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Be not afraid – I will rescue you.  I have called you by name – you are mine.             Isaiah 43:1

I followed the story of the youth soccer team trapped in the cave in Malaysia with great interest and many prayers.  It was an incredible rescue, and an amazing feat that no lives were lost.  I know that one of the boys was a Christian, and that he was the one who spoke English as well.  The community that awaited him prayed religiously for his rescue and return.  These boys relied on skilled professionals and on God.  They couldn’t take control of the situation – only trust others for their rescue.

Contrast this serious situation with my grandson, Reese.  During a recent vacation with his family, he was in the resort pool with a lifeguard present who was trained to rush to the rescue of swimmers in need.  Reese is an excellent swimmer, on the swim team, and pretty much a fish in the water.  On this day, however, he thought it would be fun to fake a drowning to see what it felt like to be rescued.

He began to thrash about and go under in the water only to emerge and thrash some more.  The lifeguard did indeed rescue him, and as he was preparing to pull him to safety, Reese looked up and confidently said, “Thanks, but I’ve got this”, and swam away.  Needless to say, there were consequences for this trick – I heard that security was involved.

Our most desperate moments can lead us to complete faith in and reliance on God.  We pray to Him, call on Him, and ask Him to rescue us.  When He answers our prayers and begins the rescue process, we can respond with complete trust and faith, or we can be decide not to accept the rescue and answer, “Thanks, but I’ve got this.”

Jesus rescued us all by dying on the cross.  We’d do well to accept the life preserver He offers.

Lord, make me an instrument of they peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.  Grant that I may not so much seek to understand as to be understood; not seek to be consoled, as to console; not so much seek to be understood as to understand; not so much to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.                                 St. Francis of Assissi

We lost our last remaining aunt this week, my aunt Joanne.  Joanne’s father was a Methodist minister, she played the piano and the organ, sang beautifully, was the choir director of our church for 55 years, and the choral director at my high school for 30 years.  She touched so many lives in so many different ways, and she was an inspiration to many, including me.

She, my uncle, and three cousins grew up next door to my family in my hometown, and there are so many memories associated with those years.  On any given night, you could find the four adults sitting around the piano while Joanne played in our living room singing, laughing, and enjoying the fellowship.  You pick the song and Joanne could play it!

From the day Randy and I told her we were getting married, she was a constant cheerleader for the minister and his wife.   I’ve never forgotten her encouragement, support and love.  I will miss her greatly.

She and my mama did a beautiful musical arrangement of the quote above, and I think the words fit her perfectly.  She lived a life of giving, not only, to her husband, her sons, their wives, her grands, her great grands, her church, her community, but also to her God.  Her faith, beauty and love, are unequaled.

The heavenly host gathered with her now are having a great time making music.  The choir is growing and making incredible praises in song because the “coach” is there!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  Psalm 147:3

Recently, I’ve become aware of how many times I hear others (and myself) use the expression, That just breaks my heart.  The conversation can include poverty, disasters, hunger, illness, addiction, divorce, but the words come out in the same tone and with the same feeling of emotion as if we know how those people actually involved might feel.

The truth is, we don’t know how others feel until we’ve actually lived what they have lived.  It costs us nothing to say the words, That just breaks my heart, and continue living our unaffected lives.

The heart is a vital thing as it is the muscular organ that pumps blood throughout the rest of the body.  It is at the center of the entire vascular system.  The main purpose of the heart is to keep blood that’s full of oxygen flowing through the body.  It is crucial to your survival.

I thought I knew what things break my heart, but I didn’t. Last week a beautiful baby girl was born into our family.  She was perfect in every way except that her heart was broken.  It wasn’t able to pump life giving oxygen to the rest of her body.   Most of us got to see her for a moment, touch her sweet body, and offer a prayer for her.

God blessed this family by sending Charleston to us.  He gave her the best parents, grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  He knew that these people would fill her short time here with so much love and caring that she would feel it.

God’s grace allowed her Mama and Daddy to hold her, hear her sweet cry, to see her eyes open long enough to say “hi”, and to fight the good fight.  She was a warrior, courageous and beautiful.  In a week’s time, she has made us all stronger, bonded us, made our faith stronger, and shown us the true meaning of love.

Our hearts are breaking, but we known she is with her loving God, and those who have gone before.  We are so thankful for strength God sends to help us through challenging times when we are broken.

The doctors and nurses who supported, encouraged, and cried with us are special people who God sends like angels.  We are so thankful for  them.

 

 

 

 

Behold, a woman of the city who was a sinner, upon learning that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment and standing behind him at his feet, she began to wet his feet with her tears, wipe them with the hairs of her head, and anointed them with ointment.  Luke 7:36

There are times in life when sprinkling, measuring, or calculating emotions or sins just doesn’t work – we need to pour it out and seek God’s grace. There comes a time when we need to forget all the inhibitions that bottle us up, and just be real with ourselves and God.  Like this woman, we need to be willing to pour it out.

We first need to pour out gratitude to Jesus for all the ways He finds us when we have strayed, the way He loves us in the midst of our faults and failures, and the way He accepts us back into the fold each and every time.  Gratitude is the language of our faith in Christ, and it changes things.

We need to pour out guilt.  I find that it is so easy to carry around guilt for things I did, things I didn’t do, things I should have done, things I said that hurt others, and the list goes on.  Guilt is that awful feeling of remorse for breaking a moral code, and one will do anything to get rid of that feeling. Pour it out, there is “no condemnation” for those in Jesus Christ.

We need to pour out regret.  Everyone has regrets, but when our regrets are not dealt with directly and receptively, it just leads to more regret.  This load of regret just begins to hold a power over us, and we can’t break the cycle.

Finally, we need to pour out good deeds.  Good deeds are something that comes naturally if your heart is right.  You just want to pass on the love you have for your God.  Good deeds don’t make everything right with God, but the Grace He offers does.

When we take that alabaster jar and pour out gratitude, guilt, regret, and good deeds, we find that we receive a whole lot more than we give.

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.  1 Peter 3:15

Thinking back to high school and college football games, the chant, Hold That Line was and still is ever present. It was intended to give support to those defensive players who were attempting to stop the offense from making first downs, touchdowns, etc.   I learned a lot about football just knowing that the chant is always used for the defense not the offense.  As I watch our grandsons play, the chant is even more meaningful.

This chant is now proving to be one that Christians, churches, and all people of faith are being forced to use as we are now on the defensive.  The secular world is enveloping us in the philosophy that religion needs to play no part in our society.  If you attend church regularly, believe in the Bible, abide by the rules of your denomination, and try to live as Jesus did, you are made to feel as though you are the one who is wrong.

People seem to be offended by the subject of God, and they are quick to voice their objections.  While the Christian community remains silent, the world is taking God out of the equation right before our eyes.  It is considered politically incorrect to stand up for Jesus and His teachings.

What’s a Christian to do?  Well, I am no expert, but it seems that there are a few common sense alternatives, and maybe we could start by asking ourselves a few questions.  Do we know that under the constitution, freedom of religion is  granted to all?  Do we know our responsibility as Christians according to scripture?  Do we know what the Bible says to us?  Do we know what our denomination believes?  Do we know what is happening in our denomination?  Do we know what our own churches are doing to help us affirm our faith?  If not, why not?  The power of any organized religion can be found in the pew.

We can’t sit on the sidelines and chant Hold That Line if we are not willing to get involved, get off the bench, and declare “Put me in, coach” and use me to hold that line!

 

 

 

 

 

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:3

The countdown to kickoff has begun at our house, and with it, comes the assurance of fall.  I can’t wait for the leaves to turn, the temperatures to fall, the fire to be lit, and the sound of cheering to begin.

Just like the weather, our lives are lived in seasons, and it’s probably a good idea to begin to recognize where we are in life’s seasons and start maximizing each one.  Although, it’s hard for me to believe, I think the winter of my life is either here, or it is really late in Fall.

In spring, we begin to look for God’s purpose in our lives and prepare for it the best we can.  In summer, we tweak the purposes from spring and begin to carry them out.  In Fall, we take those purposes and begin to work harder and smarter to achieve them while we begin to transition to winter.  In winter, we assess our accomplishments, enjoy our rewards, pass on helpful advice, and take our bows on a job well done.

No season can last forever, and we are only meant to be fruitful during our time.  As we prepare for seasons to come, it’s important that those coming into seasons behind us don’t forget the fruit that was borne before them.  The person in each season can learn from those who have experienced the seasons and learned from each one.

Lately, I have heard so many friends who have lost a parent, a friend, or a trusted mentor utter these words, “I wish I had made time to listen to them more and taken their advice to heart.  I regret the time I wasted.”  This includes everything from family to career advice.  I pray that we all take time to listen to those seasoned folks in our lives.

Every generation stands on the shoulders of the generation that came before.  Jealously guard the values and principles of our heritage; they did not come easy.  Ronald Reagan

I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me shall not die, but will live forever.  John 11:25

When I was growing up, our youth group had destination unknown every fourth Sunday night of the month.  Although, we were a small group in a small town, thus, not many choices, it was still fun to guess where we would be on those nights.

Randy and I took that concept to another level, and now we try to do destination unknown for our grandsons.  They pack a suitcase, and we start out.  They have no idea where we will end up, but they can ask  questions to try and solve the mystery.  It doesn’t really matter to them where we are going, they just enjoy knowing we will be there when they reach their destination.

I recently attended the funeral of a friend, Steve, and in his eulogy, the minister told the story of a visit he had with him. Steve had been battling cancer, and the prognosis was not good.  He asked Steve very frankly, “Do you know where you are going when you die?”  Steve answered honestly when he said, “no.”   It was at that moment, that the destination unknown mentality kicked in for Steve, and he began to seek answers.  About nine months later, Steve was baptized and began to live his life as a Christian.  He began to be at peace with his destination.  He died assured of his destination.

Randy’s aunt lost her struggle with cancer last week.  She lived with grace, laughter, kindness, smiles, compassion, and love. She ministered to each person who visited with her in her last days comforting those who came to comfort her.  She died as she lived, assured of her destination.  Her funeral was held on her 80th birthday which was so significant of a celebration on earth and in heaven.

It’s a special destination when we know that Jesus has prepared a place for us and we are with Him.  How long will we live?  As followers of Christ, we will live Forever!

A pretentious, showy life is an empty life; a plain and simple life is a full life.  Proverbs 13:7  

Pretentious is defined as; attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc. than is actually possessed. 

I know people, as most of us do,  who sometimes can’t help themselves – they become pretentious during certain situations.   It’s important for them to lift themselves up in front of others in order to make themselves look special or important.  The sad thing is that most of the time, the very people they are trying to impress are the ones who are the least vulnerable to the ruse.

One of my favorite movies is Steel Magnolias, and I am especially fond of Drum, the father.  He is a salty character who has no problem saying exactly what he is thinking.  My favorite line comes from Shelby when she says, Daddy always says, an ounce of pretension is worth a pound of manure.  So true.

This past week, Randy and I took the two younger grandsons to Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange, and I have to say it’s impressive.  One of the things you notice in the first few minutes in the water park is that there is no pretension there.  The guests of all ages, shapes, sizes, colors, ethnicity, backgrounds, and genders are all in swim suits.   No one is worried about what others think, how they compare, how much weight they need to gain or lose, how their hair looks, how old they are, or their economic status.  They are accepted in the group because there is no pretense here.

I thought that heaven must be like this.  No pretense.  Everyone is on an equal footing.  It doesn’t matter how many degrees you have, how rich you are, how beautiful, how handsome, how smart, how successful, how talented, how famous, how beaten down by life, or how perfect or awful you look in a swimsuit, everyone is loved exactly like they are!

As Christians, we are blessed to have a heavenly home awaiting us that offers no pretense.

 

God’s Not Finished With Me Yet

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally, I may be wrong.  Make me thoughtful but not nosy, helpful but not bossy.  With my vast store of wisdom and experience, it does seem a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest, Lord, I want a few friends at the end.  Amen.  Cookbook prayers (Thanks, Daphne)

Mindsets are patterns that make your mind operate a certain way.  I find that I can set myself up for problems when I decide to react to the same people or circumstances in the exact same way and expect different results.  It just isn’t going to happen.  Resentment has a way of building, but letting that happen only affects me, not others.

Sometimes it’s hard to realize that your perspective on a problem or issue could be wrong.  I’ve always tried to weigh different perspectives and be objective, but it’s really hard when you KNOW you are right.

It is at this point, when change must happen.  I hate change because it takes me out of my comfort zone and forces me to try new things.  Change cannot happen quickly.  If one tries that approach, multiple things can go wrong, and one ends up quitting before change has a chance.

In order for change to happen, I have to be one hundred percent committed to one change, one risk, one idea, or one decision at a time.  I have heard that little changes can yield enormous results.  So, eat the elephant one bite at a time.

This week I have made one change in my mindset patterns.  I’m asking God for clarity to see situations honestly and to act with wisdom and responsibility.  I’m committed to that one change and then, hopefully, I can add more.

God’s never finished with us, and I love that He offers new ideas and avenues for change to make us stronger and better.

Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead.  Philippians 3:13

 

 

 

 

God’s power sustains everything.  Hebrews 1:3

A couple of weeks ago at exactly 5:58 pm, the electricity went out in our neighborhood and surrounding areas (I know the time because I was at the end of a newscast on TV).  When I called in to report the outage, the message let me know that it should take a couple of hours to restore service.  I and other neighbors immediately walked outside to see if everyone else was indeed experiencing a power outage, and we gathered around on the street to visit.

Later, it occurred to me that that was the first time in a while I had “caught up” with those neighbors, most of whom I have known for twenty eight years.  I wave when we pass each other, speak when we are in the yard, but I hadn’t taken the time to ask about their life.  Turns out, two have had accidents that totaled their cars, one has severe health issues, and one is putting their house up for sale.  Amazing!

I began to think of a lesson learned here about times when I experience a power outage  in my relationship with God.  I don’t spend enough time alone with Him to read, listen, and pray and thus my spiritual  connection loses its power.  It’s easy to replace time with Him in the mornings with television news, emails, and other mundane issues, but I find if I miss that time with Him, my days are not the same.  If I put it bluntly, I miss God and the conversations.  Power in me begins with a jolt of Him in the morning.  Power outages help you realize how powerful the presence of God is in your life.  I’m trying hard to stay plugged in to the source.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory, forever!  Amen.