December 22nd...The Countdown

Here it is December 22nd...a mere 3 days (well, not even 3 considering this day is nearly over) till Christmas. And guess what. I am not through shopping. Every year I say I am going to start shopping early, but finances always prevent that from happening. And this year was no different. In fact, it's been the worst year financially for us. Being that our next check would normally be payable on December 24th, the chances are slim that I will get all that I had hoped to get. I really need to be finished by tomorrow since our family gathering is Friday and Christmas is Saturday. My children and grandchildren will be here, along with my mom and my sister. But if this holiday is anything like Thanksgiving was, we won't get our check until "after" the holiday. We're on direct deposit and the bank will be closed Friday. Yippee! You know I'm being sarcastic, right?

This year has also been the worst one as far as unity in the family. The tension between the family members makes it hard to celebrate.It depresses my mother. For the first time I heard her say that she had nothing to be thankful for. I know that's an exaggeration....but family gatherings are what make the holidays so special for her. She loves to see us all together. But what do you do? If I invite this one, that one won't come...
Years ago I prided myself on having a family that didn't hold grudges, that didn't harm one another, and if you did have any issues, you were willing to lay them aside for the holidays...those days are no more.

Okay...so not only is it the countdown to Christmas, it's the countdown to the New Year. I'm not sure what the future holds, but I do know that no matter what comes my way, I am gonna love the Lord, serve Him, and seek to do His will. I am not one to make a lot of resolutions, since I usually fail to keep them. But I do want to discipline myself to spend more time in the Word, and in prayer. I have to draw closer and closer to my Lord...it's all that sustains me.

Memories & Giving

I was thinking about my Grandma today. She's been dead for many years now, but as I was longing for a simpler Christmas, my mind wandered back in time. My Grandma was a godly woman; a woman whose primary goal in life was to share Jesus with anyone and everyone who would listen. Sometimes even to those who didn't want to listen. Grandma never met a stranger so she'd talk to anyone. Each year as Christmas rolled around our family would have their yearly get together at Grandma's house. I can still picture her sitting there in her rocking chair listening as each of us children read our assigned story or scipture. Every aspect of the celebration revolved around the real reason we were celebrating. It wasn't about Santa Claus and the gifts. It wasn't about holiday food and hanging out with family and friends. It was about JESUS. Grandma had passion. And she wasn't afraid to say what was on her mind. Yes, we got gifts, but let me assure you, those were always low on the totem pole as to why we were there. Grandma was leaving a legacy. That legacy had to do with giving....God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

This year has been a really difficult year for me. Financially, we're worse off than we've been in years. So that translates to less giving. Being a giver, this is hard for me to handle. I want to give. But then I have to question if perhaps part of it isn't a pride thing....I mean, it felt good to give. It made me seem like I was some sort of savior or something...well, not really a savior, but someone who swooped in and helped the less fortunate and walked away with a smile on my face and a gooey feeling in my heart. And now for me to feel less fortunate, it puts a wrinkle in things. Okay...so I'm really not less fortunate in comparison to those around the world or even in my own country. I am blessed beyond measure. I have what I need. I have food, shelter, clean water. And even though I may have some health issues, I also have access to medical care. Lots of people don't have that luxury. And I have the freedom to worship God. Wow! So I question, "Is it wrong for me to feel good about giving?" No, it's not wrong. But I can't allow my giving to be contingent on some feeling. Sometimes people aren't so appreciative when you give. They may not give you that nice cozy feeling. And then what? Are you sorry you gave? I am reminded of a story....it's a true story and it happened to me....

Years ago I was working in a church office when a man came to the door wanting money. In my gut I knew beyond any shadow of a doubt that this man was a con. Call  it instinct or discernment or whatever you like. All I know is I knew he was trying to pull the wool over my eyes. As he stood there talking his talk, I was thinking, "he's a con...there ain't no way I'm giving him money." But then I heard this still small voice tell me to give him money. I'm thinking, "Huh? What you talking 'bout God? You know he's a con." And then the voice spoke again and said, "It's not about whether he's a con or not. It's about whether you'll obey or not." Ouch. That stung just a little. My whole life I had been prideful about not letting people fool me. And here I was in the midst of a dilemma...would I give the money and let the man think he had fooled me? Or would I obey God? I chose the latter. I gave the man the money. As I handed it to him he looked at me and said, "I know you think I'm a con." I told him, "It doesn't matter what I think about you...I am giving you this money out of obedience to God."

Okay, so I got sidetracked there. This is kind of two stories, isn't it? One about sharing Jesus and remembering the whole reason we celebrate Christmas. The other about giving with pure motives and in obedience when God tells us to give. And you know, the greatest give we can give is the gift of hope that we've been given...His name is Jesus.

Being Busy Doesn't Mean We Should Forget the Reason For the Season

I was thinking about the season and how people often get so caught up in the shopping, the decorating and parties and such that they forget to take a moment to just breathe....not that literal breathing that we have to do in order to live, but breathing in the beauty of the season and taking time to focus on what it's all about....Jesus. It's not about Santa or presents. It's not about some holiday meal or family gathering. It's not about work parties and parades. I'm not saying that these are a bad thing necessarily, but they're not the MAIN thing...Jesus was born into this world in order that we might live. There is no greater gift. And we need to remain focused on that even in our busyness.

This year I've had to cut back on the gift giving. It hurts a little, but financially it's not feasible for me to give to every person in the family, especially since our income has dwindled (health insuarance costs have skyrocketed, but with pre-existing conditions we have to keep what we have) and our costs of living (gas, food, electricity, etc.) have increased (and we get NO raise for at least another 3 years). It's times like these that make it all the more clear though that the celebration isn't about what we give or get...it's about what we got already...When I was a child I was raised by a mother who had no job other than cleaning the church once a week...That only paid her about $6.50 week and even in less costly times it was not enough to support 3 children. We did without a lot...even the basic necessities. If it hadn't been for grandparents stepping in to help feed us on occasion I don't know what we would have done. My mama was too proud to get food stamps. She felt like there were people worse off than us (though I couldn't fathom that anyone was worse off at the time). So I know what it's like not to get gifts. The hard part for me in my current situation is not about what gifts I won't get...it's about those gifts I can't give. I love to give. But you know, I don't have to spend money to do that. I can give of my time. I can give of my talents (whatever that may be). I can do those random acts of kindness you read about all the time. It doesn't take much to make someone smile. And in the doing, I can show the love of Jesus. And that's what it's all about. There are people out there suffering. They are without hope. But Jesus offers them hope. He offers them eternal life. That's life long after the life we're living now. Sure, we may be facing tough times and circumstances, but isn't it incredible to know that these things are only temporary?

Just a Thought About Worship

6 “A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the LORD Almighty.
   “It is you priests who show contempt for my name.
   “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’
 7 “By offering defiled food on my altar.
   “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’
   “By saying that the LORD’s table is contemptible.
8 When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the LORD Almighty.
 9 “Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?”—says the LORD Almighty.
 10 “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD Almighty, “and I will accept no offering from your hands. 11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty.
 12 “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ 13 And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the LORD Almighty.
   “When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the LORD. 14 “Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,” says the LORD Almighty, “and my name is to be feared among the nations. MALACHI 1:6-14

I don't think I have to say too much for believers to get the point that is being made here in these verses. God is definitely not satisfied with sloppy seconds, leftovers. He wants our very best. And honestly, it isn't too much to ask considering who He is and what He has done for us. If God looked into the heart motives behind our worship (the church as a whole), would He say, "Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you, and I will accept no offering from your hands?"  Plain English might word it a it differently. Maybe something like, "Why don't you just shut the church doors instead of pretending to worship...I don't like hypocritical worship." Oh my...that's something to think about, isn't it? I'm reminded also of the verse in Amos 5:23 where it says, "Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps !" Is it enough to sing a song of worship or play to God when our lives aren't representing that we are His children? Are we mistreating our fellow man? Are we giving grudgingly? Is there some idol in our lives that takes precedence over God? Do we think that God will bless us for our lame efforts at worship? I'm just thinking out loud...not pointing any fingers. I myself have been guilty of going through the motions. God has a way of bringing it to your attention when He isn't pleased. It's why I like to take time to examine myself on occasion. I don't want my worship to be useless. And I never want to give God less than He deserves...well, I probably fail there because, as a human, I could never truly give all that He deserves. But I can give the best I have to offer....

Bryce

Okay, so it's no secret that I absolutely adore my three grandsons. They are three of the most incredible little men ever and I never miss a moment to brag about what they have done that I find humorous, amazing, intelligent, etc. I think most grandparents must feel this way about their grandchildren. At least, that's how they should feel. Anyway, today I want to talk about the baby of my bunch...Bryce Evan. He is the cutest thing. Everything he does just fascinates me. For those who don't know me, let me preface this by saying that my husband is a drummer and I sing and on occasion write songs. I wish I could play guitar (I know a few chords) and piano. For some reason they have never come easy for me...I have resigned myself to being a wannabe musician. Since I can't really be what I want, it has always been my dream that one of my children would be musically inclined, and pursue it as a career choice. Really, they both are inclined toward music...they just chose not to further the dream. Both of them can play guitar and love music so I guess that will have to do. So along come the grandsons and my hope is renewed that someone will be into music. Jacob loves to play drums, but we're not talking about him today. My focus is on Bryce. He is 19 mos. old and he loves drums and guitar. The moment he walks in my door, he heads straight to the drums, picks up the sticks and proceeds to play. And he has pretty good rhythm I might add. Once he's played there for a while he goes over to my guitar and starts in..."tar, tar," he says as he points to the case. Sometimes reluctantly I open the case and pull out the guitar (I say reluctantly because at times I am busy and would much prefer not to start that since I have to watch him the entire time) . Once the guitar is out of the case he immediately says, "pick, pick." Haha. I have to laugh. It's just so darn cute. Yesterday I was letting him strum while I held the guitar and he was having a real good time. He stopped for a minute so I did a sort of syncopated rhythm and tapped the guitar, to add a drum beat. He was thrilled watching me play. His eyes grew as wide as saucers. Of course he had to try that for himself. After he did that he started tapping on the strings and I thought of that movie, "August Rush." I started singing to him and he joined in with me. And he was in tune. And to top it all off he started dancing a cute little jig. I wish I had video taped it because it was such a precious moment; one I will always remember. Well, at least I hope I always remember it. My dad has Alzheimer's so I've come to realize that you don't always have a choice in the matter. Back to Bryce. So me and my husband decide to take the three boys to the local Christmas concert. For the most part, they weren't super interested in the show...up until Bryce spotted the guitar on stage. He wanted that guitar in a bad way. He kept pointing at it and telling me, "tar, tar." I jokingly told my son today that I was gonna nickname him tarbaby.
On Saturday morning I took Bryce and Jeremiah to the Christmas parade. Bryce loves motorcycles as much as he loves music and was enthralled as they rode round and round in front of him. "Vroom, Vroom." Ah...but here comes a drum....yep, he was loving that just as much, if not more. All this to say, "my grandson is a music lover and it is my hope that he continues to love it throughout his life." Music is a comfort in times of sorrow, a joy in times of celebration. It defines moments in our past and expresses emotions we cannot always voice ourselves. Without it, this life would be a pretty dull place. While my grandsons all have different likes and interests, I still long for at least one of them to end up playing regularly. And it would be really nice if they were playing for God...:-)

A Matter of the Heart

Now, therefore, says the Lord Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. So rend your heart and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm. Joel 2:12-13

 

By this scripture we can clearly see that God is not satisfied with outward acts of repentance. Rending ones garment was a custom of the day; a custom that showed grief or remorse. However, people can go through all the ritualistic motions they want to and still not be truly repentant. And God knows this. That is why He is asking for a rending of their hearts. In Psalm 51 we read David's prayer of repentance. After acknowledging his sin as being against God he goes on to say in Psalm 51 10: "Create in me a clean heart, O God." David recognized that his sin was a heart issue, and that repentance could only come when the heart was changed. So how does a person change their heart? As believers we can turn from our sin, but more importantly, we need to get into the Word and have our minds renewed. Only then can real transformation take place. That is how we come to know what it is that pleases and displeases God. His thinking becomes our thinking. We can hear all the feel good messages we want to and never have a life changing transformation. They may go in one ear and out the other. But there's something about getting into the Word and reading it for ourselves...it's like a marvelous epiphany as the scriptures come alive. A light seems to shine on those things that aren't in line with God's views. As this happens, genuine repentance comes. Now, let me point out that in David's case he received a word from Nathan the prophet after he (David) had committed sin....in other words, a word from God. You can read that story in 2 Samuel if you'd like to investigate further. I assure you, it is well worth the read.

 

So what about those who aren't spending time reading the Bible? Those who are non believers? How can their heart be changed? Well, we all know that God is truly the only one who can change a heart. It is His kindness that draws men to repentance. So is there something we can do? We can seek the Lord with all our heart. The Bible tells us that when we seek, He will be found. So why not start seeking? Salvation comes from no other. Don't think that you are too bad and that there's no way God could ever forgive you. He did just that when He died on the cross. And don't think you have to get all cleaned up before you seek Him. God is the best launderer there is. He accepts you as you are. It kind of reminds me of when I would take my clothes to the dry cleaner. I know that's a silly example, but hey, it's what I've got...Anyway, I didn't clean the clothes before taking them, did I? Certainly not! That's their job, right? Well, in the same way it's God's job to clean us up when we turn to Him. A lot of people will hire a maid to come clean their home, but before she arrives you see them picking up, trying to straighten things up so they won't look so bad. Ha! That is not what God wants...I am reminded of an old hymn called Just As I Am. One of the verses says this:

 

Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

 

Okay, so in today's English that basically means that He will receive us just as we are. He welcomes us, pardons us, cleanses us, and relieves us of the responsibility for our own salvation. And what did it take?Belief in the promises of God. Believing that Jesus is who He said He is. The Son of God who came to die for our sins. Believing that He died on the cross in our place and that He rose again on the third day, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. And because of His death and resurrection we are assured that we can one day be with Him in heaven. Not a shabby deal now is it? And the great thing about it is that we don't have to do all these things that other religions seem to think are necessary for salvation. When we are born again we will want to do good works, but we know that it is not the works that save us. Our salvation is found in Christ alone.

Awesome God

Awesome God

Your voice is
The voice that
Commanded the universe to be
Your voice is
The voice that
Is speaking words of love to me
How can it be

Awesome God
Holy God
I worship You in wonder
Awesome God
Holy God
As You draw near I'm humbled
By Your majesty
And the mystery of Your great love for me

Your arms are
The arms that
Hung shining stars in deepest space
Your arms are
The arms that
Surround me with a warm embrace
Amazing grace

Awesome God
Holy God
I worship You in wonder
Awesome God
Holy God
As You draw near I'm humbled
By Your majesty
And the mystery of Your great love for me


This song reminds me of how awesome God really is. The same God who created the universe, the same God that speaks things into existence, is the God that now resides in me. He's the same God that loved (and still loves) me when I didn't even deserve it. He embraces me and showers me with love. Wow! Hard to fathom that, isn't it? Romans 5:8 says: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Yep, we did nothing to deserve it. and I find that pretty incredible. I can't see me dying for someone who is my enemy. Can you? But that is exactly what Jesus did.  And I am so grateful that He did because even though I didn't always see my need for a Savior, I needed a Savior. And I still need one. Every day I need one. I am human, and it is only by His shed blood that I can be counted as righteous. Not because of anything I've done or will do. He is an amazing God...an awesome God...a God like no other.

Holidays and Life

Thanksgiving is supposed to be about thanking God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us. And yes, I do thank him for that. I am especially thankful that he sent his son to die so that I might live. What an incredible gift! What mercy. But holidays are often a time of sadness for many. So many people have lost loved ones and the pain is still fresh. And holidays are a reminder of what they've lost. This is the first Thanksgiving since my cousin Marie died. Even though I didn't always see her on Thanksgiving I could always call her and cut the fool. And we'd always vow to get together soon. Yes, I am sad. I miss her like crazy. But I am also thankful that God allowed her to be in my life for as long as she was. She touched my heart in a way that no other has. She inspired me. She taught me that it's okay to laugh in spite of the pain. It's okay to live in the face of death. Marie was always so concerned with other people. She would go out of her way to make sure everyone was doing okay. Even the last week of her life she didn't want to go lay in her bed for fear of offending people. It didn't matter that she felt like crap. She wanted to be the best hostess to her guests. But you know, I've discovered that it's okay to show others that you're hurting. It's okay to say, "I need to go rest." We can't be all things to all people at all times. We're human. That being said, let me say, "I am hurting." I miss Marie. I miss my brother in law David. I miss my mother in law. I miss my husband's Uncle Joe. Too many losses in such a short time. Still, I am thankful for all that God has blessed me with. A husband who adores me, great children, some amazing grandsons to love, and a family that I love dearly....life can be bittersweet, can't it? There are joyful moments, and moments of intense grief. There are times when we suffer, and times when we comfort those who suffer.

I was sitting here thinking about how my life is right now...and you know, it could be a lot worse. I may be struggling financially, but I have food on the table and a roof over my head. I may have health issues, but there are those who suffer far worse health issues. I think about people like the Matthews Family and wonder how they can face each day, having lost two children in such a short time (http://www.thematthewsstory.com/). I think about those in other countries who lose children from things like cholera. I think about how those mothers and fathers grieve the loss. It must be a hard thing to deal with. And what about the children who lose their parents? Life isn't always fair. And sometimes I'd like to shake my fist at the sky and scream, "Why God?" But even in those moments, I know that He works all things together for good. I know that He is in control and sees the bigger picture. So then I pray, "Open my eyes, Lord that I may see as You see. And open my heart that I may respond as You would respond."

Confession Time

I have a confession to make. I have not been as diligent in my study of the Word as I should be. Not that I have to follow some legalistic rules about how much I read my Bible. But you know, sometimes you just know that what you're doing isn't enough. I mean, here I am in the most free country in the world, with every resource imagineable at my disposal, and yet, I waste much of my time doing other things; things that will in no way transform me into the image of Christ. I want to know God intimately, and that intimacy doesn't come without quality time spent in the Word and in prayer. Only as my mind is renewed will the Christ in me be reflected to a lost and dying world. And those things that often come too easily, like lashing out in anger when someone hurts me, will become a thing of the past. I will instead learn to bless those who curse me. I will pray for those who persecute me. I will repay evil with good. I will speak less, listen more. I will be more willing to give than receive. There's a vast array of knowledge contained within the pages of scripture. A wealth of information about how to live life according to God's thinking. And that is what I want. To lay aside the desires of Jan, and seek to do what pleases the Father. Sometimes that isn't always easy. In fact, I'd venture to say, most times it isn't easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it, right?

Faithful Are The Wounds of A Friend

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Proverbs 27:6

Whenever I read this verse I am reminded of a couple of things. First, I am reminded of some of my closest friends. We met years ago and a bond formed between us. There are five of us, and we jokingly refer to ourselves as the click. What is great about this group is that we can share some of our most intimate life details and never fear that what we say will end up as a gossip tidbit. We can be real. But another thing that I love about these gals is that they aren't afraid to let me know if I am walking in error or if I am on a path that is leading to destruction. They can speak truth into my life, and I value their input. I give them permission to  hold me accountable. Psalm 141:5 says:

"Let the righteous strike me; It shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me: It shall be as excellent oil; Let my head not refuse it."

My friends know how to lovingly correct me when I am wrong. It is my prayer that I take such correction in the spirit it is intended, without offense. These girls are looking out for my best interest, just as I would look out for their best interest.

Okay, so I said the verse reminded me of a couple of things. Another thing that verse reminds me of is when a friend asked me for advice. Now, let me say that I am not one to speak flippantly. I want to offer godly advice, not just what my flesh might think is right in the heat of emotion. So I prayed before offering her any advice. I slept on it. And when I did offer the advice, it was straight from the Word of God. But guess what...it offended her. You see, she didn't truly want God's opinion, or even mine. She wanted someone to condone her sin. And I couldn't do that. What kind of friend only tells you what you want to hear when they see you taking a road that will lead to harm? Had I told her what she wanted to hear, I would not have been displaying the traits of a true friend. Our relationship was never the same after that. But I don't regret for a moment what I told her because I knew it was founded in truth.

Having said all that, let me suggest that you find yourselves some real friends who aren't afraid to speak the truth in love. Allow them to hold you accountable. Yes, I know that ultimately we are accountable only to God. But it helps to have someone who can see things that you may not see about yourself. Choose your friends wisely.

Transparency & Praising in the Trials

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

This morning I was reading this verse and I had a sudden thought about transparency. So many times people assume that being transparent is merely saying that we should be quick to let people see that we have struggles, flaws and weaknesses. While this may be true to some degree, and at some times, it got me thinking about how as Christians, we are called to be imitators of Christ. This means that we should be showing God's power and awesomeness in the midst of our trials just as Christ did. He faced seemingly impossible circumstances, yet His trust in the Father never wavered. And in those times of intense temptation He still spoke the word of God. So what does that have to do with transparency? It seems to me that when we are facing difficult times what is on the inside of us will rise to the surface and that is what people will see shining through.
As my pastor was speaking this morning he mentioned praising even in the hard times. Something he said triggered my memory of my cousin and how she always praised no matter how she felt or what the doctors said about her condition. She battled cancer for several years and she always trusted God even when things were at their bleakest. There was a song she loved so much. It is called, "Yet I Will Praise" and here are the lyrics:

I will praise You Lord my God
Even in my brokenness
I will praise You Lord
I will praise You Lord my God
Even in my desperation
I will praise You Lord

And I can't understand
All that You allow
I just can't see the reason
But my life is in Your hands
And though I cannot see You
I choose to trust You

Even when my heart is torn I will praise (trust) You Lord
Even when I feel deserted I will praise (trust) You Lord
Even in my darkest valley I will praise (trust) You Lord
And when my world is shattered and it seems all hope is gone
Yet I will praise You Lord

I will trust You Lord my God
Even in my loneliness
I will trust You Lord
I will trust You Lord my God
Even when I cannot hear You
I will trust You Lord

And I will not forget
That You hung on a cross
Lord You bled and died for me
And if I have to suffer
I know that You've been there
And I know that You're here now

The reason that Marie could praise in the midst of her struggle was because she had an intimate relationship with God. She studied the word, and as a result, her mind (thinking) had been transformed by it. It was as much a part of who she was as the blood that coarsed through her veins. And when the pressure was on, she became transparent...showing, not only the trials she was facing, but the God she was trusting. Anyone who knew her well knew what she was going through, but if asked about her they always mentioned that her faith was what kept her going strong.
On one particlar occasion Marie and I had a long conversation about her situation. As she spoke I began writing down things she said to me. I then wrote a song using her own expressions. I always called it "Marie's Song" even though it never once mentioned her name. Here are her thoughts expressed in song:

There have been days when I have questioned
Lord, why is this happening to me
And there have been days when I've been broken
Crying before You on my knees

There are days when I've clearly seen Your hand
Working all around me
Laying in place all of my life's circumstance
And molding me into who I should be

Some say that I'm strong, in my strength I should make it through
But Lord I don't see it quite their way
For I know that all of my strength comes from You
And that is why to You I pray

Help me, Lord, to wait patiently
And help me place my trust in You
And give me the faith that it takes to believe
That even my pain brings glory to You


In the first line it says, there have been days when I have questioned. But do you know what she questioned? She questioned her own sin. Had she done anything to bring this on herself? If she had sin in her life that may have caused this, she wanted to deal with that sin. Her questioning was a self examination. Her brokenness was a complete surrender to the will of God. She would tell anyone who'd listen all the things God had done for her even in the midst of the battle. She didn't focus on the bad that was happening, but rather, on the glory God was gonna get because of how He had worked in the situations of her life. She knew that God was more than capable of healing if that was what He chose to do. And she also knew that no matter what happened she wanted Him to get glory...even in her suffering. Marie was a unique woman, loved by many. She was kooky and a lot of fun to be around. She'd give you the shirt off her back and help anyone who had a need. But more than any other quality she possessed, her love for God was the most visible thing in her life.

Christ: The Solid Rock

Christ: The Solid Rock

As I glanced over some pictures I took of my grandson, I came across this one and was reminded of lyrcis to an old hymn...

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
His oath, His covenant, and blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
 
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;All other ground is sinking sand.

Okay, so those who know me well are probably thinking, "everything reminds you of a song." Yep, it does. But hey, that isn't a bad thing when it reminds me of the awesomeness of God. I know that trials may come, but I also know that I can cling tight to the solid rock, that firm foundation, and my faith will remain intact. Sometimes I may not "feel" His presence, but that doesn't mean He's not there. And that reminds me of another song...hehe..

I waited for You today
But You didn't show, no no
I needed You today
So where did You go
You told me to call,
Said You'd be there
And though I haven't seen You
Are you still there

I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here
And I'm never alone

And though I cannot see You
And I can't explain why
Such a deep, deep reassurance
You've placed in my life, oh
We cannot separate
Cause You're part of me
And though You're invisible
I'll trust the unseen

I cried out with no reply
And I can't feel You by my side
So I'll hold tight to what I know
You're here

And I'm never alone

So there you have it. We may not always feel God's presence, but we can rest knowing that His Holy Spirit resides within us. And we can trust that no matter how the situations look, He will be there with us, a solid rock to lean on...He will never leave nor forsake us, and we can trust that.

Alzheimer's

What do you do when your loved one forgets significant events and people in their life? I am just now beginning the journey through Alzheimer's with my dad and I wonder how I am going to be able to handle it as the disease progresses. In June my dad's wife died. He doesn't remember. Every day he questions where she is or makes comments about her as if she is still living. Sometimes I try to just avoid commenting. It seems to be simpler if you don't have to tell him she's dead. But those times when he point blank asks me I feel I have to be truthful. So I tell him. And he grieves all over again. It's like it's the first time he's heard the news. Shortly after the death he would get so angry and ask why no one told him. The thing is, he was right there with her when she died. I've begun to add that part as soon as I tell him she died. I'll say, "You were right there with her daddy. You just forgot." His other thing is he claims the house he's living in is not his own. There's no use arguing with him about it. He won't believe you. We've just started assuring him that he's not going to be kicked out of the house. It seems to appease him at least momentarily.
My grandmother had Alzheimer's. I watched as she progressively grew worse and ended up bedridden and unable to even speak. My mother and aunt had to live with her up until her death. It took a toll on them physically and emotionally. I can't fathom me doing more for daddy than I already do. Is that wrong of me to think that way? My schedule is pretty full as is. And if you knew the whole story of my childhood and such you'd understand more why I feel this way. My son is always asking why I have to tend to my dad when he never did anything for me. It's a hard thing. My dad wasn't there for me growing up. He didn't offer any child support. We did without even the basic necessities of life. But still I loved him. And I would never want to hurt him. I would never want to abandon him in his hour of need. That's what my mama taught me. You help your family. And being a Christian, I feel it is my responsibility to help him and to forgive him.
A long time ago a friend advised me to express to daddy how I felt about what he did to us. I told him, "I can't hurt him the way he hurt me." I didn't want to tell him all that I had kept buried inside. The hurt, the anger, the suffering I endured as a result of his actions. I would never want to inflict that kind of pain on him. But it would be even worse if he didn't have any feelings about what I said...like if he didn't seem to care at all. So I kept my mouth closed. And now, I don't think he'd even understand if I told him.
Every day I pray that some of his memory will come back (he has other issues that contribute to the memory loss). If that could happen at least he might be able to enjoy his life for a while longer. I dread that day when he no longer remembers who his kids are. Oh if only a cure could be found....

Vote

http://www.ccfla.org/guides.php

http://www.cc.org/

I am not a fan of politics. I do however feel that it is my responsibility as a citizen of this great nation to vote. But I feel I need to be informed about the decisions I make. That is why I posted the sites for people to check out...the first one is for Florida, the second is the main site. Take a look. See what your candidates stand for or against, and then vote.

Glasses Shopping..All About Choices

My goal yesterday was to find a new pair of glasses. Simple enough task, right? Wrong. As I picked through the bunch, finding a few that suited my style, I had a sales person come over asking to see my prescription. She then informed me that my selections wouldn't work for the prescription I had. Now how did I know that there would be some glitch if I found anything I liked? Anyway, I stood there picking up each pair I had chosen as a possibility, only to have her shake her head with almost every single pair. The ones I liked least might work...mght work? So she began bringing me selections she knew would work. Blah, blah, ho hum, and more blah. I'm thinking..."I wanted modern, not my grandma's glasses." "Have you tried plastic?" she asked. Well, sure I have. My first pair of glasses were plastic. And I'm not totally opposed to plastic. It's just that the colors usually don't work well with my skin tone. She brings me a tan pair. BLAH! Me and tan just don't work well together. Black? Nope....too dark. Tortoise shell? Eww...not for me.  Wire frames next. John Lennon style? Nope...been there, done that....back in the 80's. Aviator? Nope...another been there, done that. I had this horrible thought that I might end up coming out of there with big bug eye glasses like someone talked me into way back in the day....the ones I couldn't see how I looked in while shopping and ended up hating for the next year. Finally, I found a pair I liked okay and went to make the purchase, hoping to have them in an hour. Ha! No hour wait for you, missy! Well, that's how it sounded in my ear. My prescription is a special order case. Even if I didn't have the progressive lens issue, there's the issue of my one eye that would need a special lens. "Okay, so how long?" I ask.  "Oh, only about two weeks." Only? Geez. So moving on she begins to explain progressive lenses to me since I've never worn them before. I kind of knew all of the information she told me, but she had pictures. She had drawings. And then she had to explain all of the additional options. Whew! By the time I actually got around to making the decisions, I had spent 2 hours in there. 2 hours and still no glasses.  Yeah, they are on order. But now I'm wondering if I'm having second thoughts. Nah! I'm not going through that again. It's all been done now.

As I reflected on my day I was reminded of all the choices we have to make in life every day. Some choices are irrelevant in the grand scheme of things (like picking glasses), while others have some serious implications in our lives and especially in our spiritual life. Accepting Jesus as Savior or rejecting Him is the biggest choice we must make. While some may think that they can put off making a choice, they have actually made a choice...a choice to reject Him. By rejecting Him, they are doomed to spend their eternal life in hell. That's some serious stuff there. I really don't know why people always assume they can make some death bed confession of faith but continue to live a life without Christ in the meantime. Do they not understand that they may not get a chance to repent if they wait? Do they think they are immortal? I probably thought that way once upon a time. But I think the older you get the more you can see that people don't always have an instant left to say some prayer of repentance. So this is a decision people need to make while there is still time to make it.
Another issue that is of importance are the friends we choose. I am a person who is pretty selective about friendships. Most of the ones I have are people I've known for years. While some don't believe the way I do about God, all of them are aware of my beliefs. I don't try to hide it. Anyway, I was thinking about high school days. Back then (yeah, it's been a long time) I longed to be in with the popular crowd, the cool crowd. But for the most part, they were the drug users and drinkers. And as uncool as it made me, I refused to be a part of that. I knew all too well the suffering that comes from such activities. I stood my ground for the most part....and, as you can assume, I wasn't really accepted into that group. Looking back, I'd say it was a good thing. Here we are years later and many of those friends are addicts. Many have spent time in jail or are currently in jail. Most of them have had failed relationships. And I ask myself, "How cool are they now?" Their rejection hurt for a moment, but in the long run I am a better person because I stood for what I believed and refused to be swayed by peer pressure.

Every day we are faced with temptations. In those times we have a choice to make. At times, the desire to sin is so great and it seems that we can't bear it, but God's Word assures us that we won't be tempted beyond what we can bear, and He makes a way of escape. The thing is, we have to want to escape. I'd say that what we are thinking on can control what we eventually do. If you are rehearsing a sin in your mind, then chances are you'll soon commit it. Years ago I had a young man tell me he was going to remain pure until marriage. Soon after, I discovered that he was looking at pornography. I let him know that if he continued doing that, there would be no way he could keep that vow he had made to remain pure. When you look on something too long, it gets into your heart, and once there, it will manifest in your life. Sadly, that turned out to be the case in his life just as I had suspected it would.

As we read the Word of God there are many instructions for how a Christian should live. It is up to us to choose whether we will be obedient to God's commands or live according to our flesh. It is my prayer that when I come to the end of my life I will have made the right choices.

Please Pray for Ezra

A friend of mine recently sent me an urgent prayer request, along with a website to read up on the whole story. My heart was deeply touched as I sat and read the blog posts, crying for this child, these parents. I cannot begin to tell the story in such a way as to give you a clear understanding of the severity of this situation so I am imploring you to visit the website...when you do, I am certain you will feel the same ache in your heart that I feel, and be inlcined to pray without anyone even having to ask...

http://www.thematthewsstory/

A Little Fluff Never Hurt Anybody...or Did It?

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 1 Cor.13:11

Anyone who has children knows all too well that a child's way of thinking about things is far different than an adult's way of thinking. As I was going through some old pictures I came across this one of my two grandsons eating their cotton candy. It got me thinking about how many people out there are going around from church to church looking for the latest and greatest "fluff" preacher. Well, that's not what they'd tell you. That was kind of my own spin on it. What I am referring to is people going to hear preachers who will tell them what they want to hear. No stepping on their toes kind of preaching. And don't dare say anything that doesn't make them feel good. Give them a sweet gooey message and life is all good. I've known people like that over the years. And they don't only do this with preachers, they do it when picking friends. I've had friends ask for my opinion on things and then cringe when I spoke what the word of God said. I was thinking, "Hey don't kill the messenger. I only spoke what God's Word said on the subject." But they were looking for a pat on the back, a condoning of their sin. I once wrote a song called "Don't Compromise" that touched on this. Here's the first verses and chorus:

Your friends may come to you

Seeking your counsel

They're lost and confused

They don't know just what to do

Well, let me give you

A little word of warning

They may just take your words

And spit them right back at you

Cause they don't really want to hear

What you've got to say

They only want you to agree

With their sinful ways

They're looking for a pat on the back,

Someone who'll say

What they're doing just isn't half bad,

In fact it's quite okay

But don't compromise

What you know to be true

Just speak the word

And let the word do the talking for you

Don't let them try to talk you into thinking their way

Just say the words you know

That God would have you say

And don't compromise

Going back to the picture...the cotton candy reminds me that kids would eat junk food all day long if you let them. It doesn't matter that it's not good for them as long as it tastes good to them. But what they don't realize is, this can make them sick. Sometimes the sickness comes pretty quickly because of too much junk food intake at one time. But there is a lack of nutrition that will also effect them in the long term if they continue on this path. This is even more detrimental to their overall health. That goes right along with what I was saying about wanting to hear only good things, things that are pleasing to the ear. If you don't receive the full counsel of God, then you will be lacking. There will be a deficiency. There has to be a balance of nutrition.

I don't deny that God gives good things to His children, but He also disciplines them when necessary. If He didn't, then you would have to wonder if that was truly love. Parents can understand this. If we never disciplined our children then they would turn out to be spoiled brats who always demanded things to be their way. They would live a life thinking "it's all about me." And that kind of thinking is contrary to God's Word.  We teach our children things like not to cross the street when cars are coming, to check the depth of water before diving, to not play with fire, etc. But it is equally important to teach them to put others above self, to serve rather than be served, to not cheat, not lie, and other things found in God's Word. That way they can grow into the adults God would have them be. And it's important for adults to learn these lessons as well. They aren't just for kids to learn. As a new believer there may be things in your life that aren't exactly how God would want them, but over the years, as you study and meditate His truths, there should be a change. There should be growth. If there isn't then something is wrong.

So, with all of that being said, let me encourage you to seek more than just a feel good message. Seek God's truths fully even if it might hurt just a bit going down. Correction is not a pleasant thing, but it will definitely produce a better person.



Without Excuse

Have you ever noticed that whenever you see people in beach pictures they always look to be having a good time even if they are covered by a ton of sand or wallowing in the salty ocean, waves crashing against them, knocking them under? It's not often you see someone who doesn't look happy or peaceful. On occasion I've seen the contemplative sort. But even they look to be pretty tranquil. I recall times when I've went to the beach and just listened to the sound of the waves crashing to shore, gulls cawing, smelling the salty air, praying for a balmy breeze to cool me down a bit...as I gazed out onto the horizon it suddenly seemed that all of life's cares were just washed away. No worries here. There was a tranquility about the ocean; a calmness that seemed to soothe the soul. God's presence just seems to be so obvious whenever I am out in nature like that. It's so big...so beautiful. And I can't even imagine it just popping into existence, as some would think. 

Many times people ask, "Would God send someone to hell who had never heard the gospel message?" In years past I might have asked that very question. It doesn't really seem like a fair deal to condemn someone who didn't have the chance to know God. But in Romans 1:20 it says: "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Now, I'm no Bible scholar but this reminds me of what I was just speaking about....how something so big, so vast could never have just popped into existence. It would require a much greater power...a Creator. Psalms 19:1 tells us: "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands." This tells me that if a man can believe that there is a Creator of the earth around him, and he seeks to know that Creator, then God will surely make a way to reveal the gospel to him. We are told that if we seek Him, we will find Him. That would seem to include those who may have no knowledge of who He is, just a knowing that there has to be a Creator.

For those who question God's existence, go outside and take a look at the world around you. Not just a glimpse of things, but take a deep look at the complexities of this world. It takes as much faith to believe that this world was created from nothing as it does to believe it was created by God. And if evolution were true, why has it stopped? If man truly did come from an ape, why then hasn't he evolved into something new? And what about all the details of the human body? The way things all work together is an amazing thing. Do you actually believe it just happened by some explosive circumstance?

Until next time...

~jan~

Following God's Leading

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10

I was reading my Bible last night as the television played in the background. I stumbled onto Acts 16:6-10 and even though I've read it many times over the years, I felt compelled to read it again. It's a good reminder of how we may not always know the course God would have us choose, but if we step out in faith and it's not God's plan, we can rest assured that he will stop it. After reading the passage I put my Bible down and started listening to the television. Several pastors were on (including Pastor Stovall Weems from Jacksonville...he is my friend's pastor) TBN and at that moment Pastor Brian Houston was speaking about planting a Hillsong church in New York. I had to laugh when, in the course of the conversation, Acts 16:10 was mentioned. It's funny how God works like that isn't it? It's kind of a verification or confirmation that God is speaking something to you. So this had me re-reading the passage again, wondering what exactly I needed to learn from this passage. I'm thinking, "What are you trying to show me Lord?: Well, the obvious message (as I've said already) would be that we may not know where to go, but as we step out in faith, trusting God to lead us, He will direct us. In verses 6-7 we see two attempts to go in a certain direction but God stopped it. And I'd say, Yes, He did. But it was only after they acted. Sometimes we get this notion that we can't do anything until God says to do it. In all honesty, we may not hear specifically from God and this then requires a leap of faith. If you have clear direction from God to wait that's all good. But when you don't, and what you're wanting to do is a good thing, then trust that God will direct if you get off course. Take a risk.
When we get to verse 9 I thought about something that seemed to veer completely from the obvious message. Over the years I've had people tell me that God no longer speaks to people using dreams and visions. This always bothered me since I have had dreams that I felt were from God. And many times they turned out to be pretty accurate about situations going on around me. Oh, don't get me wrong, I never assume every dream is a dream from God. Many are just silly dreams. Those are usually the ones I forget quickly. But on occasion I have a dream that I can't shake. I'll go throughout my day thinking about it, unable to forget it. This always causes me to take a closer look at its message. Anyway, as I read the words, "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night" it was like a light bulb went off. This vision in the night happened after Jesus' resurrection. And there are other times mentioned in the Bible that speak about such things as being in a trance, visions, etc. So how is it that a person can say God no longer uses these means to communicate? Yes, we have the Bible to lead and direct us, and that is always a source to rely on. If we think something is of God it sure better line up with what is contained in those pages. Otherwise, we would be wise to question its validity. So my point is, seek God, seek to do His will, and He will answer. And that answer may come in ways we don't always expect.

Until next time...

~jan~

Obedience: The Purest Form of Worship

What does it mean to worship? There are so many views on the subject. How do we determine what is considered worship? Let's start with these explanations of worship:

The primary Hebrew word for worship, Shachah  means "to depress, i.e. prostrate (in homage to royalty or God): bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship."
Three Greek words used to define worship are: Proskuneo - "meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand), to fawn or crouch to, homage (do reverence to, adore): worship." It occurs 59 times in the New Testament. It originally carried with it the idea of subjects falling down to kiss the ground before a king or kiss their feet. Sebomai - "to reverence, hold in awe." Used 10 times in the New Testament. Latreuo - "to render religious service of homage." Used 21 times in the New Testament.

The English word for worship means to ascribe worth to something.

Now let's move on to my thoughts:

I have often said that obedience is the purest form of worship, for without it, any act considered to be worship is useless. In other words, we can be doing all the so called right things and still not be worshippers. Let's take a look at the story found in 1 Samuel 15:2-23:

This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’" So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim— two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. Then he said to the Kenites, "Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs— everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel: "I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night. Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, "Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal." When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD’s instructions." But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?" Saul answered, "The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest." "Stop!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul replied. Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?" "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal." But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

This is a prime example of what I am referring to when I speak about obedience in regard to worship. In this passage Saul tried to justify his partial obedience by saying they were going to use the animals for worship sacrifices. That clearly wasn't what God had instructed him to do. And we all know that partial obedience is still disobedience in the eyes of God. Saul rejected the word of the Lord. As a result, he was rejected as King. To obey is better than sacrifice.

In Amos 5:21-24 it says:

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

So why were their religious feasts and offerings despised by God? Weren't these considered acts of worship? They were despised because they oppressed the righteous and were taking bribes and depriving the poor of justice in the courts. Proverbs 21:3 says: "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." God would have much rather had them treat others right than to have some ritualistic act of worship. Their hearts were far from Him.

Romans 12:1 tells us: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God— this is your spiritual act of worship."

Offering our bodies as living sacrifices means putting God's priorities above our own. It means obeying His commands and doing what is pleasing in His sight; sacrificing our ways in order to live according to His way. He views this as a spiritual act of worship. Wow! Isn't that incredible? By doing what God wants us to do we are considered worshippers. I like that. This takes a lot of pressure off of me when I come into the house of God to worship with other believers. I don't have to DO any specific act to be considered a worshipper. My lifestyle is the act that determines worship.

So, does this mean that our acts of worship at church are not really worship? No, it doesn't mean that at all. As long as our heart motives are pure, and we are consistently walking in obedience to God's commands, our expressions are an overflow of a lifestyle of worship. Those expressions may include bowing and other outward displays. But the act itself is not what constitutes worship. It requires relationship with God, and a pure heart.

I was thinking about the story of the wise men and how they were traveling to see Jesus when he was born. They rejoiced when they saw the star. There was an excitement at the anticipation of being in the presence of the Messiah. They were joyful. Once they were actually in His presence they paid honor to Him. Or another way of putting it is they ascribed worth to Him. They fell to the ground and worshipped. They also offered gifts. What they didn't do was ask for something. Now right about now I can hear some of you grumbling....many believe that God will grant things like healing and deliverance in times of intense worship. And while this may be true, our focus should not be on what we might get from God, but rather on what we can give to God. Also, let me make another point here....the wise men were excited about being in the presence of Jesus...we have Jesus living on the inside of us. So this tells me that we should have an excitement about God in our every day lives. And while we may not always be in a position to bow before the Lord, we are to be humble before Him.

Okay, so there are a few of the thoughts I have on worship. I could say so much more, but will close for now.

Until next time...

~jan~

With God We Can Do All Things

When faced with situations that may cause us to become angry with another person we have a choice to make. We can either be slow to anger, restraining our lips from speaking things we will later regret or we can lose our temper and basically invalidate our religion to those around us (James 1:26).
There have been times when I've spoken in anger and later felt that my witness for Christ had been blown out the window. I immediately felt remorse even though at the time I felt my anger was justified. Why? Because I knew that my behavior wasn't pleasing in God's eyes. The Bible clearly states that we are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, to turn the other cheek (luke 6:27-33) and to not be easily offended (Proverbs 19:11). That may be difficult to do at times, but it's not impossible or God wouldn't have instructed us to do it.
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that we have a High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses. He was tempted just as we are, yet He was without sin. Verse 16 tells us that we can come boldly to the throne of grace in order to obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. I thank God that we can ask for His help and when we do blow it we can be assured of forgiveness when we confess our sin (1 John 1:9). That mercy still amazes me. Don't get me wrong though. This is not a license to sin.
Unresolved anger can quickly turn to bitterness and unforgiveness. These things are rooted much more deeply than just a simple angry moment and can eventually cause serious repercussions if not dealt with promptly. So how do we deal with the problem before it veers out of control? By being spiritually minded. This requires spending time in the Word, renewing our way of thinking. When our thinking is in line with God's we will be slow to anger, we will show mercy and we will learn to forgive no matter how many times we've been mistreated. When Satan attacks us or throws temptation our way we will have weapons of warfare at our disposal. In my own strength I cannot conquer the enemy. But Jesus can...and did. And because He did, I now have access to that same power. I just need to learn how to tap into it. I need to fight those temptations the very way Jesus did; with the word of God.

Until next time....

~jan~