“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?”
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
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?”
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?”
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
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?”
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?”
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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?
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?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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.
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?”
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