Can You Believe It?

Honestly, how many times in the month of December did you say, “Can you believe its Christmas already? Didn’t we just have one?” Please tell me at least once so I don’t feel so alone.

Today the question changes, “How was your Christmas?” Let’s see…where do I start? How much do you really want to know? Too much information can be…well, too much. I usually sigh, assess where I am, look for ease droppers, and share these profound words, “Great! How ‘bout yours?”

But, whatever your answer may be there is another date to now consider—New Year’s Day; believe it or not.

So, with that in mind, after living this year through some life-altering events, I would like to share some other things I chose to believe in the New Year to come.

I believe Jesus can do all things through me; can move the mountains in my heart; can heal my brokenness; can replace what has been taken; can help me see something bigger; can love others through me; can counsel me when I need direction; can fill me until I reach my limit; can be my friend when I don’t feel like anyone really cares; can teach me in ways I never dreamed of; can set me free from past failures, can restore my joy, and…can love me like no other.

I agreed with the Lord two years ago to learn to love supernaturally but had no idea how far He would take me up on that offer. I sometimes wonder what got in to me to make such a deal. I’ve been playing tug-of-war ever since and yearning for the comfort on my protective cocoon and just love those I feel safe with. But God has made it clear, “No, my daughter, you will learn to soar.” That’s how much He loves me.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:31

What will you chose to do between this past Christmas and next? It will be here before you know it.

The Treasured Gift

Nothing warms the heart more than to see the excitement in a child’s eyes at Christmas. Children will be honest with their reactions of joy or tears when sitting on Santa’s lap. They learn early on what Christmas is about and what it means to celebrate the 25^th of December.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

We forget that children are a gift and are not to be taken for granted. From the second they take their first breath, like it or not, we become their teachers. Most of what they will learn comes from watching what their parents do.

I’ll be the first to admit my guilt with life lessons towards a greater anticipation of a visit from Santa rather than a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus whose gift of earthly life changed the entire world—for all time.

Can you remember every toy you received as a child? I remember a couple of dolls but have no idea where they are today. Toys are here today and gone tomorrow but the gift of eternal life is here today and will be with us tomorrow.

My children transformed the way I look at Christmas because anything I buy them would never compare to the life-giving blood of Jesus Christ. He’s more than a baby in a manager; He is God incarnate. Think of your own children, or children you know…could you give them away to die a horrible death to make a way for eternal life?

Three years ago the Lord opened the door to my daughter’s eternal home and just this past summer He did the same for my mother. No doubt Kellie knows how Heaven feels about Christmas. I’m sure she’s ready to show her grandmother how Heaven celebrates! The lasting gift of Jesus made it possible for them to be with God; not toys under the tree.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Give the gift of Jesus because one day…it will be the only remembered treasured gift.

Merry Christ-mas!

Winging It in a Digging Way!

My heart fluttered like Neil Armstrong bouncing around in moon dust the day after I reconciled with Jesus. I seemed to be weightless even though human eyes would say otherwise. I inhaled pure oxygen and walked with great purpose. One small surrender…one giant leap into freedom.

My finger selected Christian music on the radio as I opened my Bible to the Book of Psalm. The words of the songs and Bible actually made sense to me! The day after my decision was the first day of a new found passion as I could not get enough of God. I soared with new spiritual wings and...I  was digging it!

Within a month I, too, was on the Lay Renewal team sharing my testimony at other churches in Texas and as you well know…word travels fast as The Houston Christian Women’s Club asked me to become a speaker for their club. I traveled from Lake Jackson to Anahuac and everywhere else in between. (Know where Anahuac is? I do!) I soon found out I was not as alone as the enemy told me I was. Many I shared with gave their hearts to Jesus too. One of the greatest highlights of my life.

In my own church I became the Mother’s Day Out Director as I directed over 30 teachers and 100 children. Amazing how I lasted five years in that same position but loved every minute of it. Had the opportunity to work with children, teachers, and parents.

And if all those blessings weren’t enough…the Lord gave me an open door to teach high school girl’s Sunday School. Again, thought I’d get my feet wet and ended up staying in water up to my chin for the next 15 years. God sweetly surrounded me with young ladies I could learn alongside with since I had skipped out of church when I was a teenager.

In Joel 2:22-23 the Lord promises, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts…it was I who sent this great destroying army against you…once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God, who does these miracles for you…”

Give God praise today for giving you all the food you want…and more.

Was Had But Now Healed

I ran out of the choir room in search for the girl who just shared her testimony. She was part of the team who came from surrounding areas of Houston. I had never laid eyes on her before but now I considered her my best friend.

“Hi, do you have a minute?” I asked fighting to catch my breath after weaving through the crowd of women in the hallway. I grabbed her arm and continued, “Seriously, I need to talk to you right now.”

“Sure, what’s on your mind?” I began to share my whole life story as fast as a hummingbird’s wings. She fell against the wall with a puzzled look as her body language shot me the message that I was telling her more than she needed to know. Taking a breath I finished with, “In other words…I had an abortion too.” I grabbed both of her shoulders and said, “You shared your testimony for me! Can I really be as free as you seem to be?”

She grabbed me into a tight embrace as if to secure our new sisterhood. “Yes, you can be totally free from continual shame and guilt by trusting that when you ask Jesus to forgive you…He really does.”

Her sincerity gave me hope. I followed up the weekend of the Lay Renewal by rededicating my life to the Lord. I practically ran down the aisle of our church on Sunday morning as my teal colored dress was soaked with warm tears. I wanted the forgiveness my new sister was confident of and I received it.

You see…I fell for a lie, in 1974, by listening to a message that announced I had every right to decide when to start my family. It was a smart decision to postpone motherhood, but what I didn’t hear was the decision would haunt me for the rest of my life. I had been had, but now I was healed.

"Don't give any of your children to be burned in sacrifice to the god Molech—an act of sheer blasphemy of your God. I am GOD.” Leviticus 18:21 The Message

Be careful what the world tells you is right and good for you. Make sure you know how God feels before making a quick decision that could stay with you for a lifetime.

Is She For Real?

Have you ever been in a church setting where members shared their personal testimonies? Becomes very difficult to argue what God miraculously has done, doesn’t it? Nothing thrills me more than to hear another’s “Glory Story”, as I call it. Usually the circumstances they faced and the deliverance that came can only be explained by a divine intervention.

After I repented from straying away I felt an overpowering desire to return to a church family again. I was careful, though, to keep relationships at arm’s length until I felt I could trust God’s people again. Even though I went back to church…I still had it all wrong. Attendance was not the issue.

At the age of 26, I noticed on the church bulletin that we would soon have a Lay Renewal Team coming for a weekend of revival. Just the name of the team was intriguing and somewhat intimidating too.

However, for the first time in my life I heard authentic testimonies of Christians who share not only their victories, but struggles to get where they were. Masks were removed as the enemy was exposed. Renewal led them to revival.

One young lady stands out to me as I recall her powerful testimony. It grabbed me, tugged at my heart, and turned my spirit inside out. With knees trembling, she stood, walked up to the front of our choir room full of woman, took to the microphone, and shared about God’s healing with her decision to abort her baby. I had never heard anyone be so transparent. The year was 1981 and no one—I mean…no one—talked about abortion in the church and then to admit she did this despicable act and have the audacity to claim God could forgive her of it all? Was she for real? You bet she was. She meant every word she shared.

Isaiah 61:1b prophesies Jesus’ mission in this way, “…He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” And Paul writes in Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.”

The team was just a group of captives that had been set free and I wanted what they had. More next week…

Miss Trendy

Test; a word a teenager knows well. 7 periods, 7 subjects, 5 days a week, for 9 months meant lots of study times to prepare for exams. Just one test could make or break your report card.

Losing my grandmother, watching my mother grieve, and seeing the back of my father’s head as he left for long hours at work…presented an opportunity for a 13 year old girl to search for affection elsewhere. With the rage of new pop music I memorized lyrics such as; it’s your thing, do what you want to do; if loving you is wrong, I don’t want to be right; imagine there’s no religion; and she’s buying a stairway to heaven. “Goodbye hymns…hello rock ‘n roll!”

The world said, “There are no do not’s. Do whatever feels good to you.” Surely, God didn’t mean for my life to be miserable. So, I fabricated my ‘own’ family—my peers. Besides, I come from a denomination that believes in ‘once saved, always saved’. At 7 I was very sincere in my decision to follow Christ, but as a teenager, with estranged family members, I wondered far away.

As I drifted further away from Jesus the pinhole in my heart grew to be a crater. Dissatisfaction created an appetite for more satisfaction, which led to more dissatisfaction as desperate attempts to find ways to numb my pain only brought destruction. I failed the test of faith as a teen and young adult and began to question whether I was a Christ-Follower; seemed like I was more of a Trend-Follower because ‘I couldn’t get no…satisfaction'.

Hebrews 5:12 says, “In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!”

In other words…I chose to stay an infant. Ignorant of God’s Word.

Are you still on formula? Perhaps you need to learn to crawl back to Jesus so you can run in a race that leads to fulfillment. Or…were you sincere to begin with?

What Happens After You Say "I Do"?

Once you’ve said, “I do” to Jesus Christ, then you will never have another worry or care in the world, right? Wrong. One would assume the presence of God’s Son would shield us from any further struggles, but that was never a promise God made. What He did promise was He would be ‘with’ us during our trials but not that we would be trail-less.

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I accepted Jesus at the age of 7 years old. My grandfather, who was my pastor, baptized me by immersion to represent the decision I had made at the Billy Graham Crusade. The act of my Pop-Pop placing me under water was to represent that I am now buried with Christ, and then raised to a resurrected life. This ordinance was to show others I believed in Christ with all of my heart. Baptism did not save me…it was done to show others I accepted Jesus.

I enjoyed my new life as I became more active in church choir, missionary activities, and Bible study. I loved going to church. Not only did my entire family go there, too, but the whole church became my family. Was so easy to take this perfect lifestyle for granted and trust that God would always protect us as we served Him wholeheartedly.

But, on February 3, 1968 my ideal world stood still after one phone call. A nurse called to encourage us to get to the hospital as soon as possible. My grandmother stopped breathing while recovering from a simple removal of her gall bladder the day before. She died instantly with no success of being revived. We were devastated and from that day on my family fell apart. My perfect world was terribly shaken. I made the decision, at the age of 13,to stop going to church for awhile. Just way too many memories of Granny. Besides…why would God allow this to happen?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3

Have you been tested?

Is Transformation Necessary

For the past 13 weeks we have examined what would be necessary for a spiritual transformation. To tenderize a heart takes action for often we build a fortress around our heart to protect us from pain.

I learned this lesson as a 7 year old playing in my backyard. I knew there had to be someone greater than my daddy to make the grass and trees. Daddy only mowed and trimmed.

At church I heard about a man named Jesus who would take away my sins so I could live with God forever and ever. I thought about what it would mean to give my heart away to Jesus and give Him permission to live in it. I, also, wondered how a great big man would get into my little girl heart. It required childlike faith to believe in something I could not see but could feel.

I tapped my mother on the arm and said, “I have to go down.” She whispered, “Are you sure?” With blonde curls and big brown eyes I starred at her with great conviction and replied, “Yes.” No doubt God was speaking to my heart. My mother stood up, grabbed my hand, walked down the long row of steps, and on to the baseball field at a Billy Graham Crusade.

Perhaps I didn’t understand everything I was doing but three things I did know; 1) I knew I did some things wrong and was a sinner, 2) I needed someone who could forgive me and love me in spite of my imperfections, 3) I wanted to start over and have Him forever in my life and that someone was Jesus—the One whose sacrifice paid the price for all time.

…He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15

Have you gone to Jesus with childlike faith today? Go to Abba (Daddy) and place every care you have in His lap. He’s waiting for you with open arms.


Next week we will start the third series called “Will It Be Easy or Painful”.

Once and For All

Sin cost. How do I know? I’m a slow-learner. The cost is unsettling in my soul. The disruption leads me to either run to find another sin to numb the anxiousness or causes me to fall on my knees with regret, because there is no worse feeling than that of being separated from God.

Atonement for sin is nothing new. Starting in Genesis, animal sacrifices were presented to God as a means of restitution. Atonement—satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury—to make amends. The cost was, and is, the same…bloodshed.

Hebrews Chapter 9 reminds us of how atonement was practiced in the Old Testament, then shares the provision of the New Testament. The temporary practice of animal sacrifices was to only lead to a permanent solution.

God loved us so much that He gave a sinless, perfect, and unblemished gift, Jesus. No longer would a perfect animal be needed to be our replacement. His only son would be more than sufficient for not only past sins but the ones yet to be committed. He took the place of all.

“But when the Messiah arrived, high priest of the superior things of this new covenant, he bypassed the old tent and its trappings in this created world and went straight into heaven's "tent"—the true Holy Place—once and for all. He also bypassed the sacrifices consisting of goat and calf blood, instead using his own blood as the price to set us free once and for all. If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.” Hebrews 9:11-14 The Message translation.

Accept God’s greatest gift as His Son’s blood-transfusion brings life to your soul. There has been no sweeter gift to this world.

Hallowed

“Ops! Sorry,” apologizing to a little hunched-over woman behind me in a black coat and hat. Too much focus on my daily errands left me insensitive to others around me. I turned to the woman with long gray hair assuming she was hard of hearing because she continued to stand still with no response. As I bent down to look at her I found a bright green grotesque face. I took a step back as I realized it was a life size manikin of a witch.

Feeling silly I wondered over to another aisle and met another manikin eye-to-eye. This time it was a decomposed man, dressed in a tuxedo, with fake blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. I guess you can tell Halloween is not my favorite anymore.

"Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. Do not practice divination or sorcery.” Leviticus 19:26

Halloween traces back to the Celts, in Ireland, during medieval times. Their armies imitated over 300 different gods in efforts to terrorize their enemy. Witchcraft was, also, practiced to tap into the spiritual world for strength.

A feast called, Samhain (Sah-ween), was celebrated to mark the release of hostile supernatural forces to wonder around the earth. The chosen day…October 31st, the day before All Saints Day on November 1st. European Catholics would pray, to the saints, for their deceased ancestors who may be in purgatory.

Halloween seems to be gaining more attention. Decorations are becoming more elaborate too. So, what are we teaching our children? What will this lead to? Little wonder why movies like Harry Potter and Twilight have grossed over 1.6 billion dollars at the box office and DVD sales (this total does not include other series). The fascination of occult practices is evidently on the rise.

The definition of Halloween is: the last night of the year in the old Celtic calendar, where it was Old Year's Night; a night for witches.

The word Hallowed, as in the Lord’s Prayer, ‘Hallowed be Thy name…’ means; holy, sanctified, consecrated, and sacred.

Which would you rather celebrate?

Power in the Blood

The sight of blood still makes me weak—not to mention the needle that comes before it. I dread when the doctor says at the end of an exam, “Okay, I’d like to have some blood drawn so we can see how you’re doing.”

As a child I remember squirming in my pew when we sang hymns with words like: there is power, power, wonder working power in the blood of the Lamb; what can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus; are you washed in the blood, in the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb. My high soprano 7 year old voice sang along with my family all the while wondering why we had to sing about blood.

For years I ran from the Blood Donor buses when they arrived in the church parking lot. The cookies and juice looked good but no way was I going to sacrifice pain to give a pint of blood. However, the Lord changed this scardy cat when a friend desperately needed platelets in her war against leukemia. (Warning…should the Lord call you to do the same, do not look under your chair to see a plastic bag filled with yellow-white looking paste. The sight of my own platelets made the room grow dark as if I were looking through a paper towel roll. “I think I’m passing out” was all I said to bring me a crowd of white coats.)

I felt so small when I witnessed my friend get out of her hospital bed and walk. How silly for me to act so selfish over a tiny little stick to my arm. Watching her take steps from lifeless to life demonstrated there truly is power in blood.

What once scared me as a child now amazes me of God’s precious gift of warm blood that circulates throughout my body to experience another day. For it is He that commands my heart to beat another beat.

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words." Exodus 24:8

The Proof Is In The Prophecy – Part 2

With a Master of Studies degree in Law from Yale Law School, Lee Strobel became an award-winning journalist. His greatest talent is the ability to investigate until truth is found. Married, with children, his Agnostic wife discovered truth in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Lee, an Atheist, soon turned his attention towards a thorough investigation on the prophecies of Jesus in an effort to rescue his wife from this ‘cult’ she had joined called Christianity.

Lee’s investigation lasted a year and nine months. However, what started out as evidence against Christ eventually led to evidence for Christ when he discovered prophecy written hundreds of years prior were fulfilled by one man; Jesus.

Statistics support physics are only right 6% of the time yet the prophets of the Bible were correct 100%. Lee had no choice but to respond to the truth and became a Christian as well.

Lee is the author of the best-selling book, The Case for Christ, and since has written several other great books that show undeniable evidence that God’s Word is ‘the whole truth and nothing but the truth…so help us God’.

Jesus’ Death and Resurrection:
Betrayed by a friend—despised and rejected—beaten and spat on—a Son that was given— a lamb that was slaughtered—the Passover sacrifice with no bone broken—hung on a tree as a curse for us— wounded for our transgressions—thirsty during his execution— given vinegar to drink—struck in the head—hands and feet pierced—soldiers cast lots for his coat—buried with the rich—raised from the dead—swallow up death in victory—ascended on high

His Titles and Attributes:
Promised Redeemer—A Righteous King—Seed of David—The High Priest—Chief Cornerstone—Immanuel—God With Us—The Light—The Stone in Zion—God’s Elect Servant—The Righteous Branch—Good Shepherd

…"How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken…” Deuteronomy 18:21-22

The Proof Is In The Prophecy

How many prophecies do you think are in the Bible? A) 500 B) 1,000 C) 2,000 D) 2,500? J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy lists 1,239 prophecies in the Old Testament and 578 prophecies in the New Testament, for a total of 1,817. These encompass 8,352 verses. So, if you guessed C you guessed the closest to what one person has stated to be the correct number. Congratulations!

Jesus has fulfilled over 300 of those prophecies. Here are just a few from Rose Publishing’s pamphlet 100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus:

Jesus’ Birth:
He was born of a virgin—a seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—from the tribe of Judah—born in Bethlehem of Judea—from a birth line of King David—kings will bring the baby gifts and will bow down before him in worship—be a first born to be sacrificed—be a rod out of the stem of Jesse

Jesus’ Life and Ministry:
A messenger would be sent first to prepare the way (John the Baptist)—be rejected from his brethren—rulers take council against him—will be a rejected capstone—would reach out to the Gentiles as well—he will come riding on a donkey to Jerusalem—be a stumbling block for the Jews—make the deaf to hear and the blind to see—make an everlasting covenant—be a light to a dark world—would speak the words of God—be hated without reason—would come only to do the will of the Father—was anointed by God—would have a zeal for God’s house--would care for the needy—speak in parables—pray for his enemies—people’s hearts would harden from him—would minister in Zebulun, Naphtali, and Galilee—be healer and do miracles—be a shepherd who tends to his sheep—a redeemer out of Zion—preach to those that were captive—will dwell among his people—would establish a new priesthood

These are just a few from His birth and ministry that can be found in the Old Testament. Only through the study of all God’s Word have I discovered how His Words bring power to the foretelling of why we needed a Savior in the first place. It’s obvious that God provided His only Son, Jesus, who would become our sin who knew no sin.

Old is New Again

As a child it was very important to my parents for me to learn God’s Word from the very start of life. As a preschooler I memorized Scripture but as a teenager it grew to chapters. Sunday night Bible drills were nerve wracking as we placed our Bibles by our side and waited for someone to announce a random Scripture reference. The first one to find and read it was the winner. Competition was tough as we were all lightening fast.

However, as an adult I realized I had heard the stories, knew the songs, could recite Scripture and the books of the Bible but something was still missing...application. In addition to applying God's truths, Christians leaned more on New Testament studies than the Old by stating we are no longer under the law because Jesus fulfilled the law. But the question still remained in the back of my mind, “Is Jesus really who He says He is?”

Over 25 years ago I walked into a weekday ladies Bible study at my church. Not so much to study the Bible but to be around adult women. Free babysitting for my two preschoolers was a plus too. For 3 years I purchased the workbooks, signed my name inside the front cover, maybe filled in a blank or two but that’s where the effort stopped. Sitting down and reading the Bible for an hour to fill in blanks was not my cup of tea, but I hid it well.

As time marched on I began to complete a whole day, then a couple of days, a week and what I gained…WISDOM! The Old Testament became alive as I could not only see myself in every story but I could see Jesus too.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

Have you ever read Genesis? Why not start today and read a chapter per day? I challenge you to ask the Lord to show you how to apply His Words in your today then look for clues for the coming Messiah. They’re there!

Self-Destruct

“How could I do and say such a thing? I know better than to act like that. Oh, I can’t believe I’m still dealing with those thoughts and actions. Maybe I should give up, accept who I really am, and just go on with life. I wish I could be like Carol who always has it together. But, having come from a background like mine…I can only hope to be half as good as her one day.”

Could it be that you are your own worst enemy? Self-condemnation will become self-destructive, which can lead to self-centeredness resulting in self-righteousness. Ever thought of you in those terms? Pretty harsh, huh? Being ‘full of yourself’ can be thoughts of how exceptional you are to how awful you’ve become. A popular diagnosis for these two spectrums is low and high self-esteem, but rarely do we dwell on the truth…who and whose we are in Christ?

For seventeen years I dealt with a particular sin that kept me from growing in my relationship with Christ. I allowed this ‘unforgivable’ sin to consume me by making a decision to never forgive myself. The benefit—only to fall deeper into despair. However, once I realized I wasn’t even given the power to forgive myself I began to accept the One and Only who could. I had to take action by becoming transparent before the Lord and admitting I could not save myself. Only He could. I had to give up my will to be my own Savior.

Oh, many times before I ran to Jesus crying for Him to please erase that sin only to walk away and take the burden right back. It continued to have power over me. In essence, what I was saying is, “Jesus, your death on the cross was not enough for me. My sin deserves much more.” Much more? How prideful could I get?

The truth of God’s Word says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Take a moment to realize how valuable you are to God. He loves you no matter what. Allow Him to heal you through and through. Let the sin go…He has.

Brokenness Can Result in Total Trust

Has God ever disappointed you? Have you ever questioned whether He really loves you? What about this thought—“If He’s all-powerful then why did He choose not to intervene during this tragedy?”

The feeling of total abandonment, from the loving God, can be devastating. How do I know? Because He decided it would be best to end my daughter’s earthly life. Overnight I became an official (unwilling) member of a group of parents who have experienced the same. My new sets of friends often ask me, “How could a loving God allow this to happen?” I stop to take in a deep breath and pray for the Lord to keep me from speaking for Him, but to instead guide me to speak about Him. I cannot answer their why’s, but I can certainly tell about The Who.

Ecclesiastes 7:14 says, “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other.” Could it be true that the Sovereign God allows the good and bad? How in the world could something so bad become good? The challenge is to consider: He is always in control, always loving, always powerful, always present, and always able to do more than we could even hope or imagine.

Do you know someone who has said, “But, you don’t understand the pain I’m experiencing. A loving God couldn’t possibility allow this to happen to me. And…to tell you the truth…I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive Him for this one!” However, the truth still remains; Jehovah God is all-loving, all-powerful, and nothing else. So, should we really ask ourselves, “Am I able to trust Him even when He just doesn’t make sense?”

Is there a hurtful memory you need to ‘forgive’ God for today? He won’t be surprised at what you have to say because He can already see into your heart. He’s waiting for you to be honest. Tell Him He broke your heart then ask Him to do what He does best…heal the wound,restore your peace, experience His great love, and be used for His glory.

Bitter or Better?

“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15

“Lord, there is no way I can forgive them for what they did to me! Please don’t ask me to excuse this. You saw it…You know how unfair it was and besides it goes against everything You have taught me.” Sound familiar?

Jesus is our greatest example of ‘how to’ forgive sin. Now He tells us to practice ‘how to’ do the same if we want to be like Him. He didn’t say, “Easy is it for the man who forgives.” What He did say, “If you forgive…I’ll forgive.”

Total Forgiveness by R. T. Kendall is one of the most powerful books on forgiveness. Dr. D. James Kennedy asked in his book's Forward, “Are you forgiving totally…completely…utterfly…absolutely…unconditionally…entirely…wholly?”

R. T. speaks deeper on the topic, “The person who gains the most from forgiveness is the person who does the forgiving. Release them, and you will be set free.”

Bitterness can make us sick from the inside out and easily turn us into someone we don’t want to be. Forgiveness is not living in denial as a way to deal with the pain either. True forgiveness is giving the situation over to Jesus completely so He can do His powerful work in all hearts involved; not just theirs, but yours too...'all' involved.

How will you know you no longer hold tightly to bitterness? You’re thoughts won’t be consumed with how to get even or ways to prove your innocence. The Bible says real love keeps no record of wrongs. The deliberate decision to forgive frees you to open your heart to love and be loved.

Do you want to experience the intimacy of the Holy Spirit? Then, allow Him to teach you how to forgive…wholly. He knows it’s not easy and that’s why He’s there to help you through the process until it is finished. He wants you to know how good it feels to be free.

“Who do you need to forgive today? Write their name(s) down where you can see them regularly and tell the Lord to help you forgive. Continue the effort until it’s done then prepare your heart for a new you!”

Redirected Steps

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

What is your first thought when you hear the word ‘repent’? Do you think, “I’d rather go through surgery” or “how wonderful it is that I ‘get to’ repent”?

Repentance is not merely a change of mind but a radical change in one’s life that involves an arising from sorrow, forsaking sin, turning or returning to God with a transformation of life. In other words…we ‘get to’ renew our relationship with God and experience rebirth!

Action is required to repent. It must be a deliberate choice to stop the road we’re on, turn around in the opposite direction, and start picking up our feet to take our first steps. The first steps are never easy but soon we pick up the pace as we spot the billboard that reads ‘deliverance’.

Take a look at a few other 're' words, in Scripture with the prefix ‘re’, I found in the concordance of my Bible: revenge, restrain, rebellion, regret, remove, rebuke, reject, responsibility, repay, require, resent, renounce, and resist. Now let’s look at a few more; repent, respect, reverse, restore, rebuild, rebirth, receive, reclaim, record, reflect, refresh, reward, return, regard, release, rely, relief, remain, remember, remind, remove, reassurance, revive, respond, renew, resolve, redeem, and REJOICE!

Thought I’d close with a little ‘re’ prayer and encourage you to do the same today with some of the words listed above:

“Dear Father, I come to You with great respect—for You are the Most Holy God. Remind me today of Your power to rebuild my life, which can easily break. I want to return to You and ask that You reveal any rebellion in me that would only lead to regrets. Remove everything that restrains our relationship and replace it with a spirit of total refreshment. Restore me once again. Renew me as I am reassured my sin no longer remains on my record. It brings a release like none other. I celebrate my rebirth as You grant me the reward You promise is now mine. There is reason to rejoice in the redeeming blood of Your Son, Jesus, Amen.”

What does your Bible concordance say about words that begin with 're'?

Worrywart

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:21

Is being anxious a sin? Could it possibly be the root of all sins?

A seed began to sprout roots when the serpent asked Eve, “Did God really say…”. Can’t you just picture Eve’s angelic face begin to tense as the serpent’s relentless questions rang in her ears?

A tiny seed of worry can grow destructive fruit of impatience, anxiousness, resentment, and even anger. We begin to no longer trust the Sovereign God. In other words, we let our guard down as our hearts and minds become an easy target for the enemy; the Liar.

Have you heard the expression, ‘desperate people do desperate things’? When desperate people take matters into their own hands they fail the first of the Ten Commandments miserably by allowing worry to become bigger than the Prince of Peace. We dethrone God by becoming our own god and the benefit…no peace.

Beth Moore gives a good example of anxiousness, “A lack of peace manifests itself in many ways: a sleepless night filled with tossing and turning, fear that lodges itself like a pine cone in your stomach, a mind and body in perpetual motion, memories that imprison you repeatedly, unending strife, hopelessness, and the general, yet horrible, sense of being out of control. God’s peace means the absence of fear and turmoil, but not the absence of pain and grief.”

“Are you at peace today? Are you worried about something? What if it never happens and if it does…do you not trust the Lord will be present in it?”

Give your worries to the Lord and ask Him to forgive you for holding on to it so tightly. Make peace with God so He can show you His perfect peace.

Spend your day thanking the Lord for all He has done, is doing, and will do. Remember…He loves you and desires only the best for you. Trust Him.

Choose life!

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

A popular radio talk show host taught me a very important lesson when he said, “Words mean things”. As simple the statement is you have to agree words should be chosen carefully to communicate your message. His lesson continues to challenge me to never skim over a word again.

I applied this method when studying the Word of God and discovered the smallest words possess the most powerful significance. The word ‘all’ in this passage means every human being—no exceptions.

‘Have sinned’ implies we’re already sinners. I used to battle this truth because I would have liked to have had a say in Eve’s decision to disobey God. Why should I pay for what she did? My question only traps me in the same blame argument she found herself in. Blame only deafens us to God’s love, grace, and provision in spite of our sin. Like Eve...we're tempted but we don't have to choose sin. We can say no and walk away.

Notice degrees of sin are not mentioned for sin is sin to a perfect God. Eve’s teeny-weeny taste trickled down into our daily lives. What she thought was harmless actually changed the course of God’s plan for all humanity. No sin is harmless.

Today we have sophisticated sin by giving them fancy labels, which carry little accountability. Hiding in our destructive comfort zones is cozier. Personal responsibility is just too risky. Nobody wants to admit a weakness. How many times have you said or heard someone say with shrugged shoulders, “I am who I am”?

Don’t allow a ‘letter’ to keep you from knowing the glory of God? Take a close look at the middle letter in sin and pride. Could you’re worse enemy be you?

Romans 6:23 tells us “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” We are sinners in need of a Savior to keep us from death.

Choose God’s gift of eternal life by handing over your deadly sins to Jesus today. He says if you admit, confess, and repent then you will be forgiven. Don't you want to experience the glory of God in your day? Clear things up with Him...He's waiting on you.

The Core

“Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1

What a slimy little liar who planted a seed of doubt, “Are you sure you got that right, Eve?”

Throughout Genesis Chapter 3 the serpent continues to tap into Eve’s emotions. A Monday morning quarterback would have said, “Hey, Eve, you should have just told that worm to get lost. Why in the world did you think you had to explain everything to him? Don’t you believe if God says it…that settles it? Listen to your coach, Lady.”

But with her eyes frozen on the one fruit she couldn’t have Mr. Serpent moved in for the kill, “Do you really think a loving God would get mad over a teeny-weeny taste? Come on, He won't get angry. It’s obvious he’s holding something out on you. Besides He loves to control, Evette. Don’t let Him make you His slave. You deserve to have a good time.”

Wonder if all creatures in the garden stood in silence when they heard the loud crunch from Eve’s teeth planted firmly in the fruit. By the time the juice trickled down the back of her tongue she had wisdom alright—she knew, without a doubt, she’d been had. Since misery loves company she quickly enticed Adam to do the same and he did. Thus, the first blame game was born as Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent. No winners—all losers.

What seemed like the logical thing to do was now the biggest mistake of all time. Something called shame appeared with guilt following close behind as Adam and Eve realized there would be a forever separation from God.

Ever been had? I have and I’m starting to take the advice of the quarterback and say, “Get lost worm. You had me too many times before.” You see…I believed a lie that God was holding out on me when actually He was just trying to hold me closer.

Is transformation necessary? Only if you want to restore the relationship He wanted with you from the very beginning.

Thank Him for setting limits and pray you will recognize a snake in sheep's clothing.

Why Transform?

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

For the past nine weeks we have examined different eras; everything from welcoming a newborn to saying farewells to a patriarch. Both ages teach us amazing lessons on how to transform our hearts to trust God more.

This week’s verse was one of my mother’s favorites. Hard to believe ten days ago she quietly stepped into Heaven. Even with watching her rapid decline with dementia we are still numb with the realization she no longer lives among us. My heart already aches for her unconditional love and great wisdom. No one prayed for me as much as she did; always asking the Lord to protect me from harm and to bless me with His goodness.

Patches of brown sod top her grave—unlike the lush green grass of the grave next to hers. For beside her lies my daughter, Kellie, whom God called home a little over two years ago. On the right is the one who held me inside her womb and to the left…the one I once held.

I stood alone at their gravesites yesterday trying to imagine what they must be doing without me. My longing for Heaven now intensifies as I know their bodies lay asleep but their souls are wide awake. Both women have had a part in the transformation of my heart by teaching me what God's true love really is and how powerful relationships can be. Both women left me the greatest legacy...HOPE! Because... they left me with no question as to whether I would ever see them again.

Generations will come and go until Jesus returns. Trusting God, while we wait, will require our all or we will never walk the path He planned for us before we were born.

Why transform? Because giving your heart away will be the best gift you ever gave to yourself and others.

“How much do you really trust Him? Are you more paralyzed by trying to figure everything out? God says, “Trust me”. We must believe there is purpose in everything He does, because His love runs much deeper than ours.”

Next week we will begin the series on transformation called “Is It Necessary?”

X's and Y's

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11


X’s and Y’s aren’t just chromosomes anymore—they’re generations!

Generation X - born in the years 1965 to 1982 in the video and home computers era. Other nicknames are The MTV Generation/Baby Busters, with a dramatic drop in birth rate.

Generation Y - born from 1983 to present in the digital era. Other names for them are Boomerang/Peter Pan Generation, with many choosing to move back home.

X—enjoyed the great indoors with video games, cable TV, Velcro, computers, VCR’s, microwaves, and love to socialize at Starbucks or Internet Cafés.

Y— digital communications have created international online communities. Instant gratification with ‘on demand’ and ‘downloading’ as a way of life. YouTube, Google, and Wikipedia have replaced trips to the local library with information at our fingertips.

X—have opted to not stress out for success like their parents. Many aren’t committing to marriage until after 30 years old to keep from having unhappy marriages and jobs like their parents did.

Y—Millennials want to work mobile and expect employers to allow them to do so. Prefer marriage but want to do it right the first time.

X—began to redefine the family by veering away from traditional values of a mother and a father. Choices are based on feelings. Multi-partnering, in sexual relationships, is no longer considered ‘living in sin’.

Y—marriage is not a must when having a child and support for same sex marriages is on the rise.

X/Y—the attack of 9/11 left all generations depending on efforts for ‘homeland security’ to protect us from a different kind of war.

X—their Boomer parents lost faith while X’s never had faith.

Y—48% believe in ‘a’ God, 20% do not, and 32% are unsure God even exist.

“Not all X’s and Y’s support these values, of course, but the trends of the world are moving towards a road to destruction. God’s plan is to prosper you, keep you from harm, give you hope, and a bright future.”

“Talk’in ‘Bout My Generation”

"For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13b-14

The Who, a popular rock group in the late 1960’s, wrote a song bearing the name of this post. As a teenager, I remember grabbing my pretend bed post microphone to stutter the passionate words, “I'm not trying to cause a b-big s-s-sensation…I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation”.

Baby Boomers, those born between the years of 1946 to 1964, have demonstrated there is strength in numbers. The post WWII baby explosion emerged over 75 million new lives who screamed for more than just ice cream; they shouted for reform.

The assignations of both President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, along with the Watergate scandal, and our involvement in Viet Nam left an impressionable generation with an uneasy feeling of who they could trust.

Experimentation with illegal drugs mixed with a cocktail of sexual freedom became the trend for many. Words beginning with ‘anti’ evolved into an action word; ‘movement’. The civil rights, women’s, environmental, anti-war movements, all stressed individualism yet the message was to promote peace and love.

Many Boomers turned to hard work and became workaholics; work defined self-worth with a willingness to relocate from family and neighborhoods. Families became estranged, with distance, and their children were dropped off at childcare facilities instead of Granny’s. Though they still loved their family they chose to love them by providing things instead of time.

42% of Baby Boomers dropped out of traditional places of Christian worship as the divorce rate climbed to 50%. They chose other places of worship; beaches, lakes, and golf courses.

Today the name changes to Golden Boomers as GTO’s traded for BMW’s are now traded for RV’s. They are the parents of Generation X and grandparents of Y’s.

“Even if 74,999,999 say something is right, does it make it right? What if God says it’s wrong? Which gate and road will you choose? Which of the two truly brings about peace, love, and harmony?”

The Missing Link

“Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”
Ecclesiastes 1:2a, 14

Have you ever been asked the question, “I’m sorry…am I boring you?” The question quickens us to sit up straight while groping for words to explain why our mouths were like that of a sleepy lion in the jungle. Every filling, cap, tonsil, and the uvula has now been exposed to eyes waiting for your reply. The jolt is enough to zap you back into the moment, isn’t it?

Solomon, the wisest and richest man in the world at one time, is the writer of Ecclesiastes. In spite of all his wealth Solomon grew tired of his luxurious mundane. Think of all we go through in a day to acquire a speck of what Solomon owned and yet he was bored out of his mind with his stuff. However, if we were honest…we would admit we have those days too.

Boredom is dangerous. Its shadow is temptation who softly whispers two words, “If only”. Daydreams soon lure us into searching for alternatives to satisfy our cravings for greater peace and happiness.

As a lack of sleep or nutritional neglect can cause me to yawn so can a soul that chases after the wind for more satisfaction. What stops my meaningless madness is to replace it with a grateful heart. That’s when life becomes exciting, again, and I sleep like a baby at night.

“What may be causing you to slump and yawn? Something lacking? Start today with an attitude of gratitude and see if you hear the voice of God leading you out of the mundane.”

"I Got It!"

“What good is for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?”
Mark 8:36

I recently attended a seminar by Tony Morgan, author of Killing Cockroaches, on how to develop a ministry team. He gave the illustration of an automobile dealership management team sitting around a conference room table on a Monday morning analyzing their slow weekend of sales. Taking turns they began to share ideas for immediate change.

The first manager stood waving a piece of paper in his hand saying, “I suggest we look at our profit margins to see if a sticker price reduction will create an interest in fast sales.” He quickly met heads moving from side-to-side.

The second manager eagerly suggested a better snack bar to keep potential customers and their children happy. This would create a family environment so mom and dad could take their time. He received rolled eyes to confirm he was out of his mind.

The third manager recommended they attend seminars to develop good listening skills. Better customer service would not only create a new customer but also retain one. It will keep them coming back for more...not to mention ‘word of mouth’ referrals. He was soon greeted with the top of their heads as they looked down in despair.

The fourth manager jumped to his feet and screamed, “I got it! Let’s get a big inflatable blue monkey, strap him on the roof of our show room, and folks driving by will stop!” “Brilliant!” they all shouted and thus the blue monkey idea was born.

“What is keeping you from taking the risk towards everlasting change? Will tying the monkey to your heart cause you to lose your soul?”

The Dropdown Box

“Altogether Adam lived to be 930 years, and then he died.”
Genesis 5:5

When was the last time you had to really think about how old you were? Many times I’ve shared my age only to walk away embarrassed when I realized I was off by a year or two.

At the speed I’m going these days—I barely have time to look for a parking space. So, I’ve learned to park myself in front of my computer to surf the internet for everything from refills on prescriptions to fans for the patio. My Enter button becomes my Abracadabra button and “Poof!” it appears on my doorstep within days!

The internet is such a pleasant way to travel through life until I’m forced to enter my birth year in the profile dropdown box. The month and day is not a problem but when asked for the year—it becomes a problem. The other day I scrolled, scrolled, and scrolled some more as my eyes grew larger with the possibility of running out of selections.

Can you imagine how long it would have taken Adam to scroll? Genesis Chapter 5 gives an account of men ranging in age of 595 to 930 years old but with each character listed came a disturbing and abrupt ending phrase “…and then…he died.”

With all our new ways of prevention and living well I still see an absolute; 10 out of 10 people will one day die. However, the Bible says our spirits will live forever. God leaves the choice to us though as to where; Heaven or Hell.

“When the time comes for your ‘and then…’ moment will your family have to hope where you are or will they know without a doubt?”

Sheriff Gage

“The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.”
Proverbs 20:7

Sure didn't take long to spot our guest speaker sitting at the round table next to mine for our ladies political luncheon. It wasn’t so much his masculine presence as much as it was his attire; heavily-starched ecru jeans and white cotton shirt. His crown of white hair topped him off, but not as much as the 757 Magnum that rested on his hip. Yikes!

Sheriff Gage of Montgomery County gave new meaning to ‘Don’t Mess with Texas’. He took to the podium with unmistakable confidence. His first word captured my attention and respect as I listened to more than I ever wanted to know.

This modern-day Moses informed us of everything from new laws to completion updates of new prisons. Total number of arrest in 2009 was—17,000 men and 4,000 women, but more disturbing was to learn many of those were repeat offenders.

With a Texas twang and sense of humor he added, “I see granddaddies, daddies, and grandbabies come and go on a regular basis through those iron doors.” Then he smiled, leaned over into the microphone as if to let us in on a secret, and whispered, “We have a little fun in the unit matching up who goes with who and it ain’t very hard to do.”

Forty-one times in the Old Testament we see the phrase “generations to come.” No doubt generational sin can shake the whole family tree. Makes you wonder what it is that makes some trees function while others dysfunction. Could it be the condition of its roots?

“Are there any generational sins in your family tree that may be stunting your growth? How could those sins keep you from experiencing the kind of righteous living that will bless others?”

Unforgettable Windows

“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”
2 Thessalonians 1:11

My heart sank when the elevator doors opened. What a surprise to be greeted by such darkness. My last memory of this place was so bright and full of cheer; the maternity ward where my children were born.

Thirty years had passed since I stood at this spot. I walked slowly to tune out the unfamiliar dark surroundings in an effort to focus only on the windows. Those old feelings of pride returned as I envisioned all the different times I pointed to which little newborn was mine.

A sudden voice startled me, “May I help you?” I stood in silence—unable to answer the woman in butterfly scrubs. Babies now sleep in their own mother’s rooms for security reasons. Feeling like an intruder I walked back to the elevator like a balloon with a slow leak. My non-threatening idea seemed like a sweet thing to do since I was in the area…until now.

Soon my heart began to flutter again as I recalled something else I did at those same windows. Often I gazed at all those other little peaceful sleepers in tight flannel blankets and wonder what they all would grow up to be. These children would now be my children’s peers. So, as I watched them drift off to dreamland I prayed, “Lord, may they grow up to know You.”

“Do you keep on praying for others even if you may never know the end results? How could this prayer of faith metamorphosis your life too?”

Baby Face

“…You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”
Exodus 31:18

“Baby face, you got the cutest little baby face. Lalalalala…” Okay, that’s all I know of the happy little song, but I love it, don’t you? It always brings a smile to my face because there really is nothing cuter than a baby’s face.

Our family is already screaming, “Freeze!” to our 3-month old grandson. He’s at the stage when there is much to smile about for when he smiles—adults do too. It is for this reason we request he freeze so as not to grow another day away from innocence. Adults know babies don’t stay babies for long…for only yesterday I was a baby, and only yesterday so were my babies.

Transformation is inevitable. We cannot decide to just stay in a protective womb. We must be born in order to discover a new world; physically, intellectually, and spiritually. Therefore, the question changes from why transform but how will we transform?

My husband often pops the question, “So, what do you want to be when you grow up?” His question and today’s Scripture challenges us to grow up and recognize there must be a time set aside for the Lord. Your personal choice is a sign to others, big and small, that seeking His holiness is important enough to place everything else aside as you place Him first.

Are you willing to sacrifice a designated time just for God? If so, when? And how would this one choice influence your transformation for other generations to come?

Introduction to Transformation

“If any person be in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17

Welcome to my new blog called Leaping Butterfly. Hmmm, I am getting signals from you and I know what you are thinking…Leaping Butterfly? Leaping? Believe me; I would question the same because we all know butterflies don’t leap. However, I saw one that did and ever since that moment my heart now flies with a more colorful pattern than I could have ever imagined. I’ll tell you the glorious story at another time.

In the meantime, let’s take a 52-week journey together on Tuesday mornings about the beautiful power of transformation.

Here are just a few questions that will be addressed:
1. Why transform?
2. Is it necessary?
3. Will it be easy or painful?
4. Is there a process?
5. Will there be an end to it?

Each blog post will include a question, quote, information or statistic, along with Scripture, a personal story, and a challenge for you to personalize too.

The purpose for this blog, and ministry, is to encourage ladies not to fear transformation but to embrace it. Ask a butterfly how good it feels to go through a process in order to experience the whimsical joy that follows. I’m sure she would testify that change is good and well worth the struggle to persevere through it. We, who are captivated by a glimpse of her butterfly form, can also learn to capture the attention of others when we decide to demonstrate the exhilarating flight of freedom. God has made a way for us to break free from a dark cocoon and be released into a garden of beauty.

I leave you this week with question number one, “Why transform when a cocoon feels so much more secure than a creature that flies?”