As we think about what we are thankful for during this Thanksgiving, my minister, Dan Brown, brought to the congregation’s attention that the first Thanksgiving was the celebration of coming through a season where they were tested and withstood the storm.
I realized that I usually say thanks for family, shelter, friends, and the bounty of food passed around the table. This year, for a change, I challenge you to look back over the past year. What were some of the storms that you went through? Maybe you are still going through a storm. But remember that when you go through something, you will come out the other side. It is our choice how we fair on the other side of the storm. That is why we often hear the term "Trials and Tribulations". There is rejoicing after the trial. First comes the trial, then the testing of our faith, third the perseverance, and last the evidence of character.
Genesis 13:14-17 GOD said to Abram, "Open your eyes, look around. Look north, south, east, and west. Everything you see, the whole land spread out before you, I will give to you and your children forever. I'll make your descendants like dust—counting your descendants will be as impossible as counting the dust of the Earth. So—on your feet, get moving! Walk through the country, its length and breadth; I'm giving it all to you."
Sometimes we are so caught up in looking at our own problems, our own storm, that we don’t even see the world around us. God wants to bless us this Thanksgiving and every day. After the big meal, take a walk in area where you seldom (if ever) have gone before. Take a deep breath of the clear air and give thanks to our Lord from whom all blessings flow.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
What is peace?
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
It seems everyone wants it but no one has a real clear answer of what it is or how you can get it or keep it.
Webster’s definition: freedom from or stopping of war; freedom from public disturbance or disorder; freedom from disagreement or quarrels, harmony; an undisturbed state of mind, absence of mental conflict; calm, quiet, tranquility. Basically, is peace what happens when conflict and problems are not present? If so do I have to get rid of all those things that create anxiety in my life in order for me to have peace?
Do I have to get rid of my husband or my kids, or my neighbors, or my bills? Is that what some of our homeless have pursued? If this is what we need to do, Ii don’t think we will every have peace because as long as you are alive, you will always have conflict, and will always have problems.
Paul is teaches us in his letter to the people of Philippi that “Peace is that calm of mind that is not ruffled by adversity, overclouded by remorseful conscience, or disturbed by fear." Peace doesn’t come with the absence of the storm, it comes in the presence of the storm because Jesus is walking there beside us and we’ve got our eyes on Him.
It seems everyone wants it but no one has a real clear answer of what it is or how you can get it or keep it.
Webster’s definition: freedom from or stopping of war; freedom from public disturbance or disorder; freedom from disagreement or quarrels, harmony; an undisturbed state of mind, absence of mental conflict; calm, quiet, tranquility. Basically, is peace what happens when conflict and problems are not present? If so do I have to get rid of all those things that create anxiety in my life in order for me to have peace?
Do I have to get rid of my husband or my kids, or my neighbors, or my bills? Is that what some of our homeless have pursued? If this is what we need to do, Ii don’t think we will every have peace because as long as you are alive, you will always have conflict, and will always have problems.
Paul is teaches us in his letter to the people of Philippi that “Peace is that calm of mind that is not ruffled by adversity, overclouded by remorseful conscience, or disturbed by fear." Peace doesn’t come with the absence of the storm, it comes in the presence of the storm because Jesus is walking there beside us and we’ve got our eyes on Him.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
How do you handle crisis?
Have you faced a crisis during the last few months? Many have experienced financial or personal economic crisis recently. How did you handle your last crisis? Did you use the chicken little approach? Panicked and ran to the phone to freak out with your friends – What do I do? What do I do?
Did you use the Eyore approach? Hung you heads and moped around. “Here I’ve saved my whole life and now I just my retirement is gone…just gone…poof. Of course it happened to me – nothing good ever happens to me.
Or did you begin your bargaining prayers, “Oh Lord, please don’t let this be the ruin of us financially. I could loose my house, the kid’s college education, Oh Lord If you could just get me thru this I promise I will start serving you better. I’ll go to church every Sunday, I’ll stop cussing and carrying on – Oh Please Lord – not me!
During the late 70’s I worked in the emergency room at University hospital. I had just graduated from high school and worked this summer job before I started college. I was a runner. I ran urine and blood samples to the lab and ran the results back to the emergency room. As you can imagine – I knew nearly every person that worked on the second floor of the hospital and I must tell you I had the time of my life. No place in Augusta was more hoppin’ than that emergency room. I had the bird’s nest seat. I stood in the background and watched drama unfold every time I worked. The medical students and interns worked in the ER too so there was an endless supply of life, death, drama, and yes – romance!
There were nights that were more routine and we sat around and visited. We often reviewed the strangest name list. (My favorite was the twins named Denise and Denephew.) Sometimes we looked back over the strangest complaint list. My favorite was the man that came in and wanted a blood transfusion to get rid of the cholesterol.
Of course there was a lot of “getting ready”. During those times we stocked supplies, tested equipment, cleaned and organized, and staged for the next event. Then, in the blink of an eye, someone would walk through the door and the whole atmosphere changed. Everyone immediately went into emergency mode and like clockwork everyone had a job, did the job and within seconds could change an entire situation. I have seen chest opened, hearts massaged and then run with the full team of people down the hall to the OR. The first birth I saw was by a lady that walked in mid birth and the baby born right before my eyes. – No problem. I have also witnessed the most sarcastic – caustic – health professionals turn calm and compassionate when working with a mother and her near drowning infant.
That team had practiced and practiced and knew exactly what to do and how to respond because it was their second nature. They were professionals. They had studied the books – researched every trauma that could occur. They knew the roles of everyone around them. They could respond in their sleep. And many did respond – right out of a dead sleep – when catastrophe hit. Are we professional Christians? Do we prepare ourselves so that when crisis comes we can rely on our studies, our knowledge of the truth, and our relationship with the Lord to call on all of these on a dime to get ourselves and our loved ones through the storm.
When you find yourself in the middle of crisis be plan to – increase your time in the “Word”. If you already have a regular quiet time, double it. If you don’t have a quiet time – make a special time for the Lord, use a Bible based study or devotion book.
Memorize a verse and claim it as your shield through this adversity. A couple of years ago I was working and driving middle schoolers everywhere. I wore a bracelet – this bracelet that said – Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. It was my theme verse of the year. After a job loss and kids that now drive themselves. Joe (my husband) says that if I slowed anymore I wouldn’t be moving at all!
We must also be willing to ask for Wisdom. James 1:5 (New Living) says “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
Last, get off your knees and pray. Not long ago Peggy (my daughter) and I went on a trip to a concert in Charlotte. We arrived during rush hour and we were using a Garmin to direct us to the concert. The radio was going, the Garmin was going and the traffic was flowing, and Peggy and I were in the middle of a lively discussion. In the middle of all of that Peggy picked up her purse, pulled her phone out of her purse and said “hello”. I never heard the phone ring but you can bet that she did. She was in tune to that phone. We must be like that – so in tune to our Lord that we can screen out all of the other interferences and here His voice. To know that voice we must be in such close communication that we recognize that voice when he calls us when we are in the middle of kaos.
Revelation 3:3 tells us. The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. When the world takes you to the edge of the cliff 2 things are going to happen: He will catch you or He will teach you how to fly. Don’t miss Him during the crisis. Look for Him. He’s there.
Did you use the Eyore approach? Hung you heads and moped around. “Here I’ve saved my whole life and now I just my retirement is gone…just gone…poof. Of course it happened to me – nothing good ever happens to me.
Or did you begin your bargaining prayers, “Oh Lord, please don’t let this be the ruin of us financially. I could loose my house, the kid’s college education, Oh Lord If you could just get me thru this I promise I will start serving you better. I’ll go to church every Sunday, I’ll stop cussing and carrying on – Oh Please Lord – not me!
During the late 70’s I worked in the emergency room at University hospital. I had just graduated from high school and worked this summer job before I started college. I was a runner. I ran urine and blood samples to the lab and ran the results back to the emergency room. As you can imagine – I knew nearly every person that worked on the second floor of the hospital and I must tell you I had the time of my life. No place in Augusta was more hoppin’ than that emergency room. I had the bird’s nest seat. I stood in the background and watched drama unfold every time I worked. The medical students and interns worked in the ER too so there was an endless supply of life, death, drama, and yes – romance!
There were nights that were more routine and we sat around and visited. We often reviewed the strangest name list. (My favorite was the twins named Denise and Denephew.) Sometimes we looked back over the strangest complaint list. My favorite was the man that came in and wanted a blood transfusion to get rid of the cholesterol.
Of course there was a lot of “getting ready”. During those times we stocked supplies, tested equipment, cleaned and organized, and staged for the next event. Then, in the blink of an eye, someone would walk through the door and the whole atmosphere changed. Everyone immediately went into emergency mode and like clockwork everyone had a job, did the job and within seconds could change an entire situation. I have seen chest opened, hearts massaged and then run with the full team of people down the hall to the OR. The first birth I saw was by a lady that walked in mid birth and the baby born right before my eyes. – No problem. I have also witnessed the most sarcastic – caustic – health professionals turn calm and compassionate when working with a mother and her near drowning infant.
That team had practiced and practiced and knew exactly what to do and how to respond because it was their second nature. They were professionals. They had studied the books – researched every trauma that could occur. They knew the roles of everyone around them. They could respond in their sleep. And many did respond – right out of a dead sleep – when catastrophe hit. Are we professional Christians? Do we prepare ourselves so that when crisis comes we can rely on our studies, our knowledge of the truth, and our relationship with the Lord to call on all of these on a dime to get ourselves and our loved ones through the storm.
When you find yourself in the middle of crisis be plan to – increase your time in the “Word”. If you already have a regular quiet time, double it. If you don’t have a quiet time – make a special time for the Lord, use a Bible based study or devotion book.
Memorize a verse and claim it as your shield through this adversity. A couple of years ago I was working and driving middle schoolers everywhere. I wore a bracelet – this bracelet that said – Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. It was my theme verse of the year. After a job loss and kids that now drive themselves. Joe (my husband) says that if I slowed anymore I wouldn’t be moving at all!
We must also be willing to ask for Wisdom. James 1:5 (New Living) says “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
Last, get off your knees and pray. Not long ago Peggy (my daughter) and I went on a trip to a concert in Charlotte. We arrived during rush hour and we were using a Garmin to direct us to the concert. The radio was going, the Garmin was going and the traffic was flowing, and Peggy and I were in the middle of a lively discussion. In the middle of all of that Peggy picked up her purse, pulled her phone out of her purse and said “hello”. I never heard the phone ring but you can bet that she did. She was in tune to that phone. We must be like that – so in tune to our Lord that we can screen out all of the other interferences and here His voice. To know that voice we must be in such close communication that we recognize that voice when he calls us when we are in the middle of kaos.
Revelation 3:3 tells us. The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you. When the world takes you to the edge of the cliff 2 things are going to happen: He will catch you or He will teach you how to fly. Don’t miss Him during the crisis. Look for Him. He’s there.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Creeped Out at Halloween
We just finished the Halloween season. I remember when I was a young girl at my grandfather's tobacco farm. My older teenage cousins, Patty and Sherilyn would create a spook house for all of the younger cousins that weren't as familiar with farm ways. We would first be spun around in circles and then they'd walk us thru the tobacco barn. We'd hold on to Patty's waist and creep through the barn. If you've never walked thru a tobacco barn, they are dark except for flames – I guess they were pilot lights - around in the barn. You could hear the rustling of the leaves and it was creepy. Usually somewhere along the way Patty would scream and turn around and look wide eyed at me and say, “What was that!" Then she turn around, I’d grab her waist and we’d creep a little further. She would take us up stairs, down narrow paths, back down again. Every 10 or so steps she would jump, turn around, and again say with her eyes huge, “Did you hear that?” Then we'd creep a little further. At the end of the creep through the barn one Sherilyn would be hiding and throw a chicken or eggs, or straw onto us. Imagine how fast I, this little girl who knew nothing about farms, ran scared to death. I knew it had to be a mouse or some other spook jumping on me. They would just laugh and laugh at me. In later years we were talking about these fun times when my mother freaked out. “Those barns are full of rats, rats that are knee high! Papa has put rat poison out everywhere! It is amazing you weren’t bit, or dead!”
By God's grace, I never saw a real rat there until I was 16 or 17 years old and even then it was every bit as big as a cat or a dog. By God's grace we never saw the poison set out for these rats or any dead rats.
Many times at the end of facing a trial or difficult season of life, I look back at the mercy He has shown me. If I had seen what was all around me in the midst of the trial I would have panicked and probably given up or run for my life, escaping into avoidance. I thank Him every day for the mercy he shows to not light up every evil lurking around us. He walks right in front of us or right behind us shining the way. He allows us to see only what we can handle. He protects us from the flying rats, poison, and crazy cousins of the world.
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path." I am so glad he only provides a light just enough for the step that I am on. He protects me from the overwhelming big picture.
By God's grace, I never saw a real rat there until I was 16 or 17 years old and even then it was every bit as big as a cat or a dog. By God's grace we never saw the poison set out for these rats or any dead rats.
Many times at the end of facing a trial or difficult season of life, I look back at the mercy He has shown me. If I had seen what was all around me in the midst of the trial I would have panicked and probably given up or run for my life, escaping into avoidance. I thank Him every day for the mercy he shows to not light up every evil lurking around us. He walks right in front of us or right behind us shining the way. He allows us to see only what we can handle. He protects us from the flying rats, poison, and crazy cousins of the world.
Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path." I am so glad he only provides a light just enough for the step that I am on. He protects me from the overwhelming big picture.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Welcome
Welcome to my Blog. I am very new at this and really feel called to write my adventures with the Lord. I don't know much about blogging but do love my adventures with the Lord.
Today is Election Day 2007. We are on the corner stone for change in America. What an exciting and insightful time in to be alive. I have known many who are actully quite fearful of what the future brings but I know that God isn't looking over this election wringing his hands. Better yet - he is watching all of us as parts of a grand plan. I am confident that this is the begining of a journey with Him to grand fabulousness. Will it be a long journey like Joseph experienced after being sold by his brothers in to slavery. Joseph experienced kidnapping, wrongly imprisioned, and beatened but later was raised to a position to be in charge of food for an entire nation. If it is a long journey of change for us, or a short brief walk to gloriousness, we will be safe with the Lord, protected by the Lord, and goodness for us will prevail.
Today is Election Day 2007. We are on the corner stone for change in America. What an exciting and insightful time in to be alive. I have known many who are actully quite fearful of what the future brings but I know that God isn't looking over this election wringing his hands. Better yet - he is watching all of us as parts of a grand plan. I am confident that this is the begining of a journey with Him to grand fabulousness. Will it be a long journey like Joseph experienced after being sold by his brothers in to slavery. Joseph experienced kidnapping, wrongly imprisioned, and beatened but later was raised to a position to be in charge of food for an entire nation. If it is a long journey of change for us, or a short brief walk to gloriousness, we will be safe with the Lord, protected by the Lord, and goodness for us will prevail.
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