . .

This verse sounds an awful lot like what goes on today. Especially the part about earned wages going into a purse with holes in it! Never satisfied with what we have, longing for something more and/or something different.

Yet what intrigued me about this verse was the two “thus says the Lord’s” that come directly before and after. In both verses 5 and 7, we see “Thus says the Lord of Hosts, Consider your ways.”

Most of life’s necessities are made up from sowing, eating, drinking, clothing and earning wages. Nothing strange or unusual there. However, I felt like God’s message for me was to “consider my ways.” How am I getting these things done? What attitude is displayed while pursuing these goals? Maybe I feel like I am spinning my wheels most of the time, because of the way I approaching and carry out these tasks.

Now I can whine with the best of you. No time, too many distractions, too many pop-up circumstances have invaded the realm of my sanity lately. In fact, it took me a month before I resumed writing. Poor baby – consider your ways.

Well, I have considered my ways. Woe unto me! I have a serious undertaking because considering my ways is one thing, acting to correct my ways is another. At least, I proceed to make some headway – as I have put my thoughts to paper once again.

What is it today that you need to consider? What “ways” of yours are getting in your way? Consider your ways. Consider His ways. Ask God for help and spin your wheels no more!

Love, Barbara

This is The Day!

2011-11-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

“This is the day which the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NASB)

What would it take to make you rejoice today? I guess if I ask you that question, I must first answer it myself. Ummm. . . what would it take for me to rejoice today? Let me see. I would rejoice if the telemarketer called to GIVE me money instead of asking for it. I would rejoice if the Holiday Inn Vacation club called and truly gave me a free spa weekend WITHOUT having to endure a 90-minute timeshare presentation. I would certainly rejoice if the light company called and said they overcharged on our last bill and we owe them only $2.29 this month! Hey, a girl can dream – can’t she?

Early last week while running errands, the lyrics “This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it and be glad in it” popped into my brain. It played repeatedly. However, for a fleeing moment a hideous thought cross my mind. Why? I don’t feel like rejoicing.

I haven’t written in nearly a month. My work is piling up. I’ve been constantly going and doing, yet nothing gets accomplished! Let the pity party begin! Brother, did it ever begin! Yet those words kept floating around, “This is the day that the Lord hath made.” After a few more rounds of simple yet powerful tune, it didn’t take long for me to realize how stupid I sounded with my petty complaints. Yes, I said stupid!

That is when I decided to break down Psalm 118:24, the verse that inspired the song. It certainly was better use of my time rather than all my moaning and groaning. My word study went something like this:

“This is the day.” Obviously, that means today, Barbara!

“That the Lord has made.” Well, that clears up that! God made the day. I guess that also means He knows exactly what is going to happen in this day. Then He must know what distractions and difficulties I am facing. I know others have it worse, but truthfully, that doesn’t make me feel any better about my day right now. Everything is piling up and closing in. It feels like I can’t breathe sometimes. Again, since God made the day – that has not escaped His notice either. I really am not alone in my feelings.

“Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Come to think of it, the verse doesn't mention opting out because of a bad day. God said to rejoice and be glad in this day. Nevertheless, Father, I truly am stressed! Rejoice and be glad, Barbara! Lord, is it possible to rejoice in the middle of blah? While I can do the impossible, I never ask it of you! Good point.

You know, I could be on to something here!

What thrills me most is that God must believe that I am still teachable. I should know these truths backwards and forwards. They are truths that never change because God never changes. Circumstances, by whatever form or name they come in, are powerful. Sometimes, they can cause your head to spin and other times, they knock you totally off your feet. Therefore, even the most determined Believer cannot let their guard down when it comes to praise and gladness in the Lord.

Rejoicing in the RIGHT NOW and praising God for THIS day, regardless of circumstances, pushes all conflict aside. It moves all worry and doubt to the background of your mind. On my worse day imaginable, this verse still carries a command to rejoice and be glad BECAUSE the Lord made the day and everything it contains. The question is will you, will I; trust Him enough to let Him deal with the day He made and we just simply take time to rejoice!

From Bobby and me to all of you: Happy Thanksgiving!

“Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 118:29

Barbara

PS: Once I still rejoicing and praising Him for the day, the rest that followed were spectacular!

Jesus Loves Me This I Know. . . .

2011-10-17T11:42:00.000-04:00

“Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)

As I prepared for church yesterday, I began listening to the tale-end of Charles Stanley. His end sure made me wish I’d heard the beginning! Afterwards, another church service program began, one I wasn’t familiar with at all.

During the opening of this program, a lady sweetly sang “Jesus Loves Me.” She sang the first and most recognized verse followed by several other verses unknown to me. The song covered one from childhood to those golden years as a person spending a life time trusting Jesus who loves us so!

I love the fact that Jesus loves me. It truly is amazing because I am not always that loveable. Okay, I know that is hard for many of you to believe, but true nonetheless. However that song reassured me of His love yesterday especially since my weekend had not gone as planned and only minutes earlier my daughter and two grand-girls left my home for their new home in North Carolina. My precious hubby drove with them. Unfortunately, I was not able to make this trip. Face it, my heart wasn’t feeling the love when they left – I felt a little lost. Until I was reminded that Jesus loved me still.

In the last few weeks, my body, mind and soul have been torn up and worn out. That’s not to say I haven’t had moments of true peace and joy, because I have had those too! It’s just been a real emotional roller coaster ride and this girl doesn’t like roller coasters to begin with!

Throughout all of this, I have received great comfort in knowing that not only does God love me but He also knows my heart. If anyone in this universe can “feel my pain” it is my heavenly Father. The Scripture is quite clear on the point that He knows it all before we even speak it and nothing escapes His notice.

Can I share some Barbara Theology with you for a moment? I truly believe it’s Bible theology as well, although it was a church sign that put it in perspective for me. It basically stated God knows me! My life holds no meaning without the assurance of God’s unfailing love for me. It’s a perfect love. It is a redeeming love. “For God so loved the world…” You just can’t say enough about God’s love, it beckons our hearts and our souls to draw near to Him.

But then there is His knowledge.

Of course, He knows everything because He created everything. Again, nothing goes on without His direct knowledge and consent. When I am not living the way I should, this is a very sobering thought! Another boggling thought is since He knows me so well, how on earth could He ever consider me as a candidate for Heaven? The answer lies just past His love. It is His knowledge.

His love combined with His grace and His Son’s sacrifice throws the gates of heaven wide open for all who would wish to come in. But the cross over only comes when there is knowledge involved. Not a head knowledge where you can read something and pass a test. But the knowledge that comes from a personal relationship. It might begin by reading the Bible – but it has to end with a personal acknowledgement and acceptance of what, or should I say who, the Bible reveals.

It takes me from knowing stuff about God to knowing God Himself in a personal way. When I have personal knowledge of God, I am no longer guessing what makes Him happy or delighted; I know what makes God happy and delighted. Furthermore, it opens the door for Him to know me in the intimate personal way that He longs too! Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, “'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”

This is one of those things that seems hard to understand but really isn’t. Simplicity is often confusing in a world where most everything has “fine print.” It is certain that God knows who we are at all times. But sin separates. It separates us from being in His direct presence. Jesus came to live, die and rise again to make sure we can walk into His presence – perfectly. The relationship is no longer one-sided, with only Him desiring to come to us. But we freely come to Him as well. The bond is now fully reciprocal. It is a true two-way street.

Alas, there are still folks who think just knowing about Jesus and God is enough. Some that still think that being good is the final answer. Those who try to live the “good” life without coming to God through His Son will no doubt one day hear: “Depart from Me, I knew you not!” Whew, not me! What about you?

That brings me back to the church sign that began this whole train of thought. While it is true that I rejoice in the fact that Jesus loves me this I know, I equally and perhaps more so rejoice in the fact, especially when you consider my eternal life was once at stake,

“Jesus Knows Me, This I love!”

Love,
Barbara

Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

2011-10-10T17:26:00.000-04:00

“He [Jonah] said to them, "Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you." However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them.” Jonah 1:12-13 (NASB)

I was talking with my friend and boss, Cheryle Touchton this morning. We generally talk every Monday morning. It’s our staff meeting, but because we are also friends and sisters in Christ, we share personally as well.

Today, I testified about what I heard at a Stonecroft Conference this weekend and she relayed what her minister preached on during her church service on Sunday. We had a wonderful time discussing God’s word. We also found some interesting application.

I told her I was going to steal her thunder and write about this and she gave me her permission.

The pastor where she worshipped spoke on Jonah, chapter one in particular. He talked about knowing if you are in step with God and asked his congregation three questions:

• Are you moving in the wrong direction? (Remember Jonah ran from God at first)

• Who are you hurting? (Our actions do affect others, whether we like it or not!)

• Do you feel compassion for those you hurt? (A litmus test for conviction!)

Then he zeroed in on the sailors that were sailing in the same boat as Jonah. Jonah was called to Nineveh but was heading toward Tarshish. His was going in the wrong direction.

The storm that came upon the boat because of his disobedience affected all passengers and crew. Jonah’s actions put the sailors and others in danger.

However all was not lost as Jonah developed compassion for those he was hurting. He recognized his sin and knew what the solution was: he needed to go overboard. It was the only way to save the others.

Only one problem. The sailors. They kept rowing.

Apparently, these guys weren’t pirates so throwing someone overboard put them ill at ease. So they aimed to row to shore. The storm raged on. They just couldn’t be guilty of taking a man’s life, but the storm still raged. They desperately rowed toward shore. All to no avail. Finally when there was no choice, these rain-soaked, weather-beaten sailors chunked Jonah over with a sorrowful heave-ho! “And the sea stopped it’s raging.”(vs 15)

As Cheryle spoke, it sounded so similar to a message I heard this weekend about friends unintentionally being the devil to you. How? With all good intentions, showing compassion and love, sometimes our friends want to rescue us! Is that really so bad? Maybe not. Maybe so.

Our friends generally want to help us as we’d want to help them. They want to row, row, row the boat until it safely docks in the harbor and all feet are on dry solid land. They are the good sailors in our lives. Unfortunately good sailors sometimes enable us to stay in the boat and keep us unable from seeking God’s help on our own. There comes a time when a good sailor will toss you out of the boat and into a storm so the waters can rage no more, for them and you!

Now don’t ask me for a formula for when to toss and when to not! I am still learning! I do know that sometimes God definitely places people in our lives to help anchor us in the middle of a storm. No tossing there!

Other times we get so dependent on others, the best thing they can for us spiritually, is toss us over the side. Sink or swim. Letting God do the rest.

I guess it takes prayer to know the difference. It’s an important difference. For heaven’s sake, we don’t want to toss someone out of the boat and under a bus at the same time! Prayer – that’s the key.

Just this week, I’ve had to learn to toss a few things out of the boat – in essence turn them over to God. I could do no more and in all honesty, how could I do any less!

I hope this has meant something to you today. I will be pondering it for some time.
While you are about this day, what direction are you heading in? Are you hurting the ones you love? Is there anyone or anything you need to toss overboard? You are the one who needs to be tossed?

Just remember Jonah and the sailors while you row, row, row!
Barbara

Humility Squares

2011-09-26T16:06:00.000-04:00

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;” Philippians 2:3 (NASB)

I’ve spent the last few minutes trying to figure out how to make the point of this message flourish literarily. It thrills me to put a spin on words and make them jump off the page, or jump at least to be noticed.

Today it doesn’t seem to be happening. Not sure why – but then again . . .

Last week, I was at a meeting with three other godly women when someone started talking about quilting circles. Apparently, she was acquainted with a quilting group who did exquisite work. Despite the groups’ meticulous and flawless work handiwork, they always inserted a piece of material just a bit off pattern or off center on purpose.

At first, I couldn’t figure out why anyone would do this one purpose. I get in enough trouble doing something like that on accident! But these ladies had a method behind what I thought was madness and they called it the humility square.

This humility square reminded them of their human imperfection before God regardless of the quality of the works of their hands. They remembered their hands could not have worked as wonderfully as they did without His grace and strength.

Makes you think – doesn’t it?

Do you have a humility square in the quilt of your life? You know, it’s the square that reminds you that you are a work in progress? Is there a square that keeps you from taking glory from God or credit from another? Good questions, worthy of answering.

To be truthful, I’d love to expound on this for another page or two, but I can’t. I believe today I am just supposed to leave this with you, and leave it with me, God will do the rest.

Lovingly,
Barbara

It’s the Hello Kitty Band-Aid!

2011-09-19T19:54:00.000-04:00

“Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 (NASB)

I have an arsenal. Ask my husband. I carry it with me wherever I go. These are turbulent times we live in and I never know just what weapon I need to wield at any given time. What is this arsenal? I call it “My Purse.” Every woman carries one and therein resides items that could foster world peace, well at least peace in my world.

In my purse are tracts as one has need of Scripture often. For times when I need to smell fresher, I have perfume. For times when my face needs freshening, I carry a make up bag. For emergencies, I travel with cell phone and plastic. My pharmaceutical compartment is equipped with remedies for every kind of headache known to man, or woman. I carry pencil, pen and sometimes dry erase markers and much, much more.

However, push all those items aside for one super-special secret weapon. It is the Hello Kitty Band-Aid.

A few years ago, I was at the zoo with my daughter and granddaughter, Kylie. At some point during the afternoon, I noticed Kylie had scratched her leg and she began to bleed. We stopped for a moment and I announced I had just the cure needed. I whipped out one sterile Hello Kitty Band-Aid and applied it directly to the child’s boo-boo. Kylie gave a quick inspection to her newly covered sore and looked up at me beaming, “Nana, you take really good care of me!” My heart inflated about 10 sizes; I was her hero.

A few weeks ago, Bob and I headed out to go somewhere when I noticed his elbow was bleeding. No problem, I whipped out another Hello Kitty Band-Aid and applied it directly to his wound. He reluctantly allowed this doctoring because he didn’t want to bleed all over a brand new white shirt. Hero time once again! But then he forgot to take it off and he made quite the impression the next day at church. Face it; can you resist the chance to giggle at a guy with a girlie band-aid on his arm?

A few days ago we traveled to North Carolina with our daughter to help look for a new place for her and her family to live. Her husband received a promotion which means a move! One evening after dinner, she scratched a mole on her face and it began to bleed. Once again, hero mama and the pink kitty band-aid rushed to the rescue.

And finally, just the other day I drove a friend to her auto mechanic to retrieve her newly repaired car. I pulled in between two cars to drop her off. It didn’t take long to notice the dented red vehicle to my left. Someone tried to make it feel better by placing five or six Hello Kitty Band-Aids over each of the dents. Is there anything a Hello Kitty Band-Aid can’t do?

Even though our small children think differently, there isn’t any real magic in a band-aid. I think the “magic” is in the love. But the band-aid serves a valid purpose. It covers and comforts. It covers a wound providing protection. The knowledge of that protection brings comfort. A little strip of plastic whether pink or beige, round or square, gives the wearer peace of mind.

God commands us to love fervently one another. The way we love one another speaks volumes to a lost world around. The way we don’t love one another says just as much if not more. When Christ died on the cross for us, His love covered all my sin and yours. For that I am eternally grateful. But it just doesn’t stop there. Just how do I wear this love? How do I let it cover my life each and every day?

Do I put God’s love temporarily until I get to feeling better only to rip it off at the first sign of healing – thinking I have things under control on my own? Or do I cling to His covering of love, the love that covered my sin and wear it daily for protection from infection? Do I offer this covering to others who need healing, protection and comfort?

I know it seems like a silly subject to write on but I just had to! I pray you will look deeply into the covering God has provided for your sin and then wear it well!

I am stuck on Band-Aid ‘cuz Band-Aid’s stuck on me!
Barbara

Life Interrupted

2011-09-12T11:25:00.000-04:00

”. . . . and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price. . .” 1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a (NASB)

Our youth minister recently preached both morning and evening services while our pastor was in Israel. His morning sermon was entitled, “Does God Have Your Permission To Mess With Your Life?” Being the righteous, spiritually inclined, Bible believing believer that I am, of course my answer was a resounding YES!

Someone should have warned me to be careful how I answered that question!!!

Certainly God can mess with my life! Lord, my kids moving away messes with my peace.

Certainly God can mess with my life! Lord, my schedule is always too busy and messes with my time.

Certainly God can mess with my life! Lord, my projects around the house keep messing with my ability to write.

I’ve never been one to prohibit God from messing with my life, so why do I question Him when He does? Maybe God really didn’t have my permission after all. Oh-me!

Giving God permission to mess with your life is not a new concept to me. I’ve heard this preached on before, albeit a while ago. But telling God that He has permission and actually giving it to Him are two different things. It’s the difference between lip service and submission.

Therefore I’ve done quite a bit of thinking on this subject lately. There is a lot of messing around going on in my life and in the lives of others I know. Most of these interruptions are not necessarily welcome ones either. My kids are moving. My friend needs a steady job. Another friend needs her health back. In fact, my boss has to move and right now she doesn’t know where she is going to live! Giving permission, then living with the results produces difficulty in the process and creates chaos within your spirit.

That brings me back to the before mentioned sermon. During the service, Brother Kit reminded us of a teenage girl who gave God permission to mess with her life and then actually submitted her life to Him. Thus a Savior was conceived. It took only a moment to submit but a lifetime to live out the results. Her submission resulted in personal shame, ridicule and witnessing the murder of her first born Son. And I think I have it rough! Yet, as she walked in submission with God, He made sure her sacrifice of submission was not in vain. Her suffering was not unnoticed. Through her obedience, God produced the greatest work of Eternal Value this world has ever known or will ever know.

Come to think of it, although not recorded, I am sure Mary had great moments of joy and prosperity in her life as well. Life interrupted by God had some distinct perks that she treasured in her heart to ponder privately. I think she knew something we need to be reminded of today.

For you see, when it comes right down to brass tacks – God doesn’t need our permission. After all my life really isn’t MY life. It is His. Not only did God create me, He bought the rights to me with His own Son, Jesus Christ. I am not my own. Yet, He allows me this thing we call free will. With free will, I can choose to acknowledge His sovereignty over my life or not. Then when trouble avails itself in my life, God will use that toward blessing and purpose if I will only submit to His interruption. And I might actually learn something in the process!

Over the past few days God has dealt with my pride and just exactly what it means to give Him permission to mess with my life. Right now for me, it isn’t really a matter of “permission” (although, I have given it) but “submission” knowing that God’s way is always best – even when I don’t understand it or even like it (at first).

What about you? What’s going on in your life that you didn’t sign up for but are living with anyway? Did you give God permission to mess with you and now you are upset that His has? Let me encourage you to lay aside your pride, relinquish your rights, accept the bad times along with the good ones. Because God is your creator and FATHER! Understand God is never “out to get you” or set you up to fail. His plans for you are to prosper you – see Jeremiah 29:11. These times provide opportunities to prove ourselves to God by truly letting Him do what He does best – work His will! Always remember the blessings ahead for those who persevere when God interrupts!

Permitted and Submitted,
Barbara

Be the Uninvited Guest

2011-09-06T11:06:00.000-04:00

“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:19 (NASB)

Haven’t we all heard “Misery loves company?” I know this for fact, because too often I’ve practiced the principle. If I am miserable, I want company to know I am miserable. Seldom will I suffer silently. Thus I have perfected the art of the Pity Party. Can anyone relate? Be honest!

In this world we have a plethora of reasons to toss a pity party and the economy doesn’t have to be good to throw it! The government is in a mess and I recently read a joke where Wall Street was being renamed Wal-Mart Street. Can I get a witness? Yet, there is a Pity Party coming that has nothing to do with your personal financial situation. It doesn’t care if you are employed or not. It makes no difference if you live in that big fancy house next to the fancy bridge or if you live under the bridge. To be invited you simply don’t have to do anything at all – just be yourself.

My job today is to encourage you to be uninvited to that party!

You see, that Pity Party is of such proportions that any miserable soul going will have plenty of company and that is most unfortunate. The party favors will not be pretty and the DJ’s will be absolutely demonic! The most miserable point of all, once you enter – you can never leave. For you see, this party takes place in hell and it is forever.

The only way you can escape an invitation to Satan’s Soiree is to not be invited at all! You can get yourself quickly uninvited by accepting another invitation to a heavenly ball where misery is forbidden to attend. The only thing this Perfect Party has in common with the Pity Party is that all are welcome to attend. Race, creed, color or gender is not a factor, the invitation has been issued to ALL, from the least to the most miserable, wretched person and it is forever. No one has been left off the guest list. The only requirement to attend the Perfect Party is that you respond in the affirmative through Christ.

I think we all know where I am headed with this. The only way to escape hell is to accept heaven’s eternal invitation by responding to Christ and accepting His gift of eternal life. This gift is redeemable the minute you admit your need for Him and invite Jesus to be part of your life. The minute we do that, we starting living the Gift right now.

This is where hope truly springs eternal, because after this life is over we are guaranteed a spot at the Perfect Party that will be held in the throne room of Heaven. Because if Christ’s gift was only good for an earthly lifetime, Paul would be right, we are of all men most to be pitied!

But it is what you do here and now that will determine what party you attend and yes, those are the only two choices – but do you really need another? Please take a moment today to settle once and for all what guest list your name will be on! Then extend a heavenly invitation to someone else. Let’s do everything we can to cut Satan’s guest list off before it’s too late. Offer someone the invitation of a lifetime! Do it not only for their eternal life but for a new reason for life right now on earth. I saw this on a church last week that kind of feeds in with today: “Life without Christ is like a dull pencil – where’s the point?”

Don’t pity me – I got the point!
Barbara

I Will Remember To Be Where My Feet Are At.

2011-08-29T11:16:00.000-04:00

"Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy. [emphasis mine] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, …… For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy”. Exodus 20:8-11 (NASB)

Last week was a long week! A seemingly endless list of activities invaded every time slot from studying for class, fending phone calls, dealing with the impending move of my daughter and her family, and finally, money laundering. Hey, desperate economic times call for desperate economic measures. A girl has to survive!

Seriously, in my house and after 20 years of marriage – there are uncertain unspoken laws of nature I require my hubby to accept. Such as: put the lid down, take out the trash, kill spiders and check your own pockets before putting your clothes into the laundry. There are reasons for those rules especially the laundry rule. Last week, I washed an ink pen which left its mark on Bob’s new shirt. Fortunately some extra soap and a re-wash fixed the potentially devastating situation.

Then on Saturday, Bob decided to run a few errands. However before exiting the house, he needed to find his wallet. Why is the wife always supposed to know where things are in the house, especially items that she seldom sees?

“Honey, I haven’t seen your wallet.”

“Well, I can’t find it.”

“Did you look on your dresser?” I quizzed.

“Yes, not there.”

“How about, in your top drawer?”

“Not there either.”

Then without thinking I responded, “Well, if you left it in your pants, it’s in the wash now. I really was only kidding but suddenly our eyes widened as we heard the sounds of the washer. I jumped into the laundry room, stopped the wash cycle and opened the door. Lo and behold, Bob’s wallet was right there – on top of a soaking wet pile of blue jeans. I helped him dry out its contents including seventeen dollars of soppy bills. Thus explains the money laundering remark.

What does this have to do with the topic at hand? Nothing. It just sets the stage of another busy week leading up to church on Sunday. Our Bible Study lesson for yesterday focused on worship. I had to stop and think about how often I arrive at church, perform my tasks, and I’d like to think with genuine enthusiasm, but fail to worship. It’s just so hard to shut my mind off and concentrate at times! Oh me!

In preparing for Sunday’s Bible lesson, I had to determine my own definition of worship. I made a list of things we all generally come up with when we are quizzed about worship. Things like: singing, prayer, Bible reading, and praising God to name a few. But then I concluded that those things were components of worship and/or ways we worship but what is actual worship?

Let me offer you what I came up with regarding the actual essence of worship. I believe worship is that place of heart, that state of mind where you acknowledge God for ALL that He is. You focus your love for Him, accepting His holiness and sovereignty. You stand in His presence soaking in the God who created you! It is so hard to put into words yet so beautiful an experience when worship truly takes place! It’s a resting in His presence, focusing on Him alone and not ourselves.

Think about it, we can do all those other things without being in a state of worship (sad, but true) but when genuine worship occurs in your heart, praise and thanksgiving flow forth in a more holy way than without it. It motivates our Bible study to more than just a quest for knowledge but a deep personal desire to “know His ways.” And yes, Virginia while we can worship anywhere including the proverbial golf course, that personal holy worship blossoms into a longing to worship with others as well. Thus we have church! Can I get a witness!?!

Yet, I must admit sometimes, it’s hard to flip the worship switch on after rushing to get to church. Because I still have to make sure there is a plan for lunch, the house it straight, all the clothes I tried on are hung back up, etc, etc, etc… I attend worship service but without a worship frame of mind – I forget to remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.

But yesterday as only God can do, He sent us a word from a sweet child of His in our class. She relayed some advice given to her to apply in other situations of her life, but it fit so perfectly in with our lesson regarding worship. She said a friend told her to “always be where your feet are at.” I challenge each of you to really contemplate the wisdom of that statement. I did and interesting enough, by the time I went into worship, I decided that I was going to BE where my feet were at! I was going to REMEMBER this was the Sabbath, rest in the Lord (i.e. worship) and just be in His presence.

My decision was appropriately validated by the choir singing a song with a chorus exclaiming, “I Will Remember! I Will Remember! I Will Remember!” Glory!!

Too many times, my mind has not remembered and my spirit has not been where my feet were at. Sadly I missed out on worship. What about you?

Please don’t forget to remember the Sabbath and always BE where your feet are at!
Barbara

Eat Love Pray

2011-08-08T20:48:00.000-04:00

I missed writing last week as there was much to do and much self-inflicted pressure to do it. Interestingly enough, the book and subsequent movie entitled, “Eat Love Pray” is about a woman who was feeling particularly pressured to be married and have children. I gathered that from reading a chapter two excerpt on Amazon.com. Supposedly at some point she takes off in search of “everything” in Italy, India and Indonesia. I have not read the book nor have I indulged in the movie. But the title caught my attention.

Regardless of how Elizabeth Gilbert’s story unfolds, I think she may have something in her title.

Personally, I cannot think of three more appropriate things to do! I confess – I love to eat!! Food is wonderful, at least food that I like! It is needed to sustain my existence and it’s delectable to consume. Of course, I am wary as to what and how much I consume – sort of!

Then there is love! I love to love people. Now I am still a work on progress on this one. But bottom line, it is more enjoyable to love people than to hate them.

Last but certainly not least is prayer. Where would I be without prayer? Where would you? I need to be able to pray. I need others to pray for me. Prayer is my life line with my Father and my Savior. It is not enough to know they exist, but I desire personal communication with them. Prayer is simply talking to my God, my creator, the lover of my soul. It just doesn’t get any better than that – except when I get better at doing it!

There is Scriptural evidence that Eat Love Pray is an effective principle in our lives. It was the backbone of the earliest church. Think I flipped my wig? Not so! Look with me at Acts 2:42-45:

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.”

The early church ate together. They enjoyed meals together. I am a firm believer that abundant ministry can occur over meals. I have seen it happen. All of us have to eat, so we might as well make meals as meaningful as we can.

Have you ever taken a hurting friend to lunch and just talked? Have you ever prayed for the server who is working to pay her rent and school tuition? Do you thank the Lord for providing the food in front of you at each meal – which is really something most of us take for granite? The early church did.

The early church loved each other. The loved each other by making sure everyone’s needs were met. When was the last time you sold something and gave the profit to another for their needs? When did I? The early church did. They also loved by loving God together and pouring over His Word. They loved by sharing fellowship together. As Christ commanded, they loved Him and they loved each other.

The early church prayed. This was bread and butter for them not an afterthought or something engaged in simply to check it off a spiritual to-do list. In fact, the Scripture is clear: they were devoted to EAT LOVE PRAY.

What are you devoted to this day?

In lovingly devotion,
Barbara

Adventures in Wallpaper: I Hired a Stripper

2011-07-25T12:56:00.000-04:00

“Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin… Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:2 and 10 (NIV)

In many places, the Bible tells us to actively use the principle… think before you speak. Unfortunately, I am a slow learner. Sometimes that gets me into trouble and sometimes it just causes an up-roar. Let me tell you what happened a few Sunday’s ago.

Bob and Stephanie took a daddy-daughter vacation to the mountains. I was glad for them to go as life is too precious not to make those kinds of memories. Since I was gone most of June, I was quite happy to stay home and enjoy some coveted alone time – just me and the cat. Plus, I had a project in mind that would keep me busy.

I wanted to take down the wallpaper from the master bath and give the entire room a face lift. Why not? I know how to do more than just spend money! However, once I started I realized one important thing. I sorely underestimated the time it would take to get painted-over and old wallpaper off the walls. Icks! I’ll be doing this forever!

Well, long-story short, I made a few phone calls and got some help for the next week. That Sunday morning the girls in class asked a normal question, “Barbara, what did you do this weekend?”

Without thinking, I responded, “I hired a man.” A nanosecond later, we all realized how that sounded, especially after someone yelled, “Just how long has your husband been gone!” After recovering from severe laughter, I attempted to explain the man was going to take off some wallpaper. Another blessed soul then spouted out, “OMG! You hired a stripper?”

Needless to say, it took a while to regain composure and the attention of the class. But we finally had a Bible Study that I pray honored our Lord. Anyway – who says Christians can’t have fun. Yet, I really should have thought before I spoke.

Fast forward a bit, on Tuesday my helper came. I only contracted for 5 hours of work in an effort to just get ahead of the game and not deplete my bank account. As a surprise, the hired help brought 2 helpers with him so I thought, “This is going to be a slam-dunk in getting done.” I figured along with added man-power, they’d bring all the fancy steamer machines and be done in record time so I could paint the next day. Things were looking up!

Obviously, God had a few lessons in store so things didn’t go entirely according to my plan. You see, they never did bring in any heavy super-duper wallpaper stripping equipment. They armed themselves with spray bottles of warm water and scrappers. Heavens that is what I was doing! The end result was messy and incomplete. While they did get about ¾ of the paper down, they didn’t take any of the residual wallpaper backing off the wall. It’s nowhere near ready to paint. The stripping job wasn’t at all I what expected.

Needless to say, part of me was very disappointed because I thought they would complete the task that I so quickly started. Then again, I had put in a few days on my own and knew this was not a fun task that could be done quickly. My expectations were skewed and I still must finish the task to prepare the walls for paint. Paint doesn’t work well if the walls are not properly prepared.

This started me thinking about my heart and what gets stuck to it day by day. Things like the wallpaper of worldliness, the paint of pride, nail holes of nastiness and many other things too embarrassing to name. The canvas of my heart is no place a Holy God would want to paint. Yet, that is precisely His desire.

Great is His desire to paint the image of His Son on your heart and mine. However, our hearts are not prepared and the truth is – there is nothing we can do on our own to strip away all the sin that sticks to us like super glue. Fortunately, God has a remedy.

God sent His Son, Jesus, so die on a cross bridging the gap sin creates between Creator and His creation. In doing so, Jesus takes our sin and strips it from our beings and it is gone. That sin never comes back. Awesome, but what about my new sin? Once we accept His truth and enter into a personal relationship with the Son, the Father then gifts us with the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit’s job to convict us of sin as it arises and prompts us unto confession, thereby stripping our hearts, cleansing our hearts thoroughly and completely – preparing us for whatever God has in store next.

Now listen to this: The Holy Spirit doesn’t charge by the hour! Jesus already paid the price in full – for a lifetime of service, so to speak. The Holy Spirit doesn’t have union hours so He is accessible at anytime, for as long as you need Him. And the best thing is that He so completely does His job there is never anything left unfinished. He’ll come back time (really He never leaves) and time again as we have need. Truly, He does that and more.

If you need crud removed from the walls of your house, don’t come to me for a recommendation. Sorry – I felt let down by my workers. But if you need crud removed from the walls of your heart, I HIGHLY recommend the Holy Spirit of God – satisfaction guaranteed!

Love,
Barbara

The Age Old Question: What is The Meaning of Life?

2011-07-18T08:34:00.000-04:00

I want to know - does everyone really love Raymond? Having occasionally watched the television show, Everyone Loves Raymond, I am not certain, Raymond loved Raymond! At any rate, I took a small break from my work the other day and I did it in front of the TV set. Channel surfing brought me to a rerun of this series.

The premises centered on Ray preparing to be the “mature adult” by taking on the responsibility of explaining the birds and the bees to his oldest daughter, Ally. Apparently earlier in the day she began asking “questions” and Raymond bolted out of the room unprepared to deal with the topic. But having rethought the situation he wanted to readdress the issue in hopes of doing the right thing by his child. Armed with several books and a set of notes, he proceeded to broach the delicate subject with his bright-eyed little girl while she was playing with her dolls.

Much to his surprise, Ally really didn’t want to know where babies came from, but why they came. She threw her dad for a loop when she asked, “I want to know why we are here. Why did God put us here?” In essence, she was asking, “What is the meaning of life?”

Completely dumbfounded by this turn of events (“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about sex, because that’s what I studied?) poor daddy Ray offered this answer to one of life’s greatest questions, “God put us here because heaven is too crowded.” Now really, Ray! Then again, I can remember several times, I was caught off guard by the innocent but straightforward question of a child and not being prepared! Can you?

The scene was comic but the question was serious and serious questions deserve answers.

For kicks I Googled, ‘what is the meaning of life’ and came up with 92,300,000 results. I did not take time to read them all. The first result was from Wikipedia. It listed numerous theories or philosophies from Platonism, to Christianity, to Classical Liberalism, to even a theory – so appropriately named – Absurdism. The second search result that popped up led to a site where to find the meaning of life, you had to answer their question of why are you looking for the meaning of life? Can’t you just picture Charlie Brown going “UGH!” after stumbling across this site?

Okay, this time I want to take a stab at this $65,000,000 question. I didn’t put in decades of research to conclude my theory. I took no polls or surveys to formulate my conclusion. I simply decided that the answer to what is the meaning of life is exactly the same answer to a question posed by a fictional TV character: Why did God put us here? And I know it is not because heaven is over-crowded.

The Scripture is clear that God uses the simple to confound the wise - the earthly wise that is. We always want to make everything so complicated. I am beginning to believe that knowledge is going to be the death of us. Spiritually speaking, it was for Adam and Eve so why should we be any different. I may have to rethink my knowledge is power stance in life. Of course, I believe that knowledge without godly wisdom in place is useless. But I digress.

What is the meaning of life? Why did God put us here? I wish I could say you heard it here first, but I can’t. The answer is as old as the WORD. Jesus, Himself, gave us the answer to this question over 2000 years ago, to confirm that which had already been given by God, the Father, long before Christ walked on earth. Here it is:

“Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)

If you need the short version: Love God, love people. Let me mention, don’t neglect the order which this was spoken. Love God first, people second. If we’d just concentrate on loving God in everything we do, and loving people (remember Jesus died for them too!) then we’d all be living the meaning of life instead of questioning it.

Asked and answered,
Barbara

Looks Like a Duck, Acts Like a Duck, but Doesn’t Quack Like a Duck

2011-07-11T09:53:00.000-04:00

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.” John 10:27 (NASB)

If you spend any length of time with me, you will discover I am a critter person. I love animals. I appreciate God’s creation and take delight in them. I have discovered that sometimes, they can learn a few tricks from me and other times, I can learn a few tricks from them. We have a cat that lives with us and she brings a great deal of enjoyment to our lives. Now I could go on forever about my cat but not today. Despite the title, I really don’t want to dwell on ducks either. But for this moment, I want to talk about geese with a side of sheep.

There is a small pond just outside our backyard. It’s not good for fishing, but it does play host to turtles, herons, ducks and geese. I pay particular attention to these animals during the spring, because that’s when we start to see the babies. Who can resist a small feathery yellow gosling or baby duck? I can’t!

Earlier this year, one of our Canadian geese couples hatched seven babies. We missed seeing them as tiny chicks but have watched them grow from toddlers to full grown geese. During their progression into adulthood, I took up feeding them. My husband groans every time I do this. Apparently, geese can be messy.

Often, I’d walk down to the water and toss out bits of bread. After time, this evolved from riverbank rendezvous’ to backyard BBQ’s with various assortments of whole grain breads and buns. Not only did the place of feeding change, so did the method. I went from tossing them bits on the ground to hand feeding. Currently, all but one of the nine geese (including mom and dad) will take food directly from my hand. They’ve even permitted some light petting. Did you know that geese have very soft necks? Each one has its own personality. One goose is very shy, coming right up to me but refusing food from my hand. Three geese exhibit gentleness in plucking food from my fingers but the other rascals can get a bit aggressive. I’ve gotten first-hand experience in “to bite the hand that feeds you.”

After snack-time ends, the mob usually follows me back onto the porch and stares longingly as I enter the house. I am convinced that if I left the door open, they’d come in and make themselves at home! Before you ask, no I don’t let them in.

We love having them as regular visitors to our home especially when they stare into my office window. It’s hysterical to see them waddle onto the patio and peck on the sliding glass door. However in June, sometime unexpected happened. We were gone for almost the entire month. When I got home, I wondered if “my babies” would still come around. Would they still recognize me? Would I recognize them? Soon, I got my answer. When they finally made an appearance, I discovered all signs of childhood had disappeared. I couldn’t tell the parents from the offspring.

However, one thing had not changed. Every time I stepped onto the patio with bread, they would all come running. If I saw them before they saw me, I could call out to them and again they would all come running. At this point, if any other tag-along goose came to receive a morsel, it would be chased away with great fanfare. Apparently, I was private stock for the original nine only.

One morning last week, I was watching television when I spotted a group of geese in the back yard. I hopped up and armed myself with a few slices of bread and jumped onto the back porch. My babies had come a calling! But to my amazement, the geese didn’t run to me. I thought, “What’s up with this?” I called out to them and all I got was a blank stare.

As I counted the bobbling black heads and came up short, I quickly concluded these were not my geese. They looked like them, but they didn’t act like them and while they heard my voice, there wasn’t a glimmer of recognition. As I returned back into the house, I had no followers.

Like my geese, there a large number of people who profess a belief in Christ. Sometimes they all look alike and sound alike. It’s hard to spot the real deal from the imposters. Why become an imposter for the Almighty? The reasons are many. Misinformed. Misguided. Malice in disguise. Looks and actions can make someone appear credible. But even if it doesn’t happen right away – the quacking will give them away. That is why it is so important to be in tune with the voice of the Master. “A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know his voice.” (John10:5)

Last night, I was at a venue where a small devotion was given. My heart cringed as I heard a few threads of truth woven into something not recognizable as Truth. Without a doubt the speaker’s theology was out of the ball park. How can I be certain in my determination? It is only because I know the voice of my Master and a stranger’s voice I cannot follow. Now please don’t think I am trying to sound infallible and holier-than-thou, I am not. I’ve made my share of misinterpretations before. Hey, I thought the geese this morning were mine!

But I pray that every mistake I make only further hones my ability to see and hear what is real, and more easily recognize the counterfeit.

May God bless you with discernment this week and when you hear the right voice, the True voice – FOLLOW HIM!

It’s no game of duck, duck, goose, when the sheep hear the voice of truth!
Barbara

In Captivity to Freedom

2011-07-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NASB)

Today, I am doing all the stuff I declared myself “free” from on Monday July 4th. Yesterday I declared my independence from cooking and cleaning. Therefore, I did neither. I fought against being held hostage inside my home, so I went to the beach. However, this morning I paid the price for my freedom.

Apparently, I didn’t use enough sunscreen, so my legs are a bit burnt. My dishes were stacked, the laundry was tossed about and beds needed to be made. After slathering the tops of my legs with some type of blue gel, I began to get things in order before I could proceed with my day. You see, I have difficulty writing and working among chaos.

However, all last week, thoughts for today’s posting were running rampant through my mind. Sunday during worship, the preacher touched on some of the same things I had mulled over. I had to wonder, how did he get into my head? Preachers have a funny way of doing that or perhaps it is a God-thing. What do you think?

Now I must make a small confession. I just finished writing an entire posting on how I believe we are held captive to our freedoms here in this country. Please I am not being unpatriotic. It is for patriotism that I wrote it. But because it sounded like an editorial for a newspaper, I just deleted it. (I hope I do better with the following.)

However, can I get you to think about this statement, “in the land of the free we are all a captive audience of human beings?” Does that resonate with anyone out there? On what level? I truly believe that this country is in captivity to more things than you can shake a stick at. I attribute near all of this to our freedoms or misuse thereof. It hurts my heart that so many have valiantly died to protect the freedom that I see such misuse of. I do not have a pat answer on how to correct this but I want to give you some food for thought.

Sunday Pastor William said that freedom doesn’t mean liberal or legalism. What a great truth! It made me think about a few things Paul wrote in the Bible. Paul encouraged the believers in Galatians to stand firm in the freedom that Christ gave them and to not be subject again to any yoke of slavery. In Corinthians, Paul warned about the misuse of grace. Just as God offered salvation by grace through Christ, He also offers freedom to the born again believer. Yet just as grace can be misused and taken for granted, so can freedom. That is why boundaries are so important whether imposed by our state (law) or our self (as in self-control) and of course in Scripture. I imagine if the founding fathers of this country had foreseen the use of some of the freedoms they fought for, they might have made some swift additions to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Now in this country and in Christ, I have the liberty and the freedom to write this. I am thankful of that. But I have also tried to exercise grace and common sense. You will find no profanity or vulgar explosiveness contained here. And it’s not because I don’t want to offend anyone. It’s because I believe it to be a misuse of my freedom of speech. Not too mention, it is SO unnecessary! As far as not offending, well…. While I don’t make a point to say hurtful things with the intention of offending people, yet there are those who will take offense to almost anything. Have you ever wondered why? Let’s look to Jesus for the answer. Christ Himself was offensive to many people in His day and time. Why? Did He lash out with bleep-bleep words to cause offense? No. Did He purposely slander or malign folks just to make Himself feel superior? No. He simply told the truth and quite often the truth spilled light into a life of sin and the sinner got his feelings hurt. Okay, my flesh says “Too bad, so sad – but the truth hurts.” But God knows once we see the truth and deal with what the truth reveals – then the TRUTH WILL SET US FREE!

Now I am not God and cannot reveal truth the same way He does but if I can make you (and me) think then I’ve done my job with this call to write. When we think about how we use the grace and freedom He imparted to us in love, then maybe we might take one more step in being conformed to His image and being the citizen that would make Him proud. Freedom – thank you Father for this gift.

John recorded Jesus in John 8:36 explaining, “So if the Son makes you free you will be free indeed!” Let true freedom ring, and then don’t misuse it!

Barbara

When Traveling Turns to Tragedy

2011-06-27T09:24:00.000-04:00

“Then he [Jesus] used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. He thought, ‘What should I do? I don't have enough room to store my crops.' He said, ‘I know what I'll do. I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. Then I'll say to myself, “You've stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.”' “But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you've accumulated?'” Luke 12:16-20 (GW)

Traveling for us is usually an adventure and this time should have been no different. Bob left at the beginning of June for Montana. I followed five days later. The Gobbs family “boys” were gathering to prepare for an estate auction. When their father passed away last year, he left a large multitude of personal belongings behind. And when I say a “large” amount, I am not kidding.

The family had already divided-up what was heirloom and sentimental. However, his dad had so much stuff, some of what the family wanted still wound up on the auction block. Therefore several family members actively participated in this auction adventure. Two warehouse rooms and at least five tractor/trailer beds were filled to capacity. The fun began at 10:00am one Saturday and by 4:30pm it was over. Things that were once of great value to one man were gone. Now they were just someone else’s stuff.

The next day everyone headed to their respective homes. Bob and I hitched a ride with Bob’s middle brother back to their side of the state. We were flying out the next day. His youngest brother headed back to North Dakota, following his wife, Louise, who was driving her own pick-up with trailer attached. The trailer contained prized auction wins.

Louise was a remarkable person. Partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair (car accident 12 yrs ago), she worked, sewed for pageant queens and beauty contestants. She was a wife, mother and grandmother. Nothing seemed to slow her down but even remarkable women get tired.

I cannot imagine the horror Loren felt as he watched Louise’s truck drift from one lane to another, into the median and then jerk back across the road. The truck rolled several times before coming to a rest. A frantic husband ran to check on his wife, who was not in the cab of the truck when he arrived. After seconds that must have seemed like hours, he spotted her unconscious body on the ground.

She never regained consciousness before she died several hours later.

The next day, several close family members went back out to the crash site to retrieve personal items. The truck was banged up but not demolished. While a few chairs and antique trunks from the trailer survived the ordeal, other pieces were reduced to rubble.

I’ve spent the last few weeks thinking about a myriad of things. My mind pondered quite a bit on stuff. Stuff - we all have it. We all want it. Sometimes we fight over it. Sometimes we get jealous over it. Sometimes we hoard it for any number of reasons. We think our family will want our stuff after we are gone but in the case of Bob’s dad, most of it went to strangers.

Okay, some stuff went to the family. Some of his stuff made it back to our homes and in the case of Louise, some of it didn’t.

Bottom line, it’s just stuff. Most of the stuff is just going to collect dust or become dust. In the last several months, I heard of many instances that during a family loss, some people fight over stuff. Apparently, there is always someone who wants more stuff than someone else. Yet in the end, it is all just stuff. As for me, I’d rather have one more chance to tell Louise and Papa Gobbs that I loved them.

When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, souls are worth more than stuff. People are more important than pretty trinkets. Loving one another surpasses lording stuff over one another.

I just thought I’d give you some stuff to think about and thank you for all your prayers!

Love, Barbara

What Does it Take to be a Success?

2011-06-06T08:33:00.000-04:00

“How can a young man keep his way pure?” Psalm 119:9a (NASB)

Before I get showered with complaints thinking I am only addressing young men, I want to make a statement. I am talking about old men too. But I am also thinking about young women and old women as well. I also believe the writer of this Psalm would agree.

It’s a good question and one worthy of an answer, especially in light of the culture we live in, raise kids in and grand-kids in today. So I will leave you this week to mull over that question and see what God lays on your heart.

Okay – I am not in a very catchy or clever mindset this morning. However, I believe you can help me this week. A few months ago, I was asked to speak at a Bible Study/Ladies Event at our church scheduled for next month. Of course, I agreed immediately – as I ask God for these opportunities often.

I was given a subject area to speak on and usually after I receive that information, God quickly begins to impart bits and pieces of Scripture, as well as thoughts and points to use. However, this time, not so much, at least in the beginning.

After some meditation and prayer, a pattern emerged and after some discussion with our Women’s Director, the evening’s message will be:

After Hope...What's Next?

How to be Successful in Your Faith

Now here is where my request to you comes in. In the last few days, I have been getting more specific thoughts from the Father and through His Word. But I am curious as to how the average person would answer the question. Now this isn’t really fair – since all of you are above average people in my book, but I want to know what you think. Off the top of your head, just a few lines: What do YOU think it takes to be a successful Christian? (Let’s say knowing Christ is a given – so what’s next?) I’ll use no names and there is no right/wrong per say. I am just taking a survey.

You can email me at barbaragobbs@gmail.com (or any other legit email you have for me) or leave a comment on the blog. If you are in the area on June 17th from 7-9pm, I invite you to come to our event at Kernan Blvd Baptist Church on Kernan Blvd in Jacksonville, FL. If you are unable to make the event, keep watch for my blog on June 20 when I will reveal all! Well, at least some, since I don’t know it all. But don’t tell my hubby that!

Until next week, “give thanks to the Lord for He is good…” (Psalm 118:29)
Barbara

Hidden Treasure

2011-05-23T11:07:00.000-04:00

“And He shall be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is his [your] treasure.” Isaiah 33:6 NASB (Brackets mine)

On one hand I am certainly glad to be with you today. On the other, I must wait a little longer before seeing my Lord face to face. That is one treasure yet to be discovered.

Just curious, what were you doing at 6:00pm this past Saturday? I must sheepishly admit to attending the movies. Bob and I went to see the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. This was the fourth installment and like its predecessors – there was a search for “treasure.” I will not spoil it for those yet to go, so that’s all I’ll say except it was really good!

However, in the first movie, our fun loving pirate Jack Sparrow, oh wait, excuse me, Captain Jack Sparrow told blacksmith-turned wanna-be-pirate Will Turner, “Not all treasure is gold.” I find it amazing how many spiritual truths can emanate from Hollywood without them even knowing it.

Are you in need of some treasure today? Let me offer you an offering from Sarah Young’s devotional book, Jesus Calling. You must read this as if Christ the King were speaking the words directly to you! And I believe He is!

From May 23:

Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the treasures are trials designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence: sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayer. I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it. Search for deep treasure as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way.

May the treasure you seek today, be the true treasure of His Presence, and may you find it in abundance!

Seeking First His Kingdom to find a wealth of salvation, knowledge and wisdom!
Barbara

Are You Ready? Are You Prepared?

2011-05-16T09:59:00.000-04:00

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” Matthew 24:36 (NASB)

This might be the last time I write to you. That thought brings with it some sadness. Since 2003, I have been jotting my thoughts and experiences down to share with you and it has been a great source of joy for me. I’ve been able to share my faith and my Father, my Lord and my Savior with you. I pray God has found me obedient because based on some recent news, in the next few days – my life will be over.

You see, there is a group promoting the notion that the world will end this Saturday May 21 at 6:00pm. Our pastor talked about it Wednesday night. My boss has seen the billboards for a while and I just noticed one myself recently. They say the Bible guarantees that life as we know it will end May 21 at 6:00pm.

I can’t think of a situation where I would ever limit God because His ways and thoughts are certainly higher than mine. And if He wants to come back on Saturday – He will. However, the Bible is quite clear:

Matthew 24:4 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.”

Matthew 24:11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.”

Repeatedly we are told, God’s Word is true and I must believe that if the Father – Lord God of all creation, didn’t tell His own Son the time of return as it clearly states in MAtthew 24:36, why would he tell some guy on earth?

Oh wait, He didn’t tell this guy! Of course, this misguided-man said he figured it out. I have a problem with that. Is it possible to figure God out to the point where we discover stuff He said no one but Him knew? I doubt it. But apparently others believe this guy.

I understand that some believe to the point of quitting college and one report has a couple who budgeted all their funds to run out on May 21. Of course I’d like to ask what happens on Sunday when they wake up. Yet, I have to give them credit for one thing – getting the message out with passion.

Now let me pivot around to another point. If by some strange turn of events (which I personally doubt will happen, but never say never!), this guy has coincidently guessed the right day of Christ’s return, are you prepared?

I was chatting with one of our deacons after church last Wednesday night. I am sorry but we had to laugh a bit, a sad laugh at what we believe is the misleading of many in the name of Christ. However, we both agreed that if Christ comes this Saturday or any other Saturday – we are prepared.

Ready, we thought was another subject. We both have grandkids we’d like to spend more time with. There are more folks we’d like to tell about Jesus. There are the proverbial places to go and people to see. So are we ready? Maybe not, but we are prepared as our hearts belong to Jesus. We have repented of our sin, trusted Christ as our Savior and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Christ Himself lives within us.

What about you?

The interesting thing is Jesus could come at any time. We are not guaranteed our next breath. It could be tonight, tomorrow, next Saturday or a hundred years from now. The pivotal point is this: Right now, are you prepared to meet the God of all Creation face to face? Are you ready to answer this question from God’s own lips, “Do you know my Son?” I truly don’t believe He’ll ask “Do you know OF my Son?”

Regardless of the time of Christ’s return, the Bible says today is the day of salvation. So I will make the most of our time right now. If you are a born-again believer, blood-bought and not ashamed – let’s be telling others about the Gospel of Hope and Eternity now and continue to do so as His day draws near – whenever it occurs.

If you don’t know where you stand with God, then let God use me to shine a light on the pathway to Heaven:

Admit: Rom 3:23 says in plain English that NO ONE is perfect – we’ve all sinned before God. Take a moment in prayer to admit your sinful state TO GOD!

Believe and Confess: The Bible in Rom 6:23 tells us the results of our sin is death, you and I rightfully deserve to die, but God’s gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ, who said in John 14 “I am the way, the Truth and the Life – no one comes to the Father except by me.” In John 3:16 – we are told that God loved us so much He sent His only Son Jesus to die so that if we believed we would have eternal life. Rom10: 9-13 tells us to confess with our mouth, which results in righteousness and believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord which results in salvation. Take another moment in prayer to confess your belief in Jesus Christ the Son of God and His death in your place.

Invite: Rev 3:20 – tells us when we invite Jesus in – He’ll come! Take a final moment to invite Jesus into your heart. Allow Him to be not just the God of the church or the God you hear about, but a personal God living in you.

Now regardless of what hour God chooses to tell His Son to go and get His children, you will be prepared! Until that time, share this with a friend so they will be prepared too!

So in closing and as a friend Al, would say: See you here or see you there, and if not, I’ll see you in the air!

Love, Barbara

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

2011-05-10T09:54:00.000-04:00

“…always giving thanks for things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father…” Ephesians 5:20

Sometimes life resembles a hurricane where things spin out of control and land in utter chaos at your feet. Sometimes life feels like a flood washing destruction over your body until life seems to ebb away. Sometimes life imitates a sinkhole where once solid ground instantly opens up and swallows you whole. But sometimes life is like being at Disneyland!

Now who doesn’t love the rides at Disney! Some of us are Tea Cup people while others just like the ease of riding Dumbo. Now my personal favorites are the Haunted House and the Pirates of the Caribbean, while yours might be It’s A Small, Small World.

Why do these rides thrill us so much? Take a moment to answer that for yourself. We could come up with a plethora of reasons. Our reasons would be as many and as different as all the rides in the park combined. However, each ride has two things in common. Each one is controlled and each one ends.

I remember riding Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride as a child. The ride was dark, it jerked to and fro. You never knew when a turn or perceived drop was coming. One minute you would be riding along and the next minute a train would be heading right toward you! Well, as far as I know – that train never hit anyone. I guess someone operating the controls made sure of that! Then as suddenly as the ride began, it ended and we all exited screaming, “We want more!”

Fast forward many years to today’s date, May 10, 2011. Now I must say I missed writing to all of you last week. Why did I miss my appointed rounds? It was because I was on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. The only thing was I never set foot inside Disney!

Like many of you, I have had a very chaotic several weeks. Nothing bad has happened, just a lot of whirling in one direction and then another. Many times I wanted off the ride and I wasn’t screaming for more! Yet, more is what I got! Can anyone relate?

However, God reminded me, as I need reminding often, that just like at Disney there is someone in control of my ride and there is an end in sight. His sight - that is.

My life this week is still going to be wild! But with God in control of all the turns this week will take, I can smile and consider it all an adventure. I will give Him thanks for all things He allows my way – so that in my life He will be glorified and just maybe I will be found obedient.

Whatever your week brings, buckle up and smile! Give thanks to God through Jesus Christ and make this week be the ride of your life!

Wheeeeeeeeee,
Barbara

Nana, Can You See God?

2011-04-25T09:20:00.000-04:00

“Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that He had said these things to her.” John 20:18 (NASB)

Sometimes I believe there is nothing in the world more inquisitive than a child, or in my case a grandchild. Kylie and I sat at the dining room table before church a few weeks ago eating supper. Over her chicken nuggets, she asked me, “Nana, can you see God?”

With my best Nana game face on, I told her that was an easy question but a hard one too. I pointed to the large Crepe Myrtle tree outside the dining room window and said, “Ky – do you see that tree?” She shook her head up and down acknowledging she did.

“Well,” I continued, “I have never seen God like I am looking at you, but I see God when I look at that tree.” She immediately stopped chewing and her eyes became very large spheres of blue. Oh rats, I knew exactly what she was thinking! “NO! God isn’t THE tree!” I replied. Her face softened in visible relief as she thought I meant the tree was God. I went on to explain how I could see in God’s nature since that was the first thing that popped into my head.

The conversation continued with Nana explaining to an eight year old, that you can see God in His creation and in His Word. But it takes practice and growth. That’s why we go to church, read the Bible and pray so we can hear God and see God working in our lives.

Well, this started a barrage of questions like “Are there animals in heaven?” and “Is there food in heaven?” The questions came rapidly until our arrival at church. Ahh! The wonderful world of grandparenting, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!

Today is the day after Resurrection Sunday. If it were raining cats and dogs, which it isn’t, it still would be a lovely day. Today is the day that God made, we’d be wise to rejoice and be glad, not to mention thankful for it!

Yesterday in Bible Study we talk about the fact that we serve a God who knows what it means to suffer. We reviewed with heavy hearts the things that created grief in God’s heart and of course, Jesus sacrifice counted heavy among them. But we also talked about the results of His suffering on Calvary. Results that could only occurred because of the third day resurrection.

How would I have answered my little Kylie without the knowledge of the Resurrection? Without the final piece of God’s amazing plan in place, there would be no answer.

I suppose we could all list various reasons about the Resurrection means to each of us personally. It could mean power or peace. But this year God gave me the same meaning it had for Mary Magdalene over 2000 years ago. It means I can live every day saying, “I have seen the Lord!”

What about you?

With Love, Barbara

Three Crosses, Two Criminals, One Christ

2011-04-19T14:03:00.000-04:00

One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:39-41 (NASB)

The Four Gospels of the New Testament never cease to amaze me. They are four accounts of the life of Christ, written by four different authors, from four different perspectives. I must admit sometimes, I wish they’d come out with a gospel that meshed all four together, in-sync, so to speak.

Now before I proceed on, I admit I have written this text before; however with Easter right at our doorstep, I felt this repeat publishing to be appropriate. I’ve reworded just a bit, but the message is the same.

Resurrection Sunday dawns this weekend. We celebrate it every year. I fear amidst the commercialism and “it’s the next holiday” on the calendar, we loose the significance of the day. I fear we mundanely move past the reverence due this holy Memorial Day for the believer. If we partake of the Lord’s Supper and do “this” in remembrance of Him, how much more should we remember the cross and of course, the following resurrection.

Today, let’s focus on the cross. Join me in ancient Jerusalem on that fateful day. Look toward the top of Mount Calvary. Gaze toward the silhouette of three crosses. There upon those three crosses hang two criminals and one Christ. Here is where our Four Gospels teach us some valuable information. All four mention Christ and his two companions. Matthew and Mark record both criminals hurling insults at Christ. John only mentions them in passing.

Ah, but Luke tell us the rest of the story! In the midst of angry men and violent actions, one criminal rises to defend the Messiah, confessing his own sin and acceptance of punishment. Do you understand the monumental significance of this passage? Can you grasp the question that looms in the air, waiting to be asked? What happened between the gospels of Matthew and Mark, and then Luke?

I had to wonder what occurred to make an insult-spewing criminal one minute, beg to be remembered in Paradise the next? Was it the look in Christ’s eyes? Was it the way Jesus pleaded with His Father to forgive those around Him? Why did one criminal recognize what the other refused to see?

There is only one answer. They both encountered Christ at the cross, but only one of them took the meeting to heart. Only one recognized his sin and bowed his head willingly before a crucified King. Only one placed his fate in the other’s nail-scarred hands. Only one.

I cannot explain the awesomeness I feel reading this turn of events. It tells me so much about a man and a Messiah. However, since time is short there is only one point I’ll leave with you. I offer you this, that each one of us is represented by one of those criminals, one of those thieves. We are either the thief on His right or the thief on His left.

We have placed our sinful life in the shadow of the cross and acknowledged the Lord of Lords or we have refused to see the truth that hangs before us.

On our best day, we are sinners, deserving of any punishment God cares to send our way. On His worst day, Jesus begged for our forgiveness and took our punishment on Himself. On that hill, one chose to believe, the other chose to belittle.

I cannot emphasize enough that Jesus offered Paradise on that very day to the one who chose wisely. But the other criminal suffered a different fate. The entire purpose of Calvary is for us to encounter Christ and realize we are loved, forgiven and desired by a Holy God. You may accept the love or not, the choice is yours.

So from one thief to another – which one are you?

Love, Barbara

I Didn’t Mean to be Guilty!

2011-04-11T12:52:00.000-04:00

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 (NASB)

My name was called. I slowly rose and moved forward from my seat to the center of the room. “Young lady, how do you plead?” the judge asked. He asked loudly and in plain view of a full albeit silent audience. I was embarrassed beyond words, frightened to the point of extreme trembling and about to be violently ill. The day I dreaded was upon me. This was the moment I had to stand and publicly confess my sin. My heart pounded. My mouth went dry.

I wanted to run home and crawl into the darkest corner of the first closet I could find. Couldn’t they understand it wasn’t really my fault! It was an accident. One that I didn’t intend to happen, or ever dream would happen. Yet, by the letter of the law I was guilty.

“How do you plead?” was the question that now echoed in my ears. My response came, slowly and sorrowfully, “Guilty.” I heard this word proceed from my mouth but my mind screamed, “But I didn’t mean to be guilty!”

This was my first experience in traffic court after running a stop sign and causing an accident. I was barely 21. I had just looked down for a split second and wasn’t going fast at all. In fact, I was slowing down to stop at that horrid sign. I knew it was there. But taking my eyes off it, even for a moment, caused me to misjudge my stopping time and WHAM! The next thing I heard was the sound of crunching metal.

I hit my head and was my car was ruined. The other guy’s car was ruined. They gave me a ticket for careless driving. Careless driving! That made me livid! Obviously I’d run a stop sign – that was the ticket I deserved even though I really didn’t mean too! But me - careless, not a chance! I’ll fight this in court. That’s how I felt then but now in court, nerves kicked in and guilty was all I could say. All the while thinking – it really was just an accident. I truly didn’t mean to be guilty.

Fast forward about 17 years. I was making a personal trip from Jacksonville to Panama City. I took a few back roads near Tallahassee where I pushed the speed limit and this time, I did it with full knowledge of my actions.

Note to self: never speed on the back roads near Tallahassee. Soon I discovered a FHP car coming toward me with lights on (I still haven’t figured that out) and announcing over a PA system for me to pull over. So I did. I was caught. I knew I was wrong. This time I meant to be guilty and so I was. With a teenage daughter in the car, I thought – I’d better be a good example of getting caught by ‘fessing up and accepting the consequences.

“Do you know how fast you were going? License and registration, please.” was what the officer said after I stopped and rolled down the window. He was not amused. Me neither, but I was wrong. With a deep breathe, I told him it was definitely my fault and I deserved the ticket. He was not deeply moved by my admission of wrongdoing. He sternly issued me a ticket for going 20 miles over the speed limit. Afterwards, I set the cruise control and humbly proceeded to my destination.

This time I escaped traffic court because now you can pay tickets by mail which is much less demeaning. But I had to attend the dreaded traffic school to keep the points off my record. After I was done, I wished I’d taken the points! It was a horrible class where the instructor wanted us to circle our chairs and talk about “our feelings.” Ugh!

Within this circle of shame, one by one, we had to confess the nature of our crime and profess our guilt. Well, this time I knew I was guilty. I deserved that ticket and I deserved the humiliation that came with it. And I said so. However, I found out that I was the minority in that category.

The class included multiple offenders who knew exactly how to work the system for insurance purposes and they proudly expounded on it. No remorse at all. The lady next to me was there because she tried to out run the police when they attempted to pull her over. Yet, she maintained her innocence boldly. In fact, I was the only person out of nearly 20 people that admitted to guilt and was rightfully there. Everyone else was a victim of another’s mistake. They were either being persecuted by the authorities, didn’t mean to be guilty or were forced into being guilty so it really wasn’t their fault. Can anyone relate?

My first experience was before I met Christ. My second story occurred when I was many years into my walk with the Lord. But in each instance I was guilty. Being a believer doesn’t mean you will never be guilty of sin ever again. But when you give your life to Christ, the Holy Spirit makes it really hard to deny the guilt. The Holy Spirit also gives you the desire and power to confess the guilt and then move on – free and clean.

Friends, we were born guilty. Romans 3:23 plainly tells us in biblical language that no one is perfect. There are no righteous persons among us – see Rom. 3:10. I guess no one means to be born guilty yet we are. Each of us will make mistakes on purpose and then sometimes not on purpose. But guilty is guilty regardless of how you color it. Yet, there is a hope.

Resurrection Sunday reminds us how our guilt was taken away by the shed blood of Jesus Himself. One day my life will end I will stand before The Judge of all creation. He will ask me how I plead. Against the backdrop of His holiness I believe I can only respond “guilty.” But I also believe that as those words come out of my mouth, Jesus Christ will rise and His word will drown out mine in the ears of the Father as He proclaims me INNOCENT. What about you?

Love, Barbara

Peace Has A Job

2011-03-28T08:17:00.000-04:00

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:7 (NASB)

Have you ever had one of those days where every little thing sends you nuclear? I regret to say that I have. In fact, sometimes the smaller things bother me more than the bigger ones. When this happens, boy do I need to seek the face of God! I need His peace.

The wonderful thing is that He encourages me to come to Him every single time – no matter how repetitious the apology. The Father would rather me face Him every time than to walk away in self-loathing. I just love that about my Abba Daddy! I am glad He believes in me more than I believe in myself.

Then I have days where I am basking in His presence so personally and wonderfully, that it seems nothing could knock over my applecart. I bet you’ve felt like that too! Haven’t you? I was asked to read Philippians 4:4 in my private reading time. It says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Excellent verses and words for the day, but then I read even further. You can never go wrong reading more in the Scripture!

I have read Philippians 4:7 numerous times but today I discovered something “new.” This verse speaks about the peace of God. It’s the kind of peace that no one can explain. It’s the kind of peace that comes from someplace (actually some One) far greater than us. It explains why nothing bothers me when I am walking directly in His personal presence. It’s because peace has a job.

According to this verse, His peace will “guard your hearts and your minds” in Christ. I can’t think of anyone better qualified to guard my heart and my mind than my Savior! When I allow His peace to flood my soul and I give Him access to guard my mind and my heart – which controls my thoughts and my actions – nothing the world or Satan or even traffic can throw at me will put a dent in my day. On the days when everything seems to go wrong, if I seek His face, His peace will flow regardless of my circumstances.

Every day brings us closer to His return. I know that the world is going further down the path of madness every day. The only way I can survive as a believer is to put my trust and faith into Almighty God and Christ who saved me, saves me and will continue to save me. Then I can truly rejoice always in the Lord because His peace is guarding me. I rejoice in praise and thanksgiving when I let peace to do its job.

Another thought just occurred to me while writing this: no ones really guards worthless stuff. So what does that say about God’s feeling toward us? Bless His Holy name!!

His peace be with you!
Barbara

Busyness versus Business

2011-03-21T10:04:00.000-04:00

"And he [Jesus] said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?” Luke 2:49 (KJV)

What’s on your “to-do list” today? Do you have more than one list? Is your list longer than your arm? Can you even find your list? Does it seem like one endless thing to do after another? Are you depressed yet? If so, then I have news for you!

I’ve had to do some serious looking at all my to-do’s. I am learning to love my to-do’s. How did I manage that? Well, I started by developing a smarter relationship with my to-do’s and the One I am “to-doing” them for!

Now this wasn’t easy because I love my rest as well. I love my down time. But what I discovered is I am prone to over-indulging in it. Alas what is a body to do?

After much reflection upon the subject of busy and rest, I have come to several conclusions. But first let me bring out my soapbox to stand on! Okay this will probably get me hate mail but here goes. For starters, we need to take a long look at rest, busyness and business.

I’ve complained so much about all my busyness and needing rest, that I overlooked one little thing. God has a plan and a purpose for me which includes some work. This work involves an attitude called commitment on my part and commitments have a tendency to keep me busy. Apparently, God thinks this is normal. Maybe I should too!

Over time, I started to view commitment as the enemy against time. I began to think of every commitment as an over-commitment. This led me to feel too busy. But then a light came on! I’d been mistaking His business for busyness. All this time, I thought I was overloaded when all along it was about me being about His business.

From this new thought I have drawn several conclusions about myself which I shall share and then you can decide if anything applies to you or not:

1. With every ounce of my being, I know we must rest! It’s in the Bible. We are commanded to take care of our temple bodies and take time to be still and know God. Jesus did so should you and me. In fact, I believe it so much that next week I will be on vacation.

2. Sometimes I have used the “body needs a rest” theory to over-rest and pass up commitments I should have made. I wonder as believers in general, are we so overly active in other areas of life that we use the “I need a break” excuse to avoid committing to the Lord and His work? Maybe we’ve learn to “just say no” too much. It’s just a question.

3. After I reviewed each of my activities I truly believe the Lord led me to each one. Perhaps they became busy instead of business because I’ve tried to do them in my own strength – big mistake.

4. When I decided that I can’t do anything apart from Him and His strength is indeed perfected in my weakness, things take on a new and improved look.

5. Yes, I get tired. But who said being tired was a bad thing? Being tired makes one sleep better. Now if you become tired to the point of being harmful – refer to #1.

Jesus rested, but Jesus worked. He honored He holy commitment to God and never complained about being too busy. To Him, it was all about His Father’s business! Because He tasked involved dying for all humanity – I can see where He pushed through a little harder than you and I might but His example is worthy.

My advice to you this week: Sleep at night when you are supposed too. Nap when needed. In the morning MAKE/TAKE time to pray and read God’s word. Eat right. Exercise – you can do it! Take a walk, take the stairs at work. Replace busyness for business. Yes, this might mean cutting out some stuff because sometimes we actually do take on too much. But it also might mean adding some stuff, the right stuff to your schedule. Trust God for direction and strength. Don’t worry if you get tired. We all do.

While I am still a work in progress – this has already made a difference in my life. Thanks for letting me share it with you! Have a good week full of God’s grace and riches!

Being about His business!
Barbara

If You Want to Bear Fruit – Tap into the Root!

2011-03-14T10:59:00.000-04:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; against such things there is no law.” Gal. 6:22-23 (NASB)

Once again, I am thrilled to report a worthy church sign sighting! It’s awesome how they make such delightful spiritual truths come to life! It’s amazing the theological and Biblical principles that can be imparted but a cute little ditty like: If You Want to Bear Fruit – Tap into the Root!

I saw this sign last week, while driving to Homosassa Springs and quickly made note of it. Not too many days later, one of my devotional readings covered Galatians 6:22-23. It was not a mistake or coincidence either. I believe God had a point for me to uncover and a point to rediscover. Allow me share both with you this morning.

Point #1 – If you are going to produce fruit – you’d better be part of the fruit tree!

The Scripture is quite clear in John 15:5: “I [Jesus] am the vine, you are branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
If I want to produce fruit, I can’t do it if I am not connected to the source of the fruit. Therefore simply saying I am a Christian with no real connection to Christ – isn’t going to cut it! Certainly, you can try and might even produce some well-disguised fruit for moment or two. However in the long run, your lack of connection with the Vine will tell on you!

You see, hanging off the branches of a tree does not qualify you as part of the living plant itself. You must be graphed in, with your soul searching out to wrap itself around the very heart, the ROOT, of the plant as to intertwine yourself with it, until you are an inseparable part of the tree! It abides, or dwells in you and you abide in it.

Jesus said it plainly: apart from Him, we can’t do anything. Obviously this is a point my Father was trying to get me to rediscover. Abba Father, I do appreciate the reminder! I needed it.

Point #2 – The fruit we bear is not our own.

I love to uncover new treasures in His Word. It’s not that they are really new; after all, the Word was and is right there all along! But sometimes you read a verse and you focus on one aspect of the passage. Most likely, it is because it meets a need you have at that particular moment. Then you read it again later and something seemingly new just pops right out and smacks you between the eyes! Smack! Wow! Never saw that one before!

That is what happened to me. It was that proverbial brick on the head I keep asking for! I guess I’d better be careful what I ask for in the future! I likely assumed (and we all know what happens when we assume!) that as a believer, having the Spirit living within, I would naturally produce all this wonderful fruit. My problem is that I have been trying to take ownership of the fruit! And I can’t for the life of me figure out why! Any fruit I might produce o my own, would likely be akin to the strawberries we just bought.

They were supposed to be cream of the crop sweet home grown berries. Now I have lived in Plant City FL – winter strawberry capital of the world. I know how a good berry should taste. The ones we bought did not. Slightly close – but no cigar! Anything I try to produce on my mine – isn’t going to be anything like the real thing!

Why? It’s because the fruit I might bear is not of me! I have no part in it. The fruit is of the Spirit. It’s God’s fruit and His alone. I confused being a vessel for the fruit with ownership of the fruit itself.

The moral of the story is this: If I am tapped into the Root – I will bear fruit but not of my one accord, only of the Spirit. Then as a living, breathing, functional branch of the tree, I should be reaching to others offering the fruit to them, so that they too, would desire to become part of the Tree of Life!

I leave you with Ephesians 3:17-19:

”So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Love the Root and He’ll send you the Fruit!
Barbara

A Right-Handed God

2011-03-07T11:10:00.000-05:00

“For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy.
My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Psalm 63:7-8 (NASB)

I am right handed. Now in light of today’s Scripture, this doesn’t mean I am equating myself with God. Far from it! But the fact remains that I am right handed. It’s the hand I use the most. My dad, on the other hand – pardon the pun, is left-handed. Why? I don’t know. It’s just the way it is and I accept that.

The Bible frequently refers to God’s hands. In several passages it refers to God’s right hand or His mighty right hand. I wonder, is it because His left hand is weaker? Does He even have a left hand? Are His hands so mighty, He only needs His right to guide us? Well, whatever the reason, right or left, I am forever grateful to be upheld in His hand.

I bet you are wondering how all this hand-jive got started? Glad you asked! This morning, I woke up to a daily devotional reading from Sarah Young’s, Jesus Calling. Today’s Scripture and thoughts are from page 70. She writes as if Christ was speaking to you directly and personally. For March 7, she penned these opening lines:

“LET ME HELP YOU through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone.”

Great statement. I need God’s help through the day. The older I get, the more increasingly aware I become of my own human frailty and the fact that I truly cannot do anything on my own. Left to my own devices I mess up every time.

But “far too great challenges” today? Not a chance. Okay, I know it’s Monday but I think I have a handle on today. It’s all simple stuff really. I woke up, I walked and now I write. Next, I’ll spend a few moments with job-related business. Then I’ll prepare myself to jump in the car and travel to the west coast of Florida. Tomorrow, I have the honor of sharing my testimony at a breakfast and then a lunch. Nothing too hard. Right?

Boy that was a close call! I almost let myself get away with thinking this was a day I could handle in my own strength. Sometimes, I think God uses His right hand to give a head-slap, just hard enough to knock the sense back into me! Thank you Father!

Well my sense returned and I started to meditate on what Sarah Young wrote. I re-read Psalm 63:7-8 coupled with James 1:2-3. (Look it up for yourself, it’s good stuff!) Then I had to ask myself to define challenge. Mostly I think of a challenge as an obstacle or problem to be solved. It’s a mountain to move or attempt to move around. It’s something that pops up unexpectedly than causes a wrinkle in my day. Hmm…. Right now I am thinking my definition is too small.

Let me now propose that living through a good day could be as much of a challenge as living through the bad ones. On a good day, I am still presented with choices that could alter the path of my day.

Am I going it on my own? Do I stop to praise God for the day? Do I ask His help in keeping me on task and on time? Am I listening for those moments where I need to stop and look around so a God-moment doesn’t escape my notice? Do I walk through the good day acknowledging the same right-hand holding me up as I do when the day goes sour? The challenge of a good day is letting God work in my life to keep it a good day. Then with the same mind, knowing if the day becomes a truly “bad day,” God is still ready, willing and able – with the same right hand to uphold me through it!

Does this make any sense to anyone? I hope it does. Well, I guess that is all I wanted to share for today, but I leave you with one last thought. Whether you are left-handed, right-handed or tight-handed, God’s hands are the best! Take is from Moses who wrote in Exodus 15:6 (NASB):

"Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power,

Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.”

Holding hands with God!
Barbara

Where are You at When the Party Begins?

2011-02-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean’” Matthew 15:18 (NIV)

Last week, we answered the question, rightfully I hope, where do we go when the party is over? Now let’s look at where we are when the party begins.

In reviewing Luke 15 and the parable of the Prodigal Son, we’ve already seen that the younger son, filled with pride and lust, set out to live it up with all his premature inheritance. He squandered it and wasn’t happy when consequences caught up with him. Fortunately, he came to his senses, returned home and received forgiveness from the hand of his father.

When the party of self-indulgence and plain stupidity was over, he came home to find grace and mercy in abundance and a new party began. This party was one of rejoicing over a lost soul who had found his way back home! And it wasn’t just a small gathering with hot dogs and chips! It was a full blown, rock and rolling, open the barn door and invite the neighbors for a BBQ shindig, complete with loud music and dancing!

I love those kinds of parties, don’t you?

However, as we read about the older son, we discover one minor, teeny-tiny detail. Big brother wasn’t in a partying mood. In fact, he was appalled at the merriment. He was furious over the favor and his blood boiled! Now the obvious question is why?

I have a younger brother and our visits are far and few as he lives in Texas. He also has a heart to match the size of the state he lives in and during the times when I do see him, my heart has a party! Now I can honestly say if his heart wasn’t right causing him to stay away, when he did come home, the party in our lives would be even bigger. Why? Naturally, I’d not only be thrilled, but relieved at his return as well. Not so with our prodigal big bro.

What was his problem? I mean wasn’t he the good kid? Didn’t he do all the right things? Didn’t he care? Obviously not. In fact, while his little brother was the openly rebellious child, big brother was the silent-sinner type.

I heard a story once about a little girl who wouldn’t sit down when asked by her parents. They repeatedly insisted she sit down, finally after a few parental threats the little girl complied but not before announcing with arms folded across her chest, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside!”

That was the older brother. Sitting down, working hard, appearing compliant on the outside, but all the while, standing up on the inside. There was no way he’d set one foot toward those festivities. He was mule-headed and indignant. Why should his little twerp of a runaway brother get all the honors and him, the good kid, get nothing? Well, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

And the break was great. When the father came to plead for his presence at the party, he snapped. All the animosity he harbored inside spewed forth like lava from a volcano. He erupted all over daddy and refused to budge. With a stomp of his foot, his true heart was revealed for all to see. Bubba had a serious heart problem and he couldn’t hide it any longer.

So how’s your heart doing today?

Are we bitter over a brother who catches a break, when we’ve worked our fingers to the bone without so much as an “Atta-boy” pat on the back? When someone throws a less-than-deserving friend a party, do we climb up on our “full of self-righteousness” high horse and refuse to participate? Why? What kind of statement does that really make?

In fact, it just occurred to me that while the older brother refused to take part in the party for his younger sibling, not too many people noticed. In fact, did anyone truly notice his absence? Who was really hurt by his no-show? The answer is sobering. Just one. Only the Father.

I think I’ll stop there and let the Holy Spirit take over, starting with my heart first!

Ready to party when you are!
Barbara

When the Party is Over.

2011-02-22T09:16:00.000-05:00

“But when he came to his senses…” Luke 15:17a (NASU)

You wake up in the morning feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day. The weather is perfect, the birds are singing and the coffee is a delight to your senses. As you prepare for the day, you mentally rehearse each event that has a place in your schedule. You leave the house early and the traffic is a breeze. Everything goes your way at work/school and there is a smile on your face as you return home. You don’t burn dinner and get to watch your favorite television show without one interruption. Man, oh man, life is good!

Against all odds, your week progresses in the same way. The only annoyances you face are minor and not even worth mentioning. You make all your appointments, complete all your chores and even squeeze in a few extra phone calls for good measure.

Then the phone rings with your test results. The check bounces to your mortgage company. The kids get sick at the same time. You hear rumors of layoffs at work. The car transmission dies two days after your warranty expires. The shower leaks and floods three rooms. Someone doesn’t like the way you looked at them. Your best friend moves to France and family trouble erupts like a volcano. Wham! Just like that – all of the sudden – the party is over.

With all the trouble heaping on your head like burning coals – what do you do? Where do you go when the party is over?

Our Sunday morning Bible study class has been reviewing the Luke 15 parable of the Prodigal Son. Our literature is based on John MacArthur’s book by the same name. I highly recommend it.

To recap this poignant prodigal story, we begin at the beginning: a man had two sons. One was young, rebellious and anxious to be free from the authority of his father. The other was older and appeared to be obedient and respectful – working hard and acting responsibly.

It’s widely known that the younger son demanded his share of the family estate and then left town for those proverbial greener pastures. That is, greener until the money ran out and the friends left. It was only when he was reduced to feeding pigs that he saw himself as the fool he was. It was not a pretty picture. The party was over.

Hungry and humiliated, this young son groaned, what do I do now? Where do I go? The answer appeared but only after, according to Scripture, he came to his senses. So where did our runaway decide to go when the party was over?

Home.

Sometimes life breezes along like a dream. Yet eventually a storm comes our way and the party is over. Other times, we make our own fiesta based on what we want, what feels good to us and without a second thought to anyone else. However, at some point, the money disappears, the friends evaporate, and once again, the party is over.

When this happens in your life – where do you go when the party is over? Might I suggest you go home? The young son did. He went home to his father. He went home to face the music. When the son “came to his senses,” he realized that maybe dad wasn’t so wrong, wasn’t out to get him and really did love him. Surely, a man this good would have pity on his own flesh and blood. And if he didn’t – well he couldn’t be any worse off than he was in the pig sty. Repentance compelled him to find out - was there forgiveness and life back at home?

Well, when our broken-hearted un-hero hit the front yard, he wasn’t prepared for the reception he received! Dad about knocked him over running out to meet him. For miles on a long dusty road, the son rehearsed a speech that he only got halfway through before Dad had to burst out in celebration. Bring the robe! Bring the ring and the sandals! Put on the feast! It’s party time! The son received more than he ever dared to hope.

I find it fascinating and life altering that when things in my life cease to be perfect, when speed bumps pop up, when sink holes open in the middle of my path – when the party is over, I can always go home. And when I do come home, my Father is there, ready to scoop me up and provide comfort. I find one party ends only to discover a better one waiting right around the corner.

And believe me; my Father knows how to throw a party! Where are you in your party life right now? What kind of party is it? Is it one of smooth sailing that occasionally occurs in life or a self-made soiree that will end as abruptly as it started leaving you in the cold - wanting. In either case, how long will you take to regain your senses and then where will you go?

Is that music and dancing I hear?
Barbara

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-14T09:15:00.000-05:00

“We love, because He [God] first loved us.” I John 4:19 (NASB)

Here we are once again – Valentines Day. During the next 24 hours, the hearts of many will be elated by specific displays of love from the single red rose to the most grandiose bouquets. Already this morning, I have witnessed a marriage proposal. (And she said yes!)

Also during this day, many hearts will be broken, perhaps due to a forgotten gift. More still because there is no “special” someone in their life to produce a gift or some expression of love for them. I think now of my Uncle Walter who tomorrow, will bury his sweet wife of more years than I have been alive. Today is a reminder of a love lost.

Yet, today I lose all thought of candy (which my waist-line doesn’t need) and flowers. I’ll put aside any thoughts of small boxes containing shiny treasures or being whisked away for some romantic dinner. I will dwell on the thoughts that have riveted through my head for the last several weeks. I just want to fall more in love with the One who loves me most.

For the record, I live secure in the love my husband has for me. Our love has grown over the last 20 years and is still as sweet as it was in the beginning, actually it’s sweeter! But I still desire to love him more, to treat him better as the years come and go and be the godliest wife that I can be for him. Ladies, my Romeo deserves it – big time! It’s just that there is one little thing that could help or hinder my love for him – the intensity of my love for my God. The more I love Him, the more I am capable of loving others, including my husband.

Today, I confess to you that I do indeed, love my Lord, my Father, and my Redeemer. But I fear, like those to whom a stern letter of warning was written in Ephesus, I have left my first love. Okay, maybe not left entirely – but certainly I am guilty of letting the embers of my love get a little cold. Anyone out there feel the same way?

Admittedly, I had high hopes for 2011 but thus far it has not been smooth sailing. Now that’s not to say – it’s been horrible – it has not. But life has just gotten in my way more than expected and I guess I let my guard down. The next thing I know - wham! Need I say more?

As I write this to you, I feel my heart lighten up. It’s true, confession is good for the soul. There is a smile on my face and I can’t wait to tackle this day. You see, I’ve already confessed my sin to my Father, and now to you. I am immediately assured of His forgiveness and eternal abiding love. I just need to learn to push “life” aside a little more in favor of simply loving the Lord God Almighty with all my heart and all my soul and all my strength. Then He will see to it that life will work itself out and I will truly be able to love my neighbor as myself! Why am I such a slow learner? Sigh!

Before I leave you today, I do want you to know that in the name of Jesus, I love each one of you. Because I love my Jesus, I love writing these snippets from my life to hopefully encourage you in yours. I mean, it always helps me to know that I am not the Lone Ranger in my circumstances and it’s possible to overcome them in the name of the Lord.

Also, this month marks the beginning of YEAR 9 that I’ve been “writing out loud” for His glory! How long will it last? I don’t know – only Abba Father knows. I pray I will just be faithful.

In closing, whether you are married or single, attached or not, let ME wish you a Happy Valentines Day. Rest assured in God’s all powerful, gracious and lavish love for you (read I John 4:7-21). Then like the jewelry store ad says: Keep your heart open and love will find its way in!

From my heart to yours,
Barbara

God’s Got an App for That!

2011-01-24T08:50:00.000-05:00

“The LORD will protect him and preserve his life;” Psalm 41:2 (NIV)

Kay made a statement in Bible Study a few Sunday’s ago in regards to the Scripture. She smiled and told us “There’s an app for that!” and during worship on the same Sunday Pastor William repeated the thought, “God’s got an app for that,” well, it was like waving a red writing flag in my face. Bob looked at me and said, “That would make a great devotion.” I thought, "Oh yeah!".

If you have been living at the North Pole for the last few years, then it’s possible you have not heard about the new iPhones. They are computer, Internet and phone technology all rolled into one little black box. I personally do not own one, but I know people who do.

A friend has an app that shows a cat on the phone screen and it will purr if you rub your finger over it. I almost bought into that one! But on the more practical side, there are programs called “apps” you can purchase for your phone that do all kinds of stuff like get you directions, tell you the current news and weather, and possibly even what your favorite restaurant has for a daily special. Now ain’t that special!

The claim is that whatever you need – there is an app for it! Maybe, maybe not. Do they have an app that will clean my toilet or wash my dishes? When that happens, I’m trading up fast!

But until then, I’ve developed a few apps of my own. They are easy to use. They work in or out of any 3 or 4G zone and best of all – they are free! Let me share them right now.

The Loneliness App:
John 14:16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you FOREVER” [emphasis mine]
Matthew 28:20 “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Guilt App:
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The Truth App:
John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
John 14:6 “And Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’”

The Love App:
I John 3:1 “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
I John 3:16 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”

The Get-to-Heaven App
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I admit, they are pretty basic apps but then it does a body good to keep those basics in mind. Regardless of how technology advances and how many “at our finger tip” devices we can invent and attempt to incorporate into our lives, they will never cure loneliness or guilt. They might not always tell you the truth and I doubt they will love you unconditionally. They certainly can’t get you to heaven. Sad, but true. But that’s okay – because God’s got the app for that!

Thank you God for the application of salvation in your Son – Christ Jesus and your Word – which will never pass away!

Just a little App for Thought,
Barbara

Dancing with THE STAR!

2011-01-17T15:08:00.000-05:00

“And David was dancing before the Lord with all his might…” II Sam 6:14a (NASB)

Bob and I are big fans of Dancing with The Stars. It makes me want to dance! I have to admit that when no one is looking I indulge a private whirl. At least, as much of a whirl as my bones will allow!

Every time a couple hits the dance floor, whatever dance they are dancing becomes my favorite: the Salsa, the Foxtrot, the Jive – to name a few. Currently they are off the air so I am not sure what made me think of this but it is not mine to question – just to roll with, or dance with in this instance.

Actually, I guess I do know what preceded this whole line of thought. It was the Tango. I hate to confess this but I am not the perfect Christian. As much as I’d like to hold that title, I will never even come close. This year has already presented some interesting issues that have created struggle in my life.

What’s really funny is that only a few days ago, I told another struggling sister to remember that trials in life are always meant to draw us closer to God and not drive us away from God. This is something I believe with my whole heart! So if that is true, then why do I find myself doing that which I so strongly urge others not to do?

That’s when I remembered the Tango. There is much that can be said of the Tango as far as the passion and artistry this dance provokes. But bottom line, the basis for the Tango is the old attitude that screams, “Come to me” and in a split second growls, “Go away!”

“Go!” “Stay!” The war is on, back and forth, in an endless cycle. It’s a battle of will played out on a dance that is full of passion and emotion. While the pair is together the entire dance, the series of stops and sharp movements keep you watching from the edge of your seat. It’s filled with brief smiles and long periods of stern, angry or distance expressions. Apparently, this is not an easy dance.

Personally, I’d rather be waltzing.

The waltz is slower paced and elegant. It’s two people perfectly in sync with one another. Each step flows effortlessly after the other. Eyes meet with a sweet intimacy – two minds in tune without a word being spoken. The couple glides rather than take steps. Each body sways in perfect harmony with the other. There are a few twirls and dips that can make your pulse race and your face smile. It all looks as easy and natural as breathing. Sigh!

Oh what lessons to be learned from dancing! (Please don’t tell my preacher, I am supposed to be Baptist!) I could spend quite some time giving you spiritual points and parallels. However, in the essence of time, I will draw us to the thought at hand for today. Just like King David, I have an eternal dance partner – the Father. Some days it is so easy to dance before Him with total abandon. But mostly, I enjoy dancing with Him.

It’s just lately – I feel like I’ve engaged God in too many Tangos and not enough Waltzes’. I need to relax and let the Holy Spirit restore those intimate glances I long for and live for. I need to practice my steps more, with the Father as my lead so walking through the issues of life are as effortless as watching two ballroom dancers glide across the floor.

However, when those Tango moments come along, I am so grateful that God never leaves me on the dance floor alone, even when I try to push Him away. He is my partner for life and what comfort that brings.

I pray that today you find your dance card filled with waltz’s, with the throne room of God as your dance floor! See you next week.

Until then, dance with all your might!
Barbara

Scans, Tests and Exams

2011-01-11T12:41:00.000-05:00

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. “ I Peter 4:12 & 13 (NASB)

A dear friend and former pastor of ours recently finished six rounds of chemo. This chemical warfare taking place in his body is to fight off an all-to-often deadly enemy called cancer. Today he faces a PET scan. This will reveal who is winning the battle. My money is not on the cancer!

Pastor John has chronicled this season of his life in blog-form. From my perspective it appeared to begin as a way of keeping everyone informed of his condition and progress, an outlet for his feelings. Every entry glorified God whether it was a good day or a bad day. After a several entries, his writing seemed to morph into a teaching/preaching mode where he gave us insight to what God was revealing to him and through him.

In this morning’s writing prior to his test, he wrote that he has concluded that life is a series of scans, tests and exams. He expounded on each from his current perspective. Thank you John! You once again blessed my heart.

I agree. Life is a series of scans, tests and exams. Please allow me to expound from my current perspective. But to read John’s click here! Look for article dated 1-11-2011 at 5:44am MST

Scans are a hot topic right now especially if you are traveling by air. Some folks feel that the newer security scans are too evasive. Others don’t care. But if you want to board that plane. . .

For a Christian, our life is subject to constant scanning – generally by others. Our words and actions are scanned for validity. It’s simple, but cliché – does the walk match the talk and vice versa? However our lives are also open to scanning by the Holy Spirit. Now that’s a scan you can’t hide anything from! Unfortunately, I think we are unwilling participants most of the time, not wanting to acknowledge what the scan reveals and then submit for treatment. Shall I go on?

Then we have tests. Will you pass the “help your neighbor” test? What about the “serve your community” test? When was your last “share Jesus with this person now!” test? How will you come out on the “love God” test? Sometimes we have tests of patience. There are tests of endurance. The tests test our faith, our growth and our dependence on God. Tests also prepare you for exams.

Remember final exams? We gathered all the material from all the previous tests to study. We poured over books. We sweated. We fretted. We cried. Then we sighed when we discovered a passing grade and the teachers relaxed as their mission was accomplished. They actually did teach us something!

Life is a series of scans that reveal who we are inside and outside. Life is a series of tests to grow who we are inside and outside. Therefore I submit that exams prove whose we are inside and outside.

Peter told the scattered believers not to be surprised by the tests they encountered. Peter had a few himself. Some he passed with flying colors. Remember in Scripture when Christ asked the disciples who they thought He was? Peter answered confidently, “You are the Son of the Living God!” Jesus affirmed Peter for passing that test.

You always win some, but then again you lose some as well. Ask Peter about the test he took where he failed by denying he knew Christ. Shameful? Yes. Painful? Most definitely. The end of the line for him? Not a chance. Fortunately, in Christ failure is not fatal, nor does it mean you are finished. Yes, Peter failed a few tests. But he passed some as well and learned from his failures to go on to pass his first big exam – Pentecost.

Wherever you are at today, know you are not alone. The same God that allows the test will watch over you until it is complete. Let Him scan your heart, revealing what needs to be reveals. Submit to the tests to growth your faith and accept the exams secure in the knowledge that you belong to God. Your grade – a crown of life – awaits at the end.

Love, Barbara

My News Years Need

2011-01-03T10:14:00.000-05:00

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19 (NASB)

Do you like theme parties? Perhaps you went to several in December – themed for Christmas. Maybe you attended a soiree this past Friday night called a New Years Eve party. Children have princess parties or parties with a cartoon character theme. You can throw costume parties or parties for a specific charity to raise money. The list is endless.

Traditionally, this is the time to make resolutions. Personally, I don’t make them but yesterday in church I decided that it was possible to have a theme for the New Year! Let me share with you how I arrived at my decision.

A week or so ago, I met with my boss. As you may know Cheryle Touchton is the director of Pocket Full of Change Ministries and allows me to be her trusty side-kick. The foundational basis of this ministry involves traveling and street evangelism. If anyone wants a more detailed description, email me. I’d be thrilled to tell you more.

Cheryle said that our working theme for this year is “Give’em Heaven in 2011!” Pretty cool, right! This theme will help us stay focused on loving God by carrying out the Great Commission and ensure that we keep the main thing, the main thing. This was the beginning of my theme-based epiphany.

Moving right along, let’s proceed to the next puzzle piece that God used: my Sunday school lesson. I am involved in an adult ladies class and I love it. Our current lessons are based off a book written by the late Paul Little entitled “Know Why You Believe.” Awesome study! I highly recommend it.

I could spend all day on this – but I can’t! So I’ll cut to the chase. Our lesson book contains five small studies for reading Monday through Friday before class on Sunday. Friday’s study contained the Romans 8:32 verse, “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

When I read this, that proverbial light bulb went off in my head and my mind jumped to Phil. 4:19. Romans 8:32 confirms that God supplies my need in Christ: His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection and the certainty of His return. It’s a complete package.

Okay – you probably think I am stating the obvious. I am. But the third part of the puzzle geared my thoughts toward the question – what needs? I need food, clothing, shelter, basic medical stuff and the like. Of course, I am fully aware I have these things due to God’s good grace and loving care. He indeed has met those needs. But something kept prodding me to go deeper still.

Then I hit pay dirt. For quite some time, a particular song lyric has sweetly haunted my mind. It’s from DC Talks’ “In the Light” The line goes, “I am still a man in need of a Savior.” God meets my needs in Christ because my greatest need IS Christ!

I don’t know about you but even as a born again believer, I am still in need of a Savior. Not just any savior but the One and Only Savior. Like you, I had needs last year. God met them. I’m not trying to sound super-spiritual but for the most part allowing Him to meet my physical needs, provide peace during the death of a loved one, give guidance, well, they are generally easy for me to do.

However, there were certain more internal things I wrestled with that caused me more than a fair amount of anguish. Am I doing the right things? Am I doing anything at all? Who do I think I am to be doing some of the things I do? Why can’t I vote my SELF off the island so all that remains is a heart completely surrendered to Christ at all times? UGH!!!!!!!

At the end of day all of this in-depth struggling serves to remind me of one very important thing: I am still a woman in need of a Savior. Every minute. Every hour. Every day.

If you do not have a personal relationship with God through Christ, your greatest need is for the Savior. If you do have a personal relationship with God through Christ, your greatest need is still for the Savior.

It’s that ‘down to the bone marrow and heart deep need’ had by all mankind that calls Cheryle to adopt the theme: Give’em Heaven in 2011. My New Years Need compels me to live this year satisfying myself in my Savior. But neither will be accomplished unless we live in the theme my dear Kiki suggested Sunday morning during worship. That is we should live “In His Presence.”

May God bless you richly in all ways according to your greatest need and His greatest fulfillment in Jesus Christ – this year and all the years to come!
Barbara

Christmas Countdown – Part IV The Wise Men

2010-12-28T10:33:00.000-05:00

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”…After coming to the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshipped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 1:1-2 & 11(NASB)

Three Wise Women. . . would have asked directions, arrived on time, helped deliver the baby, cleaned the stables, made a casserole, brought practical gifts. . . and there would be Peace on Earth!

The saying above is embroidered on a hand towel that resides, during this season, in my guest bathroom. Obviously it is meant to provoke a giggle or two out of the reader. But it is interesting that I would put it out considering my Christmas decision regarding the Nativity.

This year, I left the Wise Men out of the manager. Why? Because they were never there to begin with! Not that I have a problem with the wise men at all. I just got a bit literal this year. However, despite the fact these divinely inspired travelers didn’t arrive until “after Jesus was born in Bethlehem,” they still play a large part in our Christmas celebration and in God’s plan for the family of the Child Jesus. There is much to be learned from the sparse references allocated to them in Scripture. Notice with me the following items.

The first thing is that they were wise. Not only were they wise, they acted upon that wisdom. Boy, if there ever a New Years Resolution to be made, here it is! God grant me wisdom from you and obedience to act upon it. I doubt anything else needs to be said.

Second, their objective was to worship. Again, they were obedient to their objective. This begs the question – it is ever our objective to worship? I certainly hope so, but face it, we are not perfect. On Sunday, is your goal to worship replaced by just trying to make it to church on time? Making sure the preacher is done by noon so you can get out to eat before the other churches let loose? Rats, I forgot to bring mints! Hmmm. Just asking.

I find when I replace the attitude of “what is the preacher going to say today and am I gonna like it?” with “I am here to worship” worship actually happens. I must admit that sometimes worship just spontaneously combusts! But more often, I need to make a point to put myself in that position by pushing aside all distractions and petty thoughts so worship has room to occur. Then when it does – nothing else matters! It’s just God and me, everything is perfect. The wise men were bound and determined to worship – no long journey without GPS hindered their desire.

Third, they presented Christ with their treasures. It’s interesting to note that the presenting of gifts occurred only after worship had taken place. Their worship was true, genuine and immediate. The gifts were not presented first as a bribe. Not sure why I just thought to write that, oh well.

Now, back to their treasures. It was their treasures that were offered to the toddler King. They gave of themselves. They brought their best. I don’t believe one brought the gifts and the other just signed the card. The Word says it was their very own possessions they brought and they offered. Where does that leave us? What do I have? What do you have? Let me remind all of us with Romans 12:1 – bring Him yourself.

Even though the wise men were not present at the actual birth of Christ our Lord, the part they play in our Advent is no less amazing. They bring much to the table for spiritual consideration. I had to smile as several weeks ago Brother William preached from this passage in Matthew and he spoke at great length on godly wisdom in our lives. Knowing then what I felt ready to write for this particular week after Christmas, well, it made me feel I was on the right track. Lord, help me to stay there!

I’ve heard said, “Wise men still seek Him.” Wise women too! Let our objective in 2011 be to gain in His wisdom, lavish Him in worship, present to Him our treasures and live in obedience to Christ alone.

May the peace, grace and wisdom of our Lord be with you in this New Year,
Barbara

Christmas Countdown – Part III The Birth

2010-12-20T09:47:00.000-05:00

“Behold the virgin shall be child and shall bear a Son and they shall call His name Immanuel’ which translated means, “God is with us.” Matthew 1:23(NASB)

In a few days, we will celebrate the culmination for the season’s reason: the birthday of Jesus. Is December 25 the actual date of His fleshy entrance into the world. No. Does it matter? Also no. It matters only that we recognize on one particular day in the history of our world a young virgin named Mary who conceived by the Holy Spirit went into labor. Together with her God-appointed earthly husband, they held their breaths as the Savior was birthed upon the earth.

There was no baby shower and no family coming for miles to hold the new child. Whom could they share this moment with? It seemed like there was no one, except only a few shepherds from the field. Even then, did they fully grasp that their little boy was a gift to be shared with the world, then and for all time to come?

For all the things we enjoy about Christmas, if it hadn’t been for that obscure birth on an unknown date, we would have no reason to celebrate and December 25 would have as much eternal significance as Ground Hog Day.

Whatever calendar date it was all those years ago, there indeed was a real day, when a real child was born unknown and innocently into the world. Because of His birthday, my life has meaning. It has purpose. So does yours.

Are the holidays leaving you in a holi-daze keeping you from experiencing a true Holy Day? If so, stop. Relax and take stock of what really matters. Why are you celebrating? Take a moment to refocus and put the day back into perspective. However, if it’s just another party day to you, call me, email me, or throw a rock at me and let’s reason together. From the Gobbs home to yours, we wish you the merriest and most blessed Christmas ever.

Jesus is the reason for my season, because I was His!
Barbara

Christmas Countdown – Part II Christmas Lights

2010-12-14T07:47:00.000-05:00

“And Jesus again spoke to them saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12 (NASB)

Do you have a favorite part of Christmas tradition? I dare say most people do. Some like the smell of pine from a freshly cut tree brought inside then decorated with shiny babbles and bows. Others enjoy the rush of shopping for just the right gift for the loved ones in their lives. Children enjoy the thoughts of a mystical Santa leaving presents on Christmas morning. Of course, there are the family get-togethers to relish and the sacred music that fills the air.

I like all of the above. However, my favorite things are the lights. I confess to an on-going love affair with lights. I have had this fascination since childhood. I fondly remember the coast-to-coast drive our family made as we moved from California to Florida. I recall passing airports at night and seeing all those beautiful blue lights on the ground. To me, they were stars that had fallen from heaven.

I like the flash of lights from a marquee sign. I love streetlights against a darkened sky. I am enamored with the stars on a clear crisp night. Have you seen Las Vegas or NYC at night? I have but that’s another story. What about Disney at night? Better yet, Disney at night during the holidays. Yes, Christmas lights are my favorites. The blinking multi-colored lights on houses and trees, well, they make my heart twinkle!

There is something magical, romantic and transporting about a plethora of lights twinkling in the dark. There is something spiritual in being reminded that because of light – the dread of darkness disappears. Actually that is more than simply spiritual, it is Biblical.

Jesus directly told us that He is the Light of the World. He is the Light that shines in the darkness and in Him; we never have to fear the darkness. We fear not the darkness that comes without light and not the darkness that comes from evil in the world.

The lights of Christmas remind me that Jesus in The Light and that Jesus is MY Light. Is He yours? There is no better day to start an on-going love affair with the Light, than today.

Jesus, You make my heart twinkle!
Barbara

Christmas Countdown – Part I The Goodies

2010-12-07T09:47:00.000-05:00

“O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8 (NASB)

Tis the season to be jolly. Tis the season for tree trimming. Tis the season for gift giving. Tis the season for lots of tasty treats. Yum-yum! Thus far, we’ve been to two Christmas parties. One was rather large and the other a bit smaller, but both overloaded with scrumptious, mouth-watering although highly caloric food.

Several of us agreed that it was easier to get through Thanksgiving than Christmas. For during Thanksgiving we generally prepare to over-indulge for one glorious day, however, Christmas treats are the norm all throughout the month. This leads to some serious taste bud temptation. So if you hear a strange woman screaming, “Get thee behind me Satan!” you will know that I’ve just passed the dessert portion of some buffet. My only refuge afterwards will be in a bottle of Maalox, Tums or any number of combined antacids.

Now I’d be fooling myself to think I could go the entire month of December without tasting a few delicious morsels along the way. However, just like the majority of trimmings Christmas brings along – I will avoid danger by exercising good judgment and moderation. I encourage you to do the same.

This could create some real battles of the will if you are diabetic or dealing with certain food allergies or interactions. Sugar is not everyone’s friend, neither are nuts or flour. Several people I know are diabetic, including my own dad. A neighbor of ours is has nut allergies and another can’t eat wheat flour due to cancer diet restrictions. Since these things are extremely prevalent during the holidays - what is a body to do! Even those of us without diet restrictions really need to watch our temple walls, to keep them strong and healthy.

Well, here is my cure that will satisfy even the most veracious appetite. It’s found in our verse from Psalm 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good!”

Need a sugar fix? Slice off a Psalms and feast on some praise pie! Ready for a main course? Cut up the meat of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Got a craving? Carve up some Colossians to chew on. Can you taste it? How sweet are the words of Jesus! How easily most of them go down! Okay, there are a few hard words contained in the gospel, but we all need some fiber for good measure.

The most wonderful thing about feasting on the Word of God is that it does everything to build you up, to keep you spiritual healthy and you just cannot over do it!

With this in mind, the next time someone offers you that large bowl of Figgie pudding topped with cool whip, just politely smile and take refuge in a plate of Proverbs instead!

Someone pass me the James, please!
Barbara

Out of The Mouths of Babes

2010-11-29T06:39:00.000-05:00

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” II Cor. 5:17(NASB)

Words can be haunting, especially when they’re your own - coming back to bite you. Words from the preacher can be haunting, convicting your heart. Words from your friends can be haunting, giving you cause for deep reflection. However, some of the words that give me the most delightful moments of my life and haunt my soul (usually in a good way) are from children.

We all know that children can be the most amusingly simple and yet the most enchantingly complex creatures on earth. Their innocent quips defy logic and thrill the imagination. They can be theological without having a clue what theology evens means.

Here is my most recent case in point. Our 8-year-old granddaughter, Kylie, asked Jesus to live in her heart the week before Halloween. Shortly thereafter, she went “forward” in church to tell the staff of her decision and make herself available for baptism. Then the entire family trekked over to our house for Sunday dinner.

We enjoyed a grand time of talking and of course, eating. Afterwards, I realized I had not asked Kylie about her church experience of “going forward.” But it wasn’t too long before I got the opportunity to rectify that omission.

A few days later, we had the occasion to be riding together in the car. I looked over at her and said, “Kylie, Nana forgot to ask you the other day about you sharing your decision to accept Jesus with the preacher.” An instant smile lit up her face. “So, what they ask you and what did you say?”

“Well, they asked me what sin was and I told them,” she informed me. Her smile morphed into a quizzical expression and she continued, “Nana, they told me that when I asked Jesus into my heart, I became a new person.”

I beamed, “Yes darling that is correct.” Then she popped a question I never expected to hear.

“Nana, if I am a new Kylie – where did the old Kylie go? They said she was dead. Did she get buried? Is she in heaven?”

Lord, help me answer this one! In her child-like faith and innocent, she had no problem believing she was a new creation in Jesus, but her natural curiosity couldn’t figure out the logistic of what happened to the old self. Therefore, I began a conversation about internal natures on my best 2nd grade level.

Still, the question haunts my mind. Unfortunately, my problem is the opposite. I know exactly where my old self is – often lurking too close to the surface of my life. I let the junk of living overwhelm me and some days I wonder, where did my new self go?

Can anyone relate?

While we are eating turkey leftovers, thankful for all the blessings God has provided over the years, we begin preparations for another season of celebration. A birthday for a Savior. Jesus Christ.

Steppenwolf (a 1970’s rock group) proclaimed they were “Born to be Wild.” Bruce Springsteen “The Boss” declared he was “Born to Run.” However, Christ the Redeemer was born to die. He was born to die on a cross only to rise again on the 3rd day.

Why? The birth and atoning death, validated through the supernatural resurrection of our Savior and King makes it possible to become a new creation. I have a new self and that she is never too far away.

Simply put - the old self is defeated and allows a new self to emerge for each one of us. Christ allows us to live an abundant life here on earth and afterwards in heaven where the old self disappears from existence and all earthly struggles will be over. Final answer.

As we head into a season where the old self can become a formidable force in the midst of holiday commotion and deals of the century, let’s remember to crucify ourselves (our old self) daily and let the new self rejoice and live for the glory of God.

Keeping in touch with my new self,
Barbara

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T08:20:00.000-05:00

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples.” I Chronicles 16:8

I am a day or two late and more than a dollar short. While I haven’t made it to my keyboard before now, I have been busy preparing for this week’s event and I haven’t forgotten to give Him thanks!

Let me just share with you today some of my thoughts toward my God this week. God, Thank you for:

Taking me out of my sin

Your Holiness

Being the One I Adore

Never letting me go

Keeping me close to you through thick and thin

The Holy Spirit to help me in life

Giving me spiritual gifts to use for your glory

Inspiring me with your Word

Thinking that I am Very good! (refer to Genesis)

Insisting I live by Your commandments

Not remembering my sin

Going the extra mile and then some, on the cross, to make sure we’d be together always

Bob and I wish each of you a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving.

Love,
Barbara

Each One Reach One – I Disagree

2010-11-15T09:06:00.000-05:00

“And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve….” Mark 3:13-14a (NASB)

I know I tread on thin ice. It’s a bad habit and not pleasant when I hit a crack and fall into icy waters. But sometimes, I feel certain thoughts are worth going out on a limb for.

For years in my particular denominational circles we’ve heard what could happen if each believer would/could reach out and touch the life of just one person with the Gospel message. I must admit, it always sounded good in theory to me. If it indeed would truly happen, I can’t even imagine the world we’d live in! It made evangelism seem easily attainable to those of us who aren’t necessarily gifted in that area. I mean, really how hard can it be to touch the life of just one person!

Today it dawned on me that the entire “Each One Reach One” philosophy might not push us as hard as maybe we should be pushed. Before someone calls for tar and feathers, let me preface the reminder of my time by stating I am not knocking “Each One Reach One.”

I know the push for each person touching just one other person for Christ wasn’t meant for us to simply reach out to one person and then no others in our life time. But it was more of a starting place to get us to realize the simplicity of reaching others because we make things so hard sometimes. I believe it was intended to go far beyond just checking one person off the list as “reached” in our life and then living as we pleased for the remainder. It is motivational. Okay I am getting preachy – but bear with me.

Right now I’d like us to consider a new line of thinking. It’s one I found in the Biblical book of Mark today. What if each one of us reached twelve people? Jesus started a religious revolution with only twelve people. This is quite phenomenal considering His ministry lasted roughly only 3 years. Because His earthly time was limited, He reached His twelve all at the same time.

Do you think you could specifically touch twelve people in your lifetime? Let’s take a look back at Christ for a moment. He pretty much left everyone He met better off for knowing Him (okay, a few weren’t but it wasn’t for Christ’s lack of trying!). When you met Christ on the dusty roads of the Middle Eastern plains, you left knowing what and WHO He stood for, whether you agreed or not. That’s something that should be said for each one of us today.

However, He chose twelve to “be with Him” so He could “send them out to preach” (Mark 3:14) and He gave them authority. He found twelve men to pour Himself into in a way that He couldn’t do with folks He would just touch for a day or so. I had to think since Jesus is our example to imitate, why would I settle for just reaching one! Why not twelve? At least!

Does twelve seem like a lot to you? Well, let’s start with me. I have a husband who I played a part into bringing him to Christ. That’s one. I have a daughter and son-in-law I pour into bringing the total to three. Then we have the two grandbabies. That’s five.

I have coached two people over several months – now I’m up to seven. That’s over half way to twelve and my life isn’t over yet. You know something, Three Dog Night, the group from the 1970’s sang a hit song (back then) called “One is the Loneliest Number” and maybe they had something spiritual there without realizing it – what a hoot! How lonely for us to only reach one person in our lifetime!

Yes, everyone we come in contact with should know what we stand for and Who we stand for on a daily basis. That is good solid lifestyle witnessing. But everyone should have specific people (family or friends) that they “pour” themselves into so those people can be sent out and pour themselves into others as well.

Since God impressed that upon me during my personal reading time, I thought I’d share it with you. Oh yeah – before anyone reminds me – I know one of Jesus’ twelve turned out to turn on Him. But in all fairness, that was a one-time event with a very one-time purpose that will never need to be duplicated. And they did replace Judas later on.

Why settle for one? Jesus didn’t – in more ways than one!
Barbara

Moo-Moo, Boo-Hoo, Pooh- Pooh

2010-11-08T08:06:00.000-05:00

She glared at me and called me a cow! She pointed her finger and pronounced me an adulteress! To add final insult to already fatal injuries, she said I was a baby! I was shocked. I was insulted. I was appalled. I was…convicted.

Who was this woman who dared to speak to me in this fashion? Where did she come from and just who did she think she was! Well, her name is Liz and she came from out of town. She is a pastor’s wife but she was also our speaker for a women’s event last month. Bet you are wondering who signed up for that message!

It was a rough ride where no one had a clue what was going to happen next. You are probably asking if this was one of those events that went very wrong. Not really. Did we fire her after that? No. Did we run her out of the town on a rail? Nope. What did we do? We stood and applauded. We bowed our hearts and confessed. We came forward and we prayed. Battle-scared and bruised, we were not bitter but grateful for the wake-up call to live our faith as it was meant to be lived.

I wished you could have been there. Our conference was entitled: R U SERIOUS? And that was the question we had to ask ourselves about our relationship with God. Today, I ask you – just how serious are you about your relationship with Christ?

Now that I’ve asked, I am sure you are dying to hear the explanation for the title of today’s devotional. Well, those were Liz’s three talking points in our first session. I’ll try and give you a brief synopsis of each and ask that you allow the Holy Spirit to teach you in accordance to what you need for the day.

1. Moo-Moo (Amos 4:1)
In this verse, the prophet Amos is addressing a group of overly-indulgent, lazy, bossy women, who had no concern for the poor or oppressed people of the town. They were only interested in satisfying their own self-centered desires. He called them “Cows of Bashan” and it wasn’t a compliment. They were fat, lazy, bossy and selfish cows. Moo-Moo. Ouch!

2. Boo-Hoo (James 4 and II Tim 3:6)
Here we are called adulteresses (in James) because although we call ourselves Christian – we continue to maintain a close and personal relationship with the things of the world. We compromise our faith without thinking. We have become weak or silly women (II Tim) weighted down with sin so that we can easily be taken captive – learning but never able to come to a full and true knowledge of the truth. Poor me and woe is us! Boo-Hoo! I feel a knife in my back.

3. Pooh-Pooh (Hebrews 5:12-14)
Liz said she used this title because it rhymed with the other two and because babies only drink milk and poo. Hebrews is clear that most of us should have well surpassed the training wheel stage of Christian maturity by now. We should be moving toward more solid food. Training our senses by PRACTICE!!! Yet, for some of us, we are still content to paddle around in our Pampers – in need of a change. Icky-poo! It was another correct call.

Our relationship with God is the most important relationship we will ever have. To illustrate how personal and important this is, let me share a private moment with you. Our granddaughter, Kylie (age 8) prayed on Oct 23, 2010 to accept Jesus in her heart. In her own words, she desired God in her life “to have and to hold.”

We get to hold Jesus close in our hearts. It’s intimate. It’s internal. This takes work like any relationship. We must take time to talk to one another, to listen to one another and to learn about one another. It’s serious and it’s intentional. But having Him means having something to share with others and this is also serious and intentional. It’s external. It’s the second part of the relationship.

Now I have given you several Scripture references to look up at your convenience – if you dare! But I dare to say – you’ll be glad you did. However until then I leave you with the words found in Matthew 22:37.

My boss calls this the Secret to Everything. Our Jewish brethren know it as the Sh’ma. Jesus called it the “great and foremost” commandment and then threw in Matthew 22:39 for good measure. What is it? Simply this: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do this and you will enjoy and prosper in a serious relationship with God and with others.

That’s the truth and there is no “utter!”
Barbara

Letter to the Winner

2010-11-02T14:17:00.000-04:00

“Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” Romans 13:1 (NASB)

Date: November 3, 2010

Dear Elected Candidate,

Congratulations on your win. I guess right now you are getting ready to dust off your new Senate seat or rearrange furniture in the Governors Mansion. Perhaps you are pulling out a list of appointments to make and reviewing the speeches you will begin to give.

Before you get started in this new phase of your life, I offer you some words of wisdom and advice. First of all, don’t get that excited about your win. It’s possible you didn’t get there on your own merit. Appalled by that thought? Let me explain.

I am “one of the people” and I honestly believe that “all of the people” in this country witnessed more mud slinging than we ever thought possible in the last several months. I also believe with all my heart that whether we are tea sippers, elephant riders or have donkeys hooked to our cart; we just want the type of change that will make Americans proud to be Americans.

Sure, there are lots of issues but mostly we just want to live a life where we have jobs so we can work hard to feed our families and the means to educate our children. We’d like to leave this world better than we found it, with a few less issues. Is that too much to ask of you, after all, you got the votes?

In my opinion regarding some races, a great many votes likely boiled down to this: 1) My vote for you was a vote against the other guy/gal or 2) I am voting for the lesser of two evils. How does that make you feel? Does it take some of the wind out of your sails? Humbled? Personally, I’d rather not get elected at all rather than be labeled as "the lesser evil." Hmm…..

Let’s move to my second piece of advice. Prove us wrong. Respectfully, you have a lot to prove. Now this may be hard to believe but we really want you to do well and I am sorry that some of us aren’t expecting it. But I promise to do better, if you will. Please remember that regardless of how you got here, you have been given a great and powerful responsibility. So is that piece of paper up your sleeve your own personal agenda or the agenda of the people?
Thirdly, serve wisely with a grateful heart to God for this opportunity to make difference in our country. Despite the ballot count, ultimately God allowed you in this position. You see, nothing gets by Him, not even an election. Therefore, you can be a self-serving elected official, thus doing absolutely nothing to dispel our lack of governmental apprehensive or you can serve God by serving the people in a godly fashion. Is this the popular thing to do? No. Will it cost you points in that coveted approval rating? Probably, at least at first but it will prove to be the wisest choice you will ever make.

So today, I don’t care if you call yourself conservative or a liberal just do the job the right way based on those principles this country was founded on. Keep God in the mix. Yes, you’ll make some people mad. But they might be the ones in the wrong to begin with, so as far as I am concerned they can just stay mad. But when that happens, I pray the rest of us will stand up and support you - loudly. Just don’t forget the greatest role model for politicians ever: Jesus Christ.

People didn’t always agree with Him either. He made more than a few people mad. But He positively affected more people for the good. His logic was indisputable and so was His love. Everything He did was based on the welfare and benefit of others, never a concern for His approval rating. The only special interest groups He served were the ones who couldn’t stand up for themselves: the children, the elderly and the sick.

And if this doesn’t beat all! He was both conservative and liberal. He was fiercely conservative when it came to His principles and He was passionately liberal with His love and His grace, and He always made good on His Word. Christ lived for the people and He died for the people. We should all live and serve according to His example. Just think of the possibilities if we did!

Praying for you,
Barbara

Trick or Treat!

2010-10-25T17:55:00.000-04:00

“Immediately coming up out of the water, He [Jesus] saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him: and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.” Mark 1:10-11 (NASB)

I surrendered to Christ in the early spring of 1982. I wish I had written down the date. However, I remember the moment vividly. I know it was on a Wednesday night. More importantly, I know it was real.

But my “newness” to the world of Christ meant I had a lot of learning ahead of me and I relished it. Several months into my new life, I participated in a New Christians class. The instructor talked about Believers Baptism. Hmm…..

Okay, I was already baptized. I did that as a child. I suppose I thought it was the thing to do and it made my mom happy. So now I had to ask, since I was already baptized, what was Believers Baptism? Since it had a name - were there other kinds of baptism like an Unbelievers Baptism? What was the difference between them? Did I need this at different steps of my Christian growth? This inquiring mind really wanted to know.

Because I had questions, I found answers. It was explained to me that water baptism was a symbolic act of obedience, performed after one was saved and it was the only one I needed. I didn’t have to be baptized every year – just once. I guess my child-like faith simply resulted in child-like questions, but God is right: Ask and you will receive. I got my answer. I needed to be baptized since the first one didn’t really count. Now – don’t turn the channel just yet. There is a moral to the story.

At Northside Baptist Church on Sunday Night – October 31, 1982, I was baptized upon my profession of faith and in obedience to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That was the night, the devil got tricked and I got treated! This Sunday will be October 31, 2010 and marks to the very day, my 28th anniversary of being a baptized believer in Jesus Christ.

Since we are fast approaching Halloween where TV and movie screens will be filled with all sorts of unhallowed stories, I thought it appropriate to share my baptism with you as it is my all-time favorite Halloween story.

Now I know this particular “holiday” brings a lot of different opinions to the table. Some choose to disassociate from it altogether. There is nothing wrong with that. Been there and done that too. Some choose an alternative to it, been there and done that as well. However you feel about it, might I suggest that this year you view it as an opportunity? View it as an opportunity to treat a child and trick the devil.

Our church, like many others, offers a safe alternative called Harvest Festival. I’ll be helping our Sunday school class run the “Decorate Your Own Cookie” booth. Afterwards, I’ll quickly head home. Why? Well, it’s not to dress up! You see, I have this very strong desire to be a good influence in my neighborhood in regards to Halloween. I want to be a godly and safe influence as well.

If you bring your child to my door, you will be met with a smile and a Treat Bag that contains treats but also a tract. (I guess I’ll be Tract and Treating!) Something to let children, and perhaps even their parents, know that the biggest treat available is Jesus Christ. Maybe I’ll even get to talk to someone!

I am considering this Halloween, my own personal anniversary party and I get to give the gifts since I’ve already received the best one ever! Each day brings you an opportunity. What will you do with yours?

Treated Royally,
Barbara

Great Expectations

2010-10-19T10:31:00.000-04:00

“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” Eph 4:1 (NIV)

Today, I shall be brief – if it is even possible for one deemed “The Mouth of the South to do so. I know I missed last week. I missed writing for my Lord but I can only claim to be in “wait mode.” Something is coming – just not sure exactly what it will look like – so stayed tuned to the same bat channel at the same bat time. God will provide.

I digress. Meanwhile back at the ranch, there is much to contemplate. While our verse in Ephesians is appropriate and timely, my main theological thought for the day comes from a bumper sticker. I believe some of the ones I have seen should be banned, burned and buried. Others, I find to be nuggets of God wisdom reduce to one line that thousands can read during a trip to the grocery store.

For today, I present no other thought than the words of the sticker itself. I offer no reasons of why we should take heed of this sage wisdom. I recommend no course of action other than what God lays on your heart. But I do wonder – would you be so bold to put this sticker on your car? Would I? Should we? Perhaps we should and finally be accountable Christians.

Let’s delay this no longer. May I have a drum roll please? The bumper sticker simply read:

I AM A CHRISTIAN. EXPECT ME TO ACT LIKE IT.

Love, me

The Much Requirements – Part II

2010-10-04T10:37:00.000-04:00

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required…” Luke 12:48b (NASB)

The interesting thing about writing this blog is I don’t always know what I am going to share until God impresses me with the thought or the experience to share. Sometimes, I get several slices of bread to share at one time. Other times, I stumble to follow bread crumbs until the entire thought is revealed. And then there are times like this past week, where I get nothing. Naught. Na-da. Blank. Help!

Last week, I committed to follow up on the thought that since we’ve all been given Jesus, we’ve all been given much – regardless of our bank account or “stuff” account. I promised to tell you the requirements of being given much today. Perhaps my fingers wrote a check I wasn’t going to be able to cash! Ah-Oh! Someone’s in big trouble!

Trusting God for inspiration, I continued throughout the week. Saturday, I was a bit nervous. Okay, I probably could come up with something, I’ve been doing this a while now. But coming up with something isn’t always coming up with the right thing.

As Saturday rolled around, I prepared for my day which involved spending the entire day time with a group of women from Stonecroft Ministries for a Webinar with women from all over the globe. It was during the first segment of worship that God supplied the answer to the question: “What does God require of me?”

When was the last time you asked yourself that question? What was your answer? It can be a very daunting question, overwhelming even. But God directed me to the very simple, non-threatening answer in Micah 6:8, which tells us, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness [mercy], and walk humbly with your God?”

1. Be just
2. Love kindness, a.k.a mercy
3. Walk humbly with God

Simplicity at it’s best. Jesus sums it up in the New Testament like this:

“And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God will all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NASB)

What more can be said?
Barbara

The Much Requirements – Part I

2010-09-27T11:50:00.000-04:00

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be required…” Luke 12:48b (NASB)

I love a good movie. I love a good line from a good movie. Sometimes I love a good line from a bad movie! Good lines – make me think. One of my favorites, and I have so many of them, is from the movie “Ever After.”

In case you are unfamiliar with this particular flick, Drew Barrymore plays a “Cinderella” character, complete with wicked step-mom, who falls for Prince Charming. Go figure! Only in this version of the famous fairy tale, Prince Charming isn’t feeling so charmed about get married and taking over the kingdom from Dad, who really just wants to retire.

However, wisdom eventually prevails when the Prince is reminded of his position in life and that “with great power comes great responsibility.” I have to wonder if someone read Luke chapter 12 when they wrote this part of the script. Luke 12:48 tells us to whom much is given, much is required.

I did some serious thinking on that verse yesterday morning as I put the final touches on our Sunday morning Bible study lesson. I am still thinking about it because I believe God placed a new thought in my heart – at least new for me.

You see, I wonder how many of us think that we’ve not been given much, so our responsibilities are few. I wonder where we are looking to arrive at that conclusion. Are we contemplating our spiritual gifts or lack of them? Are we reviewing our checkbook to see if we’ve been given much? What would you look at in your life to answer the question, “Have you been given much?”

Let me offer you this: Each one of you have been given MUCH if you are a believer in Christ. You see, God gave Christ as a substitute for your (and mine) death in payment of your sin. Actually, God did this in behalf of the entire world’s population, past – present – future. In my book and God’s book – it is a done deal. Christ gave His all.

Now there are those who refuse to believe that and refuse to accept that marvelous work of grace in their behalf. Since God will not force Himself on anyone – although His desire is for everyone (II Peter 3:9), God cannot “give” them what they will not receive, therefore little is required of them.

However, to those of us who have accepted Christ and the work performed on our behalf, we have been given much. If we have nothing else in life, no job, no home, no bank account, we still have been given much!

Will you take this week and truly immerse your heart, mind and soul in the “much” you’ve been given? Next week, we’ll talk about the requirements.

Love you much,
Barbara

The Time is NOW!

2010-09-22T12:23:00.000-04:00

“This is the day [Now is the time] the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NIV) [reword mine]

Who knew I could learn something from Dr. Oz! While, I love certain television shows and don’t mind admitting to it, I am not a big daytime watcher of TV. I don’t watch soaps and I don’t watch Oprah or Dr. Phil. But last week, I backslid and watched Dr. Oz.

Now, it’s not that I’ve never seen these shows at all. I have, in tidbits, and only once in a blue moon. However life is full of exceptions. Last week was one of them.

What caught my attention were the promo’s telling me Dr. Oz was going to reveal the best time to cheat on my diet (Okay, so what diet!) and the best time to avoid dying. That got my attention, so I tuned in.

His information was based on a study called Biochronic’s – in my own words, a study of the body and its internal time clock. Apparently there are certain times of the day/week that are better than others to do stuff because of our body’s makeup and biological clock. Apparently, no one informed Doc Oz that my biological clock was a cuckoo! But I digress.

I know you are waiting with baited breath to hear what I learned so here are a few points worth mentioning, the best time to:

• Fight with your spouse is 8:00am
• To pay bills is 10:00am
• To exercise is 7:00am
• To vacuum is 4:00pm
• To get a flu shot is 11:00am
• To visit your dentist is 2:00pm

The best day to:

• Start is diet is Saturday
• Stop a bad habit is Friday
• Buy fish is Tuesday mornings
• Buy vegetables is Wednesday
• To boost brain power is Sunday

This is all very interesting information. The show aired last week (I think Sept 16) so maybe you can find a copy of it for more interesting factoids.

But did you know that we all have a spiritual time clock of sorts? Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is an appointed time for everything under heaven. In Ecclesiastes 3:11, we are told God created everything appropriate in its time and has also set eternity in our hearts.

So I present to you the following, regardless of whatever is happening in your life right now that today is the time to rejoice. “This is the day” that God made and we are to rejoice and be glad in it! But today is also the day of something else.

If you have never surrendered your heart to Christ so you can rejoice and be glad in today or any other day, your time is now. I believe the only limitations that God faces in working in your life and mine, are the ones we imposed upon Him. If you are not a “born again” believer – you have placed one of the biggest limitations on God that is possible: rejection.

Dear friends, I know I might be “preaching to the choir.” BUT if there is even one out there who doesn’t know the saving grace of Christ, I do not want to be guilty of withholding such valuable information. Or perhaps you know someone who needs to hear this today. I am always available to anyone wants to talk. I leave you with this:

“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” II Cor. 6:2 (NIV) (emphasis mine)

Knowing He makes all things beautiful in His time, He did with me!
Barbara

Asking Jesus in come into your life is as easy as A,B,C:
A – Admit your sin (bad stuff) (Romans 3:23 and 6:23)
B – Believe in Jesus and His power (John 3:16 – all who truly believe will be saved)
C – Confess your belief and starting living a brand new life (Romans 10:9-13)

Finding God

2010-09-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

"To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! .... So our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He shall be gracious to us." Psalm 123:1-2b

I have discovered a particular kind of computer game called Hidden Object games. When I can’t sleep or have a few spare minutes, I’ll pull one up. I tell myself I am sharpening my cognitive skills. Well, it could happen!

The last game I played involved maneuvering through a castle, locating certain objects to restore time and save the world and I don’t have to kill anyone to do it. The game included some crafty puzzles to solve for clues. The largest part of the game centered on different levels of finding hidden objects.

For example, I’d walk into one room and it would be full of stuff. The items weren’t related and purposely difficult to find. (I am sure you’ve played this kind of game before.) A list would appear and I would begin to locate all the items on the list.

I can be pretty good finding stuff most of the time. However, on occasion I had to use at least one computer hint to find one particularly well hidden object. Well, so much for sharpening my cognitive skills, because the hint always revealed the object right in front of my face. It was a case of not seeing the forest for all the trees, or in my case, stuff!

Now hold that thought and let me share two others. Earlier this year I was at a Women’s Retreat where I ran into a very sweet Christian woman. She was a former Muslim with a daughter still in a Middle Eastern country. Her son died fighting in Afghanistan. She was so excited to be a believer and had no problem sharing her faith with great enthusiasm. Yet, she was quick to offer her thought that women in American were spoiled. I had to admit she was right. We have so much stuff available to us that we take for granted.

Fast forward to this past Sunday where Kay, our fearless teacher, was sharing about a spiritual retreat she attended. During the retreat, a certain woman shared about a missionary journey she’d previously made. This woman, who lived a blessed and comfortable life, takes an overseas missionary trip every year. Her most recent trip proved very exciting as she joined a group of village people living in small huts with hardly the most barest of necessities. Yet, they joyfully received the message of Christ. When it was time for the missionary woman to return home one of the village women told her that while they were so excited that she had come to speak to them, they also felt sorry for her as she returned home.

Obviously, these were odd parting words to a person who came to share eternal life with them. When the missionary woman asked, why they would want to feel sorry for her, the village woman replied, “It must be so hard to find God with all your stuff.”

Stuff! We all have stuff and you know something, I think the village woman has a point. We have stuff and more stuff. Dare I say we are stuffed with stuff! We are so dependent on our stuff. We couldn’t imagine living without our stuff. We think our stuff will solve all our problems, or does it only create them? How often does God get lost, like a hidden object, in all our stuff?

What’s worse, we are happy to live like that! After all, we do have God – we’ve just put Him up with all our other stuff. But let us need Him to save our world, and we can’t even see Him for all our stuff!

Now there is a flip side to this “stuff” coin. Yes, we have material stuff but we also have mental stuff. Maybe today, your stuff is your circumstances. You have too many burdens, too many worries and too many uncertainties. There are too many issues to think about and worry over. God can get lost in that kind of stuff as well.

Here is some closing stuff. Sometimes, when I want to save something important – I try to put it in safe place. Unfortunately, I usually forget where that safe place is and my stuff becomes a hidden object. With all that said, I have learned that the most important things I need in life in plain sight – where I can keep my eyes on it or HIM! This brings us to an important question to ask ourselves, “Has God become just another hidden object in all our stuff or is He the object that transcends all of our stuff?”

Overstuffed, but trying to declutter,
Barbara

Prayer: Your Forever Floatation Device

2010-09-05T17:30:00.000-04:00

“The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and His song will be with in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8 (NASB)

Bobby and I have a very special friend. Actually we have many very special friends. But John is more than just a special friend. Today, John is a special friend with special needs. John has recently been diagnosed with cancer. He is also smart enough and in-tune enough with his Savior to know he needs prayers. Lots of prayers. So I am asking you to pray for John.

Now John is not the only special needs person out there. Maybe you too, are a cancer patient. Maybe you are a depression sufferer. Perhaps you are wearing the label of divorce or death of a loved one. Job loss. Financial struggler. Dare I say we are all people of special needs carrying the burden of some sort of “cancer?” If you are not today, then count yourself blessed and get ready – it could be your turn next.

I say this not to strike terror into anyone hearts, because God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind. (Refer to II Tim. 1:7) It is more a call to prayer.

Now back to John. Our faithful friend has starting using a blog as an outlet for emotions and a way to communicate to all his friends. This is good because I know it can get tiresome to repeat details to everyone all day long. Writing as outlet for emotions is good as well. I highly recommend this method of therapy! (Can you guess why?)

But therapy for us often turns into therapy or encouragement for others. So I asked John for permission to share his website with you. He granted it not because John wishes to draw attention to him although I know he’ll gladly accept your prayers. But John wants to draw attention to God, in hopes this might help to someone else.

The site is: www.caringbridge.org/visit/johntalbert and you can set up a sign in and read John’s postings. Perhaps you want to share this with a friend going through a cancer in life. I have taken the liberty of copying his last post for you today. It will explain today’s message title:

• Thursday, September 2, 2010 8:04 AM, MDT by John Talbert, Denver CO

Today, I read Psalms 42 and 43. I love the way the Psalms show how prayer works in the gamut of human emotion—all the ups and downs of life. These two Psalms are tied together and reflect someone who is struggling with depression.

I am no professional counselor, so I am not up on technical definitions, but honestly, over the past several weeks I can say that I have not experienced depression. Now, I want to be clear: I have been down AT TIMES. I have been angry. I have been frustrated. I have cried out to God, “I just can’t do this.” But depression, I don’t think so.

Why? It is certainly nothing that I can take credit for because I am a prime candidate for it. I have struggled with depression in various forms throughout my life, but not now. Here is the reason why: the power of God at work through the prayers of God’s people.

And I have felt, literally and actually felt, the prayers of God’s people through all of this. It started in earnest before my first biopsy. I remember thinking, “This is scary. I could have cancer. My doctor and the surgeon are telling me I probably do. What if I do? Oh, no . . .” And I remember feeling that I was heading on a fast track down in the dumps, but Someone stopped me.

Here is the analogy that comes to mind: it feels as if I am floating on the top of water in a swimming pool on one of those inflatable cushions. When you lie on one of those, and one of your friends tries to push you down under the water level, they can do it, but only for a little while. Why? I believe you call it BUOYANCY.

The definition of buoyancy in Wikipedia (it is on the World Wide Web so it has to be accurate, right?): “an upward acting force, caused by fluid pressure, that opposes an object’s weight.” It goes on to say, “If the object is either less dense than the liquid or shaped appropriately (as in a boat) the force can keep the object afloat.”

OK, so there you go. Prayer is God’s UPWARD ACTING FORCE! As God’s people were praying for me, I simply did not, could not, and will not go under for good. He doesn’t allow it to happen.

When you add in the fact that as believers, we are less dense—Jesus lives in us—and we are shaped appropriately—we are in Christ--you can’t be in a better position! Right? Add those two huge things together and you get spiritual buoyancy.

Again, all of us are human. This doesn’t mean that you don’t go under. It just means that with prayer and Jesus, you don’t stay there.

And, in fact, the lower you go, the faster you shoot up because of upward acting forces. Try to push a beach ball far under the water and you will see what I mean. It shoots up out of the water with great force.

I am learning that this upward acting force is always more powerful than any weight—including cancer and all the scary unknowns that go with it--that tries to push me down.

This is reflected in the refrain of these two Psalms. It is repeated three times so it must be significant, “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God—soon I’ll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.” Psalm 43:5. I'm excited to see God's "upward acting forces" work today. (end of John's entry.)

Me too John! We love you and are praying for you. – Barbara & Bob

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

2010-09-01T08:07:00.000-04:00

“A time to give birth and a time to die…” Ecclesiastes 3:2a (NASB)

Of course, you recognize the song made popular by Chicago, the group not the city, more years ago than I will bring to mind. I often forget to put on my watch, so there are times – I haven’t a clue what time it is. Time-it’s an interesting thing when you really stop to think about it. But who stops anymore to think about time, other than how much of it we don’t have.

Twenty years ago last week, I accompanied my then fiancé Bobby Gobbs, to Montana. He was taking me home to meet his parents. Although I had a ring on my finger and wedding talk passed between us, he didn’t officially propose until that trip. We stood in an old log church with a large picture window behind the pulpit area that opened to resplendent view of Lone Mountain near Big Sky Montana.

Obviously, I accepted and a few days later I met Bob’s dad and said my first hello. Last week, exactly twenty years later, I stood in a small town church and walked behind an oak-wood casket, where I said good-bye to Bob’s dad for the last time.

The service was beautiful and the family is faring well, although we still covet your prayers. We seated ourselves in that beautiful small church where the men’s choir sang “The Old Rugged Cross” and where Howard Gobbs’ obituary was read. The pastor began to talk about Bob’s dad and then read from the Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 3:1 where the Word of God states, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven.”

After he recited that verse and several more that followed, he made some well spoken and comforting remarks. But then he asked everyone, “What time is it for you?”

My mind has mulled on that for days. It would take days to list all the things we could do with time. But time itself has an appointment with us. Today, what time is it for you?

• Is it time to let go of something that has been holding you back?
• Is it time to pick up something you need to hold on to?
• Is it time to forgive or time to forget?
• Is it time to trust or time to obey a word God has provided?
• Is it time to reevaluate or time to appreciate the people and things in your life?
• Is the time to hate over and now is it time to heal?
• Is it time to start a relationship with the God who made time for you?

I think one of the lines in that before-mentioned Chicago song asks, “If anyone really cares what time it is?” That also is a good question. I believe God cares and I believe time is growing short. There is time for everything under heaven. What time is it for you today?

Better yet, what time is it for me?
Barbara

Ecclesiophobia

2010-08-23T11:09:00.000-04:00

“Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshipping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 (The Message)

Our Bible study lesson yesterday at church was on FEAR and how it is a big tool that Satan uses to distract and destroy a believer’s walk with Christ. It can even keep one from becoming a believer as well. In preparation for the lesson, I thought a lot about fear in my own life and even hit the Internet for a few ideas.

First let me say, I am not talking about the fear that keeps us from trouble, much like we don’t put our hand on a hot stove for fear of getting burned. Nor do I refer to a healthy fear, as in respect or reverence unto God. But that kind of fear that binds, controls, and keeps us from living the abundant life we have in Christ.

We are a phobic country. Germs, spiders, heights, etc… I discovered online at www.phobialis.com that there are a gazillion fears that all have a phobia name. My favorite phobia is ANATIDAEPHOBIA. I bet in a million years you couldn’t guess what the fear behind this is unless you were in class Sunday or you suffer from it. Wanna know what it is? Here we go; it is a fear that somewhere, somehow, some time – a duck is watching you.

Go ahead and laugh. Get it out of your system. Actually, we about rolled on the floor. In fact, the list on-line contained more laughable phobia’s than I thought possible – unless you are the one with the phobia. We did have to agree that while we laughed on this one, the one with the fear does not.

That brings us to my thought from the day. I credit my class’s discussion and God’s grace for it. The thought is this: some people suffer from a fear of church called Ecclesiophobia. Perhaps we better know it by:

1. Church is just a bunch of hypocrites
2. Church is just a bunch of rules and I’m not giving up fun
3. Church will expose my past and people will judge me
4. Church is where I got hurt a long time ago
5. Church only talks about money

Need I go on? Toady, I am not going to address those people who have this fear. I am addressing those of us who are already churched. Why? I came to the conclusion that we, the church body, might be responsible for feeding this fear.

Those of us in church today and loving it - need to make this known to others. We are all sinners. We all have a past. Most of us a sorted past, some more sorted than others. Yet Christ Jesus died for us all regardless of our past. Actually He died for us while we were still in the “middle” of our past. When was the last time we past that truth along to another? When was the last time we appreciate our own church because of this truth? What inventive ways could we come up with to love and encourage others outside the church to see us without fear?
I can think of volumes more to say yet I can think of another thing that I need to say. So I’ll leave you and the Holy Spirit to ponder over this.
But in case, someone reads this that is not familiar with me – please know sweet one that it is Jesus that saves and makes the transformation in your life. He is the life-giver and the fear releaser. Church is just a great place to get together with other released prisoners (or even not so released yet people) to continue to hear the truth and receive love – one to another.

Choose freedom over fear!
Barbara

Beauty and The Beast

2010-08-18T12:01:00.000-04:00

“Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.” Psalm 119:35 (NIV)

Today, I want to tell you about my delight from God.

Living in Denver brought out the “hiker-chick” in me. Since moving home, I have missed my mountains and hiking in them. Walking here in Florida is good and I am trying to do more of it. However, there is something that resonates “sacred” within my soul when walking the wilderness.

Something else I should point out. I am an avid critter person. I love critters of all shapes and sizes. God did some pretty spectacular work in creating critters. They bring a great range of emotion and pleasure in our lives. I have been fortunate to count many critters in my “Yep, I’ve seen them in the wild” experiences.

I’ve fed chipmunks and even had one crawling on my shirt this vacation. I’ve seen a mountain lion run across a four lane highway in front of my car. I have pictures of elk, antelope, moose and marmots. I’ve even been chased by a gator, Gail you can stop laughing now.

But one or two critters have escaped capture by my camera. Sad to say, I’d never seen a bear – except in a zoo. Also sad to say, I am the idiot that wants to see a bear. My friends think I am odd, but I guess that is the wonder of me.

I know the dangers and I don’t have a death wish but I REALLY want to see a bear. I once heard Luci Swindol talk about praying for a lion while in Africa and it worked. So I figured I’d give prayer a shot. Now my prayer for several years has been very specific: a) Lord, I want to see a bear. b) I’d like it to be at a safe distance. c) I’d like to not be eaten and d) I want to get a picture.

Be careful what you pray for.

On Friday morning July 30, Bob and I hiked the Maroon Bells trail in Aspen before heading into Denver for a church event. We’d hiked past the lake up a very small, muddy trail. Woods and mountains encompassed us. Because the trees were dense, the sky was obscured. It was shady and cool and exquisite. Then I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. It was a chipmunk!

I love chipmunks. I am very fond of Chip and Dale and wondered which one had run across my path. So I began to sneak up the trail, tiptoeing silently. Bob, who was lurking behind me, figured out what I was doing and followed suite. The only sound heard was a soft rustling of the leaves.

Then another movement caught my attention, just in front me. At first, I figured another hiker was coming downhill. But this hiker was all brown and had the cutest face. OMG! It was a bear! A real bear! A bear that probably had real teeth! I stopped dead in my tracks, hoping that would only be a figure of speech.

My first reaction was to take cover (slowly) behind an Aspen tree. This was laughable since an Aspen is only slightly bigger round than a toothpick. Actually, I had no sense of fear whatever, which really surprised me. Yet, a sense of alertness and caution came on strong. Without turning around, I quietly asked Bob to stop and back up slowly. He was confused why we’d do this over a chipmunk, until I said, “Bear.”

Even then, I suppose he wasn’t too worried, as I was the one in front! I wanted a picture so bad, but decided the one in my brain was sufficient and kept backing up, very slowly, careful to not turn my back on our new friend. Within a few seconds, I had skillfully maneuvered behind my hubby, who wasn’t moving at all! Why?

I realized my sweetie had the camera and was taking aim. There was glare on our screen but he snapped a shot and then the bear moved! Gulp! No worries, mate. Mr. Bear only turned to proceed merrily up the mountain, no where near us or the path back to civilization.

Needless to say, God heard my prayer, and yes to my naysayer buddies, He answered my prayer! He give me such a delight that I about danced all the way back down the path, taking great and glorious pride in announcing, “We just saw a bear!” to everyone we met.

So you see nothing super spiritual except God delighted me to my toes. We all need a good delight now and then. What can God do to delight you today? Maybe you don’t want to see a bear. Maybe you just want 5 minutes of alone time. Ask Him. Perhaps seeing a rainbow would you thrill you to no ends. Ask Him. Ask Him to surprise you. Delight in God and let Him - delight you today.

Delightfully loving God,
Barbara

For those who want proof:

Head & Shoulders, Knees and Toes

2010-08-09T07:26:00.000-04:00

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9: 6 & 7 (KJV)

Isn’t there an old children’s song that starts out “Head and shoulders, knees and toes?” It just sounds familiar. This weekend, I couldn’t get this chorus out of my head. Shortly you may understand why.

Now we’ve been on vacation and I am sure you will be hearing more about that soon! However, from July 30 to August 1, Bob and I attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the church we belonged to in Denver. The church is First Southern Baptist of Northglenn Colorado and is shepherded by Pastor John Talbert. During our residence there, Pastor John was not only our minister but also a dear friend, as he is today.

For this milestone event, the church invited former pastors and former members of the church to be present. The Hispanic, the Korean and the Brazilian churches that use the facilities were also among honored invitees. We had a service Friday night and there were two services on Saturday. Sunday brought the culmination for our time together and for this morning I wanted to share a brief testimony of that service and what has been stuck inside my brain ever since.

For Sunday morning service, we met at a local hotel ballroom because the small church would not have accommodated the large turnout. The former pastor and guest speaker, Benny King, delivered an uplifting message. Then Pastor John Talbert made several recognitions of past members and then invited the pastors of the Hispanic, Korean and Brazilian to come forward, display their country’s flag and give us a brief testimony of their ministry. It was wonderful.

While I enjoyed every minute, I experienced some disappointment because it appeared Pastor John would not be preaching. But it wasn’t too long before we all were sweetly surprised. At the last minute, Pastor John took the podium. He began by showing us a picture of a cheerleading pyramid. That was interesting, not very spiritual, but interesting.

Then he requested that if anyone had been church members in the 60’s (when the church was established) to stand. A handful of lovely people rose to their feet. They smiled, while being recognized, and then reseated themselves. Pastor John asked those members in the 70’s to stand. A noticeably larger group stood. The process was repeated for each decade ending with those who became member from 2000-2010. Each group was larger than the one before.

Let us digress to the cheerleaders and the pyramid. Pastor John pointed out that the church was actually an inverted pyramid with each generation building upon the shoulders of the last generation – a work started on the foundation of Jesus Christ. What an analogy with such truth!

Regardless of how large or small your congregation is, no matter if you experience a lull at some point during your growth, we should be building on the shoulders of those who came before us and then, live a life worthy of the calling of Christ, so as to support those who come behind us.

What does this mean for you and me? Well, I probably don’t have to tell you – but I will. Since you and I are the church – the body of Christ, it means we, individually, have to answer some hard questions.

• Is your foundation the Rock of Ages?

• Will all who come behind you – find you faithful?

• Will you leave them something to light their way and build upon?

• How strong are your shoulders – right now?

Let me encourage you to be Christ-minded, use your shoulders and knees to support Kingdom ministry and let your toes lead your feet down the narrow path. While you are at it, make sure you bring someone with you!

Head and shoulder, knees and toes – we will reap what we sows!
Barbara

Worship in the Sanctuary

2010-07-26T07:59:00.000-04:00

“O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.” Psalm 95:6 (KJV)

What is your favorite way to worship? For some, it’s Sunday morning at church in a large group. This is good, because the Lord intends for His people to come together for worship (see Hebrews 10:25). I, myself, like this as well.

Some people enjoy worship through music. I like this too. Others prefer worship through the preaching of the word, which is also a great source of comfort and pleasure for me. I know wonderful godly people who worship in prayer. This is a fabulous way to worship.

I guess I have a hard time picking a favorite. Except for this week. This week, I will get to worship God in the mountains!

As you read this, Bob and I will be boarding a plane for Denver, Colorado. We’ve been invited to our former church’s 50th anniversary celebration. Since July is a great time for vacation, we’re going out early and coming back late. Why? Because the Rocky Mountains and good friends live in Denver as well.

I’ll never forget the first time I hiked in those mountains. Bob and I hardly spoke. My mind kept repeating, “God you are so beautiful!” Now I know He is just as beautiful here, but I am allowed to have a special place to share with my Father and my Savior.

Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to worship God this week in your favorite way, or better yet – ways! Let Him know how beautiful He is to you. Get intimate with him. Reveal to Him your deepest thoughts and give Him your highest praise. Speak to the Father as a lover, the lover of your soul. Be refreshed and renewed by His Spirit. Bow down. Kneel. Fall back in love with your Redeemer.

Bob and I have a crazy schedule so I’ll be out of touch for the next Monday or two. I will miss you but will hopefully, surely, have many God-things to share with you when I get back.

Until then love God and love each other!
Barbara

Smoke on the Mountain - Fire in the Office?

2010-07-19T18:48:00.000-04:00

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Discounting the busyness of the day, Monday has been great. At least it started that way. Bob got me up early. I managed to rise up and shake off the night’s sleep without too much problem. Good thing, I had stuff to do today!

My boss, Cheryle, was in town and we were meeting face to face. Since I don’t get to actually see her that much, this was exciting. However, since we were meeting at my house, cleaning became a priority. I will not bore you with all the details but between cleaning, meeting and lunching together the day sped by faster than I imagined.

After lunch, I was ready to get some work done. Next week Bob and I are going on vacation so I have to “clear my desk” before departing to Denver! Before I could get too much done, my daddy called. I love it when my daddy calls me. So I took a moment away from the computer to talk to dad. That’s when it happened!

Dad and I were discussing an article on the internet which I had pulled up on the computer in front of me. Without warning, the screen went blue! Not blank, but that “kiss of death” blue screen we all dread. I felt the panic start to rise. “Dad, I’ve got the blue screen! Oh no! I have too much to do this week!” I knew a computer crash was on the horizon.

Yet there was a voice of reason on the other end of the phone. I thought I heard dad smile (I’m trained in that) and then he calmly told me to reboot the computer. Brilliant idea! I guess that is why IBM paid him all those bucks for 30 years. With a sense of relief, I reached down to the power button on the CPU and pressed it.

Without any fanfare, the computer blinked and beeped and turned on. The motor fan started to whirl . . . and whirl . . . and whirl. The whirling started to accelerate like Richard Petty on the final lap. My eyes widened as the acceleration continued and I finally decided, “She’s gonna blow!”

“Dad! I’ll call you back!” I yelled and tossed the phone, as I started screaming for Bob. Why scream? Well, it seems by that time smoke started pouring out of every slot and opening in the computer, and all around my desk! Between screams, I dropped to my knees and yanked the power cord from the outlet. Silence ensued. The smoke cleared up.

Whew! No caffeine needed after this incident.

Well, let me tell you . . . the rest of the story. Once we got everything back under control, we made a sobering discovery. There was never any smoke coming from the computer. It was dust. Yes, I said it - dust. I have blown any hope for being awarded the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. Yet, I’ve never hid my distain for dusting. But my blatant neglect of a simple, albeit tedious task, caught up with me.

I called Dad back and advised him of the situation. He indicated that a build up of dust could do bad things to your computer and yes, Virginia – computers need to be cleaned as well.

Bob and I properly took my “brain” apart and cleaned it. We reassemble it and now, she’s working great. Who knew what a little dust could do! If it only was that simple, with my real brain!

Now, I know it could have been worse. It easily could have caught on fire. The losses could have been small or they could have been great. I’m grateful God spared my computer and for the lesson I learned.

I just started to write about that lesson and how it applied to a “faux pas” I made earlier today, but I deleted it. I am embarrassed to share. However, I am certain you don’t need to hear my lesson for God to give you one of your own.

Let’s just say, as you go this week, if you do some dusting on the outside, don’t forget tot dust the inside as well!

Love, Barbara

Questions and No Answers

2010-07-12T10:50:00.000-04:00

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.” Deut. 29:29 (NAS)

Sometimes my sense of being literal kicks in and gets the best of me. This generally happens when someone is speaking. Even though, I know exactly what the person means, I can’t help but sometimes assess how the words are spoken. (Okay – move me up on your prayer list!)

I’ll give an example. Yesterday in church someone made the statement that one day Satan would be defeated and Christ would be king. Now I absolutely knew without a doubt that he was referring to the Second Coming of Christ where Satan would be forever taken care of and Christ returns in all His glory. But. . .

My friend and I caught something we had to correct! She said it out loud as I thought it: Christ is already King. Maybe that is nit-picky or maybe God wanted to make sure that she and I still recognized Christ as King today and were living that way – literally speaking.

Then there was the movie last night at church. Movie night at church is great. We were watching a film about Billy Graham. During one point in the movie, I had to get literal again. I really hate that when it happens, but many times I believe God uses it to make me ponder a spiritual point. Let me share.

During one dramatic scene, a close and personal friend of Rev. Graham’s came to a rather overwhelming crisis of belief. It broke Billy’s heart, as it does when any of our friends are in spiritual pain. Therefore Billy Graham prayed. In the movie, the actor cried out to God while lifting his Bible heavenward, “There are questions in this book I can’t answer!” (Now you’ll have to watch the movie, Billy, The Early Years to see how it all ends and to make sure you understand the context which time prevents me from going into.)

I am sure I missed the next few minutes of the movie mulling over the meaning of the statement, “There are questions in this book I can’t answer!” My literal sense kicked in and made me cringe, but what I came up with created a smile and a bit of soul-searching.

You see, my first thought (and remember these are my thoughts) was wait a minute, the Bible does not have questions that there are no answers for. But I do. You do. Mankind does. Maybe the Bible creates questions which there doesn’t appear to be answers for, but is that bad? I mean, if the Word is creating questions in us then hopefully that means we are reading it!

I think it all boils down to man has questions about the Bible that man can’t answer. Man has questions about life that man can’t answer. But God has the answer for everything. Sometimes He reveals it plainly, other times, not so much. Sometimes, He withholds the answer, or at least the answer we want.

It’s those times when I truly rely on faith in the Father and Deut. 29:29. Those things not revealed are secret things. Why? I can only guess. Maybe it is because we couldn’t understand the reasons with our little finite minds. Perhaps it is because the reasons are not as important as our obedience at the moment. My faith helps me to accept that and move on.

I especially like moving on to the second part of the verse where it proclaims the things God has already revealed to us in His word are ours and they’re ours forever! That’s worth repeating! What God has chosen to reveal to us is ours. It’s yours and it’s mine. And I believe by holding on dearly to what God has revealed increases my faith to accept what He chooses to hold secret for a time. Then the faith-blessings follow.

What is it in your life right now that God appears to be holding in secret? Is it holding you back from trusting Him completely with all that you are? Could your holding back be holding back some faith-blessings from Father God?

Let me assign you some homework. As you have some free time in the car or while you are on “hold” during a phone call, make a mental list of all the things that God has revealed to you and dwell upon those things. Call it spiritually exercising your mind-muscle for the day. If you are not used to exercise, this could create some soreness but remember no pain, no gain!

Satisfied with His Secrets!
Barbara

The Secret to Survival: The Elijah Formula

2010-06-28T08:09:00.000-04:00

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.” Deut. 4:2 (NIV)

Magic wands, potions, secrets and formulas! What we would pay to have one of those when life gets tough and we need answers. Where do I go? What do I do? How can I manage?

The market is flooded with self-help books by the zillions both secular and Christian. And a few of them actually provide some good stuff. My boss, Cheryle Touchton, has one for living. She calls her formula “An Ancient Secret.” But she is quick to share the secret is available to everyone. Do you wanna know what it is? Then look up Matthew 22:37-39 or Luke 10:27.

This week I came up with a formula of my own for surviving. We’re in tough times here and will likely be for a while. Some people wonder how they will survive the day, the night, the week or the year. Actually I discovered it while reading my Bible study lesson for Sunday. If you want to shock your Bible study teacher – then read your lesson! Besides, you’ll be surprised what you might learn! Anyway, we are beginning a series of lessons on the Old Testament prophet Elijah by Ray Pritchard (Fire and Rain: The Wild-Hearted Faith of Elijah).

I figured easy sailing on this one, because we ALL know ALL about Elijah. You know, sometimes I am just not as smart as I think I am! What a series of lessons! I have discovered so much more about Elijah, God and me than I ever thought! My favorite thing is for God to show me something in a new fresh way yet I prepare for the same old, same old. Why He continues to put up with me, I do not know.

But during my study I read about a pattern Mr. Pritchard noted and then I made a math formula out of it. Let me preface this a bit. We were only in the first few verses of I Kings 17 in the Old Testament where Elijah confronts evil king Ahab and warns of a drought. Apparently God is unhappy with the state of the union. Wait, I have a feeling of déjà vu.

Then God sends Elijah to hide out while he brings things to pass. (Sidebar: Run and hide is not the formula.) God had a reason for all of this and told Elijah during his vacation, not to worry about food and water – take out was coming to him – by way of ravens. No time to go into all we could here, but let’s simply say for Elijah to hang out in hiding while letting scavenger birds bring him bread and meat for 3 ½ years during a drought is a miracle.

How did the miracle happen? God issued a command, Elijah obeyed and a miracle resulted. Elijah survived. God’s command plus your obedience equals miracle.

Still confused well, I guess God does have numerous commands. (Sidebar: don’t confuse God’s commands with a list of “don’t do’s”. His commands are always to help provide needed guidance and protection in your life.) But in any given situation we can always refer to His commands to read His word, pray, seek His kingdom, be kind to others, and share the Gospel of Jesus.

When we take these commands and add our obedience, it will always equal a miracle. The trick here is to remember miracles come in all shapes and sizes. Elijah’s miracle was his survival. Your miracle may be survival by guidance, survival by healing, survival by peace, survival by comfort or survival by specific answer. And when you share your faith, the survival comes in the form of another person surviving eternally.

I really needed that this week and I am sure others did too. So whatever miracles you may need today – apply the formula and rest in the assurance that when God is in the equation, results are only an equal sign away.

Love, Barbara

Answers In Genesis

2010-06-21T07:55:00.000-04:00

“In the beginning God created…” Genesis 1:1 (NAS)

On Sunday June 6, Carl Kerby spoke at our church. Now, you are asking, “Who is Carl Kerby?” Glad you asked. Carl is a fast-talker with a comedic sense. He is a former air traffic controller – which peaks the interest of everyone in the Gobbs household. He is married and loves the beach. But the best part about Carl is that he is a born again Christian committed to educating people in the area of creationism.

Carl works for an organization called Answers in Genesis. You can look them up at www.answersingenesis.org for yourself and I suggest you do! Carl came and taught four sessions on creationism vs. evolution to equip us to answer questions on that subject. It was amazing. There is no way I can repeat all I learned from this gifted and godly man – so let me suggest – you guys get him at your church fast!

But I do want to recap a few lessons I learned or relearned and share them with you. There is no rhyme or reason to this, just hoping the Spirit will lead you to something YOU need for today, and possible tomorrow!

1. Some frogs are toxic. God has made a lot of frogs. Some of them are actually toxic. I have seen these at the zoo so this was no surprise. What was a surprise is that when you take some of these frogs out of their environment and deprive them of some of their normal nutrients, they loose their toxicity. My spiritual lesson: some of us have mouths like toxic frogs. We can poison people with our words. But if we allow the grace of God to move us into the realm of a spiritual environment and we exchange old sustenance in favor of something more holy, we too, can loose our toxicity.

2. Okay God, I know what you wrote, but now let me tell you what you meant. I had to write this down right away. We exist in a society where some will acknowledge the Bible but then reinterpret it for us their way. As if God wrote His Word but really didn’t mean it that way! Unfortunately readily-Bible believing Christians are guilty of this as well. I know I have been. When was the last time we did what we wanted to do and justified it with this type of a statement? Thought I’d ask.

3. The Three C’s. Answers in Genesis serves to inform the Christian body but I gather their main purpose is to educate Christians in defending the faith. This is necessary if we are sharing our faith as the Lord has commanded. I mean, it’s hard to fully share something we don’t understand. So educating believers is a good thing. But there is more education to be had, because as believers, at times, we get our roles mixed up with God’s role. Need some explanation? Here’s a simple formula to remember our part in sharing the new goods, it is NOT our job to convict or convert, but only to converse. Who knew it could be so simple?

There is one last thing I will leave you with. Rest assured you were created by a loving and living God who cares for you above all other things. You were specifically designed and patterned “in His image.” You exist because God breathed life into you and your purpose is simply to love Him back. You were not created first – but big deal! God was the first to save the best for last! Therefore you are God’s greatest masterpiece and masterpieces are made complete at the time of creation. They are not made and then added to century after century. So it is certain you did not come from an amoeba, frog, monkey or Sponge Bob (you had to be there).

In the beginning God created and what He created was a man and a woman. They began as man and woman and have always been and will always be a man and a woman, breathed upon and blessed by God.

As you were created, so should you live!
Barbara

Miles of Hope – One Step at a Time

2010-06-13T15:37:00.000-04:00

“Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two ahead of Him to every city and place, whither He Himself was going to come.” Luke 10:1 (NAS)

During the summers of my childhood, I would spend time visiting my cousins and they would spend time visiting me. Of course, I always liked staying at their house better than ours, because other parents always let you do things that your parents don’t.

Actually maybe it would be more concise to say, they let you do things that were different from what you did at home. For me that meant walking. Of course, my parents let me walk, but my boundaries were tighter. Then again we lived in a bigger city than my cousins. Bigger is not necessarily better and brings other issues to the table, but I digress.

When at my cousins’ house, the three of us would walk all over the city. We walked what seemed like a zillion miles to Woolworths to get French fries and a coke. And we did most of it barefoot. I bet the early disciples could relate but it is something I wouldn’t be caught dead doing today!

Fast forward to present times where if I want French fries now, I jump in the car and head to the closest drive through! How lazy I have become! But in recent years walking has been revived! We walk for health and exercise. We walk for honorable causes. Walking is good, ask any doctor!

Now let me tell you another story: two friends of mine started walking together in the evening. After all, it is more fun when there’s more than one! They walked. They talked. They prayed. They shared their past time with a few others. Their walk turned into a topic of conversation. Their prayer turned into a topic of discussion. Today, it has turned into a ministry and an opportunity. I am pleased to be a supporter of their vision.

I am proud to introduce to you: Miles of Hope – One Step at a Time and the website http://www.mymilesofhope.com/ . This was created because two women turned their physical exercise into spiritual energy. The purpose of this site is for women (okay men, too if they want!) to log in, sign up and commit their walking miles to God. You might know this as prayer walking. The ultimate goal is to circle the globe in prayer over the summer. That’s 24,902 miles of walking and prayer! Can you imagine what the results could be?

There is no cost involved and you can walk two by two or twenty by twenty. Let me encourage you to check this out. Forward this to your friends, co-workers and your women’s ministry director at church. But by all means SIGN UP and PRAYER WALK! About what? ANYTHING! You can pray out loud or silently. Pray for your family, friends, our country, the world, and even those you pass by as you walk. Can’t get out – use a treadmill. You just need to move those hips and move those lips!

As I write we have 250 miles committed and yes, I have committed as well. I would never ask you to do something I would not do myself.

When Jesus sent out the seventy – you can bet your bottom dollar they prayed as they walk. Because of that, the face of the world was changed forever. With times being as they are, we are in desperate need of a face lift! I double-dog dare you to log on and sign up. The Lord will honor you for it and Miles of Hope thanks you. Your friends will thank you. Your community will thank you and I thank you. Most of all your heart will thank you – in more ways than one!

Prayer Warriors start walking!!
Barbara

Lord, Help Me To Be . . .

2010-06-07T09:04:00.001-04:00

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39

I can’t speak for you, but there are a lot of things in this world that I would like to be. However, my neighbor’s bumper sticker sums it up the best. It simply reads, “Lord, help me to be the person my dog thinks I am.”

Of course, since I am a cat person, I customized the thought to fit me. The saying is quaint and amusing but probably holds more truth than we give it credit.

Ask anyone, I love my cat. I have loved all my cats, even the ones that didn’t love me back! And because I love my cat, I treat my cat well. Kitty Kat gets a spoonful of tuna fish every morning. She gets fed twice a day and she is freshly watered. Her medical needs are met.

I brush her, pet her, talk sweetly to her. She lives in an air conditioned home and sleeps wherever and whenever she wants. No chores are required of her and she is promptly and properly “cleaned up” after – if you get my drift! On numerous occasions, I have stated that if there is such a thing as reincarnation (and there is not!), I am coming back as my cat! Kitty Kat never tries to escape – she likes us and appears purr-fectly happy in her feline life.

Yet, on more than one occasion, I’ve caught myself . . .thinking. About what? Well, let’s see if this sounds familiar to my fellow critter buddies. Your day starts all wrong and it stays that way. Nothing goes according to plan and everyone is out to get you, so you react accordingly. Since you are not getting their best, they indeed, will receive your worst! You feel the madness starting to set in!

Finally, you are able to drag yourself into the safe haven of home. Your precious furry friend comes to greet you and soothe away your misery. As you both are reconnecting after an infuriating day, your mind ponders over the things you said to those around you. Your actions begin to dance hauntingly in your head. Then a stark realization occurs as you happily scratch Fido’s belly: You are treating your pet better than you treat people!

Perhaps the response to our Lord’s second all-time greatest commandment, would result in more improved behavior if He’d commanded that we love our neighbor as we love our pets! What do you think? Well I think I’ll end today with that. I’m sure I’ve throw you a big enough bone to chew on!

Love, Barbara

Lessons from the Garden: The Smell of Success!

2010-05-24T09:05:00.000-04:00

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1 (KJV)

“…an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.” Phil. 4:18 (KJV)

Saturday I was alone. Bob is in Montana visiting family. So it was just me and the cat. But before you feel sorry for me – I wasn’t blue at all. Missing my Romeo – yes, but enjoying some household solitude as well.

I decided to spend the day creating a new flower bed just outside of my office window. It would entail a trip to Home Depot and digging out a fair amount of grass. Now I have to admit, yard work is not my forte. Very few people have ever witnessed my outdoor efforts. In fact, more people have pictures of Big Foot than have caught me gardening. However, just because I seldom engage in this task, doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it! I am a woman of many secrets! Ha!

After my trip that incurred a cost of $40 over my budget (there goes the groceries!) and 2 dozen trips from the car to my back yard, I took a break! Then I measured and outlined my bed. With the aid of a saw, I furiously ripped up all the grass and weeds. Next on the list was the careful placement and alignment of my white scalloped brick border. Add to the mix a few bags of additional soil and I was ready to plant. Of course, I used the work and hour and break for 30 minutes plan throughout my day.

My pièce de résistance came in the form of one Hibiscus (topiary style), 2 Butterfly bushes, 2 Gardenias and nine succulent bedding plants. Five hours after I started, I had a flower garden worthy of the finest blue ribbons. Next week, I work on humility.

With my flora and fauna finished, I could finally turn my attention to myself. My feat wasn’t without injury. My leg had a knot where I stepped on a rake and my shin rescued me from a would-be blow to the head. I discovered the tingling of muscles long since thought dead. My thoughts quickly turned to my heating pad.

Not to mention, I was a mess! My statuesque form (ha!) was covered in dirt from head to toe. My sunscreen failed and my back was baked. I don’t care that women don’t perspire, but are supposed to glow; I was fully consumed in sweat. Then the wind changed and I noticed one final insult to all my injury. I stunk like a skunk and that is putting it mildly. I shall not embarrass myself or upset the beginning of your day by being any more descriptive than that!

Yet, somehow when looking upon my tiny garden area, the delight I felt made all the personal sacrifice worth it. It’s funny how life can be that way as well, especially relationships.

Good relationships require work. Sometime we actually have to get dirt under our fingernails to start relationships like the one we should have with God and ones we have with others. Relationships are an investment of body, mind and soul. On occasion, they come easy. You see, I’ve planted flowers in my front yard before where it was done quickly and efficiently, and without a lot of muss and fuss. But sometimes, it requires more work, like my most recent project. Both require maintenance which can also be easier some days than others.

Bottom line, whether it’s a beginning work or a maintenance work, at some point your relationships and your “reasonable” service will cost you blood, sweat and yes, tears. That’s what it cost Christ.

I think sometimes we think our relationship to Christ and service in Christ (including service/relationships with others) should be one of those things that fall into place with no hard work on our part – I have been guilty of thinking that myself some days. What do you think?

I think sometimes we worry so much about being clean before God, that we forget it might require some sacrifice and sweat equity on our part. What do you think?

All I know is that when the hard work and dirt are gained by honest and godly means, for an honest and godly purpose, all that sweat and stink is a pleasant aroma before God’s presence. This means we can rest assured that all the suffering and soreness we experience are simply part of God’s “well-done thy good and faithful servant” and the end result – well, it was worth it all!

Plant something this week and which it grow!
Barbara

Go Toward the Light and You’ll Never Be Lost!

2010-05-16T15:16:00.000-04:00

“In Him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of all men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” John 1:4-5 (NASB)

My name is Barbara and I am a Lost-Aholic. I am not alone because there are thousands more like me. Perhaps you are one as well. If not maybe you know someone who is. We’re easy to spot. We are the ones who will not work overtime on Tuesday nights. Why? Because we are focused on one single task: a 9:00pm time slot. There will be no dinner dates, no homework lessons and no bathing of children when LOST is on television.

Okay, it’s a bit much but you know how I love to be melodramatic! Now I am sure many of you are anti-LOST but I ask you to bear with me – there is a point to today’s message. But first I must take you on a short journey, so sit back and relax, read on with me for a spell.

This is the last season of LOST. In fact, there are only a few shows left before it goes off the air. However, these last few shows explain all the mysteries we’ve experienced to date. Last week, the show took us back to explain the origins of two pivotal characters. It seems two brothers were raised by a mysterious woman who murdered their mother at birth. Now that’s a whole other story!

This woman was a guardian of the Island’s secret. Then it came time to show the boys the secret as one of them would take her place one day. She brought them through the jungle, blindfolded, to a remote and lovely stream. It was there they discovered a place where a brilliant and great light emanated. She said it was “The Source.” The light was magnificent and it totally captivated the two boys, drawing them closer to discover its secrets.

Unfortunately, curiosity about this light was not permitted. The woman held the boys back, instructing them to never go inside the light. It was taboo. However, it was to be guarded all at costs. She was emphatic with her instructions to guard the light as if were a good god but told one of the boys that going into the light would be a fate far worse than death. The image of the light and the instructions governing it were hard to comprehend. So…..fast forward to the end of the episode where one of the boys was tossed into the light and came out a smoke monster!

Wow, I know you are thinking I must have something better to do with my time! Alas, I probably do but I must follow this dramatic work of fiction to the end. However, the island isn’t the only thing that works in mysterious ways, so does God. The last few days has kept me thinking about the light, or actually The Light.

You see, Scripture is quite clear that there is only one light of any real substance in life, and Jesus is that Light. He is the light that illuminates our path, guides our actions and provides clarity to our vision. He is the Light of the world. He is the light that lives within us as believers.

Now I believe that in a certain sense that light should be guarded. The Bible tells us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ. It is the source of our salvation and the source of all our power we call the Holy Spirit. We should guard ourselves as vessels of the Light at all costs against corruption and evil. We guard the Light by surrendering ourselves to the Light. We feed the Light when we spend time in prayer and in His Word. We fan the flames of the Light when we are in proper service to the Lord thus inviting others into the Light. Matthew 5:16 instructs us to let our light shine so others will see our good deeds in order to glorify God in Heaven.

Never are we instructed to guard the Light from us or others! Never are we admonished to stay away from its presence! Never would we be turned into a monster for coming in contact with the Light. In reality, just the opposite is true.

In fact, God gets great joy any time someone comes into that Light. I was blessed to be present when a new friend did exactly that last Tuesday morning! Coming into the Light is personally transforming in all ways wonderful!

Now there are some who come into the Light and leave unhappy. Remember light illuminates, so the sin-areas in our lives become highly visible in the light. But Jesus never lights up the lost, for them to remain lost. He lights up those areas so we can see our need for Him, then He delights in clearing those areas away. It’s a shame some folks choose to hang on to their sin, instead of letting the Light cleanse them from it.

So the next time you “see the Light” go towards it! And take someone along with you, while you are at it!

Out of the darkness and into the Light and loving it!
Barbara

Go and Take

2010-05-03T09:11:00.000-04:00

“And now, O Israel, listen to the statues and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, in order that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. “ Deut. 4:1 (NASB)

The Christian life is supposed to be one of selfless service. Unfortunately I have not perfected that standard in my life. I am still that proverbial work in progress and I do try! Although some days more than others. Still I have a great example in Christ to learn from. Jesus said even He did not come to be served, but to serve. Christ gave, so we are to give. Giving can be extremely rewarding. But it can also be exhausting. Therefore, I must admit, that hidden selfish part of my heart was delighted to find a verse where I get to go in and take.

It sounds selfish I know but admit it my friend, there are times you’d rather take than give! So why not take this verse today and let me give you what I took from it!

Okay, it’s Monday – not everyone’s favorite day. Perhaps among all the giving you will to do, you just might need a bit of “take” for your soul. There are several points for us to see today. Now I know I’m getting preachy – but this SOOO brings out the teacher in me!

#1 Listen – Spend some time listening to God. You might recognize this as prayer. Hopefully you didn’t enter the day without speaking to the Father and then waiting for Him to speak back! God has many things for you to know. Things like, He loves you! Don’t miss the opportunity to hear that. Even in the middle of all your busyness – set your heart and mind into listen mode. You might be surprised what He’ll say in-between answering the phone and typing reports.

#2 Perform – Obviously God has stuff for us to do. Maybe we need to make a phone call or speak to the person in the next cubicle. It could be a ministry or service at church or in the community. We won’t know what we need to perform, unless we first listen.

#3 Go in – I know, you don’t think you can go any more! You’re going far too much as it is. But in Christ – you can go the distance. You can’t perform without going. Once you have listened to God, who has revealed the task you are to perform – then go in and do it!

#4 Take possession - Yes, now that you’ve given yourself to God – it’s time to take! Take what? Take possession of that which He gives you! Possess what He has promised you! There is book full of promises to be had, we call it the Word. Go ahead – it’s okay to possess! Is there something you truly feel God calling you to do, but you have too many reservations? Doubts? Is there a blessing you are dying to behold but something is holding you back? Is there a ministry to pursue? If you have listened and felt God has given you the green light – go! Go in and take possession of that which God is giving to you!

I give you permission to be possessive about the possession God wants you to have! He loves you, He values your service and He wants to give to you. Then it’s our turn to give to Him – the glory that He richly deserves. Then we are better prepared to give to others. With God we can go and take so we are better able to go and give! Go ahead, it’s right there at your fingertips! What’s within your reach today?

Taking to give –
Barbara

The Pathway Principle

2010-04-26T16:16:00.000-04:00

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NASB)

I spent Saturday morning at a Bible study leadership conference. I was very excited to go but secretly hoped I would choose classes that weren’t boring and weren’t repeats of the same old thing, blah, blah, blah. Be careful what you wish for!

While I treasure the traditional in many things, I also like to be part of those wild and wonderful out of the box moments. Little did I know how out of the box this Saturday would turn out to be!

I sat in three classes led by Jeff Dixon, the Senior Pastor of Covenant Community Church in Sanford Florida. I wish more than anything each of you could have been there. I simply do not have time to tell you everything that I learned and all the wonderful things God used to refresh my spirit!

However, I am sure I have time to tell you one thing that made an impression on me. It centers on the subject of path. Pastor Dixon talked about something he called the Pathway Principle. We read Scripture on paths. Obviously we are each on a path. A path to where? Well, only you know that.

The Pathway Principle talks about direction and destination. It eliminates all intentions, good or otherwise, from the equation because good intentions aren’t any good unless you put some active direction to them so you can arrive at a desired destination. Who knew!

He also told us that we are all on a path at any given time in our lives. The path is governed by our choices. So whatever path you are on today, is because you choose to be there. Good, bad, right or wrong. Would you guys like to meet me at Starbucks for a group session on this?

I guess I need to rein myself in a bit. Let me begin that process by asking you what your path looks like today? Is it wide open? If so, are you running toward your destination? Or is it cluttered with distractions and obstacles? What are you doing to clear those away so you can quicken your pace? Perhaps you can’t see your path. Could it be that you are experiencing circumstances that blot out the light and you are simply uncertain about your next step? If so, I have got a good word for you.

Let me illustrate by relaying a true event as told to us by Jeff Dixon. Does the name Nadia Bloom mean anything to you? If you’ve been watching the news in Florida, it should. Nadia is a young autistic girl who recently wandered away from home and found herself lost in alligator infested waters for 4 nights. Nadia and her family attend Pastor Dixon’s church.

Based on the conversation in class with others - who knew the area this child was lost in, alligator infested was an understatement. Pastor Dixon recounted the first night’s search where he joined the sheriff and Nadia’s father. They walked through swampy wetlands with a bull horn calling out to Nadia who didn’t respond. He talked about the darkness that night. It was a darkness that completely incapacitated their vision. Nothing was visible as they attempted to walk on a small path searching desperately for the lost child.

In fact, the light held by the sheriff’s officer was the only one they had and it only gave enough light for them to take one step at a time. Pastor Dixon quipped that as the night grew longer, the closer he began to stand next to the one who held the light. We laughed but what a truth lingered in that statement!

Now re-read Psalm 119:105. God’s word is that lamp that lights our path. Some days, we can see the path clearly and run in the direction God has lit with wild abandon. Other days, we can only see the spot we stand on and have no idea which direction to place our next step. When that happens, how close are we to the One with the light?

Nadia’s story had a happy ending. Miracle number one: she was found alive Miracle number two: remember those alligator infested waters? She didn’t see a single one! I kind of like to think God sent Daniel to keep an eye on her during her ordeal. I am sure he told her about his time in the lions den to pass the time.

Friends, we are all on a path. God never said it would easy or uncluttered. But He did promise if we leaned on Him, he’d make the path straight and light the way! To where? Why to Him, of course!

Love,
Barbara

Let the Search Begin!

2010-04-21T14:53:00.000-04:00

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” Deut. 4:29 (NASB)

What was the last thing you lost? Face it, no matter how careful we are, we all loose stuff from time to time. Oh, the things I have lost!

Let’s see, I’ve lost the setting out of a ring. I’ve lost my purse. Several years ago, I lost my favorite pin and my favorite pen. I’ve lost recipes, postcards and even my light bill! I’ve lost money. One of my favorite televisions shows is Lost. I’ve lost time and on occasion, my mind. Once, I even lost a whole class of first graders in the lunch room. This is why I do not teach in elementary education.

Not too long ago, a friend was describing an incident of loss. A family member of my friend had lost her dog. The pooch escaped through the front door and was gone in a flash. A search began. This pet was much beloved and the loss overwhelmed the owner. For what seemed like an eternity, the tears flowed and physical illness ensued from the anxiety and pain of the missing puppy. Endless searching took place to find the only thing that could calm the fears and the nerves of this bereft pet person.

My sweet friend even called in some counseling to try and ease the pain of her loved one. After assessing the situation, the wise counselor said to my friend, “If only we would spend the same time and effort searching for Jesus as they are for this dog.”

Wow! My toes hurt! We invest a large part of our lives searching for things. We search for things we’ve lost such as material possessions, emotional security, and youth. We search for things we believe will enhance our life such as money, power, fame, education, and love. We search for things that will enlighten us like spiritual understanding and fulfillment.

But how much time do we spend searching for Jesus? Especially since He is not one the lost! Set aside, yes. Pushed away, yes. Denied, by some. Ignored, often. But lost, never! We are the ones lost.

Today, if you are searching for something far greater than yourself to complete your life and give it purpose, search no further than Jesus Christ. The Scripture tells us if you are looking for Him wholeheartedly, you will find Him and be lost no more. If you need help with your search – call me! I’d be glad to help.

Perhaps you’ve already found Christ and are not lost eternally, but maybe you feel you’ve misplaced Him in your life. You’ve let a few things of the world get in the way of your relationship with the Lord. The same Scripture applies, seek Him with your whole heart and be restored.

My friend’s family member found her dog and it put an end to her momentary suffering. In her life and ours, how much more suffering would it end to search for Christ and find Him waiting for us with open arms?

“I was once lost, but now I am found.” (Amazing Grace)
Barbara

Legacy Living Equals Legacy Giving

2010-04-12T10:51:00.000-04:00

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven :a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Eccl. 3:1-8 (NIV)

If there can be a beautiful day for a wedding, there certainly can be a beautiful day for a funeral. Yesterday was a beautiful day and a legacy day.

In January, I began a 7 week study with a group of women, on Proverbs 31. One of the first lessons we talked about was legacy. We had to ask ourselves what kind of legacy would we leave behind.

It’s a good question to ask. Granted we can leave some sentimental and tangible gifts to loved ones like poetry, paintings and heirloom jewelry. Yet for the most part, money can be spent, cars can be crashed and houses can be damaged, destroyed or sold. Therefore, it’s the intangible stuff we leave behind that makes the biggest impact.

Sunday afternoon, Bob and I stood outside with a loving group of people as my boss and dear friend, Cheryle Touchton and her husband Bob, bid farewell to Bob’s mother. Barbara Touchton left this world for one more glorious last Thursday.

Although we did not know her, our hearts went out to Bob, Cheryle and their families – who had suffered another family loss only a few weeks prior to this one. My sweetie and I went to pay our respects and lend prayer support for Cheryle as she spoke to a grieving family while grieving herself.

Cheryle presided over her mother-in-law’s service since Cheryle was “in charge of all the religious stuff for the family.” Apparently, this was a title assigned to her by her mother-in-law many years ago and the sentiment brought a smile to many a face, including mine.

Grandsons sung songs, read her poetry and shared their memories. Granddaughter Kelly read Barbara’s favorite Scripture: Eccl. 3:1-8. Her paintings were displayed briefly before the breeze overpowered them. Bob Touchton spoke of his sweet remembrances of his mother. Cheryle spoke of Barbara’s spiritual testimony and how death brought her freedom from the illness that had enslaved her. Some of the remarks brought smiles, some brought giggles and others brought tears.

Now, I know you are supposed to be reverent during a funeral. But at one point, it took all I could do, to keep from laughing out loud – sorry Cheryle! It seems something other than a fond memory caught my attention. It was the sight of a small, wiggly caterpillar who managed to find its way onto Cheryle’s husband’s jacket collar. I watched it crawl across the back of his jacket and to the inside of the collar.

I had to shut my eyes because there was nothing I could do without being a distraction. When I opened my eyes, my hand flew over my mouth before the laughter exploded. It seems our little caterpillar friend had started to make its way up the middle of Bob’s handsome, albeit bald head.

What does one do when you are on the very back row of a solemn service when an insect rhapsody is playing out on the back of your boss’s husband’s head! Who, by the way, was nestled in on the front row with his grandson on his lap! Oh. . .

Well, back to today’s message, after the service concluded Bob and I were impressed and blessed by the legacy this mother left her family. We truly felt like we’d missed something special by not knowing her.

God thought: I wonder, would anyone ever say that about me?

One day each of us (in the flesh) will lie silently in front of a group of people who are there to bid our memory farewell. Our group could be small or it could be large. It could rain or the sun might shine. Flowers might fall over and caterpillars could make an appearance. But that is not what anyone will truly remember. What will be remembered is the life you lived and how you lived it.

Live well, love well and serve well. Do it all for the glory of God. Start living a legacy today that will continue to give long after you depart this world and exchange your trophies for a crown.

Love,
Barbara

In Remembrance of Me

2010-04-05T11:30:00.000-04:00

“And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’” Luke 22:19 (NAS)

Let me state the obvious, yesterday was Easter. Last week was Holy Week and I pray you spent particular time remembering the eternal significance for our sacred and joyous celebrations. I say celebrations – because perhaps like me, you celebrated on numerous occasions during the week and not just solely on Sunday.

For my home, it started on the Sunday night before Easter when the choir presented Sacred Music for this season. On that night the music led us up to and through the crucifixion of Christ. They stopped there because the resurrection hadn’t yet occurred. The ordinance of the Lord’s Supper was incorporated into the musical presentation adding to the spiritual depth of the service.

Our mid-week gathering also magnified this most important celebration on the Christian calendar. Then on Friday night, Bob and I attended our very first Seder (Passover Supper) with some friends who are Messianic Jews and lead a congregation in Port St John. Too bad, we don’t have all day! I’d love to tell you about that marvelous event! What a blessing!

Then Sunday morning, we worshipped again as the choir and the Pastor led us in praise and honor of what the Resurrection means for us! The Lord has risen and is alive today! Praise be to God and the Son for what that means in my life and yours!

All this leads me to sharing a particular thought that kept beating in my heart all week long. It’s a simple thought but one that delivers me from cares of the world into the comfort of Christ regardless of my circumstances. It all started with a few little words sang by Roy the Sunday night before Easter, “Remember Me.”

This solo was sung right before the partaking of the Lord’s Supper on Palm Sunday. It is a direct reference from Luke where Jesus tells the disciples to “do this” in remembrance of Him. Sitting there in church, just moments before the elements were to be passed around, it dawned on me that Jesus asked them to do this and remember Him, but there is nothing required for Jesus to do, to remember us. Why? Because He can never forget. It’s us who needs the reminding.

I can’t be sure how your week is starting off or even what your last week was like, but can I coax you into making some time today to remember the One who will never forget you. I pray that the Holy Spirit will speak to your heart through this simple thought as He spoke to mine.

Love, Barbara

Vultures or Victory

2010-03-29T05:59:00.002-04:00

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. I Peter 5:8 (NIV)

An eerie sight greeted us as we pulled into the church parking lot Palm Sunday morning. At the top of the main building, five large vultures perched as if waiting for something to happen. It felt a little creepy as I pointed out my discovery to Bob and he agreed.

Well, I have watched enough westerns to know that vultures are not generally a good sign. I consider circling vultures the universal sign of impending death. I sure hoped this wasn’t an omen.

As it turned out, services were wonderful and we saw several come to know the Lord and unite with our church. It was a victorious and glorious day. But the sight of those oversized carnivores weighed heavily on my mind. A thought occurred to me, if vultures hover where death is pending, could those vultures have been waiting for me or for you?

Whew! I bet that wasn’t a question you expected to hear right now! Actually, me neither! But I had to wonder, how many times have I shown up to church nearly dead in spirit or attitude ? How many times did I come poor in spirit yet I refused to allow myself to revive in God’s word or worship? How many professing Christians come to church near death and leave the same way? Apparently, there must be enough for the vultures to take note! Sorry – I only write what He gives!

On the first Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem with great fanfare and covertly the vultures were starting to take notice. His entry into the Holy City started a chain reaction of events that God foretold by the prophets of old. At each turn, the vultures appeared to gain strength and numbers, circling the Savior closer and closer until Calvary was within sight.

Perhaps they nestled in the nearby rock clefts with the cross in plain view, anxiously awaiting the proclamation of the death of God’s Son. When it finally came, I am sure they soared with glee and sped to spread the news: Jesus Christ was dead.

Wouldn’t you have loved to see the looks on their beady-eyed faces when they discovered 3 days later, they were wrong! Jesus Christ rose on Resurrection Sunday, alive and well and He lives forevermore! Glory to God for His victory over death!

Whether Satan appears as a lion with fierce desire to pounce on us unexpectedly or whether he appears as a vulture circling and waiting for our guard to drop so low that we look like easy pickings, make no mistake he is watching and waiting for you and for me. I know that was a mouthful, but if that doesn’t creep you out, I don’t know what will!

But wait – there is good news! In Jesus, we have victory over every vulture who thinks they can finish us off!

In one week, we will celebrate Easter Sunday. Without Easter, the vultures would be having a field day in my life. In fact, they would be in control and my life would be worthless, hopeless and picked to pieces. But praise be to God there is VICTORY over every vulture in our life.

Bye-bye buzzards!
Barbara

I Hate Being Sick

2010-03-22T11:21:00.000-04:00

“All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.” Proverbs 15:15 (NASB)

I spent the first two weeks of March sick. It was off and on, but mostly on. I had a pesky old head cold and sinus infection. However, the older I become, the longer it takes to recoup from even minor afflictions. It wouldn’t have been so bad, if the stuff just wouldn’t mess with my head. It’s a mess enough on its own.

The first week:
After a few days in bed, I decided some fresh air would be good so I went with Bob to buy groceries. The fact we had nothing, and I mean nothing, in the freezer necessitated the trip by someone! I thought I was doing okay until an innocent bystander caught me talking to myself in front of the freezer case – complete with hand motions. I decided going back to bed would be best when I tried to pay with said groceries with my driver’s license. Who knew TheraFlu could mess with your head that much!

Second week:
Why did this come back? What did I do to deserve head harassment? Can’t someone catch a cold in a knee for heaven’s sake? At least then I could grab a crutch and continue on with a clear mind! So, I cancel all daytime engagements and pray I am well enough to teach my Wednesday night and Saturday morning classes. I’m not taking any chances of humiliating myself this time.

Unfortunately, I discovered you do not have to leave home to do that! Since I work from home and have a very kind and understanding boss, I wasn’t too worried about my job. Except I was starting to work on some really cool stuff and hated losing momentum.

I managed to get payroll done, not too hard – the software pretty much does everything. But wait, did I pay that bill – sure I did. OMG! I didn’t! Here comes the chest pains – seriously. Paid the bill and confessed my sin via email. I am such a chicken.

After a period of grief, I headed back to bed. Bob had secured me a jar of Vicks Vapor rub. I rubbed it on my feet and put on socks. Someone said this would help. I was desperate. Did it help? Not sure, but it put a few quirky looks on the kitty’s face when she came sniffing around.

I tell you all this for absolutely no good reason at all. I can’t divulge any great spiritual lesson from the experience, but thought you could use a slight giggle on a Monday morning. Maybe you don’t feel like the brightest crayon in the box today. Maybe you had to come clean about a mistake you made and have had some chest pains of remorse yourself. Perhaps life is just closing in faster than you like and just need some room to breathe. Just giggle. Just a little. It might help. Then give it to God. I did.

The Father is available to us all the time, not just in a spiritual crisis. I didn’t feel well. My Father cared. I made a careless mistake. My Father forgave. (and so did my boss) Okay, I acted a little strange. My Father overlooked that and probably got a laugh or two out of it as well. Whatever your day is bringing you, please rest assured that your Father is watching over you as well.

Today, don’t let whatever affliction that might come your way consume you. Don’t let it torture you. Let the Lord lighten your load, take it to heart and feast on that!

Loving the day and you!
Barbara

Savior Absorbed

2010-03-15T12:10:00.000-04:00

“Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.” I Timothy 4:15 (NASB)

I have been absorbed in two very fascinating books of the Bible lately: Esther and Daniel. God certainly allowed them to come “for such a time as this” in my life. Not that you’d think anything too curious is going on in my home. Life is simply happening. I am sure it’s happening for you too.

The Scripture has a unique way of morphing into whatever we need it to be at any given time. Now before you jump too far out of gear – hear me out. I am not talking about twisting God’s Word to make it suit your circumstance or taking it out of context to make a connection. I am talking about that unexplainable quality of God to speak to our hearts personally and individually through His Word, and now I am trying to explain what I’ve already stated can’t be explained, at least by me.

Perhaps it will work better if I show you. By the way, if you’ve not read these two Biblical books – try it, I believe you’ll like it! Now, I’ve read them before and already learned volumes. Such as, from Esther, I’d learned that although God isn’t always visible, He is always in control. From Daniel, I learned to strive for faith in the fire and in the lion’s den.

Guess what? Those lessons are still there. Yet this time I discovered some new ones too! There are a few striking similarities between the two books and the world we live in today. I can’t believe I missed that comparison before. In both books, the kings and some high-ranking officials mentioned are all highly self-absorbed characters. They are legends in their own minds! Sound like anyone you know? The vanity and conceit sure takes center stage in these medieval melodramas. Then the cultures in both books were used to extravagance. Notice any parallels to our society today? Don’t we appear to be a self-absorbed society used to a few frills here and there? Just thought I’d ask!

I love the way that each time you read the Scripture, the words never change but each time I revisited those pages the text came to life based on my current needs. How cool is that! No wonder we call the Word living! It’s as if the Word reads my mind. Hmmm….

I thrill to the strengthening of my faith by the words of our wise warriors of old. But today, it’s a little embarrassing to admit aloud, I need a lesson on self-absorption and I’m not talking a “how-to” either! Wait a minute! I feel something is coming on! Hey, how about a “what to” lesson? Now that could be helpful for all of us!

While absorbing my lesson today, I came across an interesting verse in I Timothy. “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.” There is that word again. Absorbed. I won’t insult your intelligent by offering a definition for the word absorb. I think we all know what it means. But I can offer you some insight into what we should be absorbing. That as those “these things” referred to in this verse.

Paul was writing some heartfelt encouragement to Timothy. If you look carefully at the verses preceding our Word for the day, you will find what “these things” are (with my editorials of course):

• Let no one look down on your youthfulness (if you’re not young, fill in your own blank: let no one look down on your inexperience, enthusiasm, goals, _____________)

• Be an example of a believer – in speech, conduct, love and faith

• Give attention to the public reading of Scripture (could be going to church or sharing your faith)

• Exhortation (preaching and/or encouragement)

• Teaching (by example, by giving of yourself)

• Don’t neglect your spiritual gift(s) (Use ‘em, don’t lose’em)

It’s too easy to become self absorbed in a society that tells you, you’re worth it. It’s too easy to believe our own press or become self-absorbed in self-pity or loathing because we don’t feel worth it. Neither is healthy and neither serves God.

Just maybe we are at our best when we are comfortable in our own skin and allow ourselves to be Jesus in skin to someone else. Any thoughts? You have an open invitation to join me as I fight self-absorption in favor of Savior-absorption.

Since I read the end of the book, I know who wins!!
Barbara

The Chosen

2010-03-09T16:00:00.000-05:00

“Just as He [God] chose us in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world…” Ephesians 1:4a ( NASB – brackets mine)

Carrie and Matt have a cat. Okay, poetry is not my forte, but the statement is still true. A few years ago, they tried to give us and everyone else in the neighborhood that cat. No one accepted the gracious offer.

I heard recently on a television show, where cats were the topic du jour, cats are not pets you choose, but rather they are pets that choose you. Since Bob and I are also cat owners, we tend to agree, especially in the case of Matt and Carrie.

Their cat wanders inside and out at will. It has exalted itself to a high and lofty position in their household. I’ve even heard rumors that the cat goes for walks with them without the constraints of a leash. My cat only follows me to the kitchen. I wonder why.

Now I’ve seen cats being walked by their owners on a leash, although not often. But never have I seen a cat that will follow you on a walk or to the neighbor’s house for dinner and then wait for you outside. It has been my experience that a cat will happily head for parts unknown if given half an opportunity.

Last week, Bob and I made a grocery run and down the street was Carrie, out walking their dog. The dog is older and suffers with bad legs. Today she had her entire backside in a sling, held onto by Carrie. The dog walked on her front paws with her mistress maneuvering the sling. Bringing up the rear was the cat. Readily following behind, the kitty kept pace with the two in front of her. I’d heard about this but it was the first time I saw it with my own eyes.

It’s funny that as hard as Matt and Carrie tried to unchoose that cat, their efforts were in vain. The cat simply had chosen them and that was the end of it. So now, life goes on for a cat that perhaps thinks she’s a dog with a claim staked on a family who lives on our block. This family has now chosen her as well.

This comical moment made me think of the “chooses” or choices, I make every day.

• What or who do I choose to follow willingly?

• What do I choose to follow through on – even if the object is skeptical about choosing me?

• Do my choices reflect a greater choice made in my behalf, even before I knew there was a choice to make? (This might not sound like it makes sense, just think on it a while)

From the beginning of time, the great God of the universe chose me. He chose you too. God created us and chose us to have an active and vital relationship with Him. However, God is all about us choosing back as well. Joshua told the Hebrew nation, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.” Jesus told the crowd, “You can serve God or money, but not both.” You choose.

Over 25 years ago, I realized that one very big God chose to love one very pathetic creature – me. He chose to love me at my worst, so He could offer me His best and created in me a new life, filled with wonder and amazement. How could I not choose Him back! So I did and it was a choice, I have never regretted.

What about you?

Have you chosen to love the Lord that loves you? If so, how does that reflect in all the other choices you make during the day? Do you follow Him relentlessly? Or just wander in and out of His life as you please? If you do, maybe it’s time to settle down and let your life reflect that.

Choices, we all make them. I encourage us all to choose love. Choose life. Choose the Lord. In doing this you will be choosing wisely.

Love, Barbara

Come, Let’s Learn Something Today Together

2010-03-01T14:19:00.000-05:00

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20 (NIV)

I hated to back-seat drive but I did it anyway, “Bob, you are pulling in too close to her!” Bob slowed the car to a stop, just inches from the vehicle in front of us. My eyes rolled and wondered if the woman in front of us would judge us nuts for not leaving her room to move her car when she finished putting air in her tires.

We needed air in a tire as well. That’s why we stopped after church a few Sunday’s ago. Although I was in a hurry to get home and hopefully indulge in some Sunday rest time, Bob thought now was better than later to accomplish this small chore. He was probably right.

However, I quickly considered changing my vote of affirmation when the woman ahead of us turn and walked toward my side of the car, complete with air hose in her raised right hand. “Oh no! She is going to psssst me with the air hose!” was my first thought! I knew we’d parked too close to her!

Fortunately, an internal sense of decorum returned and directed me to open the window to see what it was she needed. I am so glad I did. She had such a lovely spirit about her. With the most beautiful smile, she inquired about where on her vehicle she could locate the correct pressure for her tires. I smiled, clueless, and instantly directed her to my fearless leader, who knows everything about everything.

Bob got out of our car to assist her as I muttered something about not knowing a thing about tire pressure. After all, that is what my husband is for! That’s when it happened. She turned and said in a coaxing voice, “Come on! Let’s learn something today together!”

“I like that! You’re right, let’s learn something today!” The words rolled out in astonishment from my mouth as I jumped out of the passenger seat. It was like one of those epiphany moments. After all, I never thought of an opportunity to help as an opportunity to learn – especially when the learning invitation came from the one you were trying to help! Well, you didn’t have to ask me twice.

I watched and learned how to work the mechanic pump. I learned to look on the tire or the inside sticker of the door to locate the right pressure for my tires. Bob even let me try out my new-found knowledge on one of our tires! The one we tried to help – helped us! I left the Shell station feeling empowered. A feeling, I would not have had, without such an intriguing invitation.

Jesus told us to go into the world to teach, preach and make disciples. I thought I was doing okay on that command, after all, I am a Bible study teacher. (Note: It’s really the Holy Spirit who teaches, I just hope to let Him use my mouth on occasion.) Yet, I wonder if we’ve forgotten that perhaps parting of teaching others while reaching others means learning from them as well.

I’ve always said that a teacher always learns more that the student, generally because of the preparation required in presenting a lesson. Then we also learn from class participation – from the thoughts and examples of others. But here I was in the middle of a ministry opportunity – never expecting a challenge to learn myself in this setting. It was, indeed, a refreshing moment.

I am not certain how the Holy Spirit will use this ministry moment in your life, but I felt compelled to share it with you! All I ask is that you ponder this in light of some of the opportunities that could cross your path during the week:

• When your child asks you how to something you are not familiar with….

• When your teenager isn’t sure how to check the oil in the car….

• When your friend has a question about Scripture that stumps you….

• As God sweetly calls you into a personal quite time with Him each day….

Then perhaps you can respond, “Come, let’s learn something together today!”

May we each follow the command to teach, while taking time to learn as well!
Barbara

Never Forget

2010-02-23T10:21:00.000-05:00

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Psalm 103:2 (KJV)

The flashing lights and screaming siren interrupted the flow of massive traffic on Beach Blvd. The local fire engine, weaving in and out of stopped vehicles, was directly in my path. Fortunately for me, it was headed in the opposite direction from where I was driving that afternoon.

Unfortunately, this is not an unusual sight in Jacksonville. Where traffic abounds so does madness. Not to mention, the normal every day occurrences of accident and illness where the mighty paramedic is needed. But what caught my attention on this particular day, about this particular fire truck were the words painted across the outside of the vehicle, just above the windshield. I believe they read: NEVER FORGET.

I am certain those words were a reference to September 11 and the terrorist attack we endured on that day. Yet, for some unexplained reason, my mind took off in another direction, something about not forgetting the God of my youth. What were those things I should never forget?

I will never forget the day Bob proposed to me. I will never forget our wedding or the day my daughter was born. I will never forget the day she married and the days my grandchildren were born. I’ll never forget the day my sister moved from this life to the next with the Father. So many things I will never forget.

I will also never forget the day I asked Jesus into my heart – even though I cannot for the life of me, remember the date. I will never forget my baptism or the first day I ever taught a Sunday school class. I’ll never forget the day Bob took my hand and I walked the aisle with him, as he gave his heart to the Lord. I’ll never forget the day my daughter publicly confessed her belief in the Lord.

Never will I forget the day God spared my child’s life after she totaled her car and walked away without a scratch. Never will I forget the day God walked with her and protected her as a bank robber held a gun to her head, and she 5 months with child at the time.

I will never forget the day the hospital bill came after I had surgery – with full knowledge the insurance company was not going to pay for it and the bill was only $25.00. I will never forget the comfort of Christ as we moved across the country and bountifully received new friends and blessings for our efforts.

I will never forget the look on Emily’s 13 year old face, as she nodded “no” when I asked if she had prayed to receive Christ and then shyly confessed, “But I am ready now.”

There are so many things we should forget. Such as the wrongs done to us, and the pain we suffered through a winter of discontent. We need to forget the times we failed and the things we hoped to gain but have not, thus far in life and indeed may never gain. There are so many things to forget and let go of because they are not worth remembering. They serve only to kept us in the past and stifle our forward momentum in life. The only things worth remembering here is the way God used each moment in question to teach us, reach us and conform us into the image of His Son. After that – remembering negativity may only continue to fuel negativity.

Ah! But there are so many other things we should never forget! Never forget the Creator! Never forget the God of your youth! Never forget the Savior of your present and the King of your future! Never forget the beauty of your life as it is covered with Christ. Oh my beloved friends – never forget!

I bless the LORD, with all my soul, and may I never forget all His benefits!

Praising God with remembrance!
Barbara

Fear Factor

2010-02-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30 (NAS)

I am a storyteller. I love to tell stories. I didn’t even realize that until one day Cheryle told me, “You are a storyteller!” Since Jesus was a storyteller, I stand in good company. People like to hear stories. It helps to accentuate a message or illustrate a point. I use a storytelling method when I share my testimony at Stonecroft Ministry luncheons.

Now and then, I revert back to my basic instinct of lecture-style teaching. I hope no one minds, but that is where I am heading this morning. But first, let me begin by stating regardless of the opening verse, this is NOT a gender-biased lesson.

On Saturday’s, I have been studying Proverbs 31 with a lovely group of women. This past Saturday we talked about the fear of the Lord. The first thing we had to do is define fear. For today, we can cut to the good part by defining fear as it pertains to the fear of the Lord.

Fear used in this capacity refers to the reverential awe we should have before a holy and mighty God. Of course, I am a firm believer that it should encompass a dose of what I call a healthy fear as well. I mean the Bible says something about fearing man who can only kill your body and then fearing God who created your soul!

Moving along the trail of fear, once the group decided that God deserved our reverence and our awe – we had to ask a very worldly question about fearing God. What’s in it for me? I hope I don’t loose you because I really don’t mean that like it sounds, however what does practicing fearing the Lord do for us?

In my lesson prep, I put together a series of verses where you find the phrase “the fear of the Lord.” I noticed that when I arranged them in a particular order, there was a wonderful and thrilling progression about it. This is what I want you to see this morning.

I’ll give you the verses and the points – but I want you to look them up for yourselves.

The fear of the Lord …..

1. Proverbs 19:23…leads to life. It’s not a fear to run from but toward. Our very life eternal and otherwise is in God through Christ Jesus, and fearing the Lord will lead you to the foot of the cross where real life is found.

2. Prov. 1:7…is the beginning of knowledge. It’s cliché, but knowledge is power. Knowledge can be what you know or sometimes, who you know!

3. Psalm 111:10…is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom helps you and I use knowledge appropriately. I’ve seen knowledge used without wisdom and it isn’t a pretty sight.

4. Psalm 112:1…brings blessings. I love blessings and I bet you do too! But read the rest of this verse to get the entire picture.

5. Psalm 19:9…creates a pureness or cleanness in us. This is vitally important since we can never be spiritual clean or pure apart of Christ. But it also enables us to do what comes next…

6. Prov. 8:13…hates evil. Yes Virginia, love your enemy, but hate what is evil. Hate only what God hates but to accomplish this correctly, your heart must be in order.

7. Prov. 10:27…prolongs life. Whether God sees fit to prolong your actual days or provides a fullness of what days you have, eternally we have it all.

Finally in Prov. 23:17…we are to live always in the fear of the Lord. This is an imperative, going forth command. It keeps us where we need to be to practice a godly life-style.

Perhaps you are like me and sense a theme here. The fear of the Lord leads to life, prolongs life and we are to live in it always. Fearing the Lord has everything to do with life. Your life. The life God intends for you to experience. So are you practicing godly fear in your life? If so, what does this look like in your daily walk?

I leave with you with one last thing. Man, woman, boy or girl, the one who fears the Lord is to be praised. The fear of the Lord is all about your life. It was not meant to be a small part or fraction of it. It is meant to be the driving force and factor of it.

What’s your fear factor?
Barbara

Defend the Defendable

2010-02-08T08:40:00.000-05:00

“But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to every one who asks you to give an account of the hope that is in you.” I Peter 3:13a (NAS)

I have to tell you about my Friday! My friend (and boss) has many talents and venues of ministry. One is coaching people. It is an avenue of ministry I will soon start to pursue as well. With that in mind, I decided to take Cheryle up on her offer to spend a day coaching me.

Not a bad idea – since I really should be intimately acquainted with what she does for others, so I can explain this ministry with first-hand authority to someone else. Also since, I have signed up for a coach training class, it would be very good experience to see what coaching might mean in the life of another person.

By the way – this coaching is not for sports. Quit laughing, you will not see me on a grassy playing field wearing a black and white striped shirt, blowing a whistle. Really, can you picture me trying to that without getting my hair messed up? I think not! I am talking about doing this in a life coaching capacity to help me serve my God and my church/community better. I am thinking of it as continuing education.

From 10am to 4pm last Friday, Cheryle walked and questioned me through a lengthy series of subjects from my personal worship to my personal health care. I was amazed to discover and uncover some true gems of revelation. Some of the things I discovered, God and I had already been conversing over so my session provided affirmation. Other things took me by complete but wondrous surprise. It was fascinating to review my strengths and equally fascinating to review my weaknesses.

In fact, one personal character trait I need to work on is in the area of defensiveness. I am afraid I can be a little touchy – although I try not to show it. Whether I am successful or not, is for my friends to decide! I explained to Cheryle that one of the biggest struggles I have in that area is giving up my right to be right. Can anyone relate?

I hate being told I am wrong when I know I am right. It can make a big difference if what I am right about can withhold potential harm to someone. But most times, it is just my pride and stubbornness getting in the way. Pray for me as God continues His work in progress on this earthen vessel.

Now that brings me to this morning – oh yea – I am writing this Sunday night. While dressing for church I was listening to a local televised church service. A guest speaker was addressing the congregation. I’d heard him before and always enjoy what God says through him. While, he spoke to all of us – I gather a lot of his sermon was to encourage other pastors.

Here is my perception of his message. I felt one of his main points was to encourage pastors to remain true and steadfast even amidst those that would seek to deter their ministry – even if those people were fellow Christians.

The bold spoken minister encouraged the gathering of clergy to remain firm in times where others sought to tear down what they were trying to build up on the foundation of Christ. He urged them to let God be their protector and not worry about constantly being on the defensive.

Now you and I know that anytime someone attacks us, doubts our judgment or questions our motives/methods, the first thing we do is rise to the defense of what? Ourselves! Be honest, you know you want to do that even if you don’t always do it.

Then the master preacher made a statement I hope I carry with me the rest of my life. He told the pastors to “let God defend you, you defend the sheep and “defend what is defendable.” I’d say that could preach – but it already has!

I wonder what I could accomplish if I quit worrying about what others thought of me, trying to defend my right to be right when I feel wronged, and worried about defending that which is defendable. Defending the “least of the brethren”. Defending the widow and the orphan. Defending the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I guess if I strive to sanctify Christ in my heart the way He deserves and is worthy of, then He’ll prepare my heart to be able to defend the hope that lies within me and deal with any perceived threat to me, all by Himself. I suppose that would free me up to continue to do what is right in His sight and not in mine!

Lowering my self-defenses!
Barbara

You Are So Beautiful To Me!

2010-02-01T10:35:00.000-05:00

“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yes, the work of our hands establish thou it.” Psalm 90:17 (KJV)

For some reason, I have beauty on the brain this week. Not sure why because as I write, I am in mismatched pajama’s, 2 pairs of socks, no make-up with not even a quick brush of my hair. It’s a nauseating picture, I’m sure.

Yet, I am internally plotting as to how many tin cans I will have to collect to buy a $315 pair of Prada eyeglasses. Why? Because when I tried them on my husband said they looked sexy. Stop the presses! Get me the smelling salts! In 19 years of marriage, and as wonderful as he is, Bob has never used the word sexy and my name in the same sentence! Well, I gotta have those glasses!

To add to my vanity drama, I had to admit last week to you that I am indeed vain. So you can imagine how Bob’s compliment must have affected my mind. As if that wasn’t enough, we are studying Beauty Queen Esther on Wednesday night and the Proverbs 31 Woman on Saturday’s. I am doomed.

Or not.

God let’s me get carried away only so far, before He gently reels me back to reality. Actually, it’s two realities to be specific. Do you want to know what they are? Glad you asked!

I was reminded last week in my study of Esther just how easy it is to get carried away with the cosmetology of the day. I was also reminded (again!) that isn’t the outside appearance God looks on but the heart. And while it’s not likely that I’ll give up trying to take care of the outer me, my primary concern should center on the inner me. This brings to me to Psalm 90:17 and:

Reality Number Two: Let the beauty of the Lord be upon me and stop fretting over a few age spots! This reality is nothing new to the believer, but perhaps we don’t give it as much consideration as we should at times.

Now let’s stop for just a minute. No, you didn’t miss reality number one. In fact, I had labeled the above reality number one – then I quickly “rethunk” my writing. This past week, my thoughts flowed over Psalm 90:17 and letting His beauty be upon me, and it made me smile to think that God considers me a beauty – just as I am. The same way my hubby thinks I am beautiful despite the ravages of age. (Okay – that’s is a bit dramatic)

I worry for nothing about the Lord finding me beautiful as long as I let His beauty be upon me. But as my heart was consoled in that fact, it was convicted in another. How long had it been since I told God how beautiful He was? My mind wondered back to our first days in Denver when we first walked in those Rocky Mountains and all I could say or think was, “God you are so beautiful! You are so beautiful!” Over and over again, nothing else could escape my lips. How long had it been? Far too long. That brings us to:

Reality Number One: God is beautiful. He is beautiful in creation. He is beautiful in His wisdom, righteousness and faithfulness. His beauty rests in the fact that God indeed is real! Dearest Father, how beautiful You are to me! Forgive me for not telling you sooner and more often!

For without this reality, the second reality could not exist. Besides, everything including beauty is all about Him anyways and not about us, except that it enables us to share His beauty in a world decaying with sin.

I think I’ve said enough.

Praise His beauty and exclaim it to all the peoples (including those sitting next to you) and let HIS beauty be upon YOU so the work of your hands, He will bless!
Barbara

Your Body: A Temple

2010-01-25T11:06:00.000-05:00

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” I Cor. 3:16 (NASB)

How many of you are on Facebook or Twitter? I am. Now don’t rush to my Facebook page, there is nothing too fabulous on there. I use my accounts for business purposes. I have no ill-feelings toward Facebook or Twitter at all. God simply hasn’t impressed me to personally participate. Maybe later He’ll change His mind and then I’ll be glad to do as He leads.

However, it was a trip to Facebook that jump-started the mice in my head. I was on Facebook checking up on my boss, Cheryle M. Touchton. She is the director of Pocket Full of Change Ministry. [www.pocketfullofchange.org] I knew Cheryle had not been feeling well and thought I’d see what she’d been up to over the weekend. I noticed she’d written a few thoughts about her new exercise routine and that she was feeling better and stronger. She ended her thought that particular day with, “My body is a temple!”

Bravo Cheryle! She is so right our bodies are temples. I need to take her example and run with it, or at least do a few crunches or jumping jacks with it. But for now, but I’ll take my run with words!

Let me digress a bit and make a confession. I am a vain person. I doubt this will catch anyone by surprise. But I have a certain amount of vanity that I try to tame and control. Not successfully, I am afraid. My face just feels better with my Mary Kay and my hair loves Lady Clairol. I’ve told my hubby that I will go to my grave with non-removable teeth in my mouth and color on my hair.

With all that said, I would be wise to remember that my body is not my own but bought with a price – the blood of Jesus. My body is His Temple.

We live in a land of face lifts, tummy tucks and liposuction. Make sure those teeth are pearly white! Drape yourself in the hottest fashions. Suck it in, tuck it in and lift it up! Indeed, we go to great and expensive lengths to treat our body like a temple. Going back to Twitter – we’ve even gotten accustomed to having followers. This plays into the thought that somewhere down the line we got the Biblical principle mixed-up. Our bodies have become a temple to be worshipped rather than to give worship!

Reading Cheryle’s article reminded me of that! She knows as do I, that we are created for worship and to worship the One who has placed His Holy Spirit within us!! However, we have a responsibility to keep the temple intact for premium worship ability.

Therefore, the temple is not to be worshipped but it is merely an earthen vessel to provide worship to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Yahweh. Jehovah. El Shaddai. The great I AM. God.

So how is worship going in your temple today? Or is your temple showing signs of stress? It would be prudent to remember that if junk goes into the temple, then it’s likely junk will come out in worship and junk comes in all forms. Don’t you think that God deserves more than junkie worship.

I challenge each of us today to concentrate on our bodies, those living sacrifice bodies, as a temple of God for His worship. Let us our temples be prepared to worship God in spirit and in truth lest we become temples of doom!

Blessings,
Barbara

The State of Our Self Address

2010-01-18T09:19:00.000-05:00

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

It’s my understanding we are rapidly approaching the President’s annual State of the Union Address. No disrespect to our Commander-in-Chief, but I think we are all aware of the state of this Union. Just turn on the television. I think I would prefer to hear a “how are we going to get out of the state” of the Union address.

Sunday morning in church service, our pastor cleverly but pointedly delivered a “State of the Church” address. As a church member, I would be wise to heed and implement the wisdom of that message. As I listened, I had a thought of my own. Well, maybe not all my own!

Okay, I will not be caught unawares by the State of the Union. I have been instructed and challenged by the State of the Church message. Now I believe it would be prudent to ponder the state of my “self.”

Whether be it my country or my church, I will not be a productive participant in furthering either cause if my “self” is not in order. Simply put, it’s time for a spiritual check-up. Just as my physical body has many parts that should all work properly for optimal performance, so should my “spiritual body” if you will allow me to take some literary license.

Between Bible Study, morning and evening services on Sunday, I was encouraged to check my heart, my mind, my hands and my feet to make sure they were properly connected and surrendered to God for His service. But that is not what I want to talk about. Today, let’s address vision.

Since our pastor mentioned vision yesterday, so I am going to borrow a few of his points and interject some of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I listened in church Sunday morning.

You know, they say the eyes are the first thing to go. Funny, no one ever says what the second thing is! Admittedly my vision needs to be checked. It’s been a few years and things are looking a bit fuzzy from time to time.

However, we have spiritual vision that needs to be checked even more frequently than our eyes. Here are three things I was impressed with and would like to share them with you.

First, we must have cleared vision. Like a car driving down the road, the journey is much safer when there are no obstacles in the path. Spiritually, this can be tricky since we don’t always “see” the obstacles. Therefore it is imperative to stay closely connected to the One who sees all.

What moves will you make to clear your line of sight this week?

Second, we need to have focused vision. It’s really hard to see something when you are trying to concentrate on a thousand things at one time. Being committed requires a singleness of mind to the object of your commitment, namely Christ.

What distractions can you clear away to allow you to focus your vision on God and what He may be calling you to do?

Last but not least, we need continued vision. Perhaps you’ve done okay in the vision department and have made a few milestones. If so, I am proud of you. But don’t rest on those laurels. The only thing that happens when we rest on laurels is that the laurels get crushed and we lose forward momentum. When our vision is clear and focused on what God wants we can accomplish many things for His kingdom. However, as every task assigned is completed, a new one awaits. Our vision should never stop scanning for what lies ahead.

What adjustments do you need to make to your eyesight to maintain an equal balance on what is near and what lies ahead?

Well, I guess I’ll come down off the soapbox now, because I have to answer the same questions I posed to you. May the Holy Spirit guide each of us as we check our vision with the Savior who has always kept us in His!

Blessings,
Barbara

PS: Once you check the vision – don’t forget the heart, mind, hands and feet!

Putting the Extra into Ordinary

2010-01-11T08:19:00.000-05:00

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (NIV)

We’ve made it passed the first week of a new year. Hooray! Last week I mentioned I don’t make resolutions at the beginning of each year. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have things I’d like to accomplish or strive to be better at in the days ahead. I will do my best to grow in grace this year.

However, I do have to watch myself because, at times, I find myself thinking of all the wonderful things I could do for Christ. Why not teach three or four Bible studies a week instead of one or two? Hey, I could be the new Beth Moore! Then I could find a way to triple my speaking engagements for the year. Three times the gospel spreading – what an impact that could have on people.

Then there is Pocket Full of Change, the faith-based, non-profit I work for each week. I could spend all summer on the road with Cheryle and still get two books published by the end of 2010. How glorious a dream!

Until I wake up.

I feel foolish for thinking such things! I mean, the world already has a Beth Moore, not too mention a Kay Arthur and an Anne Graham Lotz, so who needs me?

Maybe God does and the best way I can serve Him is to realize who I am and who He is.

Let me digress a bit and tell you about a Christmas present I received. First let me say, I was blessed by each gift of love I received. But I wanted to tell you about a gift my friend Kiki, gave me. It was a book called, The Glory of Christmas.

Unfortunately we had some sickness in the family over the holiday, so it wasn’t until after Christmas that I got to sit down and read a spell. The book contains the combined writings of Max Lucado, Charles Swindoll, Anne Graham Lotz and Henry Blackaby. Often as a believer, I have said and taught that Christmas is everyday for the Christian, so I decided to not put off reading this gem until Christmas of this year.

Let me share a passage from Max Lucado that gave me the push to write to you today. Max described the night of Christ’s birth like this:

“An ordinary night with ordinary sheep and ordinary shepherds. And were it not for a God who love to hook an “extra” on the front of the ordinary, the night would have gone unnoticed”. [pg 11]

This brings me back to knowing who I am and who God is, especially in light of the deeds to be done for cause of Christ. I am an ordinary person: an ordinary sheep if you will. I have an ordinary life and ordinary talents. Nothing I can do in/and of myself will ever be anything but ordinary. However, I serve an extraordinary God.

There is no sin in wanting to do great things for God, as long as our hearts are truly pure in our desire. However, perhaps we strive too much in our own power to do the extraordinary when it’s only required that we give Christ our ordinary self and let Him do the “extra” part without our help.

People are quick to notice grand events and grand talent, and give the individual all the credit for it. Just watch American Idol! But when Peter and John, in Acts 4:13, came into a midst of men, they were described as ordinary men who astonished the crowd. Why? Because the crowd could tell they had been with Jesus.

With love from ordinary me,
Barbara

Out With the New and in With the Old!

2010-01-04T09:04:00.000-05:00

“Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:13-14 (NIV)

Join me this morning as I ponder over the point of a New Year. I’d imagine that the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind is setting those New Year’s goals. Things like losing weight, quitting smoking and being a better person. They’re called resolutions. I guess because we are supposed to be resolute about keeping them.

Well, I don’t worry about resolutions. I gave up on those long ago. Never could keep them, no matter how well intended or noble the dream. I discovered that for me, time would be better spent asking God what He wanted me to do rather than me telling Him, what I thought I should do.

With resolutions off the plate, I pondered over to the New Year itself. I am not sure how to put this without seeming pessimistic or unpatriotic, but what is the big deal about a New Year? What is really new about it anyway? My debt is the same, my bank balance is the same, my problems haven’t changed and I even have the same cold I had on December 31. Yet, there is something, dare I say, hopeful about starting back at January once again

I believe many of us think about a new year in terms as a clean, blank slate, a time to start over or start again. There is nothing wrong with that. But if that is all January 1 means, then I’m in trouble already and can we get to January 1, 2011 sooner rather than later?

Well, perhaps starting a new year is like Paul says, leaving behind that which was, in favor of striving with greater passion for that which is most important in our lives – Jesus Christ. And since, I’ve already blown a few things, I am glad that I can start that “pressing on toward the goal” even if I stumble getting out of the gate.

Now most people would call this “out with the old and in with the new.” Would you think less of me, if I disagreed on that point for today?

You see, we often think new is better. Truthfully, sometimes it is. However nearly everything in our material world is geared so new equals: slicker, quicker and better. In fact, I’d wager you saw a report or two in the past few weeks telling you what the latest, greatest and hottest items were for Christmas – which by the way was only about 10 days ago.

For the faith-minded of us, perhaps we’ve put off that pressing forward until we have that new Bible or Bible software. Maybe some of us are waiting for a new revelation from the Lord to jump start our 2010 spiritual walk. Could it be a new answer to an old question that would spur us in motion? Would a new church, pastor or program help? Hmmm.

Yesterday, our pastor verbalized his 2010 New Year wish for our church with his morning message. It was simply for each of us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. I love the powerful simplicity of that wish and it also affirmed something God placed on my heart a few days ago. Out with the new and in with the old!

My dear friends, God’s grace is one of the oldest things on earth. It dates back to the beginning of time and creation. There is nothing new about His grace. It’s not a guarded secret. It has the power to revolutionize lives and grow new hearts. As it was from the beginning, this old, old grace is available to anyone willing to receive it.

You think you need something new? Try the old and timeless grace of God as found in His Son, Jesus Christ – who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. What are you waiting for? There is no better time than now to receive the old to make you feel new!

Blessings for the New Year – let’s all grow in grace together!
Barbara

It’s Good to be ME!

2009-12-21T07:29:00.000-05:00

“…For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.” Luke 1:48b (NAS)

Somehow I caught a glimpse of a television commercial the other day that struck me the wrong way. I can’t tell you what it was for but I can tell you what it said and my impressions of the context. I saw a fairly attractive woman; likely in her 40’s or 50’s lounging around like Queen Sheba, talking to a handsome man. I got the impression she was vain, arrogant and spoiled – used to getting her own way. I gathered this from her posture and expression. She boldly turned to her paramour and exclaimed, “Oh! It’s good to be me!”

I don’t care to see that ad again. But it made me think. I think society is probably trapped in a Me-Syndrome and perhaps a lot of people feel like this woman for all the wrong reasons. Yet, I must admit, sometimes I think the same thing too. However, my reasons are quite different than the general population or this ad.

It kind of goes back to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Let us consider the circumstances she found herself in when she made this awesome statement found in Luke chapter one. Mary had an up-close and personal encounter of the divine kind when an angel of God informed her that she’d be mother to the Messiah.

She was engaged to Joseph, but not yet married when she conceived the Christ-Child by the Holy Spirit. But she knew the rules. Mary faced certain shame and disgrace from her family and her community. She also faced a possible death penalty for adultery. At the time of Luke 1:46-56, she had basically run away to her cousin’s house, all of this during her young teenage years. Care to imagine the pressure she might have felt?

Yet, amazed by the grace she had received, Mary cried forth, “My soul exalts the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior for He has had regard for the humble state of his servant.” [See Luke 1:46-48a]

Basically she was standing before God in all humility and submission exclaiming, “It’s good to be me!” Not a sign of vanity or self-accomplishment. Mary knew all the goodness she had been blessed with was not of herself but of God alone, for His holy purposes not her self glorification.

This Christmas, we find ourselves in much different times than in Christmas past. The economy has changed. Our politically leadership has changed. Our job situations have changed. Our families may have even changed and perhaps we are lacking some of our “Christmas spirit.”

Regardless of what our situation’s entail, it is because of Christmas – the birth of Christ, the Lord, our Savior – that we can state in reverence and awe, “It is good to be me!” Why?

Because of what the Lord has done and we will exalt His name and rejoice in His goodness and mercy.

Because when the darkness surrounds, His is the true Light and a sure hope.

Because like Mary, we can rest assured that whatever state we find ourselves in – God has victory in the situation at hand.

Merry Christmas my dear beloveds! For the Might One has done great things for all us – the greatest being the gift of love and eternal life through Christ Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Forever may His name be lifted up and praised!

Love, Barbara